Aww, thanks to everyone for all the reviews! [:
fooboo24 - How's Vaughn doing?
dizzydaydreamer - Heeeey, girl! :D Thanks so much! Writing a fanfiction about Vaughn and Chelsea...good idea and I don't have any suggestions, because you don't have a Vaughn x Chelsea story published right now. Maybe you could send it to me and I'll read over it? I'd be happy to give you some pointers!
So enjoy chapter 4!
Reminder: This is back in Chelsea's POV.
I'm editing chapters after this, probably. Looking back, my writing is crappy and I feel like an LG. D:
Chapter 4: Surprise
You know, I actually thought Vaughn and I were becoming friends. Like the types of guy friends you could hug and not be embarrassed, the type of guy friends that made everyone say, "Oh, they're just really good friends." For some reason, I sensed a spark like that in him. Even though he was anti-social, and grumpy, Vaughn seemed like the type that would eventually open up to you with a bit a trust and friendship. Apparently, I thought wrong.
One thing that friends should do is visit their buddies when they're sick. They should talk to them; share stories that are going on in their daily lives, laugh, and help them. Assist whether fluffing a pillow or bringing in a steaming bowl of porridge or...or... I don't know! Whatever a friend ought to do was the exact opposite of what Vaughn did. From that, he achieved something.
What did he achieve? Well, he gained an angry stressed out girl who had a temper instead of a happy cheerful farmer who liked to put a smile on other's faces. All of that because Vaughn failed to visit me in a span of two weeks, even though Julia claimed he saw to me once. Apparently that one time I was sleeping so technically, that didn't count as a visit.
Julia did all of that instead – which I was grateful of – and Vaughn never thought to lend a hand. I asked her why Natalie never came around either and she explained that Natalie and her family were tending to my farm. I was filled with relief. At least some people cared enough to help me. I was actually worried that my animals were up there all alone and about to die. No one would ever forgive me for not being there for my chickens and cows!
One day Julia had said to me, "Vaughn brought you a dog...her name is Maggie. She's adorable." Flushing, I thought, Wow, he got me a dog? That's actually pretty sweet... "He also brought you medicine." My thought of thinking Vaughn was sweet vanished. He's here right now? "He's hanging out with Denny." So perhaps we weren't buddies after all.
Angrily seething, I had flipped the covers over my head and blocked out any sound from Julia. I didn't feel like talking to anyone right now. But then I wondered why I even cared why Vaughn wasn't talking to me. Last time I checked, I was still in love with Denny.
Mirabelle, being the kind but strict mother, she insisted I stay at her house until I was fully recovered. I protested that I was fine, but boy, was she stubborn! ...So now Natalie would be under torture trying to shove my fat prize cow who I called Lightning into the barn for the next week. Lightning was lazy, and slow, not to mention stinky when he did its business. Honestly, he worked up the whole barn and I even ran outside and puked once.
Long story short, I missed the farm as if I missed air. That had become my life. No...That wasn't true. Denny was my life, even if I wasn't his.
()()()()()
So here I was, waiting for Mirabelle to retrieve my order of fodder. I was allowed to go back home a few days ago. Hooray. It was so different to be back in my own house, without Julia's constant talking or Mirabelle hushing. Honestly, I missed spending my days at their house.
But now...
I leaned against the door frame, scowling. Arms crossed with my wrinkled yellow t-shirt; I listened to Julia and Vaughn arguing. Surprise never occurred to me – I knew their conversation was about me. "Why the hell isn't she talking to me?" Vaughn angrily demanded with a toss of his silver hair. Maybe I'm not talking to you because you've been a jerk and chose to ignore me for the past two weeks. They didn't seem to notice I was standing right there. It's okay; not a lot of people notice me anyways. I'm like silent, not standing out in a crowd or socializing with many people.
Julia's dark eye bag ringlets caused a snappish scary glow around her when she raised her eyebrows. "You mean why the hell you aren't talking to her." Glaring at her in a menacing violet hue, Vaughn glowered and Julia scarcely shirked under him. Good Goddess, she's brave. If that were me, I'd be in tears right now because of his expression. Tearing his gaze from hers, Vaughn started quickly pacing back and forth. I wondered what got his brain in a mush. He appeared to be really worried and furious at the same time. This guy had some anger issues.
Taking a deep breath, Julia retorted, "She lay in bed for two weeks, and you never visited her!" That really got him there. Tugging his leather black hat over that expressionless face, Vaughn gave me the impression that he was thinking. After a few minutes, she added, "Not to mention she was going to ask you something!" I swore I then saw Vaughn's eyes insufficiently widen and ears perk up. What was I going to ask him again? While the two continued to be silent, I pondered on the question. Then it struck me.
Quietly, I stepped forward and said, "I was going to ask him who carried me home on Denny's wedding." Even though I was clueless, my instincts told me that somehow, Vaughn knew who the mysterious person was. I had a suspicion it was him, but I wanted to make sure. "I'd like to thank him for that." Stupid Chelsea, if the mysterious person was Vaughn, and you're pissed at him, there is no way in hell you're going to thank him for carrying you home.
For a few seconds Vaughn hesitated. Time ticked by and I released a breath I hadn't realized I was holding when he replied, "It was Elliot."
Ouch, that hurts. My heart sank yet I was confused. Nat would have told me if her brother carried me home. Unless, her brother told her not to tell anyone...After all, family always came before friends. I wasn't really sure if Elliot had muscle to take a girl home. He lifted crates for his grandfather and Chen when shipments arrived, but even I could do that easily.
They were pretty heavy when you lifted them in stacks, and my record is carrying four crates in my hands, from last season. I had walked down the crusty village path, and I stumbled on a small meddling rock. Losing my balance, I set the crates on the ground, muttering, "I can do this."
At that moment Denny chose to stride by, Lanna's arm interlocked in his. Hearing my statement, he called, "You're actually going to try?" Sparing me one simple glance, Lanna's high pitched giggle rang in the air. She were making fun of me, I knew it. Denny shot me a sympathetic smile and as their backs turned from me I yelled, "I'm not going to try when I can do it!" Bitch.
So I did. When I lumbered them into his house, Elliot's face shaded as bright as his orange-pink hair. He stammered, "Y-y-you carried four?" My best friend had snorted because Elliot carried only two.
Currently, I stared at Vaughn and said in two words, "You're kidding." Julia's face shadowed with an emotion that made her look pissed. Perhaps it was jealousy! No way! Why would she be jealous that Elliot carried me home? Blushing in guilt, I thought, Does she like him?
Vaughn, on the other hand, his face was as if someone slapped him hard on the cheek. But of course, if he was lying to me, I'd punch him silly. Eyes refusing to leave the ground, he slowly nodded.
Dear Goddess, kill me now.
()()()()()
Felicia opened the door, her squinty eyes smiling. "Oh, hello Chelsea!" She sounded surprised, but she shouldn't have. I had come to their house almost every night. "Come inside." As I nervously shuffled in, shifting my eyes wondering where Elliot was, Felicia called, "Natalie, Chelsea's here for you!"
"Actually, I'm here to see Elliot," I replied as Natalie appeared in my sights.
"What did he do?" she demanded, obviously upset. I could see why. Silently, I told her with my eyes, "Sorry" and she rolled her eyes and called, "Elliott, Chelsea's here for you!" She was annoyed with me, I could tell. I sighed.
He stumbled into the room rather clumsily. Pushing up his glasses, he said, "Hi, Chelsea." Goddess, had I led him on wrong? He was blushing. Okay, now this was totally awkward. After two weeks I showed up at my best friend's house, wanting to talk to her brother. If I were in Natalie's position, steam would be puffing out of my ears by now. When I glanced at her, I winced. I could see her steam billowing out.
I decided to make this quick. "Remember Denny's wedding?" There was no point in pulling Elliot to the side because Natalie would enter an 'ignore Chelsea because she told my brother something I do not know about' phase. Anyways, his family would eventually find out...
So he nodded, curious about my question.
Luckily Natalie sensed it coming and blurted, "It's Vaughn." I stared at her in surprise. She knew? Glowing a rosy pink, she added in a rush, "Denny couldn't leave his own wedding, and like, Pierre was with me the whole time. And you know, if it were Elliot, we'd hear about it by now."
My first reaction was: "Vaughn lied to me!" Why, I had to punch his stomach until that pig dragged him around! That sneaky boy told me the mystery guy was Elliot! My fists clenched. The thing I wanted most was to beat a hole in the wall with everything I had got. I probably would have, only this wasn't my house.
Second: What the hell was Pierre dong with Natalie?
Third: "I am going to kill Vaughn," I vowed.
"Isn't that a little too harsh?" Elliot asked timidly.
I ignored him. There were no questions I wanted to put up with at the moment. "Are you coming with me, Natalie?" I thanked a confused Felicia and Taro as she ran to fetch her jacket. Apologizing to Elliot, I gave him a hug which made him blush even more. When ready, Nat gave a short nod and I said, "Let's roll out."
()()()()()
At the entrance at the forest, I exclaimed, "I am so not going in there." The darkness jeered at me, threatening to unleash...her. Pine trees loomed about and I shuddered at the thought of one of them crashing down. The sickening crunch would shatter by bones...It could be her doing. By now she probably hated me so much she intended to roast me over the fire and eat me raw...okay, I'm getting a little ahead of myself.
Anyways, I glared at the dark abyss. Natalie tapped her chin. "That bitch will always be in there..." She rolled her light blue eyes. "I wonder why Vaughn hangs out there a lot." I agreed, but thought to myself, It's Vaughn, and he's a really strange guy...like seriously, who wears all black? Earlier Julia had informed us that Vaughn had left for the forest.
"Here's there a lot," she reminded us. "You should know that by now." To tell the truth, I did know that, and so did Natalie. Natalie liked the forest too. On odd nights, Denny would hang out with Vaughn. He claimed it was for the fishing, but I doubted Vaughn had any tolerance to wait for endless hours until Denny was satisfied with his catches. When my ex had invited me along, I declined every time.
She prowled in the pitch black, inconspicuous. Sometimes faint moonlight illuminated the paths. She avoided them altogether, for in the night people travelled there. Her preference was to stay hidden in the trees, slinking through. She marched, teddy bear in hand. Although scary and wise, she was arrogant, impulsive, and childish. She stomped on anything that got in her path.
But she always spared animals and plants. I didn't know why but those are the rumours around town. The things I've heard were from "she launches the animals on her enemies" to "creatures bow at her feet". Ridiculous, I'm telling you.
One night, I collided with her, and that terrified the living hell out of me.
On a light fall evening I was out collecting edible herbs because I always felt refreshed after I ate enough. The good part about them was that herbs were wild, so they were free. My buying expensive food at the Cafe or Diner lessened. When yanking a dark purple herb out of the ground, it popped up and I tumbled backwards in surprise. Then a hard body slammed into me. Gasping, I turned around and came face to face with her.
Flowing dirty blonde hair fell into shimmering tangled curls and frightening magenta eyes glared. Her face was streaked with dirt, and the teddy bear was dangling at her side on a belt. Pointing one skinny finger at me, she crowed, "You dare and cross paths with me, human? I'll get you one day, don't worry!" Panting, I fled. Feet pounded after me, but I managed to make it outside the gate in time.
Sighing, I took Natalie's pale hand and said, "It's okay, Natalie. I'll just wake up earlier tomorrow and catch him before he leaves." I, being very precise, would wake up at five o clock the next day. Determination would remind me of my task as well.
()()()()()
The belching moo of Lightning rose me from my comfortable bed. Lightning was like my alarm. I had even stopped using my own clock to wake myself up. Rubbing my eyes, I yawned, "Good morning, world," like I did every morning.
Gradually I dressed into my usual farming clothes, half-asleep. While tying the red bandana to my head, I mumbled, "I wonder how my turnips are doing...?" They were growing on steadily, and I figured they would sprout any day now.
The clock read 6:12 AM in electric green numbers. Far away a loud honking horn sounded, the belching call hurting my sensitive ears. For a few short second I groaned, the pounding causing me to shake my head.
Oh, yes, I was used to this.
But jeez, when the ship leaves, why did it have to be so disturbing? Every freaking Friday it happened! At least I wasn't on that ship, like Vaughn was! That would hurt.
Vaughn!
Sighing, I just muttered, "I'll catch him next week..." To be frank, I didn't care about the situation at the moment: I forgot to wake up at five in the morning like I intended. For all I cared, he could be held captive by the Witch Princess. Perhaps he was needed for one of her experiments...but of course, I guessed all girls wished something similar to that when men piss them off. Sensitive, I was, but the thing I hated most was being lied to.
Scowling, I stepped outside, ignoring the bitter wind and chilly spring sun. I slightly shivered and pulled on my deep red cardigan. Ugh. The cold sucked. It was a bummer. I preferred a warm summer, going bare foot and sporting tank tops.
Maggie bounded up to me, and I ruffled her fur. "G'Morning, Maggie!" She barked and grinned, licking my face. I laughed and headed towards my tools.
As I picked up my watering can, I hummed a simple tune that Denny had taught me. It was a sea chant, really, and it was beautiful. Denny could play it on a wooden flute. I remembered the winter days when we were sitting by the fire in his house, snuggling close with a blue blanket draped over our shoulders...
I hadn't realized I was wistfully standing in the middle of my farmland, staring in the distance until someone yelled behind me, "Chelsea! You better come to the beach quick! Your brother is unconscious!"
Damn, baby, damn. A very interesting chapter and a very interesting cliff hanger...Aren't you in love with me by now? ^.^
I'm looking for a beta reader. Please tell me if you're interested.
R e v i e w s are love and better than Lightning the cow.
~diego