A/N: So, this chapter is about Beach Day, obviously (as if you couldn't already tell by the chapter title, haha), but I've changed the festival a bit to better fit the story and fanfiction in general. In the game, it's really just a contest on the beach that involves throwing a frisbee to your dog. Yeah. That's about it. And that wouldn't work out well in this story, since Claire's puppy isn't even full grown yet, and it's definitely not all that exciting or what I would expect from the name of the festival. So this is what I imagine Beach Day to be like – more like a big beach party for the entire town to enjoy.
-CCM
Chapter 10: Beach Day
Knock, knock...
Claire stood on Popuri's front porch with one hand poised over the door, preparing to knock again. After a quick change back at home, the blonde was now wearing her favorite blue polka-dotted bikini underneath her generic shorts and T-shirt; her rucksack was slung over her back, containing a beach towel, sunscreen, and other various beach necessities. For the first time in months, she was wearing sandals, rather than her usual well-worn pair of sneakers.
Lifting her hand from the door's polished surface, Claire stepped back to lean against the porch railing as she waited for someone to answer the door... and waited... and waited. But she could definitely hear voices in heated conversation drifting out through the open window. Rolling her eyes, she reached forward to knock once more.
Knock, knock...
She heard movement from inside the house, and finally the door burst open, revealing a slightly frazzled looking Popuri.
"Oh, hey Claire. Sorry for making you wait!"
"Nah, it's okay," Claire responded, and Popuri giggled while attempting to smooth down her hair, the bright pink curls bouncing everywhere.
"Well, uh… Don't be shy, come on in!"
The pinkette led Claire into a neatly furnished kitchen. Inside, Popuri's brother Rick sat at the wooden dining table with an unfamiliar woman. She looked like an older copy of Popuri, pink hair and all, and Claire instantly realized who she must be. The woman was relatively pretty in an older, elegant sort of way, though her unusually pale skin and the dark circles under her eyes, like matching bruises, betrayed an inner sense of sickly exhaustion.
Claire suddenly recalled what the pastor, Carter, had told her. That must be Lillia...
To her surprise, Claire noted upon taking a closer look that it seemed as though Rick and his mother had just in the middle of a serious discussion; there was some definite tension in the air, at the very least. Rick's face was redder than usual, and Lillia's eyes looked sad as she hurriedly tucked some envelope away into her dress pocket. Though perhaps the farmer was just reading into it too much.
Popuri, oblivious as always, grinned and took to the stairs. "I just need to go change into my swimsuit, and then we'll be all set to leave! I'll be right back, Claire, you can just sit at the table with Mom and Rick for a second."
Nodding, Claire took a seat beside the bespectacled young man, who was now grumbling at his younger sister's mention of a swimsuit. Meanwhile, Lillia put on a gentle smile and greeted their guest in a quiet though unexpectedly hoarse voice. "Hello, Claire... I'm Rick and Popuri's mother, Lillia. They've told me all about you. You're Mineral Town's new farmer, correct? Down at Sunshine Farm? "
Claire shook her head in acknowledgement, and Lillia continued, "I apologize for not being able to make it to your welcoming party at the church. I wasn't feeling well that day, unfortunately. Ahem... So anyway, how have you been?"
Lillia lifted a frail hand to shake Claire's, and Claire found that the woman's palms were surprisingly warm, to match her kind smile.
"Oh, um... you know, I'm all right, I guess..." the blonde stuttered.
Just then, Popuri came hopping back down the stairs in a frilly purple bikini and matching flip-flops, her fuchsia hair neatly combed and a small backpack settled over her shoulder. "Okay, I'm ready to go! Come on, I'll grab the picnic basket!"
She made to lift the basket of food from the kitchen counter, but Rick stopped her in her tracks, an edge of disapproval in his tone.
"Not so fast... Popuri, what exactly are you wearing?"
The pinkette rolled her eyes, frowning slightly. "A swimsuit. We are going to the beach, after all."
Rick's face reddened slightly, though from embarrassment or anger, Claire couldn't tell. Perhaps a mix of both. "Yes, but-"
Popuri interrupted him. "Goddess, Rick, it's just a bikini!"
He scowled, shooting a sideways glance at their mother, who seemed indifferent to their argument as she took the time to fold a stack of colorful beach towels.
"Well, put something over it, at least."
Popuri merely sighed and produced a simple daisy yellow sundress from her bag, throwing it over her head and pulling it down past her mid-thigh, as Rick grabbed the picnic basket and headed out the door with Lillia in tow. Claire and Popuri exchanged a slightly bemused look before following them outside.
After some small talk with the blonde farmer, Popuri bounced on ahead to assist her mother with the large stack of towels. Her eyes still had that sad, faraway look in them, Claire noted, but it was now accompanied by a smile. A genuine smile.
Claire approached Rick as they continued on in the direction of the beach, her eyebrows raised questioningly at the sudden spring in Popuri's step. Just hours earlier, that same girl had been solemnly tossing flowers into the Goddess Pond, mourning the loss of her precious chickens, and the predicament one of her best friends was facing.
"Hey, Rick..." She gestured toward the pink haired girl. "What's up with Popuri?"
Rick frowned, an unexpectedly disgusted gleam in his eyes. "Kai," he spat. "That good-for-nothing, lowlife player travels the world, apparently, but comes to Mineral Town every summer. He operates the Snack Shack on the beach. And every time he comes, he smooth talks Popuri with his bushel of lies, clouding her better judgment. Popuri's so smitten with him, he's all she thinks about, but she could do so much better."
Claire stared at him. "So... are they dating, or what?"
Rick snorted. "Oh, no. Most certainly not. And he had better stay away from her. Goddess forbid, if that scumbag ever did anything to my little sister..." He kicked at a stone in the road, narrowing his eyes. "I don't trust him."
Claire, however, couldn't quite understand Rick's obvious hatred for the mysterious traveler. In her eyes, anything or anyone that could take Popuri's mind off the terrible events of the last few days, bringing her away from her inner sadness, was a good thing. Unless, of course, Claire didn't know the whole story.
Is Rick just being a usual overprotective older brother? Maybe that's what Rick and Lillia were talking about when I came in, though I don't know what that envelope had to do with it, if anything. It might explain why Rick seems so grumpy. Or is there something else about Kai that he's not telling me...?
She shrugged to herself. Oh, well. Only one way to find out.
As soon as she stepped down the stone stairs onto the golden sands of Mineral Beach, Claire was reminded of her first day in Mineral Town, not all that long ago. The way her hair tangled in the salty ocean breeze as the ferry pushed onward to their destination; the way the bright sunlight reflected off the water, nearly blinding her. That feeling of excitement as she stepped off the boat onto the dock, as though entering an entirely new world for the first time. Which, in a way, she was.
Back in the city, everything had been so fast and loud and dark, a cold and monotonous world created of towering concrete, the stink of car exhaust, choruses of shouts and horns blaring. Claire always hated the city, and wished to smell the fresh air again, hear birds singing by day and crickets chirping by night. Here in Mineral Town, she already felt free and at peace. At least, she had at first.
How long ago, it seemed. It was amazing how much older, more experienced, Claire felt after just a few days on her own in this town. Not a week earlier, she had lived innocent and unfazed, free of any disturbing attacks, frightening stalkers in the night, or creepy mysteries.
But there was no turning back now.
"Kai!"
The girl's reminiscing was interrupted as a blur of vivid pink shot past and tackled a strange young man standing on the beach in front of them, a guy around Claire's own age with deeply tanned skin and a purple bandana tied over his dark hair. He was attractive, she had to admit.
Popuri wrapped her arms around him in a tight embrace, and for once, there was a genuinely happy gleam in her eyes. As if all her problems could be forgotten, just for a moment.
"Kai! It's so nice to see you again!" she squealed, before stepping back with a more serious expression. "I missed you."
Somewhere behind her, Claire heard a sort of growl, and turned to spot Rick struggling to balance the huge stack of towels and picnic basket in his arms as he helped his mother find an appropriate spot to sit, somewhere out of the direct sunlight. Rick's hateful glare shot daggers at the dark young man hugging his sister. Whether the man didn't notice or simply ignored it, Claire wasn't sure.
"Poppy!" Kai grinned as he hugged her back. "Look at you! Beautiful as always."
Popuri blushed at her nickname as the man turned away, and a smirk crossed his face as his eyes met Claire's. He approached the blonde, hand outstretched. "And who are you?"
Claire stuck out a hand. "My name is Claire... I'm the new farmer in town. And Popuri's friend."
Kai nodded, taking Claire's hand in his own and shaking it enthusiastically. "So Mayor Thomas actually found someone to buy old Sunshine Farm? Interesting... And a very pretty girl, at that! What a pleasant surprise."
Claire blushed despite herself, though Kai's compliment made her feel uncomfortable. Upon meeting him face to face, something about Kai did make her uneasy...
Kai, however, merely chuckled. "So, how has life in Mineral Town been while I was gone?"
The farmer drew a blank. "Well, um..."
Popuri piped up from behind them, barely concealing a frightened, worried look. "Oh, Kai... I-It's been awful, honestly..."
Kai narrowed his eyes, an unusual expression on his face that Claire couldn't quite put her finger on, though it made her stomach churn. "Poppy... what happened?"
The pinkette sniffled, tears forming in her eyes as she led Kai away, presumably to find a more suitable spot to describe the events of the past week in private with her male friend. Not that Claire minded. She didn't need to listen to another retelling of the massacre – she had enough nightmares about it already.
Claire turned away to find herself nearly colliding with another young woman, a girl with dirty blonde hair wearing a simple yet elegant black halter top bikini and a pair of matching sunglasses. Though her elegance was only slightly marred by the bottle of wine clutched in her right hand.
"Karen?"
The girl grinned. "Ah, there you are, Claire! I was just wondering where you were. Why don't you come sunbathe with me and Mary?"
Karen led Claire to her little beach blanket set up near the water, where raven haired Mary was curled up reading a thick book, a large, floppy sunhat perched on her head. She glanced up at the sun with a worried expression on her face and set her book down briefly, a small square of stiff colored paper stuck between the pages to preserve her spot.
"Oh, dear...this sunlight is awfully strong, don't you think?" She gestured toward her own pale arms and legs. "Look! I'm not made for this kind of activity, sunbathing – I'll be red and burnt as a roasted tomato by the time I get back home!"
The other two girls exchanged an amused glance, settling down on either side of the little librarian as she dug a bottle of sunscreen out of her bag and applied it to every inch of skin that was not covered by her emerald green one-piece bathing suit, before adjusting her glasses and returning to her novel.
"Whatcha readin', Mary?" Claire asked after a few minutes had passed.
Mary glanced at the cover of her paperback before blushing awkwardly. "Ahem, it-it's nothing... just a novel, you see..."
They left it at that.
Hours later, as the sun was passing its highest point in the sky, the Mineral Town beachgoers gathered for lunch, as was customary during the Beach Day festival. The gossip trio – Manna, Sasha, and Anna – sat on the bench outside Kai's Snack Shack to share their meal and chat as usual, while their husbands gathered at the other end of the beach.
Maybe to escape their wives' gossipy chatter for the time being? Claire snorted aloud at the thought, earning herself a vaguely reproachful glare from Mary.
Her stomach growled just as Popuri approached the sunbathers with a request. "Hey, guys... you want to come eat lunch at the Snack Shack? Kai wanted to treat us all to a special summer meal... and it's air conditioned."
The other girls nodded, and together they headed for Kai's Snack Shack, where they met up with Kai and, surprisingly, Gray. Kai grinned with pride as they entered his modest establishment as though the place were actually a five star restaurant, offering them each a slice of the pizza he had made himself just earlier that morning. Meanwhile, Gray merely grumbled a welcome before returning to the ear of baked corn he had been munching. Claire had to admit, it was an extremely friendly gesture, coming from him.
She selected a slice of pizza from the tray, and Kai grinned at her. "If you're ever in the mood for something else, you can always stop by. I have all kinds of food on the menu – spaghetti, french fries, snow cones, you name it! It would be my pleasure."
Before Claire could say anything, he spoke up again, loud enough for the entire group to hear. "Ice cream, anyone? I just created a new flavor – pineapple, mixed with chunks of real fruit!"
Popuri smiled happily. "I'll take one of those, please!"
Karen nodded beside her – "Chocolate ice cream for me, if that's all right," – while Mary requested a plain vanilla cone.
Claire pondered it for a moment. "Hmm... I'd like to try the pineapple, too."
Kai quickly scooped the ice cream into cones and handed them out, sure to save an extra pineapple cone for himself. And as embarrassed as Claire was to admit it, the dessert was really, really good. Creamy layers of sweet yellow ice cream were laced with soft chunks of real pineapple, fresh and undeniably delicious.
After finishing up her frozen treat, Claire headed outside, where she spotted Rick rising from the blanket he was sharing with his mother, glaring at a certain someone behind the blonde farmer.
Rick scowled as she approached him, though it wasn't directed at her. He narrowed his eyes as he watched Kai flirting openly with his sister, the two of them now settling down comfortably by the dock after having followed Claire out the door.
"I should go over there and-"
Claire grabbed the edge of his shirt before he could move away to put his unfinished words into action. "Oh, no you don't. Don't you see how happy she is?" She gestured toward Popuri. "She's been depressed lately. It's kind of obvious. And you would be doing her wrong by taking her one source of happiness away from her. Just leave her alone, she's old enough to make her own decisions."
Rick's eyes widened and he opened his mouth soundlessly as though he had something he wanted to say about Claire's demand, but instead he shook his head and walked away before the girl could utter another word in retort.
Although she discouraged Rick's exaggerated hatred of Kai, Claire did have to agree that there was something fishy about that flirtatious young man.
Strange that he should appear just the day after the horrible attack on Ann... And he doesn't even seem all that shocked by it. Or was it just coincidence? Maybe he's good at hiding his feelings, or perhaps I'm just reading into it too much, myself... but if I were him, I'd be a lot more concerned after hearing such news. Because I know Popuri told him all about it.
Claire sighed- the way Kai had flirted with her, when Popuri had such obvious feelings for him, made her extremely uncomfortable as well.
Shrugging off her doubts for the time being, Claire strolled back to the other end of the beach, where Cliff and Elli had finally come to join in on the festivities. The young nurse was pulling her younger brother Stu and his best friend May behind her, all of whom were wearing swimsuits.
"Hey, guys! Glad you could make it!" Claire lowered her voice. "How's Ann doing?"
There was a tired look in Elli's eyes as she responded, "She's been giving us a... hard time. Seems to be developing a bit of a fever. We can only hope her wounds aren't becoming infected, or it will all be made much, much worse." She solemnly watched the two children scamper off across the sand toward the Snack Shack, where Kai was now offering free snow cones. "I can't stay too long, Trent might need my assistance back at the Clinic soon."
Claire turned to Cliff. "What about you?"
He blushed. "I, uh... I'd like to get back to Ann as well... It just feels like I should be there for her."
Claire nodded in understanding. "I know exactly what you mean." And that she did.
After a quick dip in the ocean nearly an hour later, Claire was approached by the large, muscular man Zack, who came with an inquiry in mind.
"Hello, Claire... you came here with Lillia today, right? How did she look to you?"
Claire nodded. "Yeah... she looked okay. Why? What's the problem?"
Zack scratched the back of his neck with one hand, squinting in the bright sunlight. "I...I'm concerned for her."
Claire shrugged. "She seems fine to me."
"Yes, but you see, that's the nature of her disease. Sometimes she seems perfectly fine, but it's always there inside her, like a shadow following her every move."
Claire shivered at the creepily meaningful comparison, despite the heat of the blazing sun.
Zack continued, "But it's not just that. I'm worried about how she's taking the... the attack on the Poultry Farm chickens. I'm sure she was devastated by their deaths, especially in such a manner..." He trailed off, releasing a sigh. "I just want her to be all right, you know?"
The blonde girl nodded – she did know. "Why don't you go join her, then? If you're so concerned for her? Speak to her yourself, she looks lonely."
Zack's eyes widened slightly as he glanced over at Lillia on her blanket, enjoying sandwiches of some sort in the shade by herself. Claire could have sworn he was blushing.
"Ahem... I, uh, maybe I really shouldn't do that. You know, she's married… I'm sure you've heard the story about her husband, Rod."
The farmer nodded and thought for a moment, a vaguely amused expression forming on her face as she realized what was going through the older man's mind. "Yeah, I know. But I'm not saying you should go over there and kiss her!" She laughed lightly, and Zack managed a chuckle as though trying to imply the notion of kissing Lillia was utterly ridiculous. "You're friends, aren't you? I'm sure she would appreciate the company and comforting words and whatnot. That's what friends do, after all."
Zack still looked incredibly embarrassed, which was somewhat funny for a man of his stature. "Thanks, Claire. Er, forget I mentioned that last part, will you?"
'No problem."
Claire watched the older man walk away with the hint of a smile on her lips, before turning around to get a face full of seawater.
"Argh!..."
A chorus of giggles followed her outburst, and two small forms darted out toward the ocean, one with a now-empty bucket in hand.
"May...? Get over here, you two!" Claire laughed, and she kicked off her sandals to chase the children into the surf, who then proceeded to douse her with more water, shrieking hysterically.
Catching sight of the skirmish, Kai scooped Popuri up into his arms and carried her into the waves against her will, laughing. Karen and Cliff soon joined them, the latter rather awkwardly at that, while Elli and Mary looked on from the shore, giggling as they relaxed on their beach towels.
Just another day at the beach.
Dusk soon began to settle in on the town. Elli had taken May and Stu back to their respective homes before returning to work at the Clinic, and many other villagers had left the beach as well. Kai assisted Zack in starting up a grand bonfire on the beach, a usual occurrence for Mineral Town's first night of summer.
The remaining young adults gathered around the flickering bonfire, pulling towels over their shoulders and damp hair that smelled of seawater, and spreading more over the sand for a place to sit.
Rick approached the others as the fire blazed higher, shooting Kai a disgusted look before addressing his sister. "We're going home... Popuri, you coming?"
Popuri shook her head stubbornly, crossing her arms in front of her chest in a defiant pose, much like a frustrated toddler. "No... I want to stay here longer. I'm a big girl now, Rick – I can handle myself."
Kai smirked at Rick in a vaguely taunting manner as he threw an arm around the pinkette. "Don't worry, your sister is safe with me."
Despite his misgivings, Rick knew better than to argue with his sister again, and merely scowled at Kai before turning to escort Lillia back home, who was waiting by the stone steps. With one last nervous glance at Popuri, he said, "Well, we really need to get going, so I'll give you another half an hour. But promise me, Popuri, you'll be back before dark. You know it's dangerous at night. I'm not kidding."
Popuri shook her head as they left. "Thinks he's the boss of me..." Claire heard her mutter.
Kai gave the girl's shoulders a squeeze before bending over to grab the bag of snacks at his feet, tossing out a plastic package of marshmallows.
"S'mores, anyone?"
Claire found herself becoming ever closer to the other Mineral Town villagers as they ate, talked, and laughed together as friends, joking around and singing songs, telling stories. In fact, it was the most fun she had had in a long while. A chance to relax, and leave the farming and mysteries for another day.
That is, until she heard the noises.
"Did you hear that...?"
"Hear what?" Kai raised an incredulous eyebrow. "I didn't hear anything."
"Oh..." Perhaps she had imagined the sound. Yes, that was probably the case.
But as the bonfire blazed ever higher, Claire could have sworn that she heard something out of the ordinary. What sounded like a wolf howl in the distance, the kind you hear in movies during a full moon.
Claire strained her ears, but heard nothing more to prove the sound's existence. "Er... Do any of you know what lives in the forests around Mineral Town? Like, up on the mountain? ...Animals or anything?"
To her left, Karen nodded, a little tipsy from the wine she had been drinking throughout the day. "Oh, yeah... some spooky things up there."
The farmer's face blanched. "What kinds of things?"
"...Monsters!" Karen waggled her fingers ominously at Claire, laughing as the blonde flinched involuntarily before sighing to herself. So much for that idea.
And yet Claire still couldn't shake off her uneasiness.
I hope Rick and Lillia made it home safely...
After the random acts of violence Mineral Town had suffered, she doubted that the town would be able to handle another attack in such a short period of time.
A/N: I hope this chapter was worth the wait – it is my longest chapter, by far, and a lot of fun to write. Also, after finally taking on a multi-chapter fic of my own, I now understand why so many fanfics go unfinished! But don't worry, I will definitely finish this at some point, even if it takes me years – I have the entire story mapped out, it's just a matter of writing it all down. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, but whether you liked it or not, please drop a review while you're at it! I would appreciate the input immensely.
-CCM