Misunderstandings

Her alarm clock went off again flashing 6:30, but jacklin still didn't want to get up. She had done all her work before laying in bed and still had a few hours to kill until she had to get ready for the festival. Tossing and turning she couldn't sleep rolling from one side of the bed to the other jamming her face in the pillow.

Rolling father to the edge of the bed she screamed, falling off the bed; pulling the sheets with her. Rubbing her head all she could think about were those little bastards (harvest sprites) who made her night so stressful that she couldn't sleep. Glaring at the dress hanging from behind the door she decided to take a shower while there's still time then rush it in and be late.

-------

"what am I gonna do with my hair?" she asked aloud twirling a piece of wet hair in one hand with the other holding her towel up. A flash of red came from the spot and the little red sprite from before popped up with jacklin mumbling 'bastard' under her breath giving him a sly glance.

"T-this is for you!" he piped before another flash of red came into her sight leaving a dress very much like the one from before. "what's this?" she asked placing her hand on her cheek in a sheepish manner.

"a dress for the festival" he answered and before jacklin could get another word out the dress was already on her and the towel on the floor in a matter of 5 seconds.

"It's a ceremonial dress. And you must wear it until the festival is over or bad things will happen!" he continued in a stern parental voice.

'this wont go with that sun hat I was gonna wear' jacklin groaned face palming herself

"hey sprite guy"jacklin retorted glancing at his face then turning her eyes to the door.

"do you have a have a hat or somethin' that I could wear with this? Its not a good idea for me to be out in the sun unprotected" she continued after she got his attention.

"W-well I do have this" he stuttered looking up and another red flash rippled, with an umbrella popping out. ' Frilly and lacy' jacklin thought opening the umbrella twirling it around.

" at least it's better than nothing …........thank you" she replied smiling a bit. The little guy gave a sly smile and disappeared with another red flash.

" let's see what I look like now" jacklin grumbled walking over to the mirror still holding the umbrella up. "i look like a life size barbie doll" jacklin retorted into the mirror shaking her head. Why me? Why cant these weird things just happen to Karen or any of the other girls in this town and just leave me the hell alone! Her mind screamed.

It's not that she didn't like the dress and umbrella, she really did like it; but things in mineral town were just wonky. She's used to weird, but this was a bit too much at the moment. Sighing, she knew she had to handle it and no one besides her could.

Looking back into the mirror jacklin smiled, she looked adorable like that. It hung of her like a spaghetti strap dress would connecting to a frilly lace that came across her body with lacy straps on her arms. Then another lacy ribbon under her chest that led to a bunch of ruffles being slightly shorter in the front. Even though they were 'little bastards' in Jacklin's mind, she had to admit it, they knew what she liked.

Even the umbrella was perfect, it had ruffles and laces; with adorable flowers on it. And what made it better was that they both were a light lilac, one of her favorite colors.

After twirling around a few times in the mirror jacklin slipped on her strappy sandals, carefully trying not to tangle it with her anklet; then went into her dresser (one of the many things she bought from that catalog ) and took out her favorite purple pendent and slipped it over her head then ran back to the mirror.

"Did my hair grow again?" she questioned aloud flipping her hair to make sure. Then looked at the dress again and playfully face palmed herself. "it's purplish too, must be that sprite thing again."

looking at the grandfather clock she saw it was 8:15 then sighed and looked at the umbrella and got an idea to eat up some time. Grabbing a pen,piece of paper and some tape she wrote a little note and stuck it on her door. Even though she knew Ann would be mad, she wanted flowers for her dress and she was gonna get it one way or another.

the sun wasn't up so she didn't need to have the umbrella over her head, but carried it to be safe. Max already let the animals out of their respective pens and was standing watch; and jacklin went on her way already watering her crops and putting feed in the bins earlier that morning.

After a half an hour, wondering aimlessly through the forest she came up to Gotz's house and knocked on the door; but there was no answered. Slightly confused she looked through the window, but still there was no one. He must be helping the mayor set up she told herself going off to search for flowers herself.

– – – – –

it took me 2 hours to get a bunch of these and not get dirty she thought on her way home with 2 flower chain bracelets on her wrists and the small bouquet in her hands with her frilly umbrella being held on her side, apparently there was a little design on the side that was supposed to be used to hold a sword in its sheath. Who the hell would fight in this dress is beyond me,but hey it came in handy.

Walking back on her farm jacklin looked around "seems like Ann and the others already came here" she announced to no one in general after noticing the note on the door missing.

After getting in the house she put her flowers in a vase she bought from some guy named won, then washed her hands and got a bowl of dog food for max. putting it down in it regular spot, on the porch, she noticed it was extremely sunny and pulled out her umbrella and opened it while the dog gobbled down the food and ran off chasing random birds away.

Humming quiet winter she walked into town twirling her umbrella and swaying her arm so that she could watch her bracelet move up and down her arm just being relatively happy.

Reaching the square she noticed that no one was there, sighing she sat on the bench in the far right corner of the square and began humming breeze song until she fell asleep on the bench, umbrella cropped over her head, her cheeks slightly flushed by the cold spring air. The ruffles on her dress swaying lightly as the sea breeze comes near. Perfectly still, a doll left on the park bench.

Gray p.o.v.

"Damn it Ann, why do I have to go pick up you're friend!" he grumbled folding his arms across his lilac collard shirt; glaring at his sister through his combed red bangs; blushing because he knew that it was that guy.

Huffing she pulled out her mental list preparing to annoy her brother. "1, I always do what you ask me to, 2 ,if you go there it will help you too" she smiled like that cat again, "8, you owe me,9 y--" "Alright, alright I'll go!" gray screamed at her putting his hands on her shoulders, eyes towards the floor.

"but why can't you do it?" he questioned raising both his head and an eyebrow. Ann rolled her eyes, put her hands on her hips and scowled at gray. "i have work to do and Popuri needs help with her hair, plus all you do is mope around all day inside, you need to get some sun on that thing yo call hair,--" "alright I get it Ann! I'm going," he raised his voice, balling his fist up storming outside.

"Popuri, phase 1 completed" Ann announced to her friend sitting across the room. They began laughing as Ann walked across the room in her frilly dress "here, let me help you" Ann exclaimed grabbing a brush and putting it to work at Popuri's cotton candy like hair.

– – –

gray had calmed down by the time he got to the winery and was dragging his feet towards the farm. Why Ann, why do you torture me? He groaned letting his face fall. When he reached the farm he noticed a bright silver patch running towards him. As it got closer he realized it was a dog and began to crouch down to meet its level.

The dog slowed it's pace and gave gray a funny look. Gray raised a hand to pet the dog, but flinched when the dog gave him an icy scowl. What the hell was that? After returning his hand to his side gray looked at the dog confused. Slowly standing up he began walking away from the weirdness up to the fairly large farm house.

-

I knocked on the door avoiding contact, no answer. Slightly peeved I knocked again, still no answer; the dog barked.

"what now?" I asked, annoyance clear in my tone glaring at the dog. The silver and black terrier like animal walked up to me rolling it's eyes. Before sighing, blowing the mustache from in front of its mouth, the dog looked up pointing to a note I didn't see before.

Ann~

I went to ask Gotz were I could find some of these pretty purple flowers, I saw them one day going to the spring. I think they'd make a lovely accessory with what I'm wearing. You can also help me put them in cliff's hair, he hates it when people touch it =3.

Sincerely~ jack

P.s. Oh, yeah please don't eat me!!

P.s.s. If your not Ann you're gonna get hurt cause you read my letter.

P.s.s.s just kidding, but if you could, please bring this to Ann

There's a picture of a very detailed flower here, looks almost life like I thought raising an eyebrow at the picture and how this note was written, in sparkly purple pen. In a rather feminine style of hand writing.

"what's this guys case?" I questioned aloud, my expression clearly confused. Stuffing the note in the pocket of my tan khaki pants, walking back to the inn.

---

" Gray, go find Jack now" she ordered pointing her finger at the door.

"why?" he barked at his sister scowling. "I'm still working and you didn't bring em' here" she barked back, fist grinding into the sides or her floral dress; while looking gray in the eyes. Letting out a breath he hadn't known he had been holding, he left the inn yet again in search for Jack.

– –

I could hear a faint humming, something that made you smile, something that would make you sing with it. I followed it for some reason, I didn't know why; but I just did. Then it stopped.

I was outside of poultry farm when the hymn silenced itself. The spring breeze was the only thing left in my ears. Slightly looking around I didn't see anyone, no animals, no little girl (may) running around with her dog, laughing like she does everyday, nothing!

As if answering my confusion someone started humming; but this melody was sweet in his ears something from a memory. something that suited the spring, mellow and comforting. The hymn was coming from the square, so I took my time walking there, I know were its coming from so there's no rush.

when I placed a foot on the cobble stone square the the music stopped, and I looked up. There were decorations set up, but no one there. It looked sorta creepy, a ghost town, then I see a doll; and a big one at that.

May must've left it here, I'll bring it back I half thought half sighed, walking to the corner were it was left. This thing looks lifelike! It's pretty creepy an umbrella hid most of its face and it had a frilly,dress on even girlier than Ann's, but a delicate purple. Its legs shifted to were the left leg was bent and hidden under the dress and the right straight out; and slightly bent at the shoes which were a deeper shade of purple.

Whatever part of its face I could see had rosy cheeks with little freckles and lidded eyes. Hair brown and purple stopping at its back, it had flower bracelets similar to the one that jack guy had drawn on that note. Its skin a bronze tan instead of the usual white porcelain. If I had only one word to describe it I'd say Lolita.

Bending over to pick it up, something horrible happened.

it was breathing.

How's he gonna take this one ^,^ I have a felling it wont be very well. If you're having problems trying to see what she looks like on the bench, here's a picture --

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