Chapter Six:

Make Ups

That argument with Vaughn put a real downer on our relationship. He wouldn't attend any of the festivals if he knew I was going (and of course I went to every one of them), just so he wouldn't have to see me. I was fed up with his attitude, no longer was he going to avoid me—or at least that was my resolve.

It was the last day of Fall and Vaughn was in town for another day. I told Mark the previous day that I was taking the day off so he was going to do all of my chores along with his own (for an extra 100 G), just so I could track Vaughn down and…well that morning I didn't know what I was going to do exactly.

I was about to step out of my house late that morning when someone else came in instead.

"Hey, lady!" Charlie said, "Do you know what day it is?"

I shook my head no.

"It's the Pumpkin Festival!"

I looked at him in question.

"It means you're supposed to give me candy."

"Oh! Well, I don't exactly have—"

"You're not gonna break island tradition, are you?" Charlie was trying to guilt me into giving him chocolate. It wasn't until he left did I realize that this island wasn't old enough to have traditions.

"Oh…but…"

I looked to see Charlie on the verge of tears. I sighed and headed to my fridge to give him some of the chocolate I had left over from a recipe I was trying (and failing) at.

He thanked me and finally left. I tried to leave after him but Eliza came inside before. And I went through the whole process again, only Eliza was much more firm. She spent at least half an hour ranting, telling me that she was much to pretty for ordinary chocolate and demanded that I give her cookies instead, like Pierre had. Sadly, she discovered that I had all the ingredients needed and forced me to bake for the entire day. It was close to six when I finally got away.

I ran to the beach and didn't see Vaughn or his boat, and assumed the worst. I sat down on the dock. With the day's events, being forced to cook, being overpowered by a child, and the disappoint of missing my chance to see Vaughn once again, all of it was too much. I began to cry.

"Are you crying?"

I looked up and found Vaughn looking down on me. I didn't want to smile, but I did anyway. I was still bitter, but at that moment, it didn't matter.

"Heh, maybe," I said wiping a tear.

"Great. I never know what to say when you're crying."

` "I don't cry that much."

Vaughn chuckled and sat down, "Chels, you're very easily moved to tears."

"Well, no need to make fun of me for it," I said, giving him a soft push.

"What were you crying for anyway?"

"I…uh…thought you left already."

"Hmm."

"I guess…I wanted to finally apologize," I said, I was looking down at my feet so I wouldn't have to watch him, "So, I'm sorry."

Vaughn didn't say anything I looked up to see a mask of remorse.

"Are you still chasing Denny?" he asked.

"Yes…"

"Are you ever going to stop?"

"Not until Denny's in a tux."

Vaughn sighed and stood up, "Then you're not really sorry—at least not for the right reason."

"Vaughn—"

"Don't. Chelsea, you're wrong and until you see that, I don't want you apologizing."

"Again, you leave me speechless."

"You do the opposite for me."

I got up from the dock.

"Are you going to stop avoiding me?" I asked.

"…yes."

I grinned and hugged Vaughn, "Then that's all that matters. I couldn't handle losing you."

Vaughn stopped avoiding me that same week and he didn't bug me much about the whole Denny situation either. I was happy to have my best friend back, I don't know how to explain it, I didn't understand at the time either, but he kept me somewhat sane. Kept me…me.

Nothing very eventful happened most of Winter, although Mark and I were free to do more, seeing as no crops could be grown. Our plan, even though we once saw it perfect, was beginning to fall apart. Denny and Lanna had worked everything out by Winter Thanksgiving, and the only chocolate Mark got was from Natalie and me.

Things didn't start to pick up until I decided to try inviting Denny to the Starry Night Festival. It was rumored that whoever you watched the stars with on a year with a full moon (and lucky me, it was going to be a full moon that year) you would end up marring that person. The Witch Princess told me the legend, and she told me that it worked nine times out of ten. I figured with those odds, I could get Denny in just one day. At least I hoped it was that fast, I wanted nothing more than a Winter Wedding and time was running out. But first I had to get him to go.

But when I went to the beach, I found Denny and Vaughn talking. I panicked, thinking that Vaughn was ratting me out, but I heard a different conversation.

"So, you don't have a family either, huh?" Denny asked. He and Vaughn were standing in front of the ocean, not looking at each other, but at the vast blue laid out before them.

"No, I never knew them. Had no one but myself to count on most of my life," Vaughn said after a moment.

I don't know what compelled me to stay back, not to approach them or to go back into town, but I had never heard either of them talk about their families before and I wanted to know. Even if I had to stoop to eavesdropping, I wanted to know what their life before the island was like.

Vaughn tipped his hat and I could see that hint of a smile. "But this island has some good people…feels like a family sometimes."

Denny nodded, "Yeah, I've been to lots of places—but this is the first place that's felt like home."

Vaughn paused and I could see his smile fade, a little more quickly than usual. He sighed and kicked the sand, "It's comfortable…just too comfortable."

Denny turned to Vaughn for the first time, "Why do you say that?" he asked.

"I'm a wanderer. I can't just settle down," he responded. This time he turned to Denny, "If I don't move fast enough…" he turned back to the sea, "I might just get stuck here."

Denny shuffled his feet, but said with confidence, "What's so bad about that?"

I bit my lip and walked towards the two. I couldn't stand it any longer, what it was just alluded me. I thought that, maybe I didn't like the fact that Vaughn was afraid to settle, and that he wouldn't confide any of this information to me. Denny noticed me first.

"Chelsea? Did…did you hear all that?" he asked.

I looked away in response. Vaughn groaned, he wouldn't look at me.

"Bye, Denny," he said before walking away.

We watched him leave.

"I can understand where he's coming from," Denny said, "But I've found a home here. It's cured the wanderer in me…but he still feels like he needs to."

I didn't look at Denny, but just continued looking in the direction Vaughn left. "Why is that?" I asked.

"He's lonely."

I turned towards Denny. "And you're not?"

"I've got Lanna, now."

"If she didn't come…would you have left?"

Denny paused, to think about it, and smiled, "Yeah I would've."

I nodded and told him goodbye.

"Uh, and sorry, Denny," I apologized for more than eavesdropping, "Really sorry."

Before he could ask I walked away. I wanted nothing more than to hide under my covers and try and tell myself that I wasn't a bad person; that I wasn't a bad person because I was trying to break up true love. I wasn't doing too well when I noticed Mark still on the farm. He looked like he was waiting for me.

"What're you still doing here?" I asked him.

"I needed to tell you something," he said, serious as one can be.

"Go ahead."

"We need to stop sabotaging Denny and Lanna."

My jaw dropped, he couldn't have meant it, I thought, but one look at his face told me he did.

"Hold it," I said, holding my hands up, "What's with this sudden change of mind?"

"I…I think I'm in love with someone else."

I kept silent.

"I've been seeing Natalie differently lately…and I really do think I love her. Chelsea, I'm sorry but I can't continue ruining someone else's relationship for a chance with someone I don't love," he reasoned.

"What about me, Mark? What about the person I love?" I asked, my voice rising.

"We both know you don't really love Denny! You just love the idea of being in love!"

"Is that really so bad?" I asked, on the verge of tears.

"Chelsea, you need to understand that you want to marry for all the wrong reasons. I did too, but I got passed that and found what I was really looking for. You can't fool yourself forever."

"Then what can I do? Mark, who the hell would want to marry me? I'm just a lousy farmer with a knack for fishing. Denny was my only option and now I can't have him…I never could have had him in first place!"

Mark stood silent for a moment. He put his hand on my shoulder, "I know someone who loves you," he said.

"I'd appreciate if you didn't lie to me," I said roughly.

"I'm not lying, I just can't tell you who—that's his job."

"Liar."

Mark laughed and gave me a hug, "Get to bed Chelsea, and don't bother working tomorrow. I'll take care of everything. Just try and unwind."

I nodded and thanked him.

When I woke up the next day, and when I realized what that day was, I decided to stay in like Mark suggested. I tried cleaning, cooking, even tried getting a hold of my parents—they never answered—but I couldn't stop feeling sorry for myself. It was close to dinner time when I realized that I seriously could use a drink.

Author's Note: Fuuuuudge. I couldn't update Friday because of a frantic night and Saturday wouldn't let me submit my document D: But I prevailed and got you chapter six as fast as I could! Okay, now I'm just making myself sound better than I actually am. Aw, isn't Mark nice--despite being so fickle. Hope you enjoyed!

Disclaimer: Harvest Moon and all characters belong to Natsume