Colder Weather
ChelseaxVaughn
I'm pretty sure that my niece hates me. :/ Every time I hold her she cries, and it seems that no matter what I do she won't shut up. I swear I'm never having kids…
Just so you know, after I finish my other story (it has one chapter left) I'm taking a break for about 3 months, so this will be my last update for a while.
Thanks for reviewing HersheyChoco101! :)
Contest info at the bottom….
**()**
The door swung shut with a loud bang as he walked across the freshly fallen snow. He had always meant to fix it for her, but now he didn't have time.
Inside the house, they were all still frozen in the moment he had told them, the words escaping from his lips before he could stop them. Mirabelle had been making tea; the pot now sat on the heated stove whistling furiously while she cried quietly into a handkerchief. Julia had been sprawled out on the floor, wrestling with a very reluctant Elliot. Now he held her as the tears streamed down her cheeks. But Chelsea sat on the couch, the usual smile gone replaced by shock and pain.
And then she started running. She practically tripped over Elliot, who wisely scooted him and his girlfriend out of the way. She wrenched the door open and stumbled down the steps, leaving the door wide open as the frigid air seeped in. The farmer didn't seem to notice that she wasn't wearing a coat as she dashed madly for the docks.
"Vaughn!" Chelsea could see him crossing the old wooden boards to the boat. He stopped momentarily, but didn't look back. She scrambled across the beach, desperate to get to him before the boat drifted away. Luckily, she arrived at the dock just before the Captain could make the final call and pull up the gangplank, "Vaughn please don't leave!" She begged, looking up at him with wide pleading eyes.
He leaned against the railing, hungrily taking her face in with his eyes for the last time, "I can't Chelsea," He sighed, regretting every word, 'I've been given another assignment. Another town needs me."
"So?" she blinked back tears, "You're the Animal Dealer for the island. This town needs you too Vaughn, I need you!"
In the distance, Vaughn could see other villagers approaching, and he was glad the Chelsea wouldn't be alone, "My boss is sending another trader in a few weeks. He's supposedly good at what he does, so I'm sure your animals will be fine."
"That's not what I meant!" By this time, Mark had reached the farmer and took her elbow to prevent her from doing anything stupid.
Vaughn reached out to touch her one last time, but the boat jolted, moving away from the docks and he had to withdraw his hand, "Get inside," He called, noticing that she wasn't wearing a jacket, "You're going to get sick if you aren't careful."
"V-vaughn wait!" She cried out, struggling against his friends.
"You'll be fine," He said, more to himself than to Chelsea.
"But I-" Her next words were drowned out by the waves that slapped against the boat. All that Vaughn could do was smile grimly at her before disappearing below deck.
**()**
Two Seasons Later
That town turned out to be a bust. The farmers there were either too old or too stupid to take care of the animals so Vaughn left quickly. But by then it was too late. Sunshine Islands had a new trader and Chelsea had probably gotten over him long ago.
Vaughn spent his time working on his old man's ranch. He absolutely loathed it there and left the moment he was given a new assignment. This new town was small, more like a village, and his client stank like an onion, but the job paid well. And at least this rancher actually knew what he was doing.
He was in the town's only café one morning getting something to drink before having to go to work. Vaughn didn't look up at the waitress as she sauntered over to his table, although lots of other men where, "I'd just like a glass of milk," He said, handing her the menu." He said, handing her the menu.
"Sure thing," He froze. That voice. For the first time he looked up at her, staring into deep blue eyes.
"Chelsea?"
The woman blinked curiously and tilted her head to the side, "I'm sorry," She smiled apologetically, "Who?"
When he realized it wasn't her, he pulled his hat low over his eyes, "I thought you were someone else."
"Oh?" She slid into the booth across from him, "Your girlfriend?'
He shook his head, wishing she would leave, "Not anymore. I… left her."
"Oooh, I just love a sad story," The waitress folded her hands together and rested her chin against them, "Tell me more.'
Vaughn scowled at her. On normal occasions, he would've told her to fuck off, but then again, she probably wouldn't leave anyways…
**()**
Julia and Natalie were waiting outside of Chelsea's house. Julia wrung her hands nervously, while Natalie paced to and fro on the porch; every few minutes or so, both would glance at the door. Finally the door opened and the doctor stepped out.
"How is she?" Julia asked, practically tackling the poor man.
He shook his head, "I'm afraid that she's steadily getting worse. She might last till winter if she doesn't push it. There's nothing else I can do."
"I can't believe she never told us that she was sick!" Natalie exploded glaring in the general direction of Chelsea's bedroom, where the girl was lying bedridden.
The doctor sighed, "She didn't want anyone to know," He explained, "When she moved her I begged her to take it easy, but she flat out refused."
Julia clung to his arm, "Isn't there anything we can do?"
He patted her shoulder gently, "I'm afraid not. All I can say is to make her as comfortable as you can and let her family know. That's all I can tell you." He slowly walked away, leaving the 2 girls alone.
"Do you think he knew?" Natalie asked darkly, glaring out at the ocean where Vaughn was last seen.
Julia shook her head, "No, because he would've never left."
"Nat? Jules?" Called a weak voice from the house. Immediately the 2 ran inside to see Chelsea leaning against the bedroom doorframe.
"Chelsea!" Julia gasped, running to her friend, "You're not supposed to be up!"
"Sorry," The frail girl murmured leaning against her for support. Natalie came over and together they carried her back to room and into her bed.
Julia pulled the covers over her and gently tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, "Don't worry," She cooed, "We'll take care of the farm for you," She turned to go do just that, but Chelsea grabbed her hand.
"Julia, I want to see him," She begged, "Just one last time."
Julia glanced at Natalie, who grimaced, "Why of all peopled, do you want to see him?" She snapped.
"I have to tell him," She whispered, "Please."
Julia squeezed her hand, "We'll see what we can do."
**()**
Winter
"You should call her," Vaughn looked up from the horse he was examining at Nicki, the waitress. The horse had a strange limp and his client wanted him to look at it. All that had happen was that there was a rock stuck in a shoe, an easy fix.
"Call who?" He asked, wiping sweat from his brow. Even though it was winter, the climate here stayed surprisingly warm.
"You know who," Nicki pressed, holding out a cellphone, "I bet she misses you."
Ever since Vaughn had told her about Chelsea, she hadn't shut about her or Sunshine Island.
"What's the point?" He asked, stroking the horse's mane, "She probably forgot about me.'
Nicki pranced over to the horse's other side and peered over the animal's back at him, "Then make her remember. I know you miss her Vaughn. I can see it in your eyes," She smiled softly, "You look so distant all the time, but whenever you talk about her, I see a light in you I've never seen before. She's waiting for you Vaughn, I know it."
He sighed and rolled his eyes, "What makes you think that? I hurt her, left her, she hates me now.
She holds the phone out again, "Please, just try."
Vaughn mumbled under his breath, but grabbed it from her. If it would make her shut up… He stepped outside to dial.
It amazed him that he could still remember the number. But then again, Chelsea had recited it to him for 3 months and then finally followed him home to his apartment and refused to leave until he wrote it out and stuck it on his fridge. He smiled to himself as he hit 'Call'. That's how it all started; after that, she called frequently when he was away and followed him around when he was on the island. It used to annoy him, but he put it off as the farmer just wanted to take better care of her livestock. But then he actually started to enjoy it. Their conversations started to stray away from work and they began to spend more time together. And then the uncomfortable phase started where neither knew really what to say without feeling stupid and it only ended when Vaughn finally kissed her. Things didn't change much after that, except Chelsea seemed more cheerful and even he looked happier…
He was brought out of his daydreaming by someone answering the phone, although it wasn't who he was expecting, "Hello? Who is this?" The voice seemed exhausted, as if they hadn't got much sleep in the past few weeks.
"Julia?" Vaughn was confused. How did he get the Livery Store and Chelsea's phone numbers mixed? He was so sure that he remembered it.
"Vaughn?!" On the other side there was a muffled bang, and he had the brief impression that she must have knocked over a chair or furniture in her shock, "Where are you? How have you been? Why haven't you called? How could you do this to Chelsea?!"
"I already know I'm an asshole," He said impatiently. He really didn't want to talk to his exclient's daughter, "Are you at the store?"
There's a brief murmur as Julia conversed with someone else before she's back on the phone, "No, I'm at Chelsea's."
"Then could you put her on?" He asked, slightly irritated. Why was she answering the phone anyways?
"I don't think that's a good idea," There's more murmuring and she sighed, "Okay, fine I'll let you talk. But you better not hurt her again Vaughn," She warned, "Now is not a good time…"
There's a brief pause and he hears a shuffling noise and then…
"Vaughn?"
To Be Continued
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Contest Information:
Luke: Zack Fair- Final Fantasy VII Crisis Core
Gill: Toshiro Hitsugaya- Bleach
Luna: Yui –Angel Beats
Chase: Hikaru or Kaoru- Ouran High School Host Club
Maya: Honey- OHSHC
Renee: Lopsey Loo- Tickety Toc (This one is kinda iffy for me since I can't find anything about the snail or whatever it is)
Characters that you can use: Molly, Angela, Selena, Phoebe, Candace, Kathy, Kasey, Kevin, Calvin, Toby, Julius, Owen, Anissa, and Jin