Chapter Nine

The week passed with agonizing slowness. Denny had left two days ago, yelling about some kind of fishing convention he wanted to attend. I would have been happy about it, had he not mentioned that I wouldn't see him for a whole two weeks. He had quickly become one of my best friends on the island, but my feelings for him were complicated. Were we friends or more then friends? I shook my head, my fingers coming up to rub at the headache already starting to form. I didn't want to think about it.

I wasn't exactly on speaking terms with Julia. I hadn't spoken to her since she pushed me into Vaughn, and I wasn't planning on breaking this silent streak now. I sighed and leaned against the wall of my house. If I could remember correctly, then today was Wednesday. I glanced at the bright, florescent light of my newly bought radio. The time read 9:15 A.M., meaning Vaughn's boat was probably about to dock. Vaughn... He still hadn't spoken to me since the day I ran into him, and that was alright with me. Something about that guy screamed, "Stay away! Danger!"

I sighed to myself and walked over to my desk, opening my book that I found in a box in the closet of this house. I opened it to the first page and tried to begin reading it. After two seconds of looking at the words, the paragraphs started to blur together and I slammed the book down again in anger. Why can't I concentrate on anything today? This was getting ridiculous! I got up from my chair and went outside, hoping fresh air would help me think straight.

I open the door and spot a large, black looming cloud hanging in the sky, " Perfect. Just fucking peachy." I mutter to myself, my mood turning even more bleak.

I trudge to the beach, even though a storm was on the horizon. I needed to relax a bit, and the ocean had seemed to be helping me when I'm with Denny. I turn the corner of the large rock and spot someone there at the shoreline. I stop short when I see it's Vaughn. I take a deep breath and venture on. I stop as I get close to him, and sit down about two feet from him. He tips his hat at me and I breath a little sigh of relief. He didn't just yell at me and basically tell me to fuck off. This is a good sign.

"Good morning, Vaughn." I said politely, hoping he wouldn't get upset with me.

"Hey, Chelsea." he said shortly, worry clear on his usually cold face.

"Hey... What's the matter?" I asked softly, actually concerned even though I had no reason to be.

He thought for a moment before answering me, "It's just that people don't usually talk to me. Not more then they have to anyway. I mean, you're a perfect example. I've yelled at you and cut you off before, yet here you are, having a casual conversation with me. I just don't get it!" he exclaimed, showing more emotion then I've ever seen.

"I guess something about me just rubs people the wrong way... Do you know what that is?"he asked before adding quickly, "Not that I care, of course."

I thought it over for a moment, "Well, you could smile more."

He looked at me quickly, "Huh? I don't get the big deal about smiling."

I gasped, "Smiling is an important way to send out emotions. Smiling means you're happy and, when you're happy, you want people to know. Now, try it." I encouraged and he looked at me blankly for a moment.

"Huh?" he said blankly and I shot him a look, "Okay, okay. I'll give it a shot... I guess."

He frowned at me, "How's this?" he questioned and I struggled to not glare at his pathetic attempt.

"Try again." I ordered softly and he huffed and then arranged his mouth into a smirk.

"How about this then?" he asked and I stifled a laugh.

"Still not right. Nice try though." I congratulated as I looked him over.

"Still not? Forget it. I don't need to smile to do my job." he said firmly and I crinkled my eyebrows together.

"But I want to see you smile." I explained and Vaughn looked over at me in shock.

"Did you make some kind of bet or something? Why the sudden interest in my smile?" he asked suspiciously.

"It's just something a friend would say, Vaughn." I explained slowly and he looked at me strangly.

"Something a friend would say?" he questioned back and I looked at him in confusion.

"You know, friend? Someone who actually cares about your well being and wants you to be happy?" I said in an obvious voice and he shook his head at me.

"I know what it means." he muttered before continuing, "Anyway, I'll work on it. Bye, Chelsea." he murmured as he stood up and walked away.

Was it something I said? I didn't have time to think about it before the rain started pouring. I gasped and got up from my sitting position and ran towards my house. I open the door and slam it behind me quickly. I take two steps forward and trip over a loose board in the floor. I come crashing down in a head of dust and dirt and I cough as it stirred and stuck to my body. I look at the board, trying to figure out if that had been there before. I shake my head sullenly and get up. I'm sure it was, I just never took notice of it.

The moment I got up, the lights went out. I screamed in fright and tried to keep myself in check. I feel along the wall, but abruptly stop when I feel a bit of cloth. Did I hang up a shirt or something? I felt upwards a bit and my fingers touch human flesh. My heart seizes up and goes into overdrive, and I shriek loud enough to make any normal person go deaf. I stagger back towards the door but, when I get there after moments of tripping over my own feet in panic, the person is there as well. I scream again and stagger away from the person.

"What do you want?" I shriek into the blackness and I feel a blade come up to touch my throat.

"I need you to leave this island now, or else I'm going to kill you and the ones close to you." the person warned, obviously male, and dug the knife a bit further into my neck.

I screamed as the lights came back on and the person was gone. I swung open the door and ran outside, not minding the fact that it was pouring down raining and thundering and lightning like crazy. I try not to think about what just happened, and I make it to my destination. I knock on the door to the animal shop, thudding on it like a mad woman, and Julia comes to the door.

"Chelsea, what are you-" she starts to ask but I throw myself into her, wrapping my arms around her waist and suddenly start sobbing.