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

Another fast update, I must say I'm rather proud of myself. (: I don't know how long I'll be able to keep up these fast updates but I'm happy for them right now.

That you so such of all of you who have been reviewing RegretfulMemory, Awesome Rapidash, Sugarapplesweeet; and Ninny na. It means so much to me you guys are reading what I write, I hoping you're enjoying The Unpredictable as much as I am writing it. I have many ideas in store and I can't wait to put them into play.

Depending on how much you look I believe there should be atleast 2 'Unpredictables' in this chapter, so tell me if you find em. (:

Once again thank you for reading and reviewing!

Enjoy! (:

Chapter 3

The dim light of morning rose in the window by my bedside, I lay there tucked in a few minutes the realization of the day I had ahead of me was now lingering above my head. A mixture if feelings were sprawled around me to say the least.

The clock beside my bedside read 8:03 in its red numbers and I stumbled out of bed, my covers twisting around me. My bedroom was small, just big enough to fit my bed and a few buriers its walls were painted with the same shade of baby blue I'd picked out when I was younger. I'd once considered moving in the extra room at the clinic to be closer to my patients but the idea was short lived as soon as my grandmother had become more ill. It was quite clear to me my real patient that needed my time was her as well as my younger brother, Stu.

I pulled on my usual attire heading out to the kitchen to fix breakfast a platter of eggs and bacon. Stu was just rising for his sleep sitting down at the table to help himself to his meal. Ellen, my grandmother was still asleep and probably wouldn't wake up for a good hour or two, so I left her some breakfast heated up in the oven for her. As I finished up breakfast, Stu was getting impatient.

"Ellliiii are you ready yet?? I told Kai and May we'd meet them in the plaza at nine," he complained.

"Do you want to have a lunch later on today or not?" I retorted stuffing a turkey sandwich in a brown paper bag.

He groaned in response putting his head on the table, "I'm dying," he muttered his voice slightly muffled from the wood that lay in front of his mouth. I ignored him continuing on with our lunches before informing Stu I was ready to go. "Finally!" he rasped jumping down from his chair and heading out the door faster than I could watch.

I followed out the door with him to find myself bumping right into the back of my friend Karen who was turned to Stu who stood behind her. "Karen?" I exclaimed jumping back a little, "what are you doing here?"

"I was hoping you would join me and Rick for breakfast at the Inn," Karen explained. "Though it looks as if you two are busy with something else, where are you heading off to?"

"I promised I'd take May and Stu on a hike today," I explained.

Karen looked a little surprised and I couldn't exactly understand why her eyes looked me over, though she soon explained. "Elli, don't tell me you're planning to hike through the woods wearing that." I looked down at my dress apron included. I suppose it wasn't exactly the smartest thing to wear hiking, but I wasn't planning on going far just the set trails around the island, nothing strenuous.

"We're just going on the trails around Mineral Town up near Forget-Me-Not Valley," I explained trying to blow Karen off.

Karen rose an eyebrow and shook her head at me, "Elli I swear your as dense as Gray on a bad morning." I smiled at the mention of the young blacksmith. "Come on Elli and you too Stu we'll just take a quick pit-stop to the Supermarket."

"Karen I really don't think-" I stopped in mid protest realizing that no matter what I said it would have little affect on Karen what so ever. Once that girl had her mind set on something little could be be done to change it.

I followed her sluggishly, watching as Stu ran up trying to inform Karen of the time limit and how he was going to be late for our companions but she assured him with little to back her up that we'd be fine.

Leading us through the Supermarket to the back where Karen's family lived she sent Stu off to her father, Jeff and brought me into her room. I sat down on her bed watching her shift through her various articles of clothing.

"Karen I really don't like this," I started. "Your clothes aren't what I would wear any way. And I have some old jeans from years ago in my dresser at home I can wear there isn't a need to-"

"Found it!" Karen smiled successfully clearly not listening to anything I'd just told her. In her hands she held a pair of jean shorts along with a collared sleeveless light blue top with a lower neckline that made me nervous. "The shirts actually my Mom's," Karen told me. "But it should fit you fine and honestly it will do much better than that dress of yours your wearing."

I eyed the shorts that looked to short for my own comfort and looked back at Karen. "Karen," I tried again. "I really don't think I should, I'll just go change into my jeans I got a few years back and-"

"Jeans Elli?" she grabbed the remote sitting next to me on the bedside table and flipped onto the small Television sent that sat on a shelve in the corner of the room.

The weather was on and the brunette on it was speaking, "today will be starting out the summer with an easy seventy degrees working up with the humidity level to well up to ninety degrees as the day goes on. Slight summer showers will be moving on as-"Karen click the screen off.

"You sure know how to pick a day to hike, ninety degrees Elli!" she stated sarcastically.

I bit my lip she had a point; I had little shorts in my dresser maybe one at that and the ones I did own were from when I was little probably not working much more help than Karen's now. "Fine," I caved. I took the clothes for her extended arms and went to the bathroom to change. I looked at the girl in the mirrors reflection, I glared at her. Though Karen was right the blue top did fit fine in theory, I was correct about the neck line and was struggling to pull it up. I felt the shorts didn't go down far enough to cover me properly and I found myself tugging them down self consciously on my pale legs. I was missing my dress more and more.

"Are you planning on getting out of my bathroom any time soon?" Karen called from outside the door. I gave my reflection one last glare before opening coming out to Karen who smiled at me. "You look just fine Elli, so stop glaring at me like that. You'll be thanking me later when you don't keel over from a heat stroke."

I rolled my eyes, "are you sure the shorts-"

"Elli your fine," Karen reassured me. "Now off you go."

I nodded sheepishly still tugging on the ends of the shorts still; I found Stu watching Jeff skim through all the bags of seeds as he informed him of each of the bags purposes. Stu looked like he was going to die of boredom as he was slouched over the counter probably barley listening as the store clerk uttered. "Come on Stu," I said.

"Elli," Jeff's eyes widened as he looked at me, making me blush. "Ah you look very nice," he nodded though Stu was more informative.

"Wow Elli," he said straightening up. "You look like Karen, only with shorter hair. Are you always going to dress like that now?"

"No," I informed him sternly. "But it is going to be very hot today so you better stay hydrated; I packed a lot of water so you'll drink it when I say so."

"You still a lot bossier than Karen," he mumbled and I tried to pretend I didn't hear him.

"Come on were running late," I told him. "Thanks for watching him Jeff, bye Karen."

"Your welcome!" Karen yelled and I rolled my eyes, I didn't thank her.

"We're running late," Stu grumbled.

"Oh really what time is it?"

"Almost nine thirty."

"Oh well then, yes we are," I nodded.

We walked into the plaza, to see both Kai and May seated at the far bench away from the Sasha, Anna and Manna who were about gossiping as usual. "Is that my shirt?" I heard Sasha saying as we passed by and groaned internally. I wished much I hadn't bumped into Karen this morning. Apparently I should have wished harder from the look on Kai's face as we came up to them.

"Hi Stu; hi Elli," May smiled jumping down from her seat on the bench to meet us.

"Hi Stu," Kai smiled to the boy before his gaze came up to meet mine. "I have to say I couldn't quite recognize you without that dress," he smirked.

"Yeah well that makes two of us," I muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing lets get going," I replied, "We're running late as is."

"I'll say," Kai spoke. "What took you so long?"

"Karen dragged us to the Supermarket," Stu said. "I think Elli sort of looks like Karen with shorter hair now don't you think?"

"I think Elli looks very pretty," May said smiling up at me, I tried to smile back to her but I was too flustered from all the attention on me. I tried to think of a way to change the subject allowing ideas to flick through me head.

"Yes she does," Kai's voice spoke his eyes flicking back it me I froze.

"Let's just start already," I said starting to walk when Kai laughed I could feel my cheeks reddening. We were just walking past Yodel Ranch about to turn onto the path I was just about home free from any other comments about my attire when I heard my name being called.

"Elli is that you!" the voice called and I tensed looking up from the path where my eyes had been glued. Coming up from the path was Jack the farmer of Skywind Farm, Jack.

I froze I'd seen Jack plenty of times before, he quite enjoyed his work from what I could tell. H on several occasions ended up in the Clinic under Trent and I's care because of it in the few seasons he's lived here. "Er yeah, hey Jack," I managed out of my mouth my hands automatically finding their way back to the ends of my shorts tugging on them.

He walked up to me that ridiculous smile of his carried on his face. "Wow I'm so used to you in that dress of yours; it's a little different to see you out of it."

"Yea well that's what you get when Karen forces you into her household," I replied with a light hint of bitterness in my voice, he picked up on it.

"Don't like the outfit then?" he asked.

"No not really," I admitted.

He laughed, "where you heading?" he asked looking past my shoulder to the nearing gang behind me I had rushed ahead.

"A hike," I replied.

"With Kai and the kids," Jack laughed again.

"Yes I promised Stu I would," I replied.

"I didn't know you and Kai got along," Jack inquired.

I didn't reply.

"Oh, you don't' exactly want to go then?"

"Honestly no I'd rather be home, but it shouldn't be that bad a few trails on a nice summer day right?"Jack smiled, "what?" I asked.

"Nothing you just clearly don't know Kai well," he replied casually though I found nothing casual about it.

"Would you like to trade lives for the day?" I asked.

"I'd love to," Jack smiled. "But unless you'd like to go deal with Siabara and Gray about this sickle they upgraded for me then go off mining for a few hours I might just have to stay here."

I smiled nodding that I'd probably pass. Jack was a nice man, though he was very into his work constantly running about to do this or that. I could relate in a sense, though my work require little physical demand it was fairly busy.

"Jack!" Kai's voice called his footsteps hurrying as he came up to meet us. "Hey Jack where you heading off to?" he asked.

"Blacksmiths," Jack replied pointing to the sickle in his hand. "I asked to get it repaired a few days ago and here it is broken again."

Kai made a face, "sounds like Gray's day is going to get a lot tougher in the next few minutes."

"With Siabara as a mentor, yes it would probably be so." Jack agreed. "Well have fun on your hike; I should be going they'll be opening up soon."

"Alrightie," Kai smiled slipping his arm around my shoulder. "We should be off as well."

Jack's eyes followed his arm around my shoulder and I tried to shrug it off as an awkward silence pitched the air. "Bye Jack," I attempted to smile as I finally dislodging Kai's hand to glare at him.

"Don't do that," I told him sternly and he just laughed making my irritation grow.

"Come on guys!" Stu shouted from the end of the path, May was on his heals.

We followed, allowing Stu and May to lead us through the trails up to Mothers Hill it was a silent walk we all knew the trail rather well and I knew I wasn't exactly in the mood to rush a conversation with any of them.

We were just about to turn onto the trail that would take us up the side of the mountain toward the rarely visited Forget-Me-Not-Valley at the other side of the island when Kai spoke up.

"How about we go that way?" he asked pointing his finger to the forest away from the trail.

"There's no trail for that," I replied.

"Why don't we make our own trail," he inquired.

"Because we'll have no way of knowing where we are going," I replied.

"Well why must we know?" he challenged. "Elli haven't you ever took the road less traveled? Live a little why don't you."

"Yea Elli," Stu smiled my jaw dropped and I could hear Kai chuckling.

"Maybe Elli's right," May chirped in. "What if we get lost?"

"Then we point in a direction and follow it," Kai insisted. "We're on an island with a town at one end and a valley on the other; it's not all that difficult."

May didn't look reassured and neither was I. "Kai I think we should stay on the trail," I insisted.

"Me too," May nodded.

"Oh come on May way to be a girl," Stu stuck his tongue out at her. This seemed to get to May as she now looked more hesitant.

"I am a girl," she replied weakly.

"Well you don't have to be such a wus about it like Elli," Stu retorted and I felt his stab.

"I'm not a wus," both May and I retorted together. And Kai was chuckling on the side.

"Prove it," Kai added to the fire, I glared at him but May took the bait.

"Fine I'll go," May said crossing her arms over her chest.

"Elli?" Stu asked.

I looked from each face to the next May's uncertain, Kai's amused and Stu's hopeful. "Fine," I muttered, "I'll go."

"Yay!" Stu jumped up and down running over the give a high five to Kai. We set off through the forest and not a minute into the woods I found myself already being snagged by roots and stickers struggling trying to maintain my balance as I fell behind the group I knew this tail was a bad idea.

Kai looked back to me from where he walked up near Stu and May and jogged effortlessly back to me, "looks like someone's having a little trouble back here."

"Yea I wonder whose fault that is," I replied.

"Ouch," he fakes a winced. "What happened to the sweet little Mineral Town nurse?" he asked.

"Oh so now you do know who I am," I said referring to yesterday.

His eyes closed lips pressed together; I tripped struggling to catch my balance. His firm arms catching me in mid stumble, "I said I was sorry for that," he stated his eyes looking directly at me in all seriousness.

I pulled away, from his grasp and looked away up to the two bickering kids in front of us.

"Ah the silent treatment," he smirked. "Can't say I deserve but I'll take it if it'll stop your gawking."

"You don't deserve it? How can you not deserve it?" I asked in disbelief.

He laughed, and I glared at him again. "Stop laughing at me it's quiet annoying," I replied my voice tight.

"Sorry," he laughed and it was hard to tell if he really meant it or not.

"It's just you look really cute when your so flustered," he explained and my cheeks flushed red. My eyes darted to the ground, the air growing silent.

"Elli! Kai come look at this!" Stu's loud voice called from ahead of us.

I looked over at Kai but he was already running off ahead of me to see what the two kids had found. I followed at a slower pace, thinking of all the things that could excite Stu so easily and if I really was really interesting at all.

"Look at it," May gasped as I came into ear-shot of the three. "Isn't it beautiful," in front of us was a small field of flowers with a few boulders placed in the center. It looked as if someone had placed them there just for human purposes plowing out the trees and everything.

"It's a good place to stop and eat lunch," Stu said eying me hungrily.

"I guess it wouldn't hurt it's probably almost noon any way," I replied I couldn't believe how the time had flown by. So we all settled down on the rocks opening up our packed lunches, and digging into to our well earned lunches.

"Wow Kai your lunch looks amazing!" Stu admired the hoagie that Kai had placed in his hands. And I had to agree the sandwich did look fairly good. "Did you stop by the Inn to get it?" Stu asked.

Kai laughed, "No I made it."

"You can cook?" May asked taking a bite of her own ham and cheese sandwich.

"Well I don't just own the Snack Shack to serve ice cream," Kai laughed. Stu looked surprised and May gave a shrug biting into her sandwich again.

"I thought men didn't cook," said Stu and I glared at him.

"Now that's not polite Stu," I said.

"It's okay," Kai replied. "Men can cook Stu it's a very good skill to have, you can't expect a woman to depend on you and cook for you your whole life you know."

Stu looked at him a little unsure on how to take him. "You sound like Elli," he decided on.

And for what it seemed like the second time to many today I felt all three of my companions look at me. "What?" I asked.

"You like to cook?" Kai asked.

"Well yes," I replied.

"She makes all of me and Grandma's meals," Stu replied finally taking his first bite out of his sandwich.

Kai's eyebrows rose at me but he stayed silent, and I felt suddenly awkward. I'd spent most of the day thinking of how I might be better off somewhere else only taking in slight observations of the senses around me and tripping over various objects I had hadn't much time to take in what I felt. I'd been rather numb to any feeling except annoyance and yet now there was something different all in that one gesture of Kai's eyes. Not even the slight compliment he had given me earlier flustered me more, what did he mean by that movement of his eyes?

"Well I'm done," Stu announced wiping his mouth on his sleeve, just as I'd told him thousands of times before not to do.

"Me too," Kai nodded though May and I still pecked at our food, still enjoying our time in the field.

"You guys are slow," Stu muttered.

"Oh don't bug 'em Stu. How about we have a race?" Kai asked.

"Okay," Stu perked up.

"Now where too," Kai thought out loud fingering his chin.

"How about to the wear those rocks are way down there," Stu pointed. I looked over following his finger to see a large span of trees and other shrubs which lead out to a few scarce boulders. Beyond that I couldn't see I could only guess it was because of the distance.

"You're on," Kai smiled. "Ready… set… go!"

The two dashed off and I looked over to May. "Boys are silly," she giggled. And I laughed a little.

"Oh?"

"Yes," she smiled. "The heats almost getting unbearable out here and there they are running off. It doesn't seem smart."

"No it doesn't," I agreed finishing up my lunch and the water bottle I had packed. May was right the humidity was setting in, but the odd thing was the sun wasn't shinning through the bright canopy of trees above us as I would have expected it to. Instead I looked up to see heavy storm clouds were filling the sky above us. "Oh no," I mused watching the sky.

"Wha-"May started to question my words when a loud cracking sound split the air followed by Stu's loud scream.

"Stu!"I yelled getting up within seconds.

"Help!" Kai's loud voice boomed from over the horizon.

Fear pierced through me, my heart pounding. "Come on May!" I almost shrieked running though the forest in their direction. For the second time today I wanted to thank Karen, there is no way I could have dashed through a forest of trees in my dress. Though there was no time for that my only thought now was Stu, and fast. What was going on?

Cliffhanger I know, but I'll hopefully be keeping up my updating pace to fill you guys in soon.

Until then please review and thanks for reading!

-Lorelei547(: