Only one person in the Sunshine Islands could help Chelsea, and that was Mark. He had ranched for at least three years before Chelsea came to the islands. With him came a plethora of prosperity, so if anyone could help her, he could.
Chelsea admired the greenery in Mark's field from afar as she walked from the distance. She knew instantly where his field was after she crossed the bridge from Verdure Island to Sprout Island, all the sounds and smells of a ranch were emanating from the property. As Chelsea neared the start of the farm, she noticed a little commotion in the front. There were two men standing next to a desperate looking cow, and it seemed a little spooked.
"Goddess, I just don't know what the problem is," said a blonde whilst scratching the back of his head. The other man stood up from the side of the cow, not nearly as perplexed as the blonde.
"Mark," he started, "Have the animals been spending nights outside?" Mark nodded in response. The taller man continued, "Well, did ya know that there are wild dogs that sometimes run around these parts at night?"
"Yeah, I've seen 'em before," he replied, suddenly putting two and two together, "Oh I'm so sorry Betsy! I'll never leave you outside at night again, you must've been so scared!" he cried aloud.
The taller man rolled his eyes at Mark's odd display of emotion. Mark continued to pat the cow's head while she mooed loudly.
"Excuse me," Chelsea cut in, immediately attracting attention from the two men, "Hi, my name's Chelsea, and I'm the new rancher off of Verdure Island."
"Nice to meet ya, I'm Mark," said the blonde, offering a hand. Chelsea smiled, gripped his hand firmly and shook, "The dark looking one over there is Vaughn," he gestured toward the taller man, who just nodded his head in response. He either was used to, or didn't care about being called dark. Chelsea, being polite, offered her hand out to the man with the cowboy hat. He didn't seem to care because as soon as she offered her hand, he walked away waving a goodbye to Mark.
"Goddess, is he... always so cold?" Chelsea wondered aloud, forgetting that Mark was nearby.
"Pretty much," he answered, before an awkward silence fell between them.
…
…
"Well, if you don't need anything, I've got to tend to my field," Mark said, before turning to escape towards his house.
"Wait!" Chelsea exclaimed, before clearing her throat nervously, "I, um, actually need some help learning how to use most of my tools."
Mark grinned,"That's no problem at all, I'd be happy to help,"
XxX
Not before long, darkness had claimed the islands and Chelsea decided that it would be best for her to return home. She promptly thanked Mark for his help today, and he again said it was no problem. She finally had a grasp of how to use her tools correctly, hopefully tomorrow she wouldn't have as many problems. While crossing the bridge from Sprout to Verdure Island Chelsea's stomach growled, and she decided that it was time for dinner. She checked her watch, it was 6:30. Definitely time for dinner. There was a lovely little diner that Taro's granddaughter, Natalie, had recommended. Chelsea then made her way to the little eatery known as Nick's.
Chelsea strode through the doors, seeing that the diner was more occupied than she had originally anticipated. Everyone's eyes turned towards the door, and there was Chelsea.
"Hey sweet cheeks!" whistled a voice from one of the back tables, "Why don'tcha come sit back here?"
Almost everyone in the entire bar started snickering. Chelsea froze, was that guy in the purple bandanna talking to her? Her face went red, and she walked slowly to the back table.
"Excuse me?" she asked. There sat a drunken looking man in a purple bandanna, and his female companion on the right looked agitated. Chelsea knew she had seen the girl somewhere before. "Do I... know you from somewhere?" she directed towards the young woman.
"I don' think so, but I would suuure like ta get ta know you," said the purple-clad man.
"Shut up, Denny," the young girl said, "Goddess, the last thing you need is another girl to hit on."
"Nah Lanna yer jus' jealous," he slurred, "she's jus' as pretty as you are,"
"I am not jealous!" Lanna yelled, while slamming her palms on the table.
"Suuure you aren't" Denny said while nonchalantly waving his hands.
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Am not!"
"Are too!"
"Excuse me!" Chelsea exclaimed, she'd had quite enough of their lovers' quarrel, "Miss, do I know you from somewhere?" Lanna smiled triumphantly.
"Yes, you probably do! I used to be a famous Idol singer, and now I'm vacationing here on these Islands!"
"Oh my gosh! You're the one who-" Chelsea started.
"Mmhmm" Lanna said, "It's great to meet a fan."
"WELL," Denny cut in, "I'd love ta listen ta the two of you giggle -hic- about girly things, but I'm goin' home,"
"G'night Denny!" Lanna waved as he sauntered not so steadily foot out of the diner. Worridly, she changed her mind, "Maybe I should make sure he gets home safe. I wouldn't want him to fall off the bridge on the way home," and with that she rose to leave as well, and Chelsea was alone again. 'Might as well get myself some food now,' she thought.
She walked hastily to the bartender called Nick, the smells coming from the kitchen left her salivating.
"Excuse me, do you have any miso soba or buckwheat noodles?" Nick nodded, and brought her both dishes.
"That'll be four-hundred-fifty gold," Nick said. Chelsea happily handed him the money, not caring that she only had $600 G left in her pockets.
She devoured the meal, it was her first good one in weeks. She had also skipped lunch because she had been too busy working in her fields, and then didn't have any time for dinner until now. This really hit the spot for Chelsea, all she had to do now was bring home dinner for Persia. After bidding farewell to Nick, she left the diner astonishingly full and with a new energy. There was one more stop for her, a visit to the animal shop to buy more pet food.
XxX
"Julia!" A stout blonde haired lady called, "Someone here to see you!"
"Yeah, Mom!" Julia yelled back as she walked down the stairs from her room where she had been painting her nails.
Chelsea stood in the doorway of the animal shop as she watched her friend Julia come walking down the stairs. "Ah, Chelsea, surprise surprise," Julia smiled.
"Hello Jules, didn't think I was gonna visit today did you?" Chelsea asked.
"I was hoping," Julia giggled, "Come in, come in, what can I do ya for?" Chelsea walked further into the small shop, closer to the counter where Mirabelle stood at the register.
"I just need some food for Persia is all, then I can be on my way,"
"Aw, don't leave so soon," Julia said, "You haven't given me full details yet,"
"Details?" Chelsea asked, perplexed.
"Yes, details! You were at Marks' today for quite some time I hear. What were you two doing?"
"Goddess, what?" Chelsea blushed, "There is absolutely nothing going on between me an Mark! I just met him after all,"
"Your smile gives it all away," Julia teased, "Something definitely happened,"
"No!" Chelsea insisted, waving her hands frantically, "I just needed some help with my farming tools, I didn't know how to use them properly!"
"Uh-huh," Julia nodded, unconvinced. "That's all that happened?"
"Yes," Chelsea said, "absolutely everything,"
"Man!" Julia complained, "You're boring! You're alone with a super hot farm boy for like, five hours, and you don't even make a move,"
"Jules you're so mean! I just met him!" Chelsea squealed, "But..."
"But?" Julia questioned earnestly.
"There was this one guy, Vaughn I think..." Chelsea started.
"Vaughn!" Julia yelled before she started into fits of laughter.
"What's wrong with Vaughn?" Chelsea asked, when suddenly she heard stomping coming from upstairs. Then appeared a tall, violet-eyed cowboy from up the stairs.
"What's with all the yelling? Who called my name?" Vaughn said in an annoyed tone.
"Chelsea, I'd like you to meet my cousin, Vaughn," Julia giggled, "He's a real -pfft- ladies man,"
"Ladies ma- Wha?" Vaughn asked, confused. "Since when am I a ladies man?" Vaughn was becoming extremely annoyed. His loud-mouthed cousin was giving the new girl a very weird first impression of him. That was his job.
...
"I'm going back upstairs"
End Chapter One of Moving Forward. I hope you guys enjoyed! Reviews and faves are appreciated and encouraged, but certainly not mandatory. Thanks so much for reading!