Hey gals and guys, here is another Chapter of Strange attraction for you – hope you enjoy. Sorry i haven't posted sooner :P Disclaimer – I do not own Harvest Moon or any of its characters x
Chapter 33 – Chelsea's P.O.V
As the ferry arrived back at the island, me, Julia and Natalie all lugged our clothe covers toward the main island without getting it dirty from the sand. As soon as we set foot on the sand Denny came rushing up to us and pulled me into a hug. I covered my stomach with my dress.
"I see you girls have got your dresses ready" He smiled at us. Julia pushed me out of the way and walked up to Denny.
"Yes and you're not allowed to see any of them so bye bye" She said poking his chest mockingly. He threw his hands up in protection and backed away.
"Okay, okay. I'll leave it all to you" He winked before heading back up to his shack. "I'll catch you later Chelsea, I love you" He called out. I smiled and waved before turning around to face Natalie who was giving me a disapproved look. I turned my gaze to the ground before we all began to head back to the mainland again. As we arrived we were greeted by Mirabelle who came rushing out to us.
"Ooh are these the dresses?" She asked pointing to our black cases. We all nodded but Julia felt the need to add an extra squeal in there. I rolled my eyes and followed everyone back to Julia's where we were greeted by a warm gush of air and the smell of chocolate cookies. We all trekked towards Julia's room where she had a wardrobe completely empty, waiting for our dresses to go inside.
"Can we show Mum the dress before we pack it away?" Julia smiled eyeing my dress case. I rolled my eyes before agreeing.
"Fine but I want those cookies" I winked before leaving the room and walking towards the bathroom. I opened the door before quickly locking it behind me and turning around. But I dropped my dress to the floor and stared at the cowboy who was sat in the bath looking at me.
"Hello" He said without changing his facial expression. I stared at him in shock; it's not every day that you walk into a bathroom to find a cowboy sat in the middle of a hell load of bubbles. His hair was wet and pushed back so that his full face was visible.
"Erm hey" I replied knitting my eyebrows together.
"You bathe with the door unlocked?" I asked him as he continued to look at me. He raised his eyebrows before dropping them again.
"Looks like it" He said. I tilted my head to the side and looked at him. He was very attractive when wet. This was one of the weirdest encounters I'd ever had. And yet there he was, sat up straight in the bath surrounded by white bubbles.
"What if someone walked in? It wouldn't bother you?" I asked picking up my dress off the floor. He shrugged before flicking me a smile.
"You're here aren't you?" He asked looking into my eyes. I nodded as I kept looking at him.
"Do I seem bothered?" He asked raising an eyebrow. A smile spread across my face as I looked at him.
"I guess not" I replied as I tucked a strand of hair behind my ear.
"There we go then" He smiled at me. I rolled my eyes as Vaughn splashed a little water with his hand to create a large noise. He was like a big kid. I turned my back to him and took off my top before slipping on my dress and taking off my pants. I took off my bandana before turning to him and twirling around.
"How do I look?" I asked looking at him. His eyes soaked me in as I twirled around again.
"You look … Perfect" He said eyeing my dress but his eyes hovered around my stomach.
"How's the baby doing?" He asked, still keeping his gaze on my abdominal. I placed my hands on my small bump and smiled slightly.
"It's fine. It seems to kick a lot when I see you though" I said frowning down at the little life inside of me. Vaughn smiled slightly but it soon fell and he looked at me.
"Half a season to go" He said dropping his eyes to the water. I nodded and dropped my hand to my sides. I picked up my closes and turned around to go outside.
"If anyone asks, I got changed in your room because the bathroom was locked" I said before unlocking the door and checking for life in the corridor. As soon as I saw it was free I stepped outside and quickly threw my clothes into Julia's room before turning back to the bathroom.
"And in future lock the door" I added before closing it quietly and making my way down into the main room where all three of the girls were sat in a row on the sofa. I strolled in, span around and turned to look at them. Mirabelle was grinning but Julia beat her by far.
"Chelsea you look stunning" Mirabelle smiled as she came over and hugged me, but gently enough not to touch my stomach. I blushed before stepping back.
"I know your mum would be so happy for you" She said dabbing the sides of her eyes before her gaze fell onto my stomach. I shifted my arms to cover it and her gaze then moved back up to mine. I smiled and trotted off back up the corridor to put my clothes back on. As I came through the bathroom door opened and Vaughn walked out fully dressed but with damp hair. I rolled my eyes before heading into Julia's room and closing the door. Quickly I slipped my dress off and replaced it with my denim shorts, baggy yellow top and orange jacket. I found it quite hard to fasten my shorts as my belly had grown so much. Damn it, somehow I was going to have to get maternity clothes. And then I thought back to Vaughn, since he was as much responsible for this as I was he could go back off to the city and bring some the next time he came. I smiled and turned around just as Vaughn himself walked in and locked the door.
"You get dressed with the door unlocked?" He asked raising an eyebrow. I rolled my eyes and playfully punched his arm just as he reached out his hand and touched my stomach. I smiled as I placed mine on top of his and felt the baby inside. His eyes were wide and full of amazement.
"It's so fascinating, there's someone in there" He smiled at me before tucking my hair behind my ears.
"You're going to be a great mum" He added before replacing his hands back onto my stomach. I blushed slightly before hugging him.
"And you're going to be a good daddy. You know why?" I asked growing closer to his ear so I could whisper the answer.
"Because you're going to get me some maternity clothes when you next visit" I said and stepped back with a smug smile. He knitted his eyebrows together before tilting his head down at me.
"What do I know about maternity clothes?" He asked looking confused. I laughed so hard that my sides began to ache.
"Probably a hell lot more than me since you've got to get them for me" I winked at him. He ran his hand through his damp hair to gel it back onto his scalp before rolling his eyes.
"Fine, but it's only because if you go people would get suspicious" He said before ruffling my hair up and unlocking the door.
"Miserable face cowboy" I reminded him but he just laughed and left the room, leaving me here to put my dress in the wardrobe.
After I'd finished I walked back out of the room and into the sitting area to re-join the others. Mirabelle had wandered off into the kitchen while Natalie and Julia had remained on the couches talking. I took a seat in the one opposite from them and smiled.
"Chelsea, don't you think that Natalie should just make a move on Pierre already? I'm sick of not knowing what's going on between them" Julia asked as she turned to me. I rolled my eyes before looking at Natalie who looked as if she was about to tear Julia's face off.
"It's like, I'm with Elliot. Chelsea is with Denny and then there's an awkward part of naming you" She said turning to Julia. Natalie grew redder by the second and I decided it was best to cut in before she massacred everybody in the room.
"Jules, chill. I don't think Natalie really wants you to know what's going on in her love life since it's really none of our business" I said before stretching my legs out on the couch next to me. Julia pouted as Natalie slowly calmed down. I rolled my eyes at both of them just as Vaughn entered the room and walked over to the kitchen. Natalie's gaze followed him before turning back to me and I shook my head slowly. Julia was totally oblivious to our secret talk through our eyes. It was like a full conversation. Luckily Mirabelle broke the silence.
"Cookies" She announced. I jumped up off the couch and grabbed a handful before shovelling them into my mouth. Everyone looked at me as if I was mad but I was just really hungry. Vaughn stifled a laugh and bit on a cookie to hide it. I rolled my eyes and went to stand next to him since Julia and Mirabelle had taken the two remaining seats on the table. Natalie leant against the other counter closest to the cookies as I continued to shovel in mine. Vaughn ever so slightly leant towards me and whispered into my ear.
"Slow down" I rolled my eyes before placing another into my mouth and taking a dramatic bite out of it. He rolled his eyes before finishing the rest of his.
"I don't suppose you have any mayonnaise?" I asked innocently. Julia pulled a strange face as did Mirabelle but then she pointed to the cupboard just next to Vaughn. I turned to look at him and did puppy dog eyes so he would pass it to me. He rolled his eyes again before reaching into the cupboard and pulling out a jar of mayonnaise. I wrinkled my nose as it would be warm since the idea of fridges didn't apply here. Vaughn opened the jar for me before dipping his finger in and wiping Mayonnaise on the end of my nose then handing me the jar. I pouted but stuck my cookie in mayonnaise none the less before eating it. I turned to Natalie who raised an eyebrow at me and then shook her head disapprovingly. I wiped off the mayonnaise before finishing the rest of the cookies and handing the jar back to Vaughn who put it away. He folded his arms and nudged me playfully; I stood on his foot in retaliation.
"So Chelsea, are you excited for the wedding?" Mirabelle asked as she looked at me and Vaughn. I coughed slightly before nodding.
"Although I think Julia might be more excited than me" I replied staring at Julia who was bouncing eagerly in her seat. I rolled my eyes before folding my arms and resting them on top of my stomach.
"Hell yeah! My best friend is getting married and I'm chief bridesmaid!" She squealed. I rolled my eyes and closed my eyes slowly. Damn I was tired. I'd never really noticed before because I was so busy but today had taken all my energy away.
"It looks like little Chels is tired" Julia laughed at me. I just nodded before yawning as I kept my eyes closed. I flopped my head and rested in on Vaughn's shoulder where he didn't attempt to shake me off. Suddenly a wave of fatigue washed over me and my eyes seemed to weigh a thousand pounds.
Vaughn's P.O.V
Chelsea rested her head on my shoulder as her eyes slowly shut. I looked around the room and everyone was laughing at her. I looked down at her and her arms were folded across her ever growing stomach. I smiled slightly before wrapping my arm around her waist. She was fast asleep.
"I think she's asleep" I said as I nudged her. She didn't react but just flopped. Luckily I caught her in my arms as she fell against me. Being pregnant must have taken all the energy out of her and she was far too small to be carrying the extra weight. Julia looked at me before rolling her eyes.
"Come on, she can kip in my room" Julia said as she took hold of Chelsea's hand. I let go of her waist but she just flopped. I caught her again and wrapped my arm under her legs before pulling her tight into my chest. Natalie gave me a funny look but I shook it off and followed Julia into her room. I rarely went into Julia's room, but when I did it was like a fucking bomb had been set off inside. There were magazines spread all across the floor and clothes in a pile in the corner. Julia pulled back the covers of her bed and pointed to it.
"You can put her down here" She said looking at her white bed sheets. I nodded as I gently placed Chelsea on the bed and pulled the covers over her. Julia watched me as I carefully pushed her hair off her face and tucked in the duvet around her so she didn't get cold. I turned back around to see Julia looking at me with her head cocked and a frown placed upon her face.
"You and Chelsea are pretty close right?" She asked as her gaze changed to the sleeping Chelsea in her bed. I shrugged and took a step away from the bed.
"Not particularly" I replied. Julia frowned even more before scratching her head and looking at me.
"You care for her though?" She asked tilting her head to the left slightly as she looked at me.
"I know you do because whenever she's around you act differently. You act happier." She added. I just stared at her with little emotion running through my face.
"I'm not completely as thick as a plank Vaughn; I think she's good for you. She makes you more … human" She said smiling slightly before folding her arms and looking at the sleeping Chelsea. I closed my eyes and sighed before turning to look at Chelsea as well. If Julia could see it then it must be pretty fucking damn obvious. She sighed and placed her hand on my arm before looking into my eyes.
"Don't do anything to upset her" She whispered before leaving the room. I watched her walk down the corridor before turning back to look at Chelsea. I quickly switched my gaze to the dress hanging up in the wardrobe. She was going to look stunning, a day which should have been the happiest of her life. Yet when I looked at her she seemed unhappier than me about the situation. I thought it was the right thing to do, to give her a chance to have a family. But maybe, it wasn't such a good idea after all.
Having second thoughts Vaughn? Hehe, well I hope you enjoyed yet another chapter and forgot to mention before - thanks for the reviews :D Stay tuned until the next update and I'll post as soon as possible :)