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

First of all I want to thank both RegretfulMemory and Awesome Rapidash for their reviews, it means so much that your guys are reading my writing.

I'm sorry about all the errors in the last chapter. I hope that there are less in this chapter.

Okay now on a less serious note chapter two has arrived! Thank you guys so much for all your views and I hope your enjoying The Unpredictable.

I feel like this chapter as well as chapter one are major introductory chapters, getting the characters straight the plot going. But I'm happy to announce I believe that Chapter three should be longer with lots of plot building instead of 'starting' soo yay the stories officially in progress!

I'm also proud to say I did a lot of major story planning this week and if I'm correct RegretfulMemory your going to be happy with the story progression starting probably chapter three or four. (: Soo yayy! Haha

Enjoy!

(I always think of coca cola when I type that.. haa)

Chapter 2

I don't know what I was expecting after I had found out about Trent and his significant other. Maybe I thought work would be harder, longer, or maybe even more strenuous now at times that would require talking to the doctor himself. But somehow that wasn't the case.

Though the scar on my heart was still fresh and festering as much as the night my eyes were reveled to the hidden truth, somehow the pain didn't find its way to affect my work as I thought I would. Maybe because the ties I felt to Trent were lower now, or maybe it was because I now less self-conscious with all hope lost. But for what ever the reason was work seemed… somehow smoother almost easier; almost.

I was now getting out earlier each day, I was taking my full hour lunch break and the extra 'impressive' chores that I used to perform were getting fewer and fewer as time passed. I suppose in a sense the old way I used want to impress or woo the Mineral Town doctor was no longer necessary, or rather possible…

Now the time I used to devote to the Clinic each day was used instead for me, Elli. I now have time to go on walks with Karen, or curl up with a book at the library and in no way did I feel guilty about left behind work sitting at my desk.

Though as luxurious as my free time now was the down-falls I also dealt with were harder still. For as much as my life picked up it also was taking just as many if not more plunges downward. Don't get me wrong my sudden burden free life was taking a great turn on me, but my life was in no way perfect or even close to it.

Take Ann for an example she now had a sudden interest of coming to the Clinic during her breaks from the Inn. As obvious as was relationship was Trent still harbored denial to allow me or anyone else in Mineral Town know about this little 'secret' with the red headed waitress. This of course could only make it the whole situation only all the more unbearable, for me.

The second thing that was real plunge was my friend Mary. Though not directly connected to me, this one still hurt. The young blacksmith apprentice Gray has been Mary's other half, her shadow her perfect fit in every way the complimented each other. It'd been that way since we were all very young, so it hadn't been a shock last year when they became a couple to the public eye. But then things started changing, for a while we assumed it was because his Grandfather and mentor Siabara was being hard on him and he was too stressed for their relationship it was very likely. But as of just the first of summer two days ago he reveled the truth behind the behavior, there was someone else in his life beside Mary. It crushed Mary, and the realism of what she must feel is so close to me already. As Karen loved to point out, boys were indeed blind to the things in front of them. And this show of hurt proved her right each day.

But the deepest plunge of all was my little brother, Stu. Ever since my parents passed away almost seven years ago now I've tried my best to always be there and support him. I've always been aware of my sibling and I've wanted to be the best sister I can be but lately it seems I can do nothing right for him! I don't cook well, I don't play his games right and apparently he thinks I'm pretty much incapable of being at all in anyway fun!

Lets take well how about right now for an easy example. "Elli!"

"Stu I'm trying to understand this. What does this green button do?" I asked, he and I were attempting to play a video game. I'd like to tell you what it was but honestly I'm not exactly sure myself, I believe my little character is supposed to be fighting his though.

"It kicks!" Stu glared at me frustrated. "Elli this isn't hard why can't you do it?"

"Um," I pressed the button and my character's leg lifted into the air 'kicking'. "Oh look Stu I did it!"

"Forget it."

"What?"

"I said forget it, Elli." Stu mumbled crawling over hitting various buttons on the gaming system the screen on the old television going blank.

"But I think I got it…" I protested getting a little offended.

"But you didn't, Elli you suck at video games." He protested.

"Excuse me," I grumbled at the word he used. "Stu what did I tell you about that word?"

"What is so wrong with it?" He yelled standing up his temper flaring as little boys so often did.

"Don't raise your voice at me," I said as calmly as I could manage him, please not another fight...

"Why shouldn't I Elli? You're not my Mom, and you're not any better as a sister either!" He was screaming now.

"You know very well Mom and-"

"You're the worst sister ever!" he insisted running out the door leaving me behind. I wish that I could get the words out of my mouth to yell at him, say something anything… Yet instead fresh tears welled up in my eyes and my emotions started to over whelm me in just two words. "Worst sister..." his voice echoed in my head.

As I've said before I try I really do, and yet I was still the somehow worst sister ever... Although I know his out-bursts aren't exactly uncommon for his age and his lack of actual parental guidance is easy to understand as well, a kid like himself was confused, upset, devastated even, but was I really the worst sister?

I probably sat there mad at myself thinking about that outburst among many others for a good ten minutes before, the realization of the temper tantrum throwing eight year old running through the town. I wiped my face off with the rim of my apron, and headed out to look for him.

Stu had only few places he would go to each day; the Church, May's house and the pond. But today none of them housed the little boy. Panic struck through me at first, I did my best to calm the feeling. Mineral Town was a small town he couldn't have gone far, I tried to reassure myself.

I was just about to go and recruit helpers in my search when I passed by the beach, the one place that in my search was left unchecked. I headed out to the sand eyeing the beach; the waves were lapping at the empty shore. Again panic was forced through me, I was about to turn around right there to get Karen and maybe Rick as well when Zach and Won's little beach shack caught my eye. Could Stu have gone their store? It was defiantly the last place I would check; it would be smart of him…

I rushed over the sand and swung the door open hopefully and no Stu. All I could see was a startled Won behind a little cardboard box that looked as if it had just washed up on the beach minutes ago.

"Elli?" his eyes widened before fluttering down once again to regain his composure. I flinched a little I never liked Won, I'd only seen him at a few festivals, and he was always shady and always trying to sell you something.

"Err-yes I-"

"Oh Elli I knew you'd come!" He eyes brighten look at me, I must say I was rather scared. "You see I just got this new item in stock and I just knew you would lov-"

"No," I replied curtly not wanting to deal with any of his scandals at the moment. "Have you seen Stu? My brother, he has short black hair and uhh."

"Oh..." his face fell. "No I haven't seen him. But I might have something that would help you sear-"

"No thank-you," I replied quickly easing out the door, away from Won. Zach would have been more helpful if he had been the one home but I had had no such luck. The next place my eyes looked was to a smaller run-down shack next to Won's that I hadn't noticed before on my scarce trips to the beach. Though the condition of the building proved it had been there for quite some time now, I found myself drawing a blank on what it was completely.

I walked out to it the building, peeking my head it's through its rather crippled door. Inside old none matching tables were sprawled out randomly across the room. It had cheap chipping paint on its walls, which looked like it was carelessly thrown on summers ago. And I was taken back, what exactly was this place?

"Welcome to the Snack Shack!" a voice greeted me with a rather cheery disposition that jolted me from my thoughts.

"Huh?" I looked up my eyes searching for the voice's owner, my eyes landed on a man at the far end of the dimly lit shack. Kai, I'd only seen him once before at a summer swimming festival two years back. He was new to Mineral Town then, and was being raved about by nearly every girl in Mineral Town; it hadn't ever made much difference to me. I'd only seen him from the distance that year; I had only been there for one man, Trent. To cheer him on in his first and last swimming festival, I'd convinced him to show up against his will. It hadn't exactly gone perfectly.

Up until now I suppose the purple bandanna wearing beach bum just slipped my mind. "Oh," I mumbled in a failed attempt to covering up my earlier mistake. I took a few steps forward to get closer to the counter where he stood, to get a better look at him.

"Why hello there," he smiled flirtatiously at me I was taken back at first.

"Err, hi." I managed lamely.

"Here to buy something? New customer gets the first thing they order free." He winked a little, I tried told to believe imagined it remembering Popuri's earlier claims, whether they still applied or not I did not care.

"No thank you. Actually I'm on a search for a little boy. He's got black hair, about yay high, umm."

"Oh, no I haven't," he replied looking a mix between confused and disappointment. "Is he your son?"

I could feel my eyes all but bulge out of my head, "son?"

"Oh uh…"

"Try my little brother." I replied insulted, "I suppose you haven't seen him. I'll be on my way then," I said briskly turning to leave, when a firm hand caught my wrist. A quick tingling sensation slowly worked up my arm through my body. "Wha-"

"Sorry," he interrupted, making me turn to see his purple eyes staring back at me.

"Oh?" I replied pulling my hand away putting a good two feet separation again.

"I mean not many girls would wear something so…"

"So what…" I challenged.

"Conservative unless married..." he finished.

"Conservative? Listen up and listen good city-boy." I said my voice even surprising me with growing aggravation. "Your-"

"No I didn't mean it like that!" he protested.

I glared at him; he laughed which could only make me even more furious. "I don't have to put up with this," I nearly growled sweeping out of the shack faster than his mind could register to catch me. His footsteps could be heard clumsily following me just stopping at the door.

"Miss, I didn't mean too-"I ignored him fuming as I stalked off the beach. I had all but for got about my flighty little brother until I hit the center of the plaza. What was I going to do with about him? The first person I to walk into the plaza after me was Rick, who walking home from the Supermarket.

"Rick!" I called and he could hear the urgency in my voice as he came swiftly over I asked him about Stu.

"Yes I saw him not long ago actually, he was looking for you. Said something about a fight, and that he was going to go ask May."

"Thank you Rick," I exclaimed almost hugging him at my luck. Before running off down the brick path to Yodel Ranch, I could only faintly hear his muffled good-bye. I knocked on the door, feeling like I waiting forever to be greeted by Barley the older man who ran the ranch. "Hi Barley," I smiled.

"Hello Elli, I haven't seen you in a while. Are you searching for Stu?"

"Yes I am how'd you know?" I asked.

He laughed that old husky thing I so commonly used by older folks. "You just missed him. I must say he was quite ruffled up about you. I hope you don't mind but I sent him and May off with a few dollars for snow cones at the beach, I figured it would help calm him down."

"Oh that's very generous of you," I breathed happy Stu was at least getting his mind of things. "Thank you."

"No problem, Elli. Would you like me to send him home to you, once they get back?"

"Yes, that would be very helpful. Thanks again Barley."

"No problem," he smiled. We said our good-byes and I was off on a calmer more peaceful pace as I walked back to the house. Again dinner was probably going to be late, not like Stu was going to enjoy it anyway after he finished his snow cone. I still didn't know what I was going to do with him once he got home, but I supposed I'd figure it out as it happened.

I was just pulling out the dinner chicken and freshly cut vegetables, when the door bell rang. "I'll get it Grandma," I called not wanting her to waste her energy on such a simple thing as getting the door. Setting the chicken on the counter top I came to the door, in front of me for the second day today stood Barley.

"Hello again Barley, is something the matter?" I asked.

He shook his head no, and pointed to the little figure standing behind him. "I'm just ensuring a Stu got home safely." He replied, and I cocked my head to the side. The sun was setting but it was still fairly visible among the sky, an escort really wasn't necessary.

I nodded to Stu to get in the house he hesitated, before he walked inside to Grandma. "That was very kind of you Barley but I don't think it was exactly necessary to-"

"He's still a little ruffled up," he replied. "Just wanted to make sure he'd made in here, no pit-stops you know. He already asked to stay over the night at my house."

"Is he that scared I'm going to be mad?" I asked eyes wide.

Barley shrugged, "I think he's just trying to avoid an apology for whatever it is he's done. He's young," Barley laughed.

I smiled weakly mad at myself for not having my brother know I'd forgive him no matter what he's done, I was even embarrassed a little even. But at least it was Barley, he does know Stu almost as well as I do, it was Stu's second home over at Barley's anyway.

"Well thanks again Barley that was very considerate of you."

"Your welcome Miss Elli," he smiled walking away. For some reason the way he said Miss bugged me.

I knew it was common courtesy especially for an older man to refer to a young lady. But for some reason it made me feel old. Like a woman who's already settled. "Is he your son?" Kai's voice rang.

I'm nineteen years old; my life isn't even a quarter of what most Mineral Town citizen's ages are. Why did I feel like I was already an adult like I was being pressured into more maturity than the other girls around here? Popuri was my age and she wasn't a 'Miss' as well as Karen… why was I so different?

"Stop letting all the bugs in," Ellen called from inside, knocking me from my thought process.

"Right sorry Grandma," I replied slipping back inside door closing neatly behind me. I served our dinner; it was a silent dinner no one really talked. I myself was lost in my thoughts, but it didn't seem to matter to my dinner companions. Stu was playing with his food looking awkward and Grandma just look preoccupied. When dinner had finished I was surprised to find Stu helping along side me with washing and drying the dishes as well as cleaning up the table, something I normally have to twist his arm to do.

"Elli?" he asked as he was drying off a dinner plate. "Are you still mad at me?"

I sighed, my many thoughts coming to an end at his question. "No Stu, I'm not mad. Though I really wish you wouldn't speak to me the way you did…"

"I know Elli I'm sorry…" he mumbled eyes to the ground. Though that small gesture seemed to perk him up with in a few seconds, it was as if the worry he'd held through dinner was now lifted from his shoulders as he perked up. "Elli?" he asked again this time voice more hopeful.

"Yes."

"Tomorrows the first Wednesday of the Month and you remember that promise…"

"Yes Stu, I told you I'd take you and May hiking nothings changed," I smiled.

"That's good, but actually I was wondering about something else about the hike."

"Oh?" I asked stopping with the plate I was holding. "And what would that be?"

"Well Grandpa Barley gave me and May money to go to the beach today," he replied. I was trying to piece together what this was going to have to do with the hike. "We got talking to Kai the shop owner he's really cool," he continued making me cringed remembering my encounter with him earlier today. "And well I invited him to come on the hike tomorrow." Stu looked to the ground as if the titles that lay beneath his feet were the most fascinating thing in the world.

Kai was coming on tomorrows hike, the rude purple bandanna wearing beach guy that has only been the start of my problems.

Well I warned you there was a lot of plot building and character building in this chapter and it wasn't the most fun or exciting to write, but I hope you liked it.

I can't wait to write about the hike in next chapter I have a feeling it's going to be a real fun one to write, so I hope your looking forward to it.

Please review as well I'm getting many views but so little reviews so please don't be shy to post I love every review I get! (:

There were no real big 'unpredictables' in this chapter I'm sad to say, but I'm sure you can find a few if you look hard. So again thanks ever so much for reading it means the world and I'm sorry for my constant rambling. Haha

-Lorelei547(: