I'm baaack! Here Vaughn comes in! w00t!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon. I don't nor ever will claim rights to it! :)

Chapter Three

You know what tomorrow brought? This: "Sora, get up! We have new arrivals!"

I was more wrinkled than when I got tossed around in the ocean. My clothes had dried all stiff so now it felt like I was wearing cardboard. I dug through one of the abandoned drawers in the corner and found one shirt: a large, plaid top that buttoned up in the front and had a collar. The shirt bagged down past my knees and I had roll the sleeves up a hundred times before they reached my elbows but, hey, it was clean. I couldn't do anything about the pants. . .

I didn't wear my bandanna and just dragged my fingers through my hair working out the knots. I saw a piece of cracked glass hanging on the wall and found it was a makeshift mirror. I stared at it, unsastisfied with haggard girl looking back at me.

"SORA!"

I sighed and bolted out the door barefoot. I didn't stop to look at my new farm as my feet slapped the worn dirt path leading to the beach. The path went straight through town and I blew past Felicia's family's new home. It looked much better with a fresh coat of paint and I had to wonder briefly where they got the materials to fix it up.

"Well, Sora should be-" Taro spoke as I bounced onto the beach. "Slowpoke," he scolded lightly as I stood between Natalie and Felicia panting. Natalie stuck her tongue out at me playfully and I punched her arm softly. Felicia whispered in my ear, "Dear, where are your shoes?"

"Sora, this is Chen and that's Charlie. They're going to start a store on our little island. Because of them now we'll be able to ship your crops." Taro told me. I grinned at Chen and Charlie. Charlie stared at me in wonder.

"How come you get to be on your own and have your own farm and your just a kid like me?" He asked breathlessly.

I laughed loudly. It got on my nerves when adults questioned my age but I just found it kind of funny when kids asked.

"Would you believe me if I told you I was seventeen?" I asked Charlie and he shook his head with wide eyes. I worked my i.d. out of my back pocket and pointed to where it read Cummings, Sora. His mouth formed a small pink O.

"Wow, you're awfully small for a grown-up!" He said, thrilled.

I giggled again. Taro clasped a hand on my shoulder. "Sora here is going to be the main income for the island for awhile." I gulped at the prospect, "But we know she'll do well."

We went on to show the guys their new home. Life grew slow after that. I grew crops and with Taro's guidance and Felicia, Elliot, and Natalie's support started making money. Still, there was a hole in my new life and it fell upon me one day when I was watering my crops and Natalie was sitting on my wooden fence.

"THERE ARE NO MEN ON THIS STINKIN" ISLAND!" I screamed suddenly. And Natalie nodded morosely. I stared at her with deep sad eyes and-

"Stop making that face. With your red eyes, you look creepy." Natalie said, breaking my dramatic description. I sniffed at her and, after watering the last turnip, went to perch beside her on a little wooden post.

My hair had grown longer in the last couple of weeks and now it was past my shoulders. Natalie told me I looked like a little demon with my crimson eyes and red streaked hair. She said I was temptress with my soft perfect white skin and ruby red bow-shaped lips. . . I asked her if she was bisexual. She hit my on the arm said that they were Elliot's words, not her own. I inwardly gagged.

It's not that Elliot was bad looking, but he was, or that he was a wimp, but he was, but the fact that he just wasn't my type. He was totally sweet but he had already filled the sort of empty brother role where Pierre had once stood.

I generally looked for somebody large, rugged almost, and quiet. One of my friends one told me I liked 'em surly and sexy. I blushed for days. Little did I know I was about to get what I wanted in full.

Knock, knock.

I leapt out of bed, my senses flaring like my body's own special alarm clock. I stretched and yanked on a pair of long purple linen shorts. I wore a black tank top that show cased the little violet belly button ring I sported proudly. I was in my normal pj's and Natalie wore the same thing to bed. I wasn't worried about looking skimpy in front of her.

KNOCK, KNOCK!

"Oh c'mon Natalie," I moaned at the door and flung it open, "You know how the phone works. Give me some warning before you come crashing onto my farm at six in the friggin mor-"

"Hello." The deep gruff voice made me nearly jump out of my skin. I slammed the door in their face.

"Just a second!" I squeaked in high voice. I whirled looking for the lilac sweatshirt Natalie had loaned me. Bingo! It was under my bed. I raced to the mirror and yanked my fingers through my hair, straightening it out the best as I could. At least I didn't look like a phsyco anymore.

I opened the door and instantly I regretted and was glad that I had fixed myself up some. The man was g-o-r-g-e-o-u-s! Long silver hair slipped down to cover one of his almond-shaped violet eyes. His silver eyebrows furrowed togther and his expression was stormy. I don't think he liked having the door slammed in his face. He was tall and was dressed completely in cowboy decor. Black hat, black boots, dark jeans, leather vest. But I wasn't complaining. The pale skin was muscled and I'd figured this dude would look good in even a bunny rabbit suit.

"Uhh-ermm. . . hi?"

"Last time I checked my name wasn't Natalie," He stepped closer to me and heat was pouring off his body because of the brilliant spring sunshine. For a second I thought he was going to grab me but instead he shut the door behind me. It was one step to close the distance between our bodies. . .

"Eep." I said plainly and my face was now a cross between strawberry and firetruck red.

A glimmer of emotion flew through his eyes and then they became solid blocks of violet ice again. "My name is Vaughn. I'm the island's animal dealer. I'm on the island Wednesdays and Thursdays." I would log that info away into pieces of useless information I didn't care about because, at the moment, all that mattered was the fact that this man was in my vicinity.

He turned on his heel and loped off of the property and away from me. I was left barefoot on my doormat, holding my breath and wishing that he'd come back to my little, dusty farm.

And candidate for future boyfriendddd iiissss. . . Vaughn! Yaysies.