The next day, Angela was taken back home kicking and screaming and Gill ran the island just as before.

That would've been perfect. Unfortunately, the world was far from perfect, even on his island. In reality, she was still around every corner, looming like a dark thunder cloud on his life. Every reminder was like a clap of thunder. Her name was everywhere. Apparently she delivered everything everybody needed to them just in time or earlier. Apparently she was the soft and caring, yet tough wonderwoman of the island, and Gill absolutely hated it.

In two months, Angela had gone from good, to better. He couldn't stand it! They weren't supposed to like her, they were supposed to turn on her! She was supposed to mess up and be shunned from the island! She didn't belong!

'Hmph, what would you know about belonging?'

Gill could hear her voice in his head right now. Ooh, it made him mad! This was no case of aggravation, he was pissed.

Maryanne had gone earlier that week, saying that she had to go back to work. But, he never for the life of him really knew who she worked for, let alone the business she worked in. For some reason he pictured her as a waitress. And then a business lady.. but that was really far fetched. Her, in a suit? He laughed to himself lightly. She even knew how to cheer up his thoughts. Unfortunately, she wasn't a permanent solution, and he was going crazy.

Gill walked along the paths of the town. It was his day off, so he had extra time to be annoyed. Oh joy.
Gill walked by Alan's tree and then hid behind it quickly, hearing somebody approach. He heard someone clear their throat and Gill listened intently, being thankful for once that he actually was small enough to hide behind the tree. Then he heard a man's voice..

"Okay, this is kind of hard to say but- ... No... Will you go out with-.. ah.. no.. that's not it either. I really, really-"

Gill's eyes widened. It was Julius.. and he seemed.. lost.

"Okay, it's easy. Angela, will you go-"

Gill slanted his eyes. She was the reason for this. She was the reason for everything, wasn't she? And this? This just made him sick. She'd probably deny him, the poor guy. In fact, before this day, Gill couldn't really say if Julius was actually as straight as he claimed to be. Don't get the wrong idea though, in Middle School Owen had asked Julius out, man to man, on a date. Julius claimed he was straight but.. it wasn't a secret that Owen was so far deep in the closet he went out with Kathy just to hide.

Gill was torn from his thoughts when he heard Angela's voice.

"Hey Julius! What's up?" Angela questioned with a small laugh, "This isn't about Rubies again is it?"

"Oh, that." Julius said in a slightly nervous voice, "No way!"

"Oh, really?" Angela questioned, "Well, I wrote you a poem about them, but I'm certain you don't really want to hear it.."

"No no! I'd love to hear it!" Julius said, "I can say what I need to say afterwards."

Angela smiled and laughed lightly. "Alright! Here goes.."

Angela cleared her throat and started. "A ruby, dark and red as blood is all one would ever need. Beautiful beyond measure, and addicting just to see, it encloses you in an endless red sea. But a Sapphire is all I would ever want, because though its sparkles may flare and taunt, a cold flare is all I would ever need, to completely shape the entirely real me."

Julius was silent for a moment before he prepared to speak. But Angela cut him off.

"A Sapphire.. is exceedingly rare, for red is more attractive than blue, but when you see a sapphire, you cherish it more, no matter how much it taunts you."

Angela stopped, cleared her throat and kept reading.

"This is why, I absolutely love blue, and why I cannot love the red fire that is-"

Julius cut her off somehow and sighed lightly.

"It's okay, I get it."

"But I'm not finished." Angela said, but Julius just went off, and Gill seized as she heard her lean against the tree.

"But do not feel bad, my firery friend, for sapphire is my foe. And everytime I see such cold, my heart is filled with woe. You're not the only one, my friend, my perfect ruby, shining red, for when it comes to unrequited love, Sapphire fills my messed up head. I try so hard, and cannot seem to get it through his soul, but looking at Sapphire makes me feel as if I'm under mind control. I cannot love Ruby you see? Sapphire has a hold on me. The more he seems to push and shove, the deeper my heart falls in love. I am the loser in this contest, for Sapphire is my impossible conquest. I love you ruby, so go you see, do not become as pitiful as me."

Angela sighed. "I just don't get why he hates me.." Angela said lightly with a sigh.

Gill was still listening intently. There was nothing, but his head turned to an approaching animal that looked... well... menacing. It was a medium sized, black and white dog. It came up to him and started sniffing him, and he seized up. He was so afraid it would bark... and then he'd be busted big time. He didn't want to seem like a creeper, listening to people's sick love poems and confessions, even if he was the one they were directed towards.

Gill moved a leg and the dog gave a little jump, as if to follow it. Oh no... it wanted to play. There was no way he was getting out of this one. So, Gill silently sat down and started scratching the dog behind the ears. Gill still couldn't hear Angela move. What was taking her so long? Gill started to get up before the dog barked.

The dog.. barked. It got a hold of his pants and started growling, nearly dragging him away. It started to growl as he started to pull away, playfully of course.

"W-who's there?" Angela questioned.

Thankfully the dog, hearing Angela's voice, trotted around the tree happily and barked at her, probably wanting a treat. Gill let out a sigh of relief and silently climbed the tree while she was entertaining the dog. As he watched her down below, he saw tear marks on her cheeks. Okay, so he felt a little pity. He wasn't completely heartless, and she did seem a little deeper than pretty little farm girl. But he still didn't like her. He never would, ever. He even challenged the goddess to try to make it happen, because he knew it wouldn't.

Soon the dog went away though, and Angela took out her watering can. She shook it a little and smiled, watering the flower beneath the tree. Then she started talking to the flower. Was she insane? Okay, this girl was loopy, there was no way the people could depend on her. But, when he looked a little close, he saw a little red ball. Gill blinked and listened to the conversation.

"Did you hear that Alan?" Angela questioned.

The little ball moved up and down. Gill shivered, but looked on.

"Really? Can you really tell her?"

The little ball just stayed silent, but she smiled widely.

"And this will happen tomorrow? Are you sure?"

The ball went spastic and started going all over the place before the flower reappeared. Gill stayed silent while Angela skipped off. Gill put his hand over his heart. He was scared. Was he going loopy too? After she was out of sight, Gill hopped down from the tree, accidentally landing on the flower, crushing it beneath his heel.

Gill heard a sudden thundering in the air and he started running for it. He didn't know what he'd crushed, but he didn't want to be found guilty. It was an accident, right? He knew the Harvest Goddess would vouch for him. And if she didn't? Well, he'd obviously be screwed. He didn't know what he'd done, but it hadn't been good. Gill ran all the way to Brownie Ranch and walking inside like he belonged there.

"Oh my.." Renee said, looking out of the window, "It's awful stormy. It was perfect just a moment ago."

Gill just acted cool and started looking at a bottle of animal medicine.

"Oh goodness." Hanna said, shaking her head. But, then she turned towards Gill. "Hey, I haven't seen you in here before. May I help you?"

Gill looked up to her and did a double take before smiling and looking down at the medicine. "Yeah, it says for all livestock.. but did you have a separate one for pets or does this work?"

Hanna smiled widely. "Well it works just fine for both. How many do ya need?"

Gill searched his pockets and got out his wallet. "Just one will do."

Gill had managed to avoid the wrath of the rather large storm by talking to Hanna and Renee about their shop and where they planned to go with it. He hadn't really thought about doing this with shops but, it was actually pretty helpful. He learned where the products came from, heck, he even learned a couple new jokes. But, when the time came to leave, and the storm still wasn't over, he was just a little worried.

"Well, I guess I'll see you ladies around." Gill said, waving lightly and heading fearlessly towards the door. He kept going and going for what seemed like forever, never hesitating until he heard the magic words.

"Um, Gill?" Renee questioned, "It's terrible outside.. I don't imagine you should leave, at least not right now."

Gill smiled. And nodded. He looked out the window as if he hadn't noticed, but a clap of thunder shocked him and he turned his head back to Hanna and Renee. "I suppose it couldn't hurt."

So, Gill stayed for supper, and even a little after, chatting with Hanna and a Tobi obsessed Renee. It was seriously all she ever talked about. He wasn't sure but, he was pretty sure Renee was going to be married to Tobi one day, whether Tobi liked it or not. And just when Gill was starting to lose his charismatic smile, Hanna intervened.

"SO! I see you don't have a girlfriend, or even a girl you're remotely close to! But, I did hear a small rumor about that girl that came to town all of a sudden.. Maryanne was it?"

Gill smiled, mentally sighing a breath of relief. "Ah.. no. She's not my girlfriend. She's just a really good childhood friend that I hadn't seen in awhile."

"Well, honey," Hanna said, "Don't take this to offense or anything but, you're a bright young man, so if you don't do anything soon you're gonna turn into a lonely old man."

Gill lost his smile and looked at Hanna in astonishment. After regaining his composure he looked at her again. "Go on.."

Hanna sighed a breath of relief and smiled. "I'm sure you're not the most handsome young man in the village, and maybe you aren't the smartest, although to Jin you come in close at second." Hanna smiled, "But even you have something that most of those guys have. You have a kind heart and a will that could make you head hancho of this place one day.." Hanna giggled, "And I'm not sayin' that cause you're the mayor's son. You have a will that could break a rock with a stare! You wouldn't give up even if your life depended on it."

Hanna paused. "It's just a matter of putting that will where it actually matters."

Gill looked at her, intrigued. "And where is that?"

Renee cut Hanna off and giggled. "Why, it's family."

Gill thought for a moment, and then another, and then another as Hanna and Renee started to talk to each other. Family? Family was something you were put in.. not something you made by sheer will. But.. Gill's thoughts turned to a place they'd never been before. Kids. He had thought of the whole falling in love and putting the old ring on someone's lucky finger.. but he never thought about what came afterwards. All of those hard times he'd been put through, all of the loss, all of those happy times, not to mention the awkward ones..

He had been a child once, hadn't he? How had he never thought of it? This was life, all of it was life.. And really, it was either get married and have kids or be lonely his entire life. There were so many things to consider... and falling in love with the perfect girl was no easy task.

"I... gotta go." Gill said, dashing out of the house and into the newly calm sky. He had a lot to do.. and he had to do it now.

Gill rushed into the office of town hall and went into the computer room, picking up the phone and starting up the computer.

"Hello?" Maryanne questioned.

"Hey." Gill said, out of breath, "I need you to.. to come over here as soon as you can, okay?"

"O-okay, but why?" Maryanne questioned.

"It has to do with the rest of my life."