Salt water sprayed my face as a wave hit the rocky shore of Meadow Island. I wipe my face with the back of my glove, spit out whatever water managed to get in my mouth and step away from the water. Who knows what's been in it.

I wander around the small island. The ground was still soggy from the winter snow, so the heels of my boots sunk ever so slightly with every step.

Kirk had gone back to the mainland and wouldn't be back until eleven, so I was truly alone. I could sing, scream, or be completely silent, whatever I wanted. Instead I find a small dry patch of grass under a tree and sit.

Untying my handkerchief from around my neck, I gaze up at the stars from under bare branches. I guess it wasn't late enough in the season for there to be any leaves on the tree.

Coming to this Meadow Island was a new habit of mine. I usually only came here for festivals, but ever since I discovered no one likes to come here at night, I had been coming regularly. It was nice here. No stress, no distractions, nothing except silence and a refreshing atmosphere. I sighed and closed my eyes.

I must've dozed off, because the next time I opened my eyes, there was a figure standing by the water, not too far from where I stood before. Whoever it was seemed to be holding a fishing rod in the water, and judging from their silhouette, was female. With a start, I banged the back of my head against the tree I was leaning on. Lanna. It had to be Lanna. Wait. No. It couldn't be. Whoever that was was wearing trousers. Lanna never wore anything but skirts. How did I know this? Sometimes Lanna got personal on her daily mission to drive me crazy.

I cautiously got up from under my tree and approached the figure. Whoever this was, they were really gonna get it when I got over there. But as I got closer, I saw the figure had something red on their head. Chelsea?

Indeed, it was the brunette I had met earlier that day. She seemed to be feeling better. She was out on Meadow Island fishing at ten thirty at night, after all.

I clear my throat. "Chelsea?"

"Eep!" she jumped, almost dropping her fishing pole. She turned around. "Dammit, Vaughn! This pole is expensive!" While turning back toward the ocean she muttered, "I don't care if you bought me dinner, if you make me drop it you'll pay for it."

Now I see what Mirabelle was complaining about. I was definitely surprised at her language. Nobody around here ever talked like that, especially the women. But, Chelsea was from the city. Things are different there, I suppose.

"Sorry," I say. "I'm just surprised to see you here. A lady shouldn't be alone this time of night."

She snorted. "I'm anything but a lady."

"Right."

"So, Vaughn… Sabrina told your birthday is tomorrow," she started.

"Oh, not you, too…" I sigh.

She giggled. "Sabrina really seems to like you."

"Yeah. I know." I say as I cover my face with my hat. I consider telling her about Denny, but, I don't know. Something inside stopped me. Instead I say "You've been busy for your first day on the island."

She shrugged. "Yeah. I really wanted to get away from my old life. It was the same thing every day. I needed something different. So I saved up, and moved here."

"That must've been hard."

"Not really," she said reeling in a fish.

Ugh. I'm not a big fan of fish. I turn my head away.

"Ha!" I hear Chelsea say. "A Butter fish! I've never caught this before!"

"Congrats…?"

She rolled her eyes and smiled. "Come on, Vaughn. It's just a fish."

"Don't bring it anywhere near my hat," I say.

As she put the fish in her rucksack, Chelsea grinned mischievously. Uh-oh. I recognized that look from when Julia was about to try to slip me carrots in my food. I instinctively back away, but apparently not fast enough, because the next thing I knew, Chelsea was running away with my hat.

I groan, not bothering to run after her. "Couldn't you have at least washed your hands before you touched my hat?" I call.

"Oh, please," she smiled walking back to me. "You need a sense of humor," she said in a baby-voice as she placed my hat back on my head. Thank the Goddess it was so dark, because I swear my face was the color of Chelsea's bandanna. She laughed. "You're fun to mess with," she said as she cast her pole back into the water, only to pull out a can. "Ugh! I can't seem to figure out how to use this damn thing!" She turned to me. "Did you know I have been fishing for six hours? And I've only caught THREE FISH?!"

"Sorry?" I say. What else could I say?

"Maybe I could get Denny to help me?" she pondered.

"Uh… he's actually really busy all day," I say. "Ask Lanna. You know. When she's not up in my face."

She made a face. "Lanna? Hell no."

"Well, good luck finding someone to help you."

"Thank you very much," Chelsea said sarcastically as she casted her line.

We stood in silence until she reeled in a boot. "Damn!" she said as her knees buckled.

"Problem?" I ask.

"Uh, maybe…" she said as she tried to stand up. "Just a bit... tired." Chelsea stumbled back to the ground. She sighed. "Yes."

I squint in the darkness. Chelsea looked even worse now than she did back at the diner. "Well…" I sigh. "Kirk will be here any minute. I'll take you home."

She looked up at me. "Thanks," she said quietly. "You're a good friend."

Friend.

Chelsea and I stumble onto Ranch Island. Well, really, I stumble because she was putting all her weight on me. She had apparently stopped trying to hide her discomfort long ago, and was on the verge of falling asleep. As we arrived at her doorstep, she let go of me and said very sleepily, "Thanks again, Vaughn. I really appreciate it."

I shrug and cover my blushing face. "Anyone woulda done it," I say.

If I was nervous then, I all but died when she reached up and hugged me. We stood there in the darkness with her arms wrapped around me.

I tensed. Was I supposed to hug her back? I've never been in a situation like this before.

She apparently sensed my awkwardness and let go. "Sorry," she mumbled. And without another word, she disappeared behind the walls of her small farmhouse.

I stood there for a while in complete shock before turning around and heading back to the animal shop. I walked in silence, guiding myself though the eerie darkness that masked the Sunshine Islands.

As soon as I opened the door to Mirabelle's shop, I was bombarded by questions from the one and only... Julia. Really, I should've known.

"Where were you?! It's late! I had to do all your work today, so Mom wouldn't get mad at you! You're just so-… Vaughn. You're smiling," Julia grinned.

She was right. I was. But I wasn't aware of it until she pointed it out. Of course I immediately replaced my smile with my usual scowl.

Julia crossed her arms and stared at me. "Hmmm…" she said.

"What?"

She smiled. "No-thin'," she ginned. "Now go to sleep," she said throwing a pillow at me.

I duck as the pillow whizzed over my head and out the door onto the street. Julia threw her hands into the air. "Go get it!" she commanded.

I groan, but do as she said. With my back to her, I start smiling again. And that smile stayed on my face.

OK! I finally fixed it! Hope it's a little better than before, though it still might need some revising! Tell me what you think in the reviews or you can PM me.

Alright now for some depressing news: my mother might delete my account so there's a pretty good chance that I wont be here for much longer. But never fear! I will try to make another account that she wont find, but hopefully it will not come to that. that's all for now! Bye :)