Note: Haha! I'm writing these chapters rather quick. Or at least, quicker than I used to. Hope you like it!

Chapter Three

Feelings

Marlin's POV

"Who's shaking me?" I asked aloud. My eyes were still closed, since I was trying to sleep , but some bimbo was making it impossible.

"Who do you think?" I heard a booming voice answer my question.

"Vesta," I mumbled. I shouk've known it would be her. Celia's too kind to wake me up in suck a harsh way. Stupid Vesta.

"Duh." She slapped my back. I think she meant to be playful, but with her man-hands, she put me in a lot of pain. "Ouch." I said quietly, rubbing my back. "Now get up! It's already seven forty five!" I thought Vesta was yelling, but it was just her voice being so loud and deep that I thought that.

"What? I thought you said you were gonna let me sleep in?"

Vesta laughed. "I did!" Almost two hours!" I moaned. "Four or five or even six hours is sleeping in. Not two. You big oaf."

"Aw shut your trap and get up."

"What a great way to start my birthday." I started mumbling as I slowly got out of bed. Vesta must have heard me, because she said, "Stop your mutterin' and get up! The special birthday breakfast Celia made you is gonna get cold!"

Celia made me breakfast? I mean, she makes meals all the time but never a special breakfast. I sprang into action, getting ready as fast as I could. I wanted to look nice for Celia. Combing my curly hair, I watched as Celia came inside from the door.

"Oh, good morning Marlin." She spoke quietly, a smile appearing on her beautiful face. "Happy birthday." Her smile caused my to form a goofy grin. Celia's smile turned into a frown. "Are you alright?" She asked, concerned.

"Whuh?" My grin must have looked pretty stupid if it made me look sick or something. "Oh. Yeah, I'm fine. Great, actually."

"Oh, alright then." Celia went to sit down at the kitchen table. I watched her watch me. Was there something on my face? Was there a spot on my shirt? Why was she staring at me? I finished mixing my hair and continued to stare at Celia. "What?" I asked, grumpily.

"Well, um," Celia looked like I had scared her. "Aren't you going to eat? I-I made you french toast, with fresh strawberries."

"Oh." I felt real stupid right then. Getting all mad for nothing, what was wrong with me? "Right." I cleared my throat.

While I ate, Vesta went outside to work on the fields. Celia ate with me. It was mainly a silent conversation, except for when I thanked her for the food. At first I wondered how this was a 'special breakfast'. It was just plain french toast with some strawberries. After a while I thought more positively. It's special because it's from Celia. I smiled, in my head. It was too hard to smile for real.

Once we finished eating, Celia and I walked outside to start work. Vesta wasn't in the fields. I guess she was in the store room. I decided that I didn't really want to see her ugly mug right now, so I went in stood in some shade. The crops were all watered. There wasn't much to do with them right now.

A few moments later, Vesta came out of the store room with a large basket. There was a piece of cloth over it, making whatever was in there unable to see. Vesta walked toward me and handed me the large basket. It was heavy. I gave her a puzzled look. What the hell was this for? She sighed.

"Take it to Claire. I thought I told you that you would have to do this today, stupid."

"What? When?"

"Last night. Remember?" Vesta rolled her eyes at me. I looked over at Celia. Maybe she would defend me, but she was watching the plants.

"I am not taking this stupid basket to that twit." I said coldly while handing the basket back to Vesta. I'm not your freaking delivery boy!" I crossed my arms, showing Vesta there was no way I was delivering stuff for her. No way.

Vesta threw me a harsh glare. I knew I was in for it, but I wasn't going to lose this fight.

Claire's POV

Oh my God, who is knocking on my door? I'm trying to sleep here! God, what time is it? I'm going to shoot whoever comes and bugs a girl while she's trying to sleep. I got out of bed, mumbling things to myself as I walked toward the door. Honestly, who knocks on a door this early? What is it, like seven o'clock? I opened the door with a sour look on my face. When I saw who was trying to talk to me at seven a.m., I wanted to shoot myself.

It was Marlin.

Marlin! What did he want? He's annoying enough as it is, now he's waking me up early for some stupid reason I'm sure. I glared at him, hoping to scare him off, but he just stared at me. I glared more. The glare and my sour face should scare him off. It worked with Mayor Thomas back in Mineral Town. But I got a different reaction than expected. Marlin started laughing at me. He was laughing!

"Wha-?" I began to ask what was so damn funny.

"Oh...my...God!" He laughed even harder. He dropped a basket down on the floor. I hadn't noticed that he had anything in his hands. "That was the ugliest thing I have ever seen!" He laughed, and laughed, and laughed some more. What a jerk. I'm sure I didn't look that bad.

"Do you need something?" I asked coldly.

Marlin continued chuckling as he explained that Vesta wanted to give me a 'Welcome' basket. He didn't sound too happy about having to come give it to me though.

"Aw how sweet. That was so nice of her." I rambled on and on about how nice Vesta was. I didn't get a gift when I moved to Mineral Town, so of course I would find it sweet. "At least someone in your family has manners." I muttered.

"Hey! Don't bug me today. It's bad enough that idiot made me deliver something to you. I don't need your crap." God, he was a jerk. "Especially on my birthday." He looked away and muttered.

"Oh." It was his birthday? Damn, there goes a ping of guilt. I guess I was kinda being a bit rude to him. "Well, do you, um, want to come in?" I asked quietly. I couldn't believe I just asked that, but it didn't matter. I don't wanna be mean to him on his birthday. Now any other day is fine, but not his birthday. Marlin stared at me. He seemed pretty shocked about what I asked too. "Um," He looked down at the floor and scratched the back of his head. "I guess."

"Alright." I hadn't expected him to say yes. "Lemme go and change." I didn't want to be sitting in my night gown with Marlin in my house. I think it would be weird.

Marlin rolled his eyes. "Typical." He sighed. "You ask me into your house and then you gotta change, making the birthday boy wait out here in the cold even longer than he has been."

"You know what, why don't you just shut up!" Marlin raised his eyebrows at me. There goes the guilt ping again. "Uh, sorry." I muttered. "I'll only be a second." I turned to go inside my house to change, but I heard Marlin mumbling.

"I'm waiting..."

Ugh! He was pissing me off. I turned saying, "You wanna be in the house with me in my nightgown?" I glared.

He gave me the once-over and gave me a disgusted look. "Ew, no. You tryin' to get me to skip town? Gross."

I felt a strong urge to smack him upside the head with the basket full of vegetables and fruit, but I didn't want to ruin them. "I'll just be a freaking second, damn." I turned and slammed the door in his face before he could mumble some more. What a butt head.

I set the basket down and went to the chest with all my overalls in it. I picked out the green pair and changed quickly. I also looked in the mirror, to see if Marlin was right about me looking awful. Maybe he was right...just a little. I combed my hair down and looked much better.

I sighed, opening the door to let the grump into my home. "See, that didn't take long did it?" I asked him.

"I guess not. I see you got some of the ugly off of you. But not much."

"Just shut up and get in, before I change my mind." I growled.

He walked into my house and looked around. "Nice place." He mumbled as if it was hard to give me a compliment.

"Um, thanks." I sat down on my bed, since there wasn't a place to sit at a table yet. Marlin just stood. It was pretty quiet. I didn't really have anything to say, and neither did he. I just stared at my bed while Marlin stared at the floor. It was getting slightly annoying.

"So" Marlin finally spoke up after clearing his throat. "Why exactly did you invite me in here? If your not gonna talk?"

I shrugged. "I guess I was just trying to be nice. It's your birthday, so, I guess all I really have to say is Happy Birthday." I thought now that I told him all I had to say, he would leave, but I was wrong, once again. He stayed in his spot, and muttered 'Thanks'.

I sighed. This isn't what I expected on my morning. I still have to water my plants too... I looked over in a corner of a room where I kept some of my CD's and a CD Player. I got up from my bed and walked over to the corner. I searched for a CD that I hadn't heard in forever. Once I found the CD I popped it into the Player and pressed Play. I walked over to my bed and laid down.

Marlin looked excited. "You like Blue October?"

"Heck yes!" I sat up and Marlin sat down on my bed. "They're really good."

"Wow, you like good music too." He looked away from me. "Who would've known?"

"What?" I was confused.

"Well, you like Blue October, which I think is good music, and you like Goddess Smiles, which is a good drink. I didn't think you of all people would have good tastes in stuff."

"Well, thanks. Glad to be appreciated by a grump like you." I teased, but he ignored my comment.

"What else do you like?"

"What do you mean?"

"Well, like, your favorite color, your favorite food, that kind of stuff."

I raised my brow. "Are you trying to get to know me or something? I mean just knowing all my favorite stuff isn't gonna help much."

Marlin shrugged. "Maybe if we like the same things, I'll be nicer to you."

"Well then," I flopped down, hitting the bed and sighing. "Where to begin? My favorite color is blue-"

"Blue's alright, but I like black better." He interrupted.

"I really like strawberries-"

"Yup there really good." I guessed that Marlin would be making comments on everything I said. The conversation went on for what seemed like hours, although I didn't really know, because I had no idea when he actually showed up at my house. I thought he came at seven-ish, but the way the light was showing outside my window, it could've been later.

After arguing about the scenery in Mineral Town (which was a lame discussion), Marlin started glancing around my house. "Don't you have a clock?"

I shook my head. "Sorry, I'm not loaded with money. But I do have a watch." I looked at the watch that Gray had given to me when we first started dating. It had a silver chain, and the watch had two emeralds in it. Emeralds were my favorite jewel, which Gray knew. It was a beautiful watch; I hadn't taken it off since Gray had given it to me, with the exception of showers and the hot springs.

"Holy crap! It's two forty five?!" I leaped up from my bed and grabbed my rucksack that was lying in the corner.

Marlin got up slowly from my bed. "You have somewhere to be?"

I was in a rush, so it took me some time to realize that he had asked me a question. Making sure that I had all my tools in my rucksack, I answered, "What? Oh, um no not really. I just have to get all my farm work done."

Axe. Check. Hammer. Check.

"Oh well uh, I'll help you, um, if you want of course."

"Huh?" I turned to see Marlin scratching his head. Why did he want to stay with me? "Don't you have to work on Vesta's farm?"

Watering Can. Check.

"She already finished all the work that needed to be done there. But if you don't want me to help out, I get it."

"Oh no, I could use your help. If you really want to help me out." Sickle. Check. And hoe. Check. "Alright then, let's go." I headed out the door, while Marlin followed.

Marlin's POV

I followed Claire out to her fields. There weren't many crops out there, although I knew she was just starting. There were tons of branches and stones though.

"Here." Claire handed me an axe. "Take this axe and go out there and chop up all the branches. Put them into a big pile too." I gave Claire the axe back. "Well I can't really-" I couldn't chop up branches. I was too weak from my illness. I didn't want Claire to see my fall on the floor like a big loser.

Although what did I care?

"Can't I just water the crops instead?" I asked hopefully.

Claire responded with an eye roll and searched her rucksack for the watering can. When she found it, she handed it to me. I got to work on watering the crops while Claire went and chopped branches.

I was the first one to finish, so when I was done I went and sat under a tree. I watched Claire work, and around three fourths of the way, Claire stopped and put her hair in a ponytail, then got back to work again.

Claire looks really good with her hair up.

Whoa. Did I really just think that? I can't get feelings for Claire...I hardly even know her. Besides, I love Celia. Somehow...I do love Celia. Even though, we really have nothing in common, and, she doesn't really talk that much.

I just can't fall for Claire!

Celia and I will get married, and have kids, and Claire will just be...working in the fields with her blond hair in a ponytail, her beautiful Sapphire eyes sparkling-

Damn it!

Claire was just about to finish up chopping branches when I noticed a girl walking into the area. She had long brown hair, and green eyes. I sure didn't know her. She walked straight up to Claire's door, but looked into the field when she heard Claire chopping.

"Oh my God! Claire?" She yelled.

Claire looked up from her work. "Karen? Oh my God!" She dropped the axe and ran over to her friend, giving her a big hug when she reached her.

"I didn't know you were coming here today!" Claire spoke really fast, but Karen seemed to keep up. "I thought you would come here on Sundays, since your off on those days too. Plus, you could've come with Rick." She nudged Karen with amusement on her face.

"Shut up!" Karen laughed. "Yeah, I have to come on Tuesdays though, because my dad still needs help doing inventory on Sundays. Ugh! Men." She rolled her eyes.

Hey! Men aren't that bad!

"I know right?" Claire laughed. To me, the girls speaking so quickly made me think they were speaking gibberish. I got up quietly, hoping to leave without there noticing me, but Claire caught me.

"Oh Karen, this is my friend Marlin. Marlin, this is my best friend, Karen."

"Oh, hi Marlin."

"Hey." I mumbled.

"Yeah, Marlin totally likes Blue October, and Goddess Smiles and all that stuff taht we like." Claire smiled as if she were proud of me. It gave me tingles inside my stomach. Why was I feeling this way?

Claire's face fell right after her smile. What was going on with her?

"All the stuff that Gray likes too..." She mumbled sadly.

"Oh my God! I have to tell you what happened with Gray and Mary!" Karen exclaimed. Who was Gray? He didn't sound very good, if you ask me. Claire looked like she wanted to cry when she mentioned his name.

"I don't know if I want to hear about it." Claire said sadly.

"Oh yes you do! Trust me!" Karen grabbed Claire's wrist and pulled her into the house. Before she went in, Claire told me I should probably go. I was fine with that. I had to think anyways.

Who was Gray?

This question remained in my head all through my walk home. I didn't like him. I didn't know who he was, but I did not like him. Claire was about to cry when she mentioned his name. Whoever makes Claire cry is going to get a load of crap from me.

I was a bit pissed off when I entered the house. Vesta and Celia stared at me as they did the night before. This time, I waved them off. I flopped down on my bed, pondering who Gray was, and what he had done to make Claire feel so crappy. But I also pondered:

Why did I care so much about Claire and her feelings?

End Note: Alrighty, I only want to say two things here. First is, if the last part (Marlins last POV) is a little off, it's because it's rather late here, and I'm a bit sleepy. Second, please review! And not just any review, but some criticism. I'll never get better if I don't know what my mistakes are! So thanks and have a nice night. -Drifts away to sleepy land-