DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harvest Moon or any of it's characters.

Third-Times the Charm
Chapter 6

I kicked the bucket, not in the metaphorical saying but literally. Though the metaphor seemed pretty good right now, I could see my mother again that'd be nice.

I'd just gotten back from Mary's house; for the seventh time this week actually. That is if you didn't count the night I screwed up my life and sat crying apologies at her doorstep. Which was both degrading and ineffective. I went twice every day, once in the morning then once more in the evening. Today Anna told me if I came back again she was calling Harris and pressing charges. For what I didn't know nor care, all I knew was she was added to the top of my hit list.

Not numbero uno that was reserved for myself. But second no less. Actually maybe I should put myself at the end of my hit list, not because I didn't deserve it but because I couldn't complete it other wise…

The town which somehow decided to set out to kill me lately was angry as well. Naturally Anna went to Manna about her crying daughter, and Manna naturally went to the rest of the town. Honestly I didn't need to imagine hard on why her daughter Aja fled town, though I had a feeling if I repeated such I'd never speak again.

So now I sat here in the Inn, which was deserted with a bucket of spilling water and my angry father who luckily seemed out of sight. Which is good because now I didn't have to go through another 'where did I go wrong speech', which I didn't think I could take any more of.

"You look like you're having fun," a voice spoke and I looked up relieved it was only Karen.

"If you're here to tell me off first I believe you've been beaten by Manna, Anna, your mother, and Elli. If you're here for a disapproving look you've been beaten by Popuri, Rick, my father, Duke, Gotz and the rest of the town. If you're going to give me an odd thumbs up the Mayor beat you and if you're going to give me a 'where did a go wrong' speech you've been beaten by my father about seven million times…"

Karen who sat smiling away laughter at this point shook her head, "no unlike the rest of the community I decided to spare you."

"Oh really?" I asked almost slipping on the mop I was starting to lean on.

"Yeah I figured you might as well have someone to hear your side out," she replied.

"Oh so it's just to get your facts straight," I grumbled.

"Well, partly and I saw you crying at Mary's doorstep the night of the festival and I figured you're sorry."

"Of coarse I'm sorry! What makes you think- Karen what exactly is going around town?"

"Well my Mom told me apparently Mary told you she liked Gray then, got in a fight with you that left with you storming out then hunting down Gray and waiting for the moment she came looking for you to attack his lips to make her jealous and mad."

"What!"

"But I've also heard of stories where you took Gray hostage… and well, would you be getting pregnant any time soon would you?"

"I'm a virgin!" I yelled.

Karen laughed, "Alright, alright. What did happen though?"

"And why should I tell you?" I asked. "So you can tell the rest of the town?"

"Well I don't think it's worse than what is already out there…"

She had a point on that, but still.

"Actually I would like to know what happened as well," this time it was Kai speaking who some how had a knack for ease dropping.

"Get out of here you nosy ease dropper," I growled.

"Well I think that I'm owed an explanation," Kai smirked taking a seat in a booth.

"Oh really, that makes perfect sense. Especially since it's your entire fault any way!"

"It is?" Karen asked and both of as looked at her.

"I didn't tell you to go and lock lips with Gray," Kai replied to me.

"Yea well you good enough told him to kiss me," I growled.

"Soo he took it as a challenge no my fault," Kai shrugged.

"I didn't take it as a challenge!" Gray shot from where he was entering the Inn, wonderful just wonderful.

'Hey Ann can you ever have a normal life?'

'No' I answered myself, 'absolutely not.'

"Wait so what exactly happened?" Karen broke the silence and I hit my head with the broom repeatedly.

"I should go-"Gray started but I glared at him.

"Anna told me she'd call the cop if I came back this morning, I don't know how much luck you'll have." I told him.

"Batty old woman," was Gray's response before he rather reluctantly slid into the chair beside Karen.

"WHAT HAPPENED?" Kai and Karen said at the same time, and I couldn't hold back a smirk at Kai. There just alike, he glared at me.

"Fine, we went up to the pond and talked," I started.

"Then your lips did some silent talking," Kai glared.

"You act like I'm your wife or something!" I yelled.

"Are you two going out?" Karen asked.

"NO!" came three shouts. Well Kai's was more of a bland fact…

"Listen," I said.

"No," Gray no spoke. "I kissed her. Now will you get the rest of the town off her case?" I looked at him while it was kind of true he did ask first, I was the one who did the action but I didn't dare correct him with the look on his face.

Kai and Karen both looked at him; Kai looked more like he was seeing the lie in what Gray said Karen looked more sympathetic. "I think we need to talk to Mary," Karen said Kai nodded.

"Whoa wait right there, we? Karen your not apart of this, really you-"

"Do you think she's going to talk to you two nimrods?" she asked. And well no I didn't but still, "I'll go talk to her, okay?"

"No," Kai stopped her.

"What?" Karen asked.

"No, I'll do it."

"And why should you do that?" she asked.

"Because, I have an idea that Mary might be interested in." Kai replied standing up.

"I'll come too!" Karen said and instantly Kai stiffened. "Actually I'd rather talk to Mary alone, you stay here and I'll see if I can bring her back then you can ease drop all you want."

He left quickly after that and I had an eerie feeling about that. Of 'his idea' that Mary would be interested in… it scared me. And even more so that even though I hadn't a clue to what this plan was I knew Mary probably would be interested…

I gave up on the floors soon after Kai left, and was sitting listening to the melodramatic rain on our windows when Kai joined us Mary as his side.

"She's agreed to hear you guys out," Kai replied shaking himself from the rain drops that covered him. Mary shyly shook herself as well and followed closely behind Kai to the booth looking as if the world was out to get her. She sat down first at the booth, and I found myself being made to shuffle in from where I was sitting to make room for Kai, who didn't look like he was giving me a choice to sit with him. He waved Gray over who poked Karen into the seat next to Mary and pulled up at chair for himself instead.

"I'm sorry Mary," I frowned looking at her. "I'm sorry it was my fault and I was wrong. I-"

"Mary," Gray interrupted. "I kissed Ann, it's not her fault I-"

"I was there before the kiss," she said and I flinched way to go Gray.

"Oh," Gray turned red and pulled his cap down. "It's still my fault though…"

"Gray I don't blame you," Mary said and he looked like he wanted to disappear.

"You should."

"I don't."

"And why not? I promise you I asked Ann to do it, she wasn't going to." There was the truth out of it all and Karen was looking puzzled as was Kai who seemed to have liked the thought Gray did it.

"But she did," Mary concluded.

"I said I was sorry! Mary I was on a hangover for Pete's sake! Kai already surprised attacked me once and-"

"Why can't you take responsibility for your actions Ann?" Mary asked.

"What! I'm not saying-"

"Yes you are! I know you're sorry I've been getting that everyday since I saw you. But you haven't once told me what you're sorry for. You're sorry you got caught Ann not that you did it."

My jaw dropped that wasn't true, well I was sorry I got caught but I was sorry I did it too… "I'm sorry I kissed him Mary." I said. "It was wrong and I don't blame you if you never want to be my friend again, I know you like him-"she flinched. "He knows stop denying it. I'm sorry I was a horrible friend."

"I accept your apology Ann, but I don't know…"

"Mary I think we should talk," Gray said then glancing around at the rest of us he added. "Could we take a walk?"

"It's raining out," I stated and I quickly took it back wishing I wasn't the one who pointed the fact out I wasn't the one needing attention right now.

"We'll I'll leave," Karen said satisfied with her information leaving quickly.

"And Ann and I will go upstairs," Kai said grabbing my hand and when I flicked it off he just wrapped his hand around my wrist.

"I-"I started to protest.

"Come on I have some things I want to ask you anyway," good Goddess help me!

Once we got upstairs and Kai closed the door behind us ensuring we didn't hear the others downstairs or maybe so they didn't hear us I didn't really care. I sat down on the first vacant bed I saw crossed my arms and watched him.

"You kissed him."

"Yup."

"You also kissed me," he said looked at me.

"No you kissed me," I corrected.

"Right," Kai nodded. "So I suggest since you've had your fun, and got your best friend mad in doing it may I add. I think it's time you made your choice. And in that choice I also suggest you pick me."

"Which totally isn't a biased opinion," I growled.

"Only partly," Kai said sitting on the bed across from me.

"Oh?"

"Well one kiss from Gray and you've got the whole town mad including you're best friend. One kiss from me and-"

"I leave storming out of the kitchen and the Inn?" I suggested.

"You never told me you didn't feel anything," he said and I glared at him.

"Sorry I haven't had much time to think about surprise attack kisses at the moment if you haven't noticed I've been busy making apologizes at a certain librarian's door. Who still has just barley forgiven me. I think Kai, you should go back to Karen and leave me be, my life was a whole less complicated when you were just the snack shack owner that stayed here during the night."

"Life's complicated Ann, that's not my fault."

"Popuri doesn't have anyone she'd take you back; I don't know why you're wasting your time here." I continued on a roll now. "Really Kai this-"

"You're avoiding me," Kai stated eye wide in disbelief.

"I'm what?" I asked thinking he was working on becoming crazy.

"Tell me you didn't feel anything Ann, look me in the eyes right now and say it."

I looked to the ground; I wanted to say it was burning on the tip of my tongue… but it would be a lie. But telling Gray for a second I didn't feel anything would be a lie as well, Goddess I hated these boys!

"Say it Ann," Kai pushed again and I noticed he'd inched closer to me from the bed across from me. "If you don't say I'm going to have to take it that you've forgotten what it felt like Ann and kiss you again."

"That's assault!" I growled.

"Is it assault when the person won't admit they don't like it?" Kai questioned inching forward closer.

"I'll admit I don't want you any closer to me," I growled standing up about to open the door.

"I wouldn't do that," Kai said.

"And why is that Kai?" I asked.

"Because I don't think Mary would appreciate you walking in with her trying to talk to Gray," Kai stated and I glared at him. "Seriously Ann, what's wrong with you? Did Cliff have to kill you to make you admit you liked him?" he asked.

"No."

"Then fill me in because apparently I'm failing to see why you won't just say you like me."

"What if I don't like you Kai? What if you're being a super annoying jerk that won't leave me be when I don't return you feelings?"

"Oh so you don't like me?" he asked plopping back down on the bed closest to the door where I still stood looking at me.

"I thought we got past that," I replied short tempered.

"Oh did you? Well you never said that nor did you say you never-"

"Felt anything I get it Kai!" I screamed plopping down on a different bed. "Fine I felt something aright happy? Now leave me alone, the second Gray gets up here I'm leaving!"

Kai stayed silent after that, it wasn't long sitting there in silence that Gray arrived. Without saying a word to either of them I walked down stairs not surprised to see Mary still in the lounge.

"You okay?" I asked walking over carefully beside her to see if she really wanted my comfort. She didn't look on the verge of tears; actually her glasses were quite clear eyes in perfect condition.

She looked up from where she was standing and nodded, "Ann I'm sorry."

"Sorry for what?"

"I should have talked to you first, and well honestly I should have talked to Gray as well…"

I was appalled, "Mary really I understand why you were mad you-"

"Yes and personally Ann I think I had every right to be mad. But I handled it wrong, and I'm sorry."

It was silent for a moment before I let out an, "oh okay." Then awkwardly continued, "so what'd he say?"

"What did who say?" Mary asked.

"Gray, you guys were down here for quite some time."

"Oh," Mary smiled weakly. "We said what should have been said a long while ago…"

"And that is?"

"We're not for each other…" she finished.

"Oh," I replied fighting the small leap in my heart. "And you're okay with that?"

Mary looked to the floor for a few minutes, "honestly I am disappointed. But I think we're right when we say it's not going to work…"

I frowned opening my mouth to tell her I'd be there for her something encouraging but she continued. "He's a nice guy you know that?" she said. "He didn't want to hurt me, though I think it did more damage waiting in the long run. I'll always like him Ann, but I think it's time for me to realize it's more as a brother or a friend… no matter what I thought before…"

I leaned forward hugging her close, "I'm sorry Mary it's my fault too."