Yeeeahhh. I'm sorry if this is such a lame chapter! It just focuses Ann's thoughts on Cliff. Next chapter WILL be better! I promise! CROSS MY HEART! LOL and Cliff is sooooooooo much like my friend Trey. Trey is a quiet guy, and when I ask him something or talk to him sometimes he'll just stare at me and not respond. :D It's cute, but equally annoying. We're great friends anyway. But, he could be Cliff's TWIN! I'm not kidding. They both have brown hair and blue eyes! ......!

Chapter 2: Never Opens Up

April 1, 2007 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Ann's POV

Ugh! Where was he? It was an hour since Cliff left to get some groceries for the Inn. Maybe I was too assertive and forceful when I told him to go out...? Nah. But, then again....

*FLASHBACK*

"CLIFF!" I roared to him.

He nearly fell out of his chair, innocently reading a novel, as I screamed at him.

It took him a minute to respond. "...Yes?" he said. It came out so prim and proper.

I spurt out laughing when he replied. That Cliffy, could be so funny in his own way! My sides were splitting! I fell on the floor. I couldn't take it anymore. My friend, you've done it again. This was maybe the fiftieth time since I met him that he's been so...stiff. That's what made him funny!

He just stared at me, with his mouth half open.

"Y-you..." I said between laughter. "I....need...you...!"

He didn't understand me. I couldn't speak because I was laughing. Heck, I was crying already. Cliff helped me off of the floor. He just picked me right up. I had to say, his muscles were getting a whole lot bigger since Claire offered him that job at Aja Winery. But you still couldn't help but think...what muscles? Cliff barely had any! I think I had bigger ones than him.

"Okay," I said, once I was finished. "I need you to get some groceries for the Inn."

He stared blankly at me with those blue eyes of his, pure and confused.

"W-why?" Cliff responded.

"BECAUSE WE NEED 'EM!" I was losing my patience with this boy. In fact, I lost it a long time ago. When I first met him, to speak.

"But..." Cliff began.

"Don't give me your 'but', mister! Do you WANT our customers to STARVE? Do YOU want to STARVE?" I lectured.

"...I really need to, uh, go and move s-stuff around for...Kai," Cliff whined. Pfft! He is the worst liar ever. I've heard every excuse from the book.

I poked him playefully in the arm. "Not with those muscles! You need to move groceries for MEEEE!"

Cliff finally gave in. "O-okay, Ann..."

I laughed again, even louder

"What now?" Cliff sighed.

"You have absolutely no sense of humor whatsoever, Cliff! That's what makes you funny!"

I could've sworn I saw a slight smile before he left. His face was mostly straight though. On the rare occassions I did get him to smile; it made my day! That boy needs to get a personality...

Maybe I was too pokey, maybe? All I did was give him a little finger poke in the shoulder...ONCE. Gosh darnit, he is sooo sensitive! He's even more sensitive than a GIRL! I guess I'm a bit sensitive, but not as sensitive as CLIFF! You could say his ponytail is crooked and he'd run and cry. It's unbelievable.

There was something about him...though. He still won't tell anyone where he's from. He'll spend most of the day working and then church. That's his life: wake up, eat, work, church, eat, sleep, repeat. He looks very intent with his prayer. He probably had a hard past. It's none of my business.

But I still can't help but be curious, you know? He acts like I'm worthless... I'm nice to him, yet he ignores me sometimes! It's so hurtful. He is such a butthole...

A BUTTHOLE...? Watch the language, Ann! Wow, this is getting tense. Her feelings are growing, I think. Hmmm, we'll wait until the next chapter to be sure!