Chapter 13:
Chelsea sat in the corner seat pouting. Her left hand held her head as she stared at the wall grumbling to herself and the other rapped on the wooden table.
Mirabelle walked into the kitchen first as Vaughn and Julia followed in behind her. Mirabelle took a seat at the head of the table while Vaughn leaned against the counter. Julia pulled a chair over to her mom and stared at Chelsea with a frighten look plastered to her face.
Mirabelle sighed and looked at Chelsea. "Dear… can you tell me why you punched Lanna?"
"No."
"Why?"
"WHY?! BECAUSE SHE CALLED ME A MAN. SHE WAS FUCKING CHECKING ME OUT!" Chelsea screamed as she stood out of her chair.
Vaughn took a protective step towards Mirabelle as Chelsea dug her nails into her skin. Her fists were so tight her knuckles were beginning to whiten and tiny ringlets of blood slipped out of the hidden nails.
"Now Chelsea. Relax. Take a deep breath. Just relax and sit back down."
Chelsea's eyes became glossy as she sat back down on the chair. She placed her hands on the table and didn't realize the fists from their hold.
"Chelsea can you clearly tell me why you punched her without yelling."
"She was checking me out. And Julia yelled that I wasn't a man and Julia yelled it was rude to call women men. I punched her and told her I was a woman."
"Chelsea, your about twenty now right?"
"Twenty three." Chelsea mumbled.
"What dear?"
"I'm twenty three."
"Oh, well Dear your twenty three now and you should very well know when to pick your fights. Lanna is a type of girl that will always speak her thoughts. Don't take it too seriously. Why don't you go home and take a nap. Alright?"
Chelsea nodded and began to walk out of the shop when Julia held on to the back of her sweater.
"Mirabelle asked me to walk you home."
Chelsea took Julia's hand gently and realized it. "It's ok really. I'm not going to hurt you. And I can walk home alone. It's only a few minutes away."
"Then could you come back for dinner?"
Chelsea looked pained as she held to door handle. "No. I'll see you tomorrow. I still need that chicken and cow!"
"Ok!" Julia smiled and waved as Chelsea stepped out the door.
The warm sunset was chilling the twilight sky and realizing a cool ocean breeze. It tickled Chelsea's exposed legs as she walked up the hill to her farm. Her balled hands had a small trickle of blood running down her fingertips and on to the cobblestone path.
By the time Chelsea got to her house the light from the sky was almost gone. She fumbled with her house key as she slipped it into the lock and opened the door. It was pitch black. She pulled open her rucksack and fumbled around for the packet of matches. Barely seeing if she strikes it, she holds the small light source up to the kerosene lantern next to her door. She held the match in her hands and slowly walked to her table. Climbing up to it slowly, she lit the ceiling light. The house was mostly illumined and warming up from the light.
She climbed down from the table and slide into a chair. Her house was lit but the darkness kept flickering the light. Chelsea sighed and climbed back on to the table. She blew out the lit and slowly walked over to the door lamp and blew that one out also. It was dark but her eyes adjusted to the light.
She pulled open her door and stepped into the darkness. The dewy grass lapped against her ankles as she walked down to the town in a gaze. There were soft lights glowing from inside each house as she passed by them.
Chelsea passed the shipper's house and turned her head to see Natalie and Elliot bickering then to both be slapped by Taro. He scolded them and they both went to the table with a small giggle between them. Chelsea continued and passed by the animal shop where a warm smell of hay ran through her nostrils. Warm smoke puffed from the chimney and found Chelsea's nose. There was a welcoming smell of porridge and blueberry muffins. There was a scream then a crash off plates from inside the animal house. Vaughn came running into the room and began to scold Julia. Mirabelle wandered in a told something to Julia. Chelsea began to wander over to the west side of town.
The inn had tons of lights pouring through the windows. People were yelling and cuddling. Chelsea glanced at each window and began to head to the jungle where she passed a newly built. It was right next to the road going to the meadow and there was a small crop field behind it. There was a small wooden fence closing the garden as Chelsea peered into the house. A flash of blonde was running about the room he cursed every so often. Chelsea moved on bored with the lack of – Sabrina and Regis were walking arm and arm towards Chelsea. Chelsea froze in surprise. They stopped right in front of her as they both smiled.
"Good evening Chelsea." Regis breathed through his teeth.
"Yes. Good evening Chelsea." Sabrina barely spoke as she slightly bowed her head to Chelsea.
"H-h-h-hello." Chelsea barely got out. "Where are you two headed out in such darkness?"
"Oh. Well Daddy and I-" Sabrina said while blushing when Regis cut in.
"I suggested we visit the new farmer in town. I met him before hand and he seems quite well suited for my Sabrina."
"Oh. Well I hope everything goes well." Chelsea said smiling a bit.
" Yes I hope so. I would hate to have to call something off if emotions begin to play in. Or if he is inadequate."
"Oh I see."
"Yes. You do see now. Sabrina hurry along. WE are already late."
"But Daddy we're thirty minutes early." Sabrina spoke in confusion.
"Sabrina we are simply not early. We are just more prepared than Mark. Lets just hope he is as prepared as us." Regis dragged Sabrina away from in front of Chelsea and pulled the pale girl along with him over to the newly built farmhouse.
Chelsea shoved her hands into her pockets and began to walk back to the east town.
There was a newly constructed house on the other side of the road going towards the meadow. It was a plain beige house that was trimmed in a jungle green. The windows weren't open but Chelsea could hear them together. It wasn't something new in the town she found. Lanna was with Denny. They hid it but everyone knew it, only no one said anything about it.
As she was about to walk through the crack in the mountain that separated the town a spicy smell caught her nose and drawed her towards Pierre's house. The purple colored house was steaming with a spicy smell. As Chelsea began to stare at the steamy window a small blonde head slapped open the window letting a wave of steam sail through the air. Pierre's small mouth coughed as a spicy curry smell swirled around Chelsea. She slowly turned and walked through the break in the mountain towards the east town.
…
Chelsea stared through the warmly lit house of Gannon and Little Eliza. Her tiny blonde head bounced up and down on the double bed as Gannon played a small puppet show in front of the little girl. Chelsea turned and headed for the beach.
She turned past Chen's house to hear a weird fight that swung on her ears.
'Dad you won't make any money unless you invest in some furniture!' Charlie's tiny squeaky voice hung in the air as Chen's old voice calmed his son's.
'Son I see what the town needs. We are a General store that sells either specially ordered things or when Jeff sends me new items to sell.'
Chelsea slowly turned and walked down further to beach. It was darkening. The sun was mostly gone and the watch on Chelsea's wrist read 7:34. As she pasted through the lush palms and rocks into the warm sandy beach the last bits of sunburst right into her face.
A small smile danced on her lips slightly then disappeared and so did the sun. The darkness enclosed its self around Chelsea and she did nothing to stop it. She slowly dragged her feet through the sparkly white sand and found herself sitting on the rock that brought her seaweed every so often. Her hands found her face.
"What's wrong with me?" Chelsea questioned herself and stared into the night.
Yo this is like Chelsea's dream.
Chelsea burst through the door and spirited into the kitchen. Where a small knap sack lay on the high table. Her neat braids bounced on her back as she skipped around the table squealing.
"Daddy! Daddy! Daddy! Daddy!" A middle age man walked slowly into the kitchen and leaned on the doorframe. His crispy brown hair hung limply on his head as he rubbed his fuzzy beard with his hand.
"Hold it Chelly. Calm down Sugar Pop." He lifted Chelsea into the hair and spun her around like an airplane then let her fall then her throw her into the air again.
…
"Chelly Sweetie! Time for Din Din!" The middle age man called through the screen door that hung on their front door. A tiny green lawn stretched out in front of him as Chelsea laughed and ran around in a circle almost if she was dog trying to get her tail. She tripped on a small rock and fell flat on her face. The middle-aged man slammed the door open and sprinted towards his daughter. He lifted her up and looked her over. She stared up at him and laughed. He rubbed her head and laughed softly too.
…
"Vinnnnnnnnnnyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy!" Chelsea screamed through the orphanage. A taller boy stepped out of the office with soft silver hair. "Vinny! Come on! Daddy's waiting!" Chelsea ran over towards Vinny and grabbed his hand. She dragged him out to a waiting pickup truck. She pulled open the door and hopped in. Vinny climbed in and sat next to Chelsea's father.
…
The three sat in the kitchen eating. Chelsea yelled with her mouth open as Vinny stared at her quietly and would smirk ever so often. Chelsea' father replied with food spewing out his mouth too.
A dog barked. Chelsea grumbled and slowly opened her eyes. It was just the start of the sunrise. She lay on her back staring up at the sky when the barking rung through her ears again. She slowly slides off the rock and stared at a small black husky. The puppy ran around her legs as she just stared it. Chelsea bent down and lifted the pup into her arms.
"Hey there bud. What're you doing out her?" She said as she scratched behind his ears. Chelsea absent-mindedly began to walk back to her farm. She smiled down at the dog when Chelsea tripped in the sand and dropped the dog in the process. He barked and ran away.
Chelsea was face planted in the sand, when some one kicked her side and the dog's barking was back. Grumbling Chelsea slowly got up and stared up at the emo cowboy.
"What's up Emo?" Chelsea said as she began to get up, when the husky dog jumped into her arms again.
"Nothing. I need to catch my boat. Shorty." Vaughn began to walk towards the dock when Chelsea ran after him.
"Hey Wait!"
Vaughn spun around to see Chelsea get her shoe caught in the small hole in the dock. She fell, once again on her face letting the dog hop over to Vaughn and lick the front of his shoe.
"Ugh, this girl." Shacking his head, he held out a hand to Chelsea as she was beginning to get up.
"Thanks." A tiny dribble of blood slide out of her nose when the boat came into view.
"My boat." He gestured to the boat with his hand and began to walk towards the ends of the dock when Chelsea slides into step with him.
"Where you going?"
"The city."
"Why?"
"To get more animals, then to go to Mineral Town, then to Echo Village, then finally to Zephyr Town."
"Oh. What's your job Vaughn?"
"Animal transporter."
"Oh. Do you have any other friends in those towns?"
"Yeah."
"Who are they?"
"Gray, Neil, and Lloyd."
"What do they do?"
"Gray's a blacksmith. Neil's an animal seller. And Lloyd sells ores."
"Oh." They had both gotten to the ship's stairs and Vaughn began to climb the stairs to the deck.
"See you next Weeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeek!" Chelsea screamed. The boat wasn't shoving off when she screamed that. Vaughn was staring down at her smirking as she skipped back to the town with the husky weaving through her feet.