Chapter 10: Part 3

It had felt like months had pasted as Julia and Natalie sat under the lean-to. The rain had slowed slightly after Vaughn had dove into the ocean. Though the waves roared and grew in size to balance out the decrease of the rain. Julia began to whimper and clutched to Chelsea's clothes, that were now coated in a thin layer of sand. Nat had grown impatient and wanted to go after Vaughn after about ten minutes, though Julia had stopped her. Fearing that Nat may disappear into the ocean along with Vaughn and Chelsea.

…

The water was slowly becoming less aggressive as Vaughn swam parallel to the shoreline waiting for an opening to bring Chelsea to safety.

He had two things holding him back from just giving up and letting the ocean swallow him whole; Chelsea and the air that was back into his lungs.

…

Chelsea took a step towards Vinny.

…

They were past the rocks and he could sense the familiar scenery; they were nearing the town. Vaughn didn't know how close they were but they were close.

…

Chelsea was ten years old again. Her bangs hung low in front of her eyes. She had two messy braids and there was a streak off dirt across her left cheek. Her plain dusty rose dress hung on her. She had on rainbow stockings, but they were ripped in the knee. She had on a pair of high top black converse with the laces too short, almost as they were burned off.

Chelsea watched Vinny step towards her.

…

Vaughn ducked under the waves, he was close enough where the current would wash them ashore.

…

"It's been a long time hasn't it?" Vinny took another step towards Chelsea with his arms open wide. His silver hair danced in the light.

…

The water spun Vaughn and Chelsea like they were rolling down hill and were pencils. Vaughn could feel the sand slowly rubbing against his back.

…

"To many years to long. How has your aunt been to you Vinny?" Chelsea hugged Vinny tightly. His warmth filled her body.

…

Vaughn sat at the water's edge hyperventilating. His back against a palm tree. One arm was around Chelsea. He began to stroke her head. Suddenly she hugged him back. A blush smacked him in the face. A tiny smile crept on to his lips, he continued to rub her head.

…

"Fine. Chelsea I need to go. I missed you. Good bye." Vinny began to step back but Chelsea still held on tight.

"No! Don't go! Don't' leave! Daddy left me! Don't leave me too!" Tears streamed down her face. Vinny pushed her away and smiled a sad smile.

…

Tears began to pour out of Chelsea's eyes. Vaughn shifted her, so she was lying on his wet t-shirt. He whipped away the tears.

…

"Chelsea I'm right in front of you. All you have do is open your eyes." Vinny was walking backwards. The room began to turn black.

"No! NO! NO! NO! NO! NO! Don't go! I love you Vinny! Don't leave me!"

"I love you too Chels." Chelsea was alone again.

…

Vaughn was watching her. Chelsea's eyes slowly began to open. The plain blue color was replaced with a shimmery crystal blue that danced in the dull light. Her mouth parted and she sucked in a long breath of air.

Her eyes darted back and forth then closed again. Her arms slowly began to push her up. Vaughn began to help her, but Chelsea's eyes shot open and glared at him. "Don't touch the merchandise."

Her voice was weak and ruff. Chelsea push herself up against the tree Vaughn was leaning against. Vaughn watched her.

"Look Chelsea, we should get you back to your house to sleep."

Her eyes watched him. She slowly began to get herself up, by using the tree for help. Vaughn got up quickly and hesitated to help her, though when he tried she didn't make any move to resist. So when he went to lift her up and piggyback carry her, all she did was nod in agreement.

…

Chelsea was asleep on Vaughn's back by the time the two got to Natalie and Julia. The two other girls ran over to the beaten up Vaughn and Chelsea and tears poured out of both of their eyes. Vaughn smirked and took Chelsea's clothes.

The group headed back to town. Back to society. Back to safety. Back home.

…

Julia got Vaughn a change of clothes and told him to take care of Chelsea first. The two girls would watch over her tomorrow. Vaughn did as he was told and slowly trudged back to the farmer's home. He lay her down on the straw mattress and draped a blanket over her. He stepped into the bathroom.

….

Chelsea groaned and walked out of the bathroom. Hours had pasted and she was feeling somewhat better. Vaughn was home and it was time for bed. Taro said the typhoon would last two days. Slipping into Julia's oversized pajama shirt, Chelsea slid into her bed and lay awake. The darkness didn't woo her to sleep, nor did it help the typhoon outside her walls pounding against her house.

She had tossed and turned for too long. Chelsea rolled out from under her heater of a bed over to her tiny kitchen. Groping around, she found a packet of matches and stroke one and lit the kerosene lantern next to the kitchen.

Her house was illumined by the newfound light and welcomed it generously. Chelsea filled the kettle full of water and set it on the stove to let it boil. Settling into one of her chairs, there was a sudden knock at her door. Who the fuck would want to talk to me this late at night?

Chelsea walked over to the door, and opened it to find a very wet Vaughn.

"What happened?" His voice was loud and pouring with concern.

"Nothing." Chelsea replied.

"Oh." There was a long pause between the two of them.

"You want to come in? I just set the kettle on." Chelsea said gesturing for him to come in.

"Sure." Vaughn stepped into the warm house. He stripped his raincoat and handed it to the waiting Chelsea. She hung it on the bathroom door and walked over to the table and sat across from him. He gazed around the one room house.

"So why are you here?"

"Well, I couldn't sleep and when I saw your light on I… don't know I thought something happened so I ran as fast a possible so… yeah."

"Oh. I couldn't sleep so I gave up and decided to make some chamomile tea."

Another long pause. The kettle broke it with the tiny whistle it created, causing Chelsea to raise and turn off the stove. Lifting up the kettle she pour the boiling water into two small cups. Setting down the kettle she took a glass bottle of something from the spice shelf and placed two small scoops into each cup. Grabbing the sugar she lifted up the sugar and placed it on top of her head. Then lifting up the two cups of fermenting tea, she carried all three items over to the table and placed the both teas in front both chairs and bent over, letting the tea slide off her head and on to the table.

Sitting in her chair, Chelsea pulled the sugar over to her and placed ten small spoon fulls in her cup. Sliding towards Vaughn, she closed her eyes and took the first long drink.

"How can you drink that?"

"Well, I grew up with not much. So whenever we got sugar related items my sweet tooth kicked in. Plus it tastes better this way."

"Where did you grow up?" Why am I even asking her. It doesn't sound like a good place in the first place. Why am I even prying?

"An orphanage." Chelsea said as she took another drink of her tea.

"Oh. Same." Vaughn cupped his teacup and stared into the swirling tealeaves.

"Really? Where? I thought you lived with your aunt?"

"Well, when I younger I did live with my mom, but the government said she was an 'unfit' parent and they took me away." Why the hell am I even telling her this? "Mirabelle wanted custody, but the government said that she needed to adopt me. I stayed in an orphanage for at least two months then left."

"Oh." Chelsea was quiet and made no move to talk, though Vaughn look extremely uncomfortable.

"What 'bout you?"

"Well, I never met my mom and my dad was a fisherman so he couldn't take care of me properly. He put me into an orphanage and visited me every time he could."

"Huh. Where's your dad now?"

"Dead." She took another sip.

"Oh. Sorry to-"

"Don't be. He died at sea when I was really young. Nothing more nothing less."

"Look Chelsea I didn't mean anything by it. Honestly."

"Could you please leave Vaughn? I'm kind of tired now." Chelsea said with a sigh.

The man obliged and left the house quietly. He softly closed the door. Chelsea walked over to the large window and watched him leave her farm. Stepping over to the table, she lifted up the cups.

She didn't walk over to the sink, rather she threw the cups against the wall and watched them smash to pieces. Vaughn's undrunken tea left a splash against the wood siding.

Chelsea stared at the tea slide down her wall. Suddenly tears began to slide down her cheeks just like the tea. She blew out the overhead light and walked over to her bed.

Chelsea went under the cover and hugged her knees.

"Daddy…Daddy….Daddy…Vinny…Vinny where are you?" She shook and let the tears cover her shirt. It was like she was eleven years old again. Vinny had left just one year again and she had just gotten word from Recha that her father was lost at sea and never to return ever again.

She hadn't slept that night. Vinny used to get into the bed with her and they would hug each other till she fell asleep. But Vinny wasn't there that night and would never be again. Daddy wouldn't be coming that Sunday to pick her up and take her to his run down apartment. There was no mother to console her; Recha could give enough fucks to even say she's sorry. Charlie had died last month; Chelsea was the only one in the room for 10-13 year olds.

Chelsea was shivering with sadness, the bandages that Vaughn had put on her head, arms, and back began to hurt with intensity. She was crying like a child. Wailing, her eyes were like faucets, only the knob was broken.

…

Vaughn stood at the entrance of Chelsea's farm staring at her house. Loud cries came from the tiny shack. The story, the looks, even the way she acts is all the same. Just like that little girl from the orphanage. But why doesn't she remember me? Don't I have really conspicuities features? I was even bullied for them when I got older, but why hadn't she recognized me?

But what bothers me is that her father is dead. When I was there he was still alive. Could her have died within the time I wasn't there. Or what about Charlie? She was that girl's friend even before me.

Vaughn found himself outside Chelsea's front door, than rather the front of her farm. His hand was gripped on the knob and he could feel himself twisting it open.

Pulling away quickly, Vaughn raised his other hand and knocked against the wooden frame. The cries were muffled by the sound of the roaring wind around him. The rain began to pelt harder against his bare skin. Vaughn was only dressed in his other matching pair of flannels and white t-shirt.

…

There was a soft knock against Chelsea's door. Chelsea piped her head out from under the covers and looked at the door. It was pitch black in that corner of the room. The only sound that was holding her back from yelling the stranger to go away was the roaring sound of the wind and rain. Slowly rolling out of her bed, Chelsea felt around on her nightstand for a match.

Sticking one, she lit the candle that lay on the table. Crossing to the door, she pulled it open to reveal a very wet Vaughn. He stared down at her with surprise.

Chelsea didn't make any mover to let him in, though he pushed past her and walked over to the bathroom door and lifted off his raincoat. Slipping it over his shoulders, Vaughn walked back over to the door where Chelsea was still standing staring out at typhoon.

"Sorry. Forgot my coat." Vaughn said as he pasted by Chelsea. She moved her gaze to his eyes, which caused a new wave of tears to flow over the edge.

Chelsea dove into Vaughn's chest. She gripped the back of his coat and cried into his t-shirt. Vaughn slowly turned and closed the door, and brought Chelsea over to her bed. Changing her position, he sat her on his lap and she continued to cry into his chest. Chelsea resembled a small crying child being consoled by her father.

"Chelsea? You ok now?" Chelsea had calmed down, but was still clinging to Vaughn's shirt. She nodded into his chest. "What happened?"

"Nothing." Chelsea said in a sniffly voice.

"Chels."

"Well… it's kindof complicated and you'll think I'm a freak."

"You're telling this to the guy who had silver hair and purple eyes."

"Well.." Chelsea repositioned herself on Vaughn's lap. "In the ocean I thought I had seen my father and he was taking me to my dead mother. Then he disappeared and was going to leave me all alone in this world again. But then my old friend from the orphanage showed up. Vinny; his name was Vinny. And he told me I'm not alone and … that…. he's right in front of me. All I have to do is open my eyes."

They both were quiet for some time and it didn't really affect either one of them. Vaughn was still stroking her hair and Chelsea was still hugging him. Something feels too familiar. Like I've hugged him before. Not just today, but in the past. Could he be Vinny.

Chelsea looked up at Vaughn's face. He was staring into the darkness of her house, his face was hard and cold. As though he was in deep thought. The hair. The eyes. Almost same facial features and he also lives with his aunt and younger cousin. Plus he said he stayed at an orphanage for a short time while and…and… the soft sound of Vaughn's snores jilted Chelsea out of her deep thought. His head was laid back against the wall. He cradled Chelsea in his arms while she had her arms wrapped around his chest.

Snuggling her head into his chest, Chelsea let sleep dose her.

hey guys! Sooooooo whadya think? SO... did you catch my drift now with the whole dad-vaughn-chelsea thingy? No? Well deal. Anywho thanks for reading. I hope you enjoyed my long chapters and many more to come! REVIEW!