Hello again everyone! I hope you like this chapter as well, and if you remember that back in Chapter - 1 (2 including the prologue) there was an unnamed character in the 'secret Base' members, well, you're about to find out who that character is! Look forward to it!

Lauren_Redman_58 : thank you for following and favoriting this story! And I'm sorry for not putting full stops instead, but whenever I save it, it always comes out as only .58!

Disclaimer - I do not own Harvest Moon!

Chapter - 3 She's our friend!

Normal P.O.V

When the gang saw Claire being taken away, all they could do was stare in shock, just as the men drove away, Chelsea snapped out of her shock and exclaimed, "Hey! Wasn't that daylight kidnapping? Have they no shame doing that in broad daylight? That aside, we have to save Claire! Claire's been kidnapped right in front of our eyes for goodness sake! I say let's follow them!", then she ran without waiting for the others.

"I say Chelsea's right in here, we have to save Claire!" Jill also spoke, then ran ahead to join Chelsea, followed by Mary and Jack. Cliff and Vaughn were about to follow them as well when a woman ran out from the 'Aja winery' and hollered for them.

"Oh, please tell me you're not going after Claire!" the woman said.

"We are, what's wrong ma'am?" Cliff asked the woman.

"Please, I beg you, tell your friends to stop following that car! I'll tell you the details when you get back, please!" the woman pleaded.

Vaughn was unsure as to trust this woman or not, then Cliff answered, "We'll stop them."

"Cliff? What are you-", Vaughn was cut off by Cliff,

"Lets go Vaughn, she looks like she'll panic if we don't hurry for the others."

With another look on the woman, Vaughn followed his friend and went to get their friends back.

Soon, the gang were all sat in the interior of the 'Aja winery', then Chelsea spoke up, "Tell me why we're taken back here instead of saving Claire from those kidnappers.".

"I'll tell you, but first, promise me that you kids will never try to follow Claire home again." the woman spoke.

They thought for a minute, well, Chelsea was, the others didn't mind stopping the operation, it was too tiresome, as they call it. Then Chelsea agreed the woman's condition. Then the woman continued,

"My name is Manna, I am a close friend of Claire's family. She's been hiding here ever since you started to follow her home. Well, that in itself is not a problem, but the problem is her father. Her father is a very strict man who wants only the best for his daughter, but he can be over the top at times, like what you saw before."

"You mean those men in black were sent to by her father?" Jill asked.

"Yes, if he knows that her daughter is surrounded by bad company at school, he'll shift her to another location. He was also reluctant to let Claire go to Spring Dale, but he finally allowed her to go. Since Claire has made such close bonds with you all, as she described it during our chats in the evenings, I don't want you to make her father angry by barging in their house to try and save Claire, else he'll send her off to another school again. So please, don't follow her home anymore, for her sake and for yours, to keep your friendship." Manna explained.

They all fell silent, they didn't knew that Claire was in that kind of situation, it was a miracle that she made bonds with them, now knowing that that bond was fragile that it could not let them meet each other anymore, which could happen anytime.

With a few moments of silence to think of what they should do now, the group agreed to Manna's plea and promised to not follow Claire home from then on.

Claire's P.O.V

I don't believe this, did my dad already found out I was being followed? I sure hope he doesn't say anything bad about them.

We arrived at the mansion and the servants who 'fetched' me, literally, took their leave and I was also informed that my father wanted to see me, I took a deep breath to prepare for the worst and went into father's private room.

I knocked at the door, "Dad, it is I, your daughter Claire, may I come in?".

"Come in."

I walked into the room and saw dad sitting on his chair as usual.

"Why did you want to see for, dad?"

"Well, first off, I heard from a few sources that you were being followed by a group of people and I wanted to get you away from them."

Here it is, now he'll forcibly ban me from being with my friends ever a-

"I don't know who these people were, but I assure you that I shall put guards to protect you from any stalkers, I don't want you to be kidnapped, or worse. Just stay alert and be careful from now on."

"Wha- yes, I will, dad. I shall take my leave now."

Then I left the room. Phew, talk about lucky! My father didn't know that those 'group of people' were actually my friends! But still, I have to tell them to stop following me tomorrow, or else what I fear may really come true.

-Next morning, Spring Dale-

"Good morning everyone." I greeted, as I went in the class.

"Good morning, Claire." Mary greeted back.

"Uh.. Say Claire, we decided to not follow you anymore." Chelsea said.

"Huh? Why's that? Though I don't really mind it, but why?" I asked, in confusion.

"Well, you see, it seems that you really really don't want us to come over, and it was selfish of us to follow you every day." Chelsea said, looking down and fumbling with her fingers.

"Look who's talking, you were the one who forcibly made us follow Claire!" Jack exclaimed.

"I thought you guys also wanted to know where it is!" Chelsea answered back.

"Now now you two, don't fight." Jill said, as she stood between the two before they really did fight.

"Huh, and here I was thinking of-" I was cut off by Chelsea,

"What? You were going to invite us over?", with sparkle in her eyes.

"N-no, I was going to say, 'telling you to stop following me'."

She sulked and said, "What a bummer."

I kinda felt bad for letting her hopes up, but I had no choice. But, whatever the reason for them to stop following me, I was glad they decided to do that.

Chelsea recovered from her sulking state quickly and exclaimed, "Well, since we can't go over to Claire's anymore, and our mid terms are in a few weeks, let's have a study session in Cliff's house after school!".

Cliff, who was sitting near us along with Vaughn, almost fell from his position at the sudden declaration.

"What! But why my house?" he asked.

"Well, its simple, its nearby." Chelsea and Jack said in unison.

"But but...", Cliff was unable to protest anymore.

"What's wrong Cliff, I haven't seen you this down from us coming over." Vaughn stated.

"Well... Uh, never mind." Cliff said, and slumped to the desk.

Well, I don't think dad would mind me going over to a friend's to study.

-After School-

"School's finally over! Claire, you're coming over as well right?" Chelsea asked, turning around to face me.

"Yes, but let me tell my dad first, else he'd get angry for not telling him." I replied, then I took out my phone and sent a message to dad, telling him that I was going to a friend's house to study. "Let's go!"

We went off and while we were heading over to Cliff's, I walked beside him and asked, "Cliff? Why were you reluctant to let us come over?"

He scratched his face and said, "It's not like I was reluctant, just that Chelsea's declaration was out of notice, that's all."

"Hmm, yeah, I get the feeling, Chelsea does like to do things out of notice doesn't she?"

Then we both laughed, though that didn't go unnoticed by the others.

"Ooh~ what's this? Cliff's actually talking and laughing with a girl alone~" Jack teased.

"Wha- It's not like I've never done this with the others!" Cliff protested.

"But still, you were really unapproachable when you first enrolled here." Vaughn pointed out.

"Look who's talking, you were also unapproachable, with that invisible aura that said 'I don't want any company'." Chelsea said.

"Hey, that was a long time ago!" Vaughn stated.

"Though in a way, Vaughn's right about Cliff, even now, he's still quite shy around others whom he's not really accustomed yet. I wonder why he's so close to Claire already~" Jill teased.

"Hey, I can change too!" Cliff argued.

"Okay you guys, stop teasing him." I said, for some reason, I wanted to defend him.

"Aww~ Cliff's girlfriend is defending for him~" Jill teased.

"I am not his/her boyfriend/girlfriend!" Cliff and I said simultaneously, leaving the others to laugh at their new-found humor.

After a while, we reached Cliff's house, he opened the door and led us in. It was a simple apartment, with a living room, kitchen, a bedroom and the bathroom.

"It's really convenient for us that Cliff's house is nearby." Chelsea said.

"Convenient for us, the boys' side too! We barge in all the time!" Jack exclaimed, as he propped himself in one of the chairs.

"You have no shame saying that, do you?..." Cliff said, while glaring at Jack.

"Nope~" Jack replied, whistling away.

"Hey Cliff, what's that picture of? I haven't seen it before." Vaughn said, pointing towards a picture that was placed on top of the coffee table.

"Hm? I see a girl! Cliff! Are you cheating on someone!" Chelsea exclaimed, as she took the picture.

I wanted to have a look as well, hey, I'm curious too! So I walked over to Chelsea to have a closer look, but before I could do that Cliff pulled the picture away and said,

"No, I'm not cheating on someone! It's just a photo of me and my... Friend.", then he went to his bedroom, maybe to keep the photo somewhere else.

While we were waiting for Cliff to come out, the front door opened and someone came in and said,

"Hey Cliff, you home?"

Hey wait I recognize that voice!

"Hm? Oh it's just Skye" Jack said.

I knew it! It IS Skye's voice! Why is he here, oh no, I hope he dosen't-

"What's with that introduction, Jack? Besides what are you guys doing here?" Skye asked.

"We're here to have a study session!" Jill answered.

"Oh... Hmm..."

"Skye, what are you staring at our newest member, Claire so intensely for? Don't tell me you've fallen for her too! You're such a-" Chelsea was cut off.

"What are YOU doing here, pri-"

Ah! He recognized me! Then again, it's not hard to spot me if I was standing with my backwards facing him the whole time! Better shut him up!

"Ahh! Don't you dare say that word!" I exclaimed, as I covered his mouth with my hands. Then, without the others hearing, I whispered, "Don't call me THAT while they're around, or else." I threatened, then I let go of him.

"Okay, okay, but, you do know that your father is looking high and low for you, right?" he asked.

"He is? But I told him that I won't be long!"

"What's this? Claire, you know this womanizer?" Chelsea asked.

"Don't tell me, you two are childhood friends that have grown to lo-" Jill wailed, but was cut off by Skye saying,

"Don't let your imaginations get the better of you, Jill. We're not in love"

Jill breather out an air of relieve. Don't tell me, does Jill like Skye? This is going to be fun~

Then Cliff came out seemed to ask Vaughn what was happening.

"Then tell us, how do you two know each other?" Mary asked.

"Well, let's just say Skye's like a... An acquaintance." I answered.

After that was over we were finally going to start the study session when our family guards barged in the door. Oh no, I was so preoccupied in answering how Skye and I know each other that I forgot about dad's order!

"We're sorry princess, but it's the king's order." one of them said, then they hauled me up and took me out the house.

Cliff's P.O.V

"Hey! Let me go! Didn't I tell father already! Hey!" Claire exclaimed, then she and the group of men in black went out.

Then one of the men turned to Skye and said, "Skye, you have to come as well."

"Sure. What a pain.", then Skye left along with them.

We stared at disbelieve and shock, it was the second time already that Claire was dragged away like that.

"That's it! Although we promised Madam Manna, I can't take it anymore! If Claire's treated like this, I say we go and tell her father a piece of our minds!" Chelsea proposed, as she stood up from her seat.

"Heh, for once I agree with you, this is getting too far! Besides, I want to know why Skye obeyed their orders!" Jill agreed.

I was sitting and thinking of something, if I did do THAT, then the consequences will be-

"Cliff? What about you? We got to hurry, all of us are in to get Claire!" Jack asked.

Well' I could ask them first. I stood up and stared at them and asked them,

"If we do go, what are you going to do?"

"Of course, it's clear, we go and tell- no, persuade her father to not treat Claire like this!" Chelsea answered.

"Of course I know that, I meant how are you going to persuade him." I said.

Chelsea stayed for a bit, and the others we're now looking at me in confusion, then Chelsea answered,

"Well, I'll tell her father that we're her friends she's wanted for so long! And that he shouldn't take Claire, his daughter, away from us! It's not right! To pull his own daughter away from her friends!", she clenched her fists in anger.

"'Friends' you say, then let mew ask you one more thing, do you think of Claire as your friend? As one of you?" I asked, this was the last question I want to ask.

"Cliff what are you-" Vaughn said, then Chelsea answered me,

"Of course I think of her as my friend! In fact, all of us think of her as our dearest new friend! And friends help and comfort each other in times of their need, and right now, if we don't hurry, we'll never catch up to them! Claire needs our help right now!"

That was it, I got the answer I needed. Then I walked forward and said,

"Well, it seems you said the answer I wanted. Very well, follow me, I shall lead you to Claire's house."

Cliffhanger again? Or is it? Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter, and look forward to future chapters as well! I'm trying to cover a lot of chapters before I start school again, of which the date I'm not sure, if it was a normal day school, I'd update normally (unless I have writer's block) but since I'm going to be in a hostel, I won't be update for a long time so before that time comes, I'll do my best to update this story! Reviews are much appreciated as well!