To answer a question in the review of AshAndMistyLove, yes, I got the name Mareep for my sheep from pokemon and I'm sure you know why I named it that. My sheep's name in my game is actually Mareep and I love Pokemon I will admit. (MistyXAsh btw. She was the first girl for a reason...duh!)
Disclaimer: I'm sure you guys know what I'm going to say but I'll say it just in case. I do not and never will own Harvest Moon, I only own this fan fiction.
Onto the FINALLY OUT next chapter!
~Molly's POV~
At around 6, Angela and I decided to finally start our daily farming chores. I was delighted to see that my Pumpkins were ready to harvest and so I tackled the field while Angela tended to the animals and let them out. It was a sunny day and the animals loved to graze on the grass I always had growing on the farm.
"I can feel it Angela! Today is the day that I'll ring the yellow bell! Then I'll only have to ring one more bell!" Angela smiled as she counted how many pumpkins I had.
"You have 20 pumpkins in all right now. Take away the decent ones you have...11 pumpkins of good or higher quality!" Angela squealed.
"YES! I can FINALLY ring the yellow bell!" I jumped for joy.
"Not to mention we can keep the rest of the better quality pumpkins for cooking and shipping now!"
"Mostly shipping! We have decent pumpkin so shipping anything that's good or better will definitely bring in the profit!" I exclaimed to her.
"Only shining pumpkin!" Angela protested.
"Perfect or better and that is my final offer!"
"Okay okay, geez. Cheap and shy sharing the same body is really weird. Two horrible traits, how you ever became a penny pincher is beyond me!"
"HEY! You try living on your own and not start pinching the pennies!" I chuckled and Angela finally gave in and laughed as well.
It's true that Angela and I were half-sisters, and it was true that I grew up by myself due to certain...circumstances. But once in a while, laughing at your own crappy existence seems to brighten things up...if only by a bit.
"I think I want to ring the bell this time." Angela said out of nowhere.
"Really? Why?"
"I never rand a bell before so I just want to do it." I pouted.
"Awww. But I did all the work." She threw a yam at me.
"Hey! That is valuable produce!"
"Oh shut up, you're such a baby!" Angela rolled her eyes and laughed. I sighed with content. I wished that life was always as carefree as this. It was moments like these that made moving to a farm worth while.
"So besides ringing the bell...what do you want to do today?" Angela asked.
"Well, usually after I ring a bell, the rest of my day is spent looking for things for the next bell I have to ring."
"Are gathering things for bells that hard."
"It depends on what your definition of hard is."
"I don't think you wanna hear my definition for hard." Angela smirked.
"Dear Goddess! You're corrupted!"
"Am not!"
"Then what were you thinking just now?"
Angela just snickered and I threw the yam back at her.
"WHOA! Now whose throwing the valuable produce?" She yelled back at me. I whistled innocently and threw the pumpkins into my pack.
"Did it really have to be all pumpkins?" Angela asked as we started down the road to Flute Fields. Sure it was early but we could always fish to pass the time.
"No not really. But I actually never kept produce that was good or better, they would be sold you see so when Ruth finally gave me the request I just decided to grow ten of all of the same crop and that was that."
"You should start keeping some better produce, Dolly! I heard that there was a cooking contest at the Harvest Festival that's held on the twenty-seventh! They judge it based on the quality of ingredients used."
"Mhmmm...and I care why?"
"I thought you would say that...the prize is 10 Shining Honey."
"Oh! More shining stuff YAY!" I clapped my hands with fake enthusiasm.
"Well do you know how much Shining Honey pitches for in sales?" Angela's voice became sly.
"How much?" I glanced at her.
"250 G a pop."
"2500 G of profit...for so much work?"
"Cooking doesn't take that much work you know."
"Don't let Chase hear you say that. He'll blow a gasket. And yes, as a matter of fact, it does. You have to have the right ingredients, if the dish has to be a certain ranking to win then you have to have some of the best quality ingredients, you can't burn it, you have to watch it carefully, put the ingredients in the right way. Don't accidentally add something unnecessary or that will be a kitchen disaster. Make sure it isn't under cooked or that will cause someone to get sick. Dishes can sell for much lower prices if you don't cook them correctly."
"So that's how you know so much about cooking. You make a profit from your cook-"
Angela stopped mid-sentence and I could see her eye twitch.
"What's wrong?"
"Molly...how often do you eat?"
"Oh. Well usually I get up and I have a cup of tea since herbs are very common around here, then I do work and...gee I guess I only eat when I go to the bar at night with everyone else."
Angela shot me a death glare.
"How often did you eat when you first came to the island?"
"Well...I didn't have a pot back then...bar night had not yet been established...I guess every once in a blue moon I would fish and grill one fish and sell the rest." I gave Angela a smile which she returned with a frown.
"I knew it! After your money craze I knew it was a bad idea for you to move out here alone. I noticed you've gotten much skinnier. You don't even eat regularly! And you said we should skip breakfast! Molly you are in such trouble when we get home!"
"Wait wait wait! During Fall and Winter I did use some of the produce to make some of my stew. It was a hit with the village!" I stopped walking and held my hands up in defense as I clenched my eyes shut. Angela didn't make a sound.
"Angela?" I opened my left eye and saw Angela staring at me in shock.
"You made you're famous stew and didn't send me any?" I giggled, I made Angela that stew when she came to visit me. The last time she visited me was in my old place so many years ago.
"I'm sorry. I didn't want to send it and risk you-know-who and some others getting the address. That wouldn't be good for me ya know?" Angela looked at me solemnly as I lowered my head in dismay.
"That's right. I wonder if he knows where I am right now..." Angela scratched the back of her head and smiled brightly.
"C'mon! Let's hurry up and get these pumpkins to Ruth!" She said glancing at her wrist watch which read 7:50.
We continued down the path when we suddenly saw Owen, Luke, Calvin, Wizard, and Jin crowded in a small circle by Chase's house.
"What's going on there?" Angela muttered.
I shrugged but gasped as I saw what the group of men were standing around...Chase with blood running down his face as he grimly looked up at Jin who was inspecting his head and talking to him.
Angela, following my gaze gasped in surprise and pulled me by my hand towards the group.
"What happened?" Angela practically screamed as we neared the group. She let go of my hand and tugged on Wizard's cloak so that he would turn to her. Everyone looked up at us.
"Chase gathered the 4 of us to go into Fugue Forest because he said that on his way home he saw some unidentified person go in." Calvin said gesturing to Luke, Owen, Wizard and himself.
"And while we were walking through, we accidentally got split up from Chase and while we were looking for him we heard him yell. We found him leaning up on a tree like this and got him back here where we called for Jin."
"Was it-"
Wizard put a finger to his lips to signify to Angela to keep quiet. She understood and turned to face the rest of the group as I dropped beside Chase.
"Why didn't you listen to me?" I whispered to Chase.
"I guess I'm just too stubborn..." Chase muttered back and tried smiling at me.
I shook my head.
'Chase...you idiot...' I thought but only stood up.
~Chase's POV~
'I know I'm gonna get scolded as soon as the rest of the guys leave...' I thought as I saw Molly's stern expression. For a girl who was scared of guys, she surely didn't seem like it right now.
I noticed Jin looking back and forth at us and he gave me a smug smirk, I blew him off and he stepped up to Molly.
"Would you help me get him in the house?" He asked, putting a hand on her shoulder. She winced and I could see the effort she put in, trying not to shy away from him.
'There's the Molly I know.' I smiled to myself as Jin and Molly helped me to my feet.
As blood trickled down my face I let out a sigh. This really did suck.
They sat me down at my kitchen table and Jin started to rustle through his medicine bag. Everyone else stayed outside, still talking about what happened I guessed. Molly was facing me and watched as the blood trickled down. Her expression made me feel bad for some reason.
Jin was about to put some gloves on, probably going to clean my hair to decipher where the blood was originating from, but he suddenly got another smirk and glanced over at me and Molly.
"Could you clean him up for me, Molly?" Jin asked Molly. "I would do it myself but I just can't seem to find the gauze in this bag." I had to hand it to him, he was damn good actor, I could plainly see the gauze sticking out of his bag. Lucky for him, Molly doesn't question people and does as she is asked.
Molly quickly nodded and pulled some gloves on. I expected her to drag me over to my sink and shove my head over the water but instead she asked me for a bucket.
"I have a small tub that I used to use to peel potatoes over. I haven't used it since I got my new trash bin. It's underneath the sink." Molly nodded and got it out. She put warm water in it and placed it on the table.
"Uh...Could you turn the chair around?" I complied to her request and she gently pulled my head back so that I was facing the ceiling. The warmth of the water sent tingles down me from being out in the cold forest since earlier that morning. I basically didn't get any sleep last night.
Molly started to untangle my hair, taking my hair pins out and setting them on the table. I winced as the rubber of the gloves pulled my hair. She looked at her hands momentarily and then pulled the bloodied gloves off and disposed of them.
"I know how you feel about sanitary methods Jin but if I kept that up he wouldn't have any hair left." Molly said quietly as she ran her nimble fingers through my hair. I could just tell Jin was smirking. I didn't like it when girls would touch my hair but the situation was different. Honestly, I don't think I would mind if she did this even without this situation present, it was strangely nice.
Molly mumbled to herself a little as she tenderly washed the blood away from my hair and off my face. She bent over me and I could see her focusing on getting my hair untangled. She was about to go get a towel but then her eyes met mine. She stopped and stared at me for a moment. I gazed back up at her and we stayed like that for what seemed like forever.
"That's good." Jin said making Molly jump and run to get a towel. I scowled at the ceiling.
"I'm not going to sit her while you ogle at her like that, Chase. It's awkward, I'm sure you understand." He whispered to me and I rolled my eyes.
"Here's the gauze right here." Molly said. Jin looked over to her supposedly and smiled.
"Why yes! There it is. Thank you for finding it!" He walked over to her out of my line of sight and then a towel was placed over me.
"Sit up slowly." Molly asked and I did so. I felt a few drops of water run down my neck and she quickly wiped at them, trying to make sure no water would soak into my clothes.
She thoroughly dried my hair, being cautious of my opened wound and when she was finished she went to dump the tub out in my bathroom which I directed her as Jin started to work. He disinfected the gash and wrapped it tightly.
"It isn't so bad so I don't think stitches are necessary. But don't do anything dangerous for a while. Lay with your head slightly elevated, You also lost some blodd so I think you should rest for the rest of the day."
"And if I refuse to rest?"
Jin glared at me.
"Then I will hunt you down and tie you to your damned bed." Jin smiled at me.
"So, how are you and Molly getting along?" He asked.
"Way to beat around the bush." I mumbled.
"Hey, I'm direct, what of it?"
"We're a little closer now, I've found out some interesting things, that's for sure." I thought about what Wizard, Angela, and Molly had told me last night.
"Oh? Like?" I stared at Jin and thought better of telling him. But I did think he should know the little information about Molly that I had found out.
"She's afraid of men."
"I knew it. Is it for no reason or what?"
"She was was sexually harassed on more than once and it got out of control on one said occasion..." I whispered very lowly.
Jin stared at me.
'What?"
"You heard me. I'm not repeating that. I feel bad just telling you her business."
Jin nodded and shook his head.
"I didn't expect something so serious...her fear is understandable then. She must be suffering from the trauma then. Horrifying experiences like that...I'm surprised she isn't a lesbian."
"Jin...please."
"Oh sorry. I guess you don't want to think of her doing this and that with a women am I right?"
"Jin...PLEASE!" I repeated.
"What about her family?"
"As far as I know, no one was living with her by the sounds of it."
"Not even Angela?"
"Yeah. It's...weird to tell you the truth. Not to mention-"
"Where do you want me to put this?" Molly came back asking causing Jin and I to jump half-way out of out chairs.
I turned to Molly and saw that she had washed out the tub and it was dripping water.
"Just set it near the tub in the bathroom on the towel. I'll dry it later." I didn't want to put something wet back in te kitchen. It could cause all sorts of safety hazards like mold or mildew, I shuddered just thinking about it.
She nodded and did as she was told and came back into the room.
"I'll just send everyone home for now." I told Jin, he nodded and walked out the house.
"Okay...I'll see you later then." Molly said and started to walk out the door but I grabbed her wrist. She turned around in shock.
"You, Angela, and Wizard are going to stay though Molly. Wait until everyone else clears out or they might get suspicious." I told her. She nodded, realizing what I wanted to talk about probably and left out the house. When she closed the door I slid down into my chair and sighed, feeling my slightly damp hair.
"What a great start to a great day." I muttered sarcastically to myself.
~Angela's POV~
"Are you sure you're okay? Nothing got to you, right?" I had been asking Wizard questions ever since Jin came out announcing that Chase was to rest for the day. We were walking slowly towards the bridge.
"I'm fine...really. It's Chase who was...injured." Wizard said. I crossed her arms.
"That guy is always causing trouble for Molly, and now he's causing her to worry too!"
"You care for her...very much..." He stated.
"Yeah...I really do. She's the best sister in the world." I dropped my hands back to my sides.
"Is that really...the truth?" He stopped and stared at me.
"What...?"
"Angela!" Molly panted up the path, interrupting the conversation.
I stared a moment longer at Wizard before turning to face her.
"What is it?"
"Is everyone else gone?" She asked, looking around.
"Yeah, they're all ahead of us. Why?"
"Chase wants us to come back and talk. If his injury was caused by what I think it was caused by then we definitely need to discuss this." Molly said.
Wizard nodded.
"Yes...that is a good idea."
We walked back to Chase's house and I opened the door so Chase wouldn't have to get up. He was still in the kitchen chair I had left him in and he motioned for us to come in and take a seat.
"Before anything else is said. I'm pretty sure you guys know what caused this." Chase pointed to his bandaged head.
"I suspected...it was the 'rogue sprite'." Wizard said and Chase nodded.
"It had to have been. I wandered off for just a moment and I saw this shadowy figure through the trees. I had a feeling it was what Molly saw on the other side of the forest door last night. I crept forward and this huge tree just started falling. I was just able to dodge it but a huge branch hit the top of head. I staggered through the forest to find the other guys but my vision was hazed from the blood in my eyes and I leaned against a tree. Thankfully, they found me but the strangest thing happened right before I was found."
"What happened?" I was interested now.
"Someone or possibly something whispered into my ear that since I interfered I wouldn't be shown any mercy or something along those lines."
"How eerie...what did it sound like?" I asked.
"A woman's voice."
"Are you sure?"
"It might have been faint but I could tell."
"Did the voice have any...special characteristics?" Wizard asked.
"Like...nasal?"
Chase blinked at him."No...but it did sound sort of...pompous. If a voice could sound pompous that would be it." Wizard nodded.
"I'll...look into this..." He stood up.
"I've heard...a good amount..." He walked out the door.
I had a sudden thought and bolted from my chair to catch him.
"I'll see you later Molly!" I waved and left. He was already half way up the path when I caught up to him.
"Hey!" I called and he turned around in surprise.
"What...is it?"
"I want to talk to you about something." He nodded and we started to walk across the bridge.
~Molly's POV~
Chase and I sat in his house for a moment. The silence between us was awkward. I thought about the trouble that Chase was being put through just from having saved me. It wasn't his fault that he happened to be there.
'Bullet Three' I couldn't help but think.
"I don't think you should concern yourself with this anymore..." I suddenly said. He turned to me.
"And why not?" Chase asked.
"You got hurt Chase..."
"So did you. Why don't you stop concerning yourself with this?" Chase's voice rose slightly and I winced.
"I told you that I can't! I have to save the land! I was chosen!" My voice higher than Chase's.
"Why?" Higher.
"Because I was chosen Chase! I can see the sprites!" Higher.
"But why YOU? Why ANGELA?" Higher.
"I don't know why!" Higher.
"Then why do it!" Higher
"This is my home! I can't just leave it the way it is!" Much higher, I hopped out of my chair.
"Neither can I!" Chase stood from his and slapped his hands on the table.
I stared at him, surprised by his reaction.
"Why are you so stubborn? Just stop. What would happen if you ended up getting hurt even more? What if you died?" My voice was back to it's normal tone.
"What if you died? What would happen then Molly? Would it matter less?" His face showed that he was annoyed with this conversation.
"You were only involved because you were in the wrong place at the wrong time, Chase. It's not your fault that you-"
"No." He cut me off.
"I was in the right place at the right time. If I hadn't been there you would've been killed."
"And if you hadn't been there you would've also avoided this injury and you wouldn't have to deal with all this."
"Stop putting me before yourself. I'm choosing to deal with this. And whether you like it or not, I'm choosing to save you and if whatever the hell it is that's causing this thinks of it as an interference well, hell! I guess I'm just going to be an interference."
Chase stared me down. I tried to avoid his eyes but his fiery gaze made me stare back at him. I felt myself biting my lip again. A smile played on his lips.
"You're biting your lip again..." He said.
"I know...don't tell me..." I hid behind my hands and stopped biting my lip.
"Then don't do it anymore."
"I can't."
I saw him give me a look that said 'BS' through the cracks between my fingers.
"I'm serious." I half-laughed.
"It's easy, just don't put your lip to your teeth." He chuckled and came around the table to face me.
"Easier said than done."
"Okay, I'm going to stare at you. Don't bite your lip."
We stood there and stared at each other. His eyes dropped their fiery look and now shined with amusement. I noticed his hair was still a little damp from when I had dried it. He hadn't put his hair pins back in yet and his strawberry blonde curls were curling his face and falling into his eyes a little. I felt my lip take it's much frequent position between my teeth once again.
"There you go again!"
I only let out a breath as I tried to cover my lip biting.
"If you can't help but bite your lip, then try to stop as soon as you start. Just slowly slide your lip away from your teeth."
I shook my head, I didn't want to scrape my lip
"Look, I'll do it so copy me." Chase then bit his lip as I did.
He started to slowly slide his lip away from his teeth and his lip smoothly escaped without a cut on it.
"Now you try it."
I proceeded to slowly slid my bottom lip out.
"Almost there." Chase ushered me as if I were a child and I choked back some laughter.
"Lih dis?"
(Like this?)
Chase stopped talking as I slipped the rest of my lip out.
"Yeah...like that..."
It looks like Chase needs to watch his back now. I'm liking this slowly but surely development between Chase and Molly and I'm sure that they'll only grow closer.
...
Or will they? Hahahaha! You must continue to read to find out!