This chapter ought to bring some laughs and sort of get into a deeper relationship with Ann and Cliff. Enjoy and please give some feedback if you like it or I should change something! l-o-L! I know Cliff's last name is LaRue. I made it up. It's French for 'the street'. Ya know, 'cause he's always like a nomad and stuff...? :P

Chapter 3: One Awkward Turtle -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I walked back into the Inn, expecting Ann to give me a lecture for not being back on time. Well, these groceries were heavy! How did she expect me to lift so many at one time? I needed a cart or something, but I was no longer in the city.

"URGH!" I grunted as I tried to open the door.

"Be a man," I heard Ann answer. "Lift with your legs."

I gave her a look and she made a face back at me. I finally set the food on the table.

"There you go..." I said.

"Thanks." Ann shot a smile then looked at me, blushing.

"Um, d-do you want to go and hang out by the lake or something?" Ann asked, being very awkward.

I really wasn't sure how to answer Ann. But, she was starting to be my friend, so...

"H-how c-c-could I say no? Y-yes, sure," I replied, flashing a fake smile.

Her face perked up and brightened right away. "Yay! How about right now? I guess we could take a break, because business is pretty slow and all."

"All right, l-let's go," I said.

With that being out of the way, we walked through town. Ann held my hand the entire time though and made some people stare. I blushed and looked the other way. I was used to Ann constantly harassing and embarassing me. But we did make it to the lake. Finally some privacy...

We sat down and stared at the water. Ann said a few words but avoided eye contact for quite some time. I decided to break the silence.

"Are you getting hungry?" I asked her.

She finally looked at me. "No."

Grrrrroooooolll.....

"....."

"........."

".."

"............"

She broke some more silence by chuckling. "Heh heh, I lied. I've been hungry for a while."

"Why didn't you tell me?" I said distantly.

"Cliff," Ann said with a hand perched on my shoulder. "Don't worry so much. I'll go and get us some food."

I nodded and watched her as she grunted getting up. She was chuckling and shaking her head as she walked away. Ann was mumbling something too, probably too far away to hear.

And then something else happened, of course. Oh Goddess....Kai just jumped right out of the bushes next to me.

"K-Kai!" I yelled. "Give me a h-heart attack, why d-don't you!"

Kai sputtered out laughing at my reply. It wasn't like me to yell like that, and everybody knew it.

"Wow," Kai said. "Ann's got you wrapped around her finger, huh?"

"Wha- ...what? N-no!" I argued.

Kai sighed and folded his arms. "Oh, she's clearly got you wrapped tightly, man. Admit you like her, or else you wouldn't be doing this."

"I don't know how I feel..." I mumbled honestly.

"Oh, so I'm assuming you'd just do this for any girl because you're a sucker?"

"Hey!"

Kai chuckled. "Sorry, man. You can deny it, but somewhere deep down under that bearskin, your heart is saying 'Ann, Ann'."

"Are you almost done?" I said curtly.

"Yes," Kai replied just as curt. "But, if you want to at least be a better friend for her because you 'don't deserve her' and all, just be yourself and sometimes go out of your way to help her."

I didn't answer.

"Well, see you later, buddy. And listen to my advice!" Kai yelled as he walked away.

I saw Ann coming back with a confused look. She brought my favorite; curry. And some jam, apples, and salad. Yum.

"Uh, why was Kai here?" Ann asked, pointing down the road.

"I have no idea," I answered. "R-really...I don't."

"Hm, okay." She shook the idea off quickly and set down the food.

"Uh, y-you know," I said gently, observing Ann, and remembering Kai's advice. "I-I...y-you have a piece of hair that's right there..."

"Oh, really?"

"I can get it for you..."

With that, I gently fixed her hair back into the braid. It came back out again quickly.

"Erm...you can use the barette, Cliff," Ann said.

"W-where is it?"

Ann just gave me a weird look. "In the mortar thing."

"What's a mortar?"

Ann blinked. "The bowl, Cliff."

I noticed the empty plastar bowl next to me. Aha! But, oh Goddess, I was so stupid. It was right there. I took her hair clip and handed it to her. She found the flyaway hair quickly and put it into place.

"It's good as new, huh?" Ann said rhetorically. "I brought it in case this would happen, because, uhm, well..." But I found myself spacing out.

"Uh...Cliff? There's something I have to say." I saw Ann lean a little closer to me. A girl. Close. To me. Was a bit awkward. I couldn't help but blush a deep crimson and get sweaty palms.

"I-is...this...a-a-a d-date!" I couldn't help but say it.

Ann blushed many shades of pink and red. "Wha-wh-what...! I-I...m-maybe! I dunno! You tell me!"

"Cliff," Ann said. "Have you been drinking today?"

"J-just a little wine for lunch..." I said.

"Have you every done something really crazy?"

I nodded. "Yes...before I came here."

Ann raised and eyebrow but didn't ask me what I did. Whew.

"Then...let me do something crazy too..." Ann came in close to me with her eyes closed. We kissed. I-it...was wonderful. I wasn't really sure how to explain it. I wasn't sure what I was more embarassed at; the fact I liked it or the fact Ann is my friend and she did that.

Once we stopped, I started blushing very much, I could tell, and I had wide eyes. She just smiled sheepishly at me. "Uh..." Was all I could say.

Ann smiled and continued to kiss me. I let her. It was my first kiss ever and it was great. But, did this mean I actually had feelings for Ann? I didn't know. I hugged her tightly as we 'made out' by the lake.

She stared at me once we stopped. She had a gigantic blush. I probably matched her.

"I'm sorry," Ann murmered.

"N-no...I..er..kind of..."

Ann flung her head to look at me. "What? D-don't tell me you liked it! I mean...did you?"

"It was my first kiss," I said. It was 100% true.

"Oh," Ann said. "Well...it was mine too and I like you."

"I know."

"No, Cliff, you don't understand. I like you. Always have. I know you probably don't feel the same, I mean, I'm not pretty like the other girls. Especially Claire."

I stared shocked. Oi vey. How did I feel? How could I tell her?

"Um...I think I like you..." I answered.

"Don't just say that because I just said it. I really, truely, do like you. Cliff LaRue, do you really like me?"

I nodded. "I'm pretty sure now."

Ann grinned the widest I've ever seen her grin. Then she hugged me and nearly choked me.

"Ann...air..." I gasped.

She released her death grip. Then, she looked at me and began blushing fiercely again.

She chuckled, relieved. "Heh, that was a pretty awkward moment, huh?"

"Y-yeah, but, you know...maybe it wasn't so bad...maybe we could, ah..."

"...go steady?" Ann finished for me.

"Yes, maybe. We could if y-you want to..." I agreed quietly.

Ann laughed nervously. "YES! I have to tell my dad! And I want to go and rub it in Kai's tanned face. He never thought I could get a boyfriend, but I DID!"

"..."

Ann forgot her giddiness and stopped jumping everywhere to face me. "Um...I'll see you later, sweetie..." she said then gave me a goodbye kiss on the cheek.

I was too flustered to speak or say goodbye back. She most likely realised it. That's why she was kind of hasty. I stood there for a minute before it hit me. I had a girlfriend. And she was my best friend.

AWW! :3 This has got to be the sweetest chapter so far. But...wait till chapter 4 and 5...then you'll need a box of tissues. I'm not kidding. It's so cute. That's all I'll say. *zips mouth*

Hope you liked it! ;)