Hey, guys! This chapter is so much better! I am actually very proud of it. Lot's of drama for one tiny chapter. ooohhh!

In the café, I groan as I finish off the rest of my milk. Across the table, the daisies and uneaten fruit sandwich seemed to be mocking me. Today was the day I had turned twenty two. You'd think I would've done something important or at the very least interesting with my life by now. But, no. I spend my time in the middle of hillbilly hell as an animal trader.

But what can I say? I'm not athletic, I am completely lacking in people skills, and I'm not smart enough to have some fancy job in the city. Heck, I can't even hold a conversation for more than ten minutes.

In truth, my life was boring; the same thing every day, especially when I came to the islands. I can see why Chelsea was so desperate for a change. Maybe the reason I found her so intriguing is because she's different, new. Well, at least for now.

I yank my hat over my face, lean back, and prop my feet on the table. Rude, maybe, but I didn't care. After all, there wasn't really anyone to scold me. What's the harm?

"Ahem."

"Uggg," I groan as I remove my feet from the table. "Better?"

"Depends."

I sit up and lift my hat over my eyes. Denny was standing over me with a hint if a smirk on his face. "Rough day, huh?" he teased.

I roll my eyes. "You could say that."

The fisherman chuckled. "Lanna?"

I slowly nod in response.

"Yep," Denny said flatly. "That about sums it up. Mind if I join you?"

I wave my hand towards the seat, granting him permission to sit. "If you want," I say.

"Got you something," Denny smiled as he took a seat.

"Uh, thanks. ...It's not a fish, is it?"

Denny laughed. "No, no, not at all." He raised an eyebrow. "Why?"

"Lanna."

"Ah," the fisherman pursed his lips. "No, it's stew. In a thermos. For your trip tomorrow." He handed the gift to me.

"Thanks. That's really thoughtful," I say, and this time I mean it, unlike when I said it to both Sabrina and Natalie earlier today.

"No prob," Denny shrugged. "So, dude?" he raised a mocking eyebrow. "What's with the flowers?"

I sigh and rub my temple with my middle finger. "A gift from Sabrina. Useless." I say. Popper took the liberty of repeating the word "useless" several times to prove my point.

"Hmm," Denny pondered. "Well, if it's so useless, can I take it?"

I snort. "What are you gonna do with a bunch daisies?"

Denny stood up. "I'm a man of many secrets, Vaughn. I have my reasons," he joked. "But in all seriousness, can I still have them?"

I shrug. "Sure. Go nuts."

"You're the best," Denny said retrieving the flowers. "But, of course, you already knew that," he grinned.

I raise my eyebrows in amusement. Denny was acting kind of funny, even for him, which is really saying something. He was known for his cheery attitude and quirky personality.

"See you later, Casanova," Denny called behind his shoulder taking the flowers to his own table, leaving me with just an empty mug and a fruit sandwich.

I snort. Casanova. Nice.

I lean back in my chair again and cover my face with my hat in attempt to block out Popper squawking "useless! useless!" over and over. This time, however, I refrain from propping my feet on the table. I occurred to me that I actually eat off this table, and I really don't want evidence from everywhere I've been floating in my food.

"Hel-lo-oh!" Chelsea sang as she entered the café.

I sat up in my chair, perhaps a little too quickly, but just in time to see Denny wave Chelsea over. In response, she held up a slender finger as if to say "one second" and stalked over to my table. Not bothering to ask, she plopped herself down in the chair across from me.

"Hey—," I protest, but Chelsea quickly cut me off.

"Up, up, up!" she said raising a finger. "Quiet."

I sigh and fold my arms across my chest as Chelsea dug through her rucksack. I pretend to look at a watch. "Any day now, Chelsea."

"Patience, Vaughn," Chelsea huffed. "The earth wasn't made in a day."

"Yes, but you're not making a planet. You're digging through your bag."

She stood up. "Ya know what, Vaughn," she yelled with her hands on her hips. "Shut up."

"Good Goddess," I mutter as Chelsea disappeared under the table to find whatever she needed from her bag.

Time passed. I was actually physically getting tired. Chelsea was taking forever.

"Finally!" she shouted.

"What?"

She held out a bottle of milk with a bow the same color as her bandanna. "Your present!" she grinned.

"For what?"

"Hmm. Let's see… Your birthday, a thank you for buying my dinner, another thank you for bringing me home…." She grinned. "Take your pick."

I slowly took the bottle from her hands. "Where'd you get this?" I ask. No way Chelsea had cows already, much less ones mature enough to actually produced milk.

She shrugged. "Came in a care package from my parents. I can't drink it, and you look like the kinda guy who loves his milk," she teased.

"Well, you're right," I admit. "I do like milk."

She laughed. "I figured."

"One question, though," I say.

"Whatever would that be?" Chelsea asked in a British accent.

"What took you so long to get it out of your bag? I mean, jeez, the thing is huge." I say.

"Ah, I was just trying to get that stupid ribbon to stay on," she smirked.

"Oh."

Chelsea sat there a bit longer, staring at the fruit sandwich on the table, probably trying to figure out what the hell it was.

"Ah, well, I gotta go," she said standing up.

"Where?" I ask.

She jabbed a thumb in the direction of Denny's table. "Denny's gonna teach me how to use that dumb fishing rod!" she grinned.

"Really?"

"Yeah," she said. "He agreed immediately. I don't know what would make you think he was too busy to teach me." She eyed me suspiciously. "Honestly, Vaughn, it's like you have something against the guy," she said, all but challenging me.

"Who, me?" I ask innocently. "Naw, we're friends."

"Uh-huh."

"Really!"

"Okay, Vaughn. Whatever you say," Chelsea shrugged. "Now, I really gotta go," she said hoisting her bag on her shoulders. "See ya later." She walked towards Denny who immediately greeted her with a hug.

My heart sunk. He was taking things fast his time. "Be careful, Chelsea," I whisper so softly, even I had trouble hearing myself.

Why was I so concerned about this girl? I've barely know her for a day. Besides. She's a grown woman. She has the right to do whatever she wants with whoever she wants. And if she wanted to spend time with Denny for educational purposes, who was I to stop her? She can take care of herself.

I could feel my negative thoughts evaporating. I was starting to feel better. Until I saw Denny give Chelsea the bouquet of daisies I had let him take not twenty minutes ago.

Something inside me snapped. I stood up from the table and stormed out of the café, not caring who saw.

I can't believe he had the nerve to do that.

Emotions boiled inside of me. I told myself I didn't know what they were. But that was a lie. I knew exactly what they were.

Betrayal.

Rage.

Jealously.

Ok about the whole Casanova thing, before you judge me, think Carrie Underwood. If you still don't get it, I pity you. Wasn't this one so much better? Thank you for reading. I'll try to update soon, but for now, I'd like to hear what you think and I'm going to ask you to post a review. You know you want toooooo