Chapter 7:
The hot summer sun poured through the bay window, dashing Chelsea in the warm summer rays she was passed out listening to an opera record. With her head tipped back against the wall of the house, her mouth was slightly opened and a small hum of her sleep rung through the empty house.
Vaughn slowly entered the house sweating, whipping his brow with his backhand he glanced around the room. The floor shown with a sparkle it was clean, the bookcase was whipped down and the three books were placed back on the middle shelf. The small iron bed lay in the corner with the pillow and blanket tucked under the straw mattress. The calendar Mirabelle had given Chelsea hung next to the bed with small red symbols scatting the days. The window next to the bed was slightly open and shown with cleanliness. Over on the wall the Chester drawer was placed perfectly in the center of the wall, the brass hinges shined from the light. Over by the kitchen the cabinets that once hung loose were screwed back on to their hinge with the sink shiny clean. Along with the spice rack, the small wooden shelf was secured onto the wall properly.
His gaze meeting the sleeping Chelsea, he walked over to the playing record player and lifted up the dial. Unplugging the device, Vaughn lifted up the toy and brought it over to the Chester drawer over near the bed. Crossing back over to Chelsea he shook her shoulder just a little. Watching her eyes twitch, he shook her once more and her eyes opened with lightening speed. She instantly bolted up right at attention and raised her hand to her forehead like a solider standing at attention.
Slowly she lowered her hand from her head and turned her head to look down at Vaughn who was staring up at her wide-eyed. Blushing she raised her shoulders up a little and began to scratch her chin.
"Sorry. An old habit of mine. Haha…"
Vaughn slowly stood up and stared at her hard eyed.
"Yeah I know what you mean." Stepping around her he left the house. Spinning around, Chelsea watched him walk into the yard in front of the house.
Gazing out at the town below the wind slowly brushed against Chelsea's thigh's causing her to shiver. Watching him, she slowly walked up next to him.
"Beautiful isn't it?"
"Yeah…"
Silence fills the air as they gaze past the town and out at the shimmering sea. The waves lick the beach below and carefully pull a brown haired fisherman's boat into the water. Sending the man and the boat out to sea, the man pulls out tiny paddles and rows further out and drops a small anchor into the splashy ocean. Lifting up a fishing line, he throws it into the water and sits back.
Vaughn slowly turns to face Chelsea. "Could you be? No." Shacking his head in his hands, Chelsea looks up at him.
"Could I be what?"
"Nothing. But I have a surprise for you. I found it when I mowing." Grabbing her hand, he began to pull her towards the barn.
Jumping over weeds, rocks, branches, and stumps the two finally came to the destination.
A hidden patch of berries basks in the shade. Their warm reds and blues splash against the bright green leaves. Slowly the two walk up to the patch, Vaughn looks down at Chelsea as she stares in aw.
"W-When did you find this?"
"Around an hour or so ago. I was mowing the lawn and just came around it. Its looks wild so they will probably come back every year."
"I see." Turning around Chelsea turns back around and begins to run back to the house on the other end of the farm.
Staring back at her, Vaughn watches her as she comes back with a small tin pale. Breathing heavily, she bends forward and smiles up at him.
Taking the bucket from Chelsea, Vaughn wades through the brush and begins to gather the berries. Doing the same, Chelsea slowly grabs handfuls of raspberries, blueberries, and black berries.
…
"Here let me." Vaughn says as he walks with Chelsea to the house. They both have just finished picking most of the berries and are walking back to Chelsea's home. The hot afternoon sun beats down on their backs as they step through Chelsea's monstrous field.
Chelsea shook her head and began to skip ahead of Vaughn towards her house. Swinging the bucket and laughing she twirled around and danced around the field like music began to play. Slowly she began to hum, then sing.
(It's time, by Imagine Dragons)
So this is what you meant
When you said that you were spent
And now it's time to build from the bottom of the pit
Right to the top
Don't hold back
Packing my bags and giving the academy a rain check
I don't ever want to let you down
I don't ever want to leave this town
'Cause after all
This city sleeps at night
It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bigger, but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am
So this is where you fell
And I am left to sell
The path to heaven runs through miles of clouded hell
Right to the top
Don't hold back
Turning to rags and giving the commodities a rain check
I don't ever want to let you down
I don't ever want to let you down
'Cause after all
This city never sleeps at night
It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bigger, but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am
It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bigger, but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am
This road never looked so lonely
This house doesn't burn down slowly
To ashes, to ashes
It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bigger, but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am
It's time to begin, isn't it?
I get a little bigger, but then I'll admit
I'm just the same as I was
Now don't you understand
That I'm never changing who I am
Chelsea's voice rung clear through the farm, like a soft spring breeze. It was soft yet clear, loud yet kind, it was the perfect kind of sound; like a bird's voice.
By the time she finished , she placed the bucket of berries next to the door and skipped over towards the stable. Vaughn slowly made his way, confused, over to the barn. Being met by a square table Chelsea's little head pocked out from on top of it.
Giggling, she gestured to behind her; smirking Vaughn lifted the table from her grasp easily and carried it to house. Stunned, Chelsea shook her head then ran back inside the stable and returned with two small chairs and a chess set. Laughing she ran over to her clean house.
…
Placing the table in the center of the bay window, Chelsea slide one chair into the side of the table and one under Vaughn. Slapping the chess set on the table, she ran back outside then returned with the bucket full of berries.
Dumping the berries in the sink, Chelsea twisted the knob of the faucet and let the cool water splash over the berries. Lifting up a hand full of the berries she rubbed them between her hands gently , then placed them back into the bucket.
Humming to herself, she finished off the berries. Drying her hands on her very very small shorts, she lifted the bucket back up and walked back over to the table. Placing it on the warm oak, she smiled and sat down across from Vaughn.
"I found these awhile back and thought that I could use these in here. I just didn't get the time to bring them in the house. The chess set was also on top of the table in the stable, I can't really say why but I thought maybe we could play."
"Sounds fine to me." Lifting up the deep brown wooden box, Vaughn unhooked the hook of the clip. Staring into the secret internal space, he began to pull pieces from the space. Placing them on the table, the black queen began to roll off the table. Reaching out to grab it, Vaughn caught Chelsea's small hand and let the piece fall to the floor.
Staring down their hands, then back up at Vaughn's eyes Chelsea blushes and pulls away quickly. Bending down, Chelsea picks the piece up off the floor. Placing it back on to the table, she glances up at Vaughn. His cheeks a bright red as she mumbles something.
"What?" Chelsea says curiously.
"Your…ugh.."
"What?"
"ugh…"
"What? Really.." Shacking her head in shame (playfully) "You can't even speak up like a man."
"Yes I can!" Standing up with a start, Vaughn towers down over Chelsea. "Your ass shows when you bend down! Are you even wearing underwear?"
A deep red blush runs across Chelsea's face as she folds into herself. "No. Julia is washing mine, along with my bra. They're to dirty to wear any time soon."
"Oh.. Sorry. I-I"
"It's cool." Chuckling Chelsea gazes up at Vaughn as he slowly sits back down. "You want to start?"
"Black or white?"
"White. But really it's creamy milk."
"Whatever Creamy milk. Your still on."
"Buddy, when I'm done with you you'll be wishing your still outside cutting that grass."
"Really?"
"Yeah." Grabbing a handful of berries Chelsea stuffs the lot into her mouth and moves her pawn two spaces forward.
…
"Really Vaughn I can't thank you enough." Chelsea stands at her front door looking at Vaughn. He stands outside in the cool summer evening watching Chelsea in the flickering kerosene lamps.
"Don't worry about it. You know where I am when you need me." Slowly he began to turn around. Walking down to the town a sudden tug at his sleeve stopped him from proceeding. Looking down at the figure that holds him in place, Chelsea shyly looks up at him.
"You can have the rest of the berries. You found them originally." Holding up the bucket of half eaten berries to Vaughn he blushes and slightly pulls down his hat.
"Thanks Chelsea." Walking out of the farm a small cry from behind him rings in his ears like a sweet melody.
"Don't forget to return the bucket!" Raising his hand into the air, Vaughn does one swift wave and disappears into the darkness.
hey everyone! Merry Holidays! What do you think about Chelsea and Vaughn cute huh? See you next chapter!