Chapter 12:
Chelsea slipped her orange work shirt over her yellow t-shirt. Taro had said it was going to be chilly now that fall was beginning. Tying her red bandana over her dirty brown hair she knotted it at the back of her head. Walking over to her door, she slipped on her red rain boots and grabbed her rucksack and headed out for the day.
The sun was just beginning to come over the horizon as Chelsea strolled over to her tomatoes and began to pick and water them. She slipped each glowing red orb into her sack before she watered the plant. Moving to her corn she inspected the growing vegetable. And watered each plant letting the water soak into the soil till it could no longer hold any water.
Watering the last crop Chelsea strolled over to her shipping bin and placed her tomatoes in one of the few crates inside the treasure chest. Closing the chest, she headed out of her farm and into the town. She usually ran to her destination but today she slowly strolled taking her time. Picking up the herbs, rocks, and branches on the way.
She circled the town and did a quick run into the jungle and ran to the Animal shop just in time before it closed for the day.
Chelsea burst through the door with exactly two minutes to spare yelling that she wanted to buy a chicken and a cow.
Julia and Mirabelle glanced at each other in shock as Chelsea slowly walked over to the counter and handed them the money.
"One cow and one chicken please."
"Um sure Chelsea. J-Julia could you please show Chelsea the animals." Mirabelle barley got out. Julia slowly nodded staring at Chelsea as both girls left the room.
Julia led Chelsea through the kitchen through a side door that Chelsea didn't notice before. As Julia opened the door a burst of hay flew into both of the girls' faces. Brushing off herself Chelsea could feel herself getting red with anger. She looked up at the snickering cowboy before growling and pouncing on him. Julia gasped in aw as Chelsea pulled off his hat and ran out of the storage area. Her evil smirk was prominent on her face as she flew through town dodging people and obscure objects.
Only to glance back at the cowboy every few seconds. His face was red with anger also till they came to the field; Chelsea circled him and ran over towards the cherry blossom trees by the edge of the meadow. She looped the trees in a zigzag till she tripped and fell flat on her face.
Vaughn finally caught up to her and smirked. He grabbed the hat off Chelsea's head and watched her sit up. "That's what you get for stealing my hat." A tiny trickle of blood ran down from her nose.
She sucked it back up and wiped away the excess. "Thanks but you threw the hay first."
"Yeah. What ever." Vaughn held out his hand for Chelsea. Grabbing it, she balanced herself in the uneven dirt and started to walk back to the animal shop with Vaughn to get her cow and chicken. Only it was too late now.
…
Chelsea dropped a black garbage bag into an old rusting oil drum and covered it with metal chicken wire. Slipping her rucksack off her shoulders she opened the top of the bag and began to search through it when a certain pink haired girl tapped her shoulder. Chelsea flipped her head around and looked at Natalie holding out a packet of matches.
"Here." Nat said.
"Thanks. I must have forgotten to buy some more at Chen's before it closed yesterday." Chelsea said as she took the packet and opened the small flap and ripped off a match. She stroked it and tossed it into the oil drum and watched a small sparks begin to fly out. She turned to look at her friend when there was a small box the other girl was pulling from her far pocket. Natalie pulled out a long white cylinder and tucked it in between her lips as she brought a lit match to its end.
Nat took a long drag and flicked the match into the oil drum also.
"I still can't believe you smoke." Chelsea said as she watched the sparks dance in the late summer breeze.
Nat pulled the cigarette out of her mouth and blew a cloud of smoke into Chelsea's face.
"Yeah. Don't tell Taro or Mom. Ell knows … but…"
"Look Nat I won't tell. But your one of the younger people here on the island. I don't think that it's a very good habit to get into when most of the people on this place know almost everything about each other."
"Look Princess just because you're two years older than me doesn't make you my mom. Ok?" Natalie hissed as she poked Chelsea in the arm.
"Nat. I'm not trying to parade you. I just want you to live a long life."
"Chels I can do anything I want this is my life ok?"
"Whatevs'." Chelsea said shrugged as she began to walk over to her house. Natalie watched the other girl grab a tall metal pole. Chelsea held the pole and walked over to the oil drum and shoved it into one of the openings. She began to swish around the pole causing more sparks to fly then they slowly the sparks began to slow.
Chelsea nodded to Natalie. The younger girl sighed and held the shrunken cigarette in her lips as she walked over to Chelsea and took the pole. Chelsea smiled at the pink haired girl and skipped over to the rushing river on the other side of the farm. She dipped her water can into the river and held it over her head as she ran back over to Natalie and poured the water over the smoldering flames. Chelsea smiled and thanked Natalie.
"So… What are you here for?" Chelsea said as the two girls began to walk towards the animal shop.
"Well, I was bored and um… damn Grandpa told me to tell you something. Shit. Well, Mom is probably wanting me to clean some ungodly thing so if I remember I'll tell you." Natalie said as the two girls parted ways in front of the shipper's house.
"See you!" She called after her and began her walk to the animal shop again.
The breeze kicked up the back of her work shirt that stuck out from underneath the wool sweater and caused goose bumps on her calves as she turned to walk to the animal shop. Chelsea slowly began to the door as a rush of blond pushed her on her back.
"Oww. What the hell?" Chelsea said as she dusted off her shirt and looked a strikingly beautiful girl stood in front of her. She had oddly cut bangs and long flowy hair that was held back by a jungle green head bang trimmed with tiny flowers. Her dress was low cut and exactly the same color as the headband. There was a simple gold ribbon tied around her waist with tiny bells clinking on the tips. She blushed and slapped her hands to her cheeks and gasped.
"Oooooooh! Julia get out here!" The other blond came out and glanced at the jungle in confusion.
"What's up Lanna?" The blond brought Julia close to her mouth and whispered into her ear.
"LANNA! Chelsea is not a MAN! That's rude." Chelsea's eyebrow began to twitch with fury. Unknowingly her fist that had suddenly balled together on the side of her met the blonde's face.
Chelsea sent the jungle blonde to the ground and blood began to pour out of her nose like it was a typhoon. Her cheek and part of her nose began to swell as she stared up at Chelsea like a scared puppy dog. Her eyebrow still twitching, Chelsea grabbed the jungle blonde and pulled her up to a stand position. Chelsea pushed her against the wall and took a step back. Grabbing her chest, Chelsea squeezed them and stared at the jungle blonde.
"SEE THESE? –the jungle blond nods- THESE ARE BOOBS. BREASTS. I. AM. FEMALE." Chelsea screamed at the jungle blonde. The frightened girl nodded furiously as Chelsea cocked up a spitball and aimed it for her shoes when someone came out the front door of the shop.
"Mom…" Julia hides behind the replica of her and watched. Mirabelle came stomping over towards Chelsea. She instantly grabbed her ear and kicked her butt in the direction of the shop.
"Chelsea get in the kitchen and wait until I deal with you." She yelled as Chelsea ran into the shop, Mirabelle turned to the poor blond girl. Tears were pouring out her eyes as she looked over at Mirabelle.
"Mira-"
"Don't start with me Lanna. Go back to your home and drink a long cup of hot milk then come back and talk to me." The blond nodded and ran off towards the other side of the island.
Mirabelle began to head into the house when a dark shadow hung over her.
"Hi Vaughn. How was the forest today?"
"Fine. I heard some yelling. I came back early."
"Yeah well there was a small cat fight. The victim is drinking milk at her house and the perpetrator is sitting in the kitchen."
"You gonna need help?" Vaughn said as the two began to walk into the kitchen.