Chapter Five: The First Test
-x-
Two days ago we celebrated Gannon's birthday with tons of food cooked. It was just Gannon, Chen, me and Charlie that celebrated, but it was very fun, and Gannon looked to have enjoyed it.
"Braden, when is your birthday?" Chen asked me as I was picking out some chocolates from the shelf.
I looked at him and answered, "It's on Fall 14th . A long ways til then."
Gannon nodded. "We should think of a great gift for you then."
I smiled, not knowing what to expect.
-x-
Chelsea's POV
I ruffled my specially tied up hair as I paced around my single roomed house. I kept pacing until the door suddenly opened up with a familiar fisherman's voice saying, "Hey, Braden.. Mind if I come in?"
"Yeah, come on in." I replied and watched him come in. "What's up?"
Denny has been oddly visiting me lately, like.. Ever since that day we met really. I wasn't annoyed by it - I enjoyed the company. It made me watch appearance more though, but oh well, I would have to watch my back all the time anyway so it really didn't matter.
"Ah nothin' much… but Natalie really wasn't kidding about keeping an eye on me, ya know?" He chuckled, sitting down on my (newly-bought-from-Chen-and-Gannon-without-me-knowing-it) couch. It was a nice thought though, but they really didn't have to do that for me. I thanked them much for it.
"Well, Natalie is one to keep her word.. One of the reason's why I like her!" I nodded, smiling.
"WHAT?" I saw his expression drop. "You.. Like Natalie?"
I blinked and raised my hands, waving. "Oh, no… Not like that…We're just friends!"
He brightened up again and leaned back on the couch. Weird.. Why would he be alert by it.. Me "liking" Natalie? … Well, never mind that.
"Say, what are you doing here anyway?" I asked. "It's pretty early…"
"Oh," He jumped to his feet. "I meant to cheer you on. You know, for the festival today! It will be your first one right?"
I nodded slowly with regret. Yes, today is the Crops Festival, but…
He continued. "I wanted to cool down those jumping frogs that form in your tummy before the contest.. Cool down those fluttering nerves that back you down.." He got behind me and began pushing me. "It's almost ten! You can't be late, Bray!"
I stomped down my feet, making sure I won't move. "I didn't say I was going.."
"Aww, why not?" He looked at me with disbelief in his eyes. "Earlier this week you looked so excited for the new celebrated festival, bud. Don't tell me your backing down now?"
I looked at him also and sighed. "I dunno, Denny. What if I lose? Then I would let all the townspeople down.. And that includes you too.. And imagine what Taro would say.." I frowned as I found the old senior yelling at how all my hard work was no good.
He narrowed his brows. "That's what if…I don't think any one would look down on you. You'll be fine! And you'll still my best buddy no matter what happens!"
"Kuu!" The black bird screeched, appearing behind Denny's purple bandana.
I didn't know why, but I think I found the bird to be somewhat disliking me. But it was nice to me. I didn't know why I had the feeling though.
"Ah, well. You'll still be my number one bud right, Kuu?" He took the bird and petted it gently. Then he looked at me. "Is it because your turnips turned out bad?"
I thought about it. They were really clean looking and white. No gnaw marks from bugs and they were really squeaky when I rubbed them together (like that big turnip monster thing on Spirited Away). "W-Well.. No. They look great! Probably A-grade-"
He interrupted, "Then why are you like this?" He suddenly disappeared from my view and I felt my feet being lifted off the ground. Soon enough, I was staring at his butt…
"H-Hey! Let me down!" I began pummeling and whacking at his amazingly strong looking legs..
"No." I heard him say. "We're going to that festival and I'm bringing you no mater what you say."
I pouted as we walked out my door; after that, I had no idea where direction was so I crossed my arms as I dangled upside down.
"Wow." I heard Denny's voice again. "Not only are you skinny looking, but your light for a guy too."
"You know what, Denny? Nobody asked you.." I responded, whacking at his back.
He laughed as he continued to walk, hopefully anywhere but the meadow.
-x-
So here I am.. In the freakin Meadow.. With some stupid turnip in my hands. I shot a glare at Denny who waved back with a huge smile. I then noticed that Vaughn was standing next to him too, which sorta surprised me since I hardly ever see him around.
I peered slowly behind my back and found all sorts of other people too. I was guessing the ones near Felicia in a line were the contestants. I didn't need to sign up since they ALREADY signed me in.. so much for choice. Then there was some other people too standing where Denny and Vaughn were, probably the audience.
I sighed again, then felt a tap on my shoulder… which made me jump.
I started with my karate chop, which happened to land on a very hard sort of metal. I regretted the move as I felt pain swell up in my fingers.
"That was stupid.." I looked up to find that the person that I chopped at was Vaughn.
"Eh.. Well. Gotta keep myself ready, ya know.. Huh." I chuckled sheepishly until it dawned out as he still stared at me. "Uhh.. Is there something ya need?"
"Good luck today." He turned and began walking, muttering something I couldn't hear.
I blinked. "Um.. Thanks?"
-x-
No POV
Felicia stood up before the audience. "It's so wonderful that we had so many contestants today! But the results are in and we finally have out winner!"
Denny, Natalie, and Elliot leaned forward, waiting to hear the results. Vaughn looked at all the contestants, standing next to Chen and Gannon who were muttering words of hope, knowing how Chelsea felt. Taro stood expectantly also, watching the eyes of each contestant
Chelsea felt her stomach rumble immensely and felt like crying. 'Oh, man.. I didn't like how the judges looked at my turnip. GAH, there must've been like a hole somewhere in it or something…' Her mind kept rambling on with disappointing thoughts.
"Aaaanndd … the winner is…" The suspense filled up everyone's insides. It was sooo suspenseful to everyone's disliking, except Felicia… who already knew who it was.
"BRADEN FROM CASTAWAY RANCH!"
Chelsea sighed and began to walk away. "I knew it.. I lost.." She mumbled.
"NO, BRADEN, YOU WON!" Denny and Natalie yelled, both looking at each other with surprise.
"I'm not Braden!" The rancher turned and yelled back.
"…" Everyone was silent.
"… Oh, wait." Chelsea blinked. "I.. I am.. Braden." She grimaced, but suddenly filled up with a burst of happiness as she found Felicia walking toward her. "I won?"
Felicia smiled. "Yeah, you won!" She pinned the ribbon on her shirt and hugged the rancher, whispering in her ear, "Good job, Chelsea! I'm so proud of you!" They both separated with smiles on their faces. Taro also came by Felicia's side and nodded saying, "Well done. You worked hard and diligently."
Out of no where, Denny jumped on to Chelsea with a big hug. "Oh Yeah! I knew it! You totally won!"
Natalie pushed Denny off and sighed. "Braden, you really got to keep this monkey boy off of you. He kept jumping up and down, it was hard to see."
Denny stared at Natalie and pouted. "I don't see why Natalie is so mean to me.."
Elliot sighed. "I know how you feel.."
Chen and Gannon found themselves with smiles on their faces too.
The carpenter nodded. "I knew she would win."
Chen agreed. "She worked very hard and deserves it."
Vaughn chuckled to himself as he walked away, hearing the two men speaking. He walked up to the farmer and knocked her clad-hat head. "Good job."
Chelsea looked up at him and said, "Thanks for the luck!"
All of them celebrated with the leftover snacks that were left behind.
Elliot looked around. "Wow.. All the contestants already left."
"Yeah, so much for being a sport though. But forget them, our little Braden won anyway!" Natalie rocked Chelsea by her shoulder.
"It was funny how Bray here didn't react to his name though!" Denny laughed.
Both Chelsea and Natalie chuckled nervously. Vaughn took another sip to his fruit punch and set it down on the table, looking at them.
"Um.. What did my mom give you anyway?" Natalie asked.
Chelsea dug through her backpack to pull out a yellowish sort of stone. "It's called a yellow wonderful. I hear that Charlie could equip these things on my tools…"
"Natalie! Elliot! Would you help me clean up here?" Their mother called.
"Yes, Mom!" Elliot patted Chelsea's back. "Good job today, Braden! Your crops are great! See you later!" He ran off ahead to his mother's side.
Chelsea set down her cup on the table and followed after Natalie. "Oh, wait. I'll help!"
Natalie held her back with a hand. "Nah, you won! You deserve the rest for all you did! See ya later!" She ran off too.
"Soo, should we get going, Bray?" Denny asked. Vaughn looked ready to go too.
Chelsea nodded and began walking ahead of the two men, putting away the wonderful in her backpack. "Mmm.. I didn't think I would win today. I feel soo… uhh… Exhilarated!"
"Using big words now, are we?" Denny swung his arm around her shoulders. "You really were awesome today! And there was no reason to worry either!"
"Well, if it wasn't for you forcing me in.. probably then I wouldn't have won!"
They both laughed as Vaughn trailed behind them. He gradually slowed pace on the trail as he soon saw a group of seniors, both men and women, gathered behind Gannon's shop. It was pretty unusual to see them clustered together suddenly and he might as well not miss the chance of listening in.
Chelsea popped in next to him. "Hey, Vaughn. Why'd you stop?" Denny followed after and Vaughn pointed toward the cluster of old people.
One of the old women has said, "Today was a fine win for the rancher for Sunny Island, yes?"
Another crusty voice answered, "But I heard he only passed because the other contestants had it sudden on them. "
"Yes, I heard the same. They didn't know a contest was to come up so quickly and they weren't prepared. This rancher must have known and prepared for it."
"Yes, very unfair indeed. I'm sure that if the other's were prepared, he probably would have lost. He's only but a rookie as well."
Vaughn looked down to Chelsea's face to see her expression change immensely. Her eyes seemed quite shocked as they heard the conversation and her smile died down to be but a line across her dimmed face. He also noticed that Denny was listening intently as well.
The group continued.
"The rancher before was much better. His crops were delicious - known throughout the cities and other islands!" An old woman praised. "The turnip that he had didn't look that great anyway."
"I hear the farmer now is from the city. It might take him a while to get used to such work."
"Also, to mention that he's also small and weak looking. He could break those thin arms of his!"
Denny clenched his fists. "HE- mmffm!" Vaughn clamped his hand on his mouth before he could catch the attention of seniors and began dragging him away. With his other free hand he tugged Chelsea's sleeve and pulled her.
Chelsea's POV
Once we were off at a distance, Vaughn let go of us.
I heard Denny growl, scowling and turned to look at Vaughn. "Why'd you stop me? Didn't you hear those hags talking bad about Braden?"
Vaughn groaned, his expression showing he was expecting this. "Of course I did, but we can't interrupt them. It would be rude -"
"RUDE? You're telling me that interrupting them is rude and there those crusty-faced hags making dirty insults behind Braden's back!" The fisherman rolled up his falling sleeves. "I'm gonna go over there and -"
Suddenly, my hand reached out for his sleeve and pulled him. ".. wait. Please don't.."
He looked back at me and held my arms. "But they shouldn't speak that way to you like that. It's wrong. They don't know -"
"It's alright, Denny. It's okay if they don't know what. They don't need to know. And because of that, they said what they said. But please.. I'll show them myself. I'll work harder and show them. Then they will think otherwise. So you don't have to do anything."
"But still. They shouldn't be saying such things, especially since you won.." His warm hand ruffled my chestnut hair.
I sighed and smiled, balling my fists. "I'll get better! And I can't let that bring me down now, can I? I'll just have to improve! Then it will surely show them for good!" I tried my best to cover it up, but it seemed to not fool either of them. I dropped my arms in my hopeless attempt to lighten the mood. "Ah..mmm.." I noticed Vaughn looked at Denny with thought and it began to make me wonder.
"Hey, Denny." The dealer, to my surprise, started.
"Yeah?" He answered.
"Earlier as I was unloading some things off the boat.. I found your place to be open."
Denny gasped. "What?"
"The door was creaking open. I was about to go ahead and close it, but I was already dragged away to go to the festival." Vaughn fixed his hat and brushed away some loose hair. "You might want to check out the place and make sure you didn't lose anything."
"Right." Denny looked back at me. "I'm sorry. I wish I could stay and cheer you up, but.."
I shook my head and weakly smiled. "It's okay. I can cope. But thank you, Denny!"
He smiled slightly and walked over to Vaughn, slamming down a hand on his broad shoulders.
"VAUGHN! I want you to cheer up Bray as much as you can! Do anything until he laughs! This is your mission!"
Vaughn stared at the fisherman. "Do I look like the type who's able to lighten the mood?"
Denny bluntly answered, "No, but I leave you with this task anyway." He nodded and quickly left for the beach.
Just the thought of Vaughn trying to cheer up anything, even rocks, was humorous. I turned my attention to him as he was standing there in thought. Hmm.. Him trying to make me laugh.. Somehow, that sounds impossible to some extent. Unless some miracle happens…
I began chuckling silently.
"What are you laughing about? I haven't done anything yet." Vaughn said quietly.
"Just the thought of you trying to cheer me up makes me laugh. Ha, and your stern looking glare could even makes rocks cry." I laughed some more.
"How insulting.." He mumbled.
My laugh gradually died down as we both began walking toward my ranch. But what they said… all of it is true, but… it's still bothering me… I knew that Vaughn took notice to my glumness.
I looked at him and randomly asked, "If you were to describe me now, what would you say?"
He paused in his steps and looked at me. "It looks like the word gloomy is trailing behind you and that a rain cloud is storming above you."
"Eh… that's how I feel right now.." I sighed again, not really knowing why. I had that feeling, the feeling you get when someone critics your work harshly as if they could care less about your feelings and said it could be so much better, and then you say that it doesn't affect you at all and that you could do so much better.. Yeah, that putrid feeling. I totally.. Abhor it.
"Braden?" I blinked hearing my name and looked at Vaughn who withdrew his hand that was waving from my face.
"Ah.. Sorry."
"Forget it, but come over here for a second." He began walking toward the trees that surrounded my ranch.
I followed after seeing that his longs strides were hard to keep up with. He abruptly stopped and I bumped into his back, stumbling backwards a bit. Then the pain began to fill up my nose and my hands instantly came up to my face as small tears formed on the sides of my eyes.
He turned around and frowned. "What's up with you?"
"My nyose…ow." I rubbed it and pouted. "dude, you have a back of steel or something."
He ignored this and raised his hands as if he was holding something small in them. Light was glowing from the cracks of his hands and I blinked.
"Oh, wow, Vaughn! I didn't know you had powers! That's so cool!" I took a second glance at his face to see that he seemed irritated. "What? Frustrated that I figured out? Well you should've never -"
"I don't have powers you idiot." He sighed.
"Ah… well. That makes sense…" I fiddled with my fingers in embarrassment.
"You really have some imagination. Weird. Eccentric. Loud. … For a boy."
I gulped seeing that I lost my guard. "Ah, well.. Er-hum."
He moved next to me and lifted his hand that covered the glowing light. Inside was a worm… an icky, slimy looking squishy glowing worm…
"Egad! Why are you holding that?" My eyes grew wide as I stared at it, watching it inch around his palm.
"Egad?" He repeated looking at me with his darting violet eyes.
There was some silence between us as wind rustled my crops and the grass.
".. You worked hard." I looked at him and saw that he stared right down at the insect, allowing his face to glow.
"This little guy works hard, too. He works so hard that he's glowing.."
I sweat dropped. "Oh.. So you are comparing me to a worm?"
His gaze moved to me. "Yes."
I frowned. "You didn't have to be so frank about it." He ignored this too.
"You worked hard. And even now, you still say that you want to work harder. But back there, during the festival, your hard work shone. You shined and glowed brightly with inspiration and pride." He pointed at the worm. "Just like this guy."
I'm pretty sure my expression clearly showed that I was confused. "I'm not sure whether your serious or not…"
"I am in a non-serious way." He replied.
I ran my hand through my hair annoyed.
"Like I said, you worked hard, And there's lots of things you've done. So stupid little things like that shouldn't bring you down like that." He bent down and laid the glowworm on the grass. Standing up again, he continued, " And if that does affect you continuously, then I might have to punch your senses back in."
"…"
"I was joking.."
"Oh." I coughed.
He shuffled as if he were thinking of what to say next. ".. I'm not really great with these inspirational speeches.."
"Yeah.. I kinda.. Got that." My voice trailed away.
"But to tell you something.. It was because of you that all of us are on this island anyway and without you, none of this could have happened. So.. It doesn't matter if your performance was… bad. Or that you aren't as good as others… It doesn't even matter about the money either." He looked at me again with an expression that asked, 'Do you get it cause I don't wanna say anymore and keep dropping you hints to something so obvious…' (if an expression could mean that much)
I looked at him and quickly came to realize. "You're right! What am I doing moping around? Yaaa-" His hand covered my mouth and he said, "Please.. Quiet." He let go and looked else where.
I brought my hands down. "R-Right…" I began pouting. Why doesn't he want me to be active? I mean really…
He complained about something that I couldn't hear.
"What?" I asked.
"It's nothing." He looked at his watch. "It's late. I better get going."
"Oh…" I smiled. "Vaughn, thank you! You spoke more than I thought you could!" I really meant that last sentence. Who knew?
He snapped. "Don't ever expect me to do this again though…"
Eh.. I really wasn't expecting actually. I laughed as he disappeared from sight. I wasn't expecting him to be the kind that would cheer up someone, but I guess there's those who have their own.. Interesting way to cheer up others… and he's one of them.
-x-
Vaughn's POV
It's tough watching over you…
It's a good thing she didn't hear me say that. I growled under my breath as I walked southward, going to Aunt Mirabelle's. The group of seniors still stood there as I slowly walked by, but then something irked me and I found myself walking toward the cluster instead.
Their conversation about the contests began to be whispers as I neared them. I stopped in front of them and waited for them to take recognition of me.
"Young man, what do you need?" A croaky voice asked.
I lifted up my hat and looked at each of them defiantly. "I would like it if you would stop making insults of the rancher. And since you do not know a thing about the rancher here, I wouldn't start saying such comments." I began to walk away.
"What give you the right to say that to us?"
I looked over my shoulder. "Because you don't know anything. So shut your brittle yaps up and leave the guy alone."
I heard some gasps from my comment and knew that they probably won't like me for it at all, but I just realized what affect it could do to "Braden". I'm the idiot now… Great.
I opened the door to the shop and found Julia standing nearby with an angry face. I knew it was coming.
"Vaughn! Why'd you say such things to the elders?" She crossed her arms and looked away. "You've always had a problem with saying what's in your thoughts.. You're going to get into big trouble with that foul mouth of yours… "
"And what are you? My mother?" I retorted.
She shook her head, rolling her eyes and gave me a slip of paper. "Here, my mom told me to give this to you. She needs you to go to the dock and get some supplies left behind there." She made a smile. "But that's a good thing you did there. I think Braden really has affected you."
I took the paper and slipped away. If only you knew Julia then you would do the same.. And what affect could that girl do on me anyway?
Then tell me why you stood up for her?
Do I have to answer that?
The only time I've seen you use your mouth was for yourself.
… I agree with that statement no matter how selfish it may sound at the moment.
I headed toward the beach and found Denny laying out on the sand. I felt my boots sink some way down in the sand to my disliking. Once, I neared the sleeping figure, I nudged him with my foot on his head.
His eyes peered open and he pushed himself up. "Heya, Vaughn. So.. How was your mission?"
"He's better. But I had a little help from a glowworm.. If I hadn't found them, I don't know how I would have accomplished your task." I found them just lying there on this huge leaf. It was hard to miss, but her bumping into my back startled me, making the conversation quite bothersome.
"Wow, really?" The fisherman stood up, brushing away some sand. "I didn't think you could actually do it."
"Neither did I…"
He laughed. "I'm glad that he's in a better mood. If I didn't have to sprint to my shack to make sure nothing was missing, I would've been the one to cheer him up."
I raised a brow as a thought came to my head. "Why do you sound as if you care so much? Don't tell me you've -"
His face brightened. "What? No.. I can't .. tch. No, Vaughn. That'll never happen.."
I leaned back. If Denny does.. Mmm… that wouldn't be good. Goddess. Then he would become quite a nuisance too. I need "Braden" .. or whatever her real name was for my job. Without her, Mirabelle and Julia wouldn't have much income coming and without them having money would mean that I would have to stop and take off another few months of having now money either.
I needed her to let me continue on with this job, and if anyone were to figure out and she were to suddenly stop then it's over. I don't think of her as a friend and I doubt it will be that way, but I do think of her as a way for me to get money… as well as stay in touch with Mirabelle and Julia.
It is crude, but that's how it is. Sure, I can't get money alone, but I surely can work alone. It's the best way and the way I've been since then. So all that then was just benefit for me, but it really doesn't matter at all if her feeling get hurt.
Suddenly, I saw something fly in front of me to find that it is Denny's clammy hands.
"Dude.. You totally zoned out on me." He said, lowering down his hand.
-x-
The Next Day… Chelsea's POV
"A pony?" I cried. There stood Chen, and a smiling Charlie, sitting upon a big chocolate horse. Charlie cried out, "Only girls call horses ponies.." He laughed, but Chen gave him a alerting look and he quieted down.
"You're giving me a horse?" I stepped closer to it and raised my hand, finding it to respond kindly, nuzzling against my glove clad hand.
"Of course. Find it as a reward for your hard work this Spring.." Chen nodded, patting the horses flank.
"Thank you.. But-" I gave him a look and he understood what came to my mind.
"I was talking with Mirabelle and Felicia some days ago and Mirabelle told me how the horse took up too much space in her barn. She needed to find this guy a new home."
"Soooo.." Charlie continued for his dad. "Papa decided to let you have it for your win yesterday! He suggested it to the old ladies and they agreed."
I placed a hand on my hip and stroked the horses mane with the other. "Well, I guess it can't be helped considering he has no other place." I smiled and nodded, but what flared in my mind was,
Oh, YAY! I've always wanted a pony.. Like.. Ever since I first saw one.. But they happened to be too big to live in an apartment. BUT this is awesome! I have a horse!
"What are you going to name it, Big Brother?" Charlie's voice asked loudly.
"Huh? …" I looked at the horse again with deep thought… "I don't know…"
Chen handed me the leather rope and smiled. "We'll leave now to let you think. Please enjoy the horse and tell us later what his name is."
Charlie hopped off my horse and stomped toward me, pointing a finger. "Take care of Mr. Horse okay?"
I nodded watching the boy quickly follow after his dad. As soon as they disappeared from my sight, the horse neighed and shook its head. I patted it softly and blinked…
"What am I going to call you?" I asked, not really expecting it to answer.
It looked at me and stared.
"Mmm.. Uh…" I looked at it finding that it was quite a big horse too. I walked up to its side and figured that jumping on top of it wasn't such a good idea, but it was tall - too tall for me to even swing myself over.
"Can't get on?" A low voice spoke, startling the daylight out of me.
I tossed and turned my head, but couldn't find anyone. Then my head paused as some big hand took grasp of it and tilted my head back, my eyes falling upon a black hat and silver hair.
"Vaughn!" The horse neighed at my yell and jerked, making me lose my balance and falling to my butt.
Vaughn immediately seized hold of the horse and calmed it, looking at me as if I had another eye forming on my forehead.
"What are you doing here? I thought you'd be gone since today is -"
"Thursday. I was here earlier dropping off some food for the horse in your stable without knowing the reason why -" He patted the horse. "Until I saw this horse…"
"…" I stood up and dusted my butt off. "I see, but.. You were here earlier?"
"I knocked on your door. No answer. Decided to do what I had to do, but then some yelling about a pony caught my attention." He eyed at me mockingly.
"Well…" I looked at him and found him to be treating the animal nicely, as if he was a totally different person.. Than to the one everybody else sees that's hardhearted, serious, and difficult to start a conversation with.
"Well what?" He continued tending nicely to the horse.
A frown came to my face. I did say to Julia that I would somehow find a way to be Vaughn's "best friend" without his keen eyes and wit figuring me out (but I still didn't see how I was to accomplish the task).
I quickly noticed his gaze averted from the horse, burning down to my soul instead.
"Well.." I started again, deciding that I might as well try while he's here. "Do you have anything to do?"
"Not really. I hang out at the beach for the rest of the day." He answered.
"Then teach me how to tend to this horse." I said, quite demandingly to my surprise. I decided to add, "Since you got nothing to do … and because you're here.. For the moment."
He raised his brow and his hat for once… Shocker. Suddenly I noticed his lips mustered a grim smile for a second before turning to the horse… Now that's scary.
"Why are you secretively hiding a smile from me?" I asked, stepping up to my horse.
"If I was "secretively" smiling, then how was it that you were able to see it?"
Ouch. That's good.
I looked at him, trying to stare at him they way he can, burning your soul. I finally caught his eyes that looked malignly.
"Eh? What?" I hated asking this question, but his eyes seemed sorrowful.. And malicious.
"I'm afraid."
I was flabbergasted as I repeated, "A-Afraid?"
"Yeah.. Afraid that you would be the death of this horse.."
…. For the rest of the day, we ranted on and on about various stuff.. As the teaching of tending to the horse progressed slowly.. Very slowly to my expectations. Who knew such a guy could be such an annoyance? But not in a bad way.. Just like the way Denny is.. Except different. And I get the feeling that -
"You're way to small to do that. Let me do it." He insisted, going ahead and doing the "HARD" task.
"Why do I get the feeling you treat me as a girl?" I bent down leveling up to his bent over shape.
He turned his head at me and opened his mouth slightly, for me to find it shut again. He quietly mumbled, loud enough for me to hear. "Do you want me to think you're a girl?"
… I absolutely hated his comebacks. It was annoying.. And I couldn't figure out what to say afterwards. His attitude seemed quite the same, but showed in various ways, even in a lame humorous way at some points. Also, it feels like he can read me a like a book. It's kinda scary.
-x-
"Whoo. You worked so hard." I said as he sat down on the grass. The sky was colored with pastels of red, orange, and pink.
He didn't look my way as he asked, "So.. What are you going to name the guy?"
I sat down next to him, legs spread apart - Like a guy. ".. You told me you crossed him over the ocean when you brought him here right?"
"How else would he be able to get here other than flying?"
I bit my lip, thinking hard. "Sea biscuit!"
"Lame."
I glared at him. "So much for thought."
We both watched silently as the horse ran a distance before us. The sunlight glowed upon its hair, changing from a chocolate to chestnut to this really smooth color of scarlet.
"As she ran upon the fields,
I watched her lovingly.
Her hair shining in the sun,
as she flared crimson in the light."
I blinked and took my gaze to Vaughn who laid back on the grass, now staring at the sky. "What was that?"
"…Something that came to mind from long ago…" He mumbled.
What he had just said.. It was exactly what view I saw of the horse. "My horse just now.. She flared in the sun. How about Flare?"
"Cheesy."
"Look who's talking, quoting such a cheesy poem." I retorted.
He immediately sat up and sighed in response. "You're no good at making names are you?" He snorted.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Vaughn stood on his feet and ruffled my hair. "Gotta go. See ya."
I sat up as well, wondering why he had to suddenly leave. My horse came from behind me and cuddled to my face. "You know. That's exactly what I'll name you. Flare."
-x-
Mrr… Chelsea's birthday is the date I always tend to use for my games. Fall 14. :D Also, just to let you know… I can't write poems to save my life. I can't tell a joke to save me from fire either.
