Sorry for updating late! I was busy this summer and I had to make Sweet Lie's first chappie. Thanks for all the reviews! :)

This is Kai's POV. This started on the day he got to Mineral Town, the day Claire got hit by a stone. (Thursday) So don't get all confused. :)

I forced myself to forget whatever happened in the beach and went to the inn.

I barged inside the inn and yelled, "I'm home!"

"Whoa, what on earth are you doing here Kai?" Doug asked.

"I just decided to stay here the whole year!" I lied smoothly.

"That's good to hear." He smiled. "Ann, Kai's here. Prepare the room, can ya?"

"What?" Ann's voice shrieked. It came from upstairs. "Kai's here?"

Ann came running down the stairs and when she saw me, different emotions marked her face- bewilderment, excitement, irritation and surprise. I just laughed at her.

"Hey, it's still early spring!" she chirped.

"I just decided to live here for a while." I grinned.

"Oh well. By the way, if you're looking for Gray, he hasn't come home yet."

"Why?"

Doug answered instead. "He's been babbling this morning about something like 'today's the day!' He seemed so happy and excited. Did he know you're coming?"

"No."

Doug just shrugged and Ann squeaked, "Oh well! He's sure to come home anyway. Follow me to your room."

"Yeah. Yeah. Ha ha ha. Miss ya little kid."

"Little kid?" she retorted.

"Just kidding."

While Ann was busy preparing my bed and my stuff, I heard a holler from downstairs. It sounded like Gray.

"Wonder what got into him?" Ann asked.

"Weird. He's not the usual cheerful type of person." I agreed.

"HEY ANN!" Gray exclaimed. He obviously didn't notice me. "Mary and I are getting married! She said yes to my proposal!"

"Wow! So that's what you've been jabbering about this morning! Congratulations!" Ann applauded. "By the way, aren't ya gonna greet Kai?"

"Kai?" he turned around and with surprised eyes, he yelled, "Kai! You're here! Nice timing!" he gave me a high-five.

"In high spirits eh?" I smirked. "So when's the wedding?"

"Hmm. We talked about it, and we decided that this spring is too early."

"So?"

"Maybe this summer."

"Wow. Congrats, bro. You're all grown-up!" I cheered my best friend.

"Thanks."

Just then, a guy with long brown hair with the entire weird brown outfit came in. He seemed shocked to see me.

"Oh?" Ann smiled. It was weird to see her smiling so sweetly. "You're home."

"Uh. Yeah." The guy smiled shyly.

"Hey Cliff!" Gray started babbling again. "I'm getting married!"

"Wow. Congrats!" and this Cliff gave him a quick smile.

"By the way, Cliff this is Kai," Ann introduced. "Kai, this is Cliff. Cliff's been here last winter."

"Nice to m-meet you." Cliff said.

"Me too."

"Kai," Gray smiled, "I want you to be my best man!"

"Ha ha ha. Sure!"

"And Ann," he grinned.

"Oh, let me guess," Ann smiled, "the chef for your reception party?"

"Yeah right." Gray chuckled. "Of course you're our maid-of-honor! You're my closest girl buddy and Mary's best friend."

"Well, I'll be!" Ann laughed. "Oh, I got to cook your dinner guys. Catch ya later!"

She skipped happily outside. Cliff went to the bed beside mine and covered his face with a pillow. Gray was still standing like an idiot in the middle of the room, still happy. I shrugged and decided to go outside.

"Hey wait up!" Gray called out. "You are going out?"

"Yeah, why?" I answered.

"Lemme go with you. I want to tell the whole town we're getting married!"

"You're getting creepier every minute, but I like it!" I smirked.

"You coming, Cliff?" Gray invited him.

"I-If it's okay…" he answered awkwardly.

"Of course it's okay!" I answered. "We'll be good friends, so don't be scared." I grinned.

So we went outside and started for the Supermarket. After that the Mayor's house, then Ellen's and so on. Rick wasn't happy to see me but I just ignored him. Popuri was definitely happy. We saved the clinic for last because we saw a lot of people going in and out earlier, so it's probably best to just go there at night. I suddenly remember the girl that Zack was carrying this afternoon.

We barged inside the almost empty clinic and Gray exclaimed, "Hey Trent! Elli!"

"Shh." Trent hushed. "We have a patient here, so keep your voices low."

I have a guess that it was the woman I saw.

"Oh. Sorry." Gray apologized.

"What is it anyway?" he asked. "It's absurd to see you shouting."

"Mary and I," he started proudly, "are getting married."

"Oh, congratulations!" Trent gave a quick smile.

"Thanks. Where's Elli anyway?"

"She's taking care of the patient in the room. And hey," he turned to me, "Kai, what are you doing here?"

"I'll be staying here for the whole year," I replied.

"Oh. Okay. Now as I was saying, she's looking after the patient."

I got curious who the patient was, so I asked, "Hey Trent, is it a girl?"

"Yeah," he answered. "How'd you know?"

"I saw her earlier this afternoon." I don't know why, but something urged me to want me see the girl. "Can I see her?"

"Sure, but please remain quiet." He reminded me. "She's not in good condition."

"Okay." I nodded. "Hey Gray, Cliff, go ahead home. I'll follow you guys after."

"Sure, sure." Gray said. "See ya later."

Elli came out of the room and turned to me. "Oh? Kai you're here."

"Yeah. Just wanted to stay here for a year." And I asked her immediately, "Can I see the patient?"

She cringed a bit, "Oh. She's sleeping. Do you know her?"

"No."

"Okay. Follow me. Be quiet okay? And don't turn on the lights anymore, it might affect her sleep." She smiled.

And there, a blond girl lay in bed, unconscious. Her flawless white skin gleamed in the moonlight. In that beautiful moonlight, she looked like an angel sleeping, minus the stitches and the long filaments attached to her. I stood on the foot of the bed speechless. She was so beautiful; I couldn't deny that. This was the first time I actually… fell in love.

"She's lovely, right?" Elli agreed with my thoughts.

"Y-Yeah." I stammered.

I exited the room with Elli following me. "Please," I begged. "Don't tell anyone that I visited this girl."

Both of them nodded.

"What's her name, anyway?"

"That, we don't know. She seems to be a tourist."

"Oh. Okay. Um, just call me when you know it."

"Sure." Trent said. Then he added, "Love-strucked?"

I chuckled. "Definitely." Elli laughed her sweet voice. "Well, I gotta go. Good night guys."

"Good night Kai." They bid me goodbye.

I walked lazily to the inn, with the image of the girl in my head. I wonder what the girl's name is. I thought. Hmm. I'll know in a few days.

When I reached the inn, I smelled something good from the kitchen.

"Pizza?" I asked Doug.

"Maybe." He smiled.

"Alright! Ann sure knows how to welcome my homecoming!"

"Ha ha ha. Yeah right kid. By the way, ya met Cliff?"

"Yeah. Shy guy."

Doug nodded. "But he's a nice boy anyway."

"I know that." I grinned. "Well, are they upstairs?"

"Yeah."

"See ya later, Doug!"

"Sure, sure."

I pranced to the room, excited to tell the guys about the girl I saw in the clinic.

"Hey guys," I greeted. "Man, the patient in the clinic was… pretty. No, not pretty, she's more than that! She's beautiful... Lovely… Even though she had stitches on her forehead and had things attached to her, she looked like a sleeping cherubim!" I said like a kid bragging about a new toy he got.

"Oh, so I see you really going crazy about a girl." Gray chuckled. His mood hasn't changed yet. "Way to go! It's a first time."

"Yeah, I know." I grinned and scratched my head. "But she's just a tourist though, so Trent doesn't know her name."

"Too bad." Gray replied. "I want to see the girl of your dreams tomorrow."

"I want to see her all the time." I smiled. "Wanna come tomorrow, Cliff?"

"Umm. Maybe I can't come." He replied quietly. "I help Carter clean the Church every Friday. Sorry."

"Well," I started. "How about early evening? That'd be a good time to visit her. Because I told Trent and Elli that no one should know that I'm visiting her."

"I'd go with you guys then." Cliff smiled.

"Alright! It's settled then," Gray exclaimed. "We're going to see Kai's ideal girl tomorrow evening."

We laughed. Ann came in yelling, "Well boys, here's the pizza! Full of cheese, pepperoni and anchovies!"

"Thanks! Smells really mouth-watering! Way to go, little sis!" I exclaimed and went in for the first slice.

"Thanks, Ann." Cliff smiled shyly.

"Mmm, this is really good!" Gray said as he took his first bite.

"Thank you, thank you!" Ann bowed. "Is it really good, Cliff?" she asked in another weird, sweet voice.

"Uh, of course. It's the best." He grinned shyly.

"Oh really? Thanks! Well, I'll see you guys." A wide grin stretched across her small face.

I got really curious on what was all the unusual sweetness my so-called little sister, Ann was showing. So I decided to get to the bottom of this.

"Hey Cliff." I called him as I munched on my second slice.

"Huh? What is it?" he asked surprisingly.

"What's with you and Ann?" I asked suspiciously.

"Oh… Um." He didn't reply.

Gray answered instead, "These two are having mutual feelings for each other."

"What?" I chuckled. "Ann's a grown-up!"

"Can't believe it either."

"Hey Cliff, what did ya do to make little Ann's heart beat?" I asked.

"I don't know." He answered quietly. "I don't mean to brag, but for all I know, she fell for me first. That's what she told me before." Cliff started opening up to us.

"So, you guys aren't official?" I asked.

"Not yet." He answered with his head low. "Doug said I have to wait for a few years. He said I have to court her and impress him."

"Oh." Was all I could say. "Good luck!"

"Ha ha. Thanks." He smiled. He's not so bad after all.

"Hey guys, who wants the last slice?" Gray announced.

"Go eat it, pig." I teased.

The night went well. And in the morning, I had to set the shed for business. While I was cleaning, my thoughts focused on one person.

The blond girl in the clinic.

I was so excited to see her tonight. I wish she would wake up though. So that before this cute sightseer leaves this town, I would know her name and follow her. But I think she looks familiar. I couldn't remember what, who, when and where. It doesn't matter though. Anyway, of all the girls I met, she's the only one who made me feel so elated and mystified to see her. It's not her face that makes me feel this way, no, but it's her entire being. I want to know her. Her mystique is so… powerful. It makes me want to know her, to find out more of her, to love her. I want to unravel her mystery behind that beauty…

"Hey Kai!" a familiar, chirpy voice interrupted my thoughts. Oh c'mon.

"Oh hey Popuri. What are you doing here? Shouldn't you be working in your poultry farm?" I said in a somewhat rude tone.

"Oh? You want me to leave?" she asked.

"No, no… It's not like that. I was just asking because Rick might be looking for you." That I said was half-true. I lied about not wanting her to leave.

"Forget about my brother, nothing's wrong in visiting, right?"

"I guess."

"Let me help you out."

"No, s'okay."

"I insist!" then she skipped cheerfully to get the broom and said, "I'll be sweeping."

"Fine. But get back to your farm when you're done, 'kay? We don't want any trouble."

"Yes captain!"

"POOOOOPPPUUUUURRRRIIIIIIIIIIIII!"

Whoever guessed that it was Rick shouting, you are absolutely right.

Rick came stomping inside the shed and yelled, "What are you doing to my sister?"

"Don't blame me. She insisted on cleaning my shed." Then I turned to Popuri, "I told you trouble's coming if ya don't go home."

"Sorry Kai." She apologized. "Rick, stop blaming him. I wanted to help him here. Let's go home."

"Oh, we will really go home!" he said arrogantly.

"Bye Kai… and sorry."

"Bye."

Sometimes, I feel sorry for her. I wonder why he's all angry with me. I'm not a bad person… I think.

Back to cleaning. It was late afternoon when I finished. My stomach growled; reminding me I haven't ate anything. So I walked back to the inn and ordered a meal set from Doug.

"So, how's the shed?" he asked.

"Fine. It's all clean." I answered with my mouth full.

"So, you're planning to open it, what, this spring?"

"I guess so. I need to have money, and cooking food by the beach is my only work."

"Why don't you work first in the city?" That opinion made me recoil.

"Uh, not a good idea."

"Why not? You're dad's dang rich… I wish I had all that wealth…" he mumbled.

"Um, I wanna be independent." I lied.

"Oh. Good for you kid," he smiled.

"Thanks."

I waited for the seconds to pass until Gray and Cliff came. It was about 6pm. Cliff came in sweating, so Ann offered him a towel and cooked an omelet for him alone. Lucky guy. Gray came in last, his mood as blissful as yesterday. He must've come from Mary's place.

"Well, let's go to the clinic?" I urged.

"Excited?" Gray asked.

"Obviously." I chuckled.

We laughed altogether and headed for the clinic.

We knocked on the door and Elli was the one who opened it. "Come in."

"Where's Trent?" I asked.

"In the room with the patient. He's checking her heartbeat and pulse."

"Oh. Can we see her after?"

"Sure." She smiled. "Just wait a few minutes."

"Elli," Gray said. "Can you tell what's happening here in the clinic yesterday when she was brought here?"

"Well, the two kids used a stone as a Frisbee and the stone hit her head." She explained. "There was blood loss, and so much blood came out. Zack carried her here, but there were so many people yesterday in the clinic. Almost everyone's problem yesterday was severe headache." She paused. "Trent and I had to make a way to make the people leave with them getting all cured. So what we did, we had to split the work. I took care of everyone, and Trent focused on her. If we didn't split the work, then the lady might have died because of blood loss. It was tiring!"

Trent came out of the room and greeted us. "Oh, visiting her?"

"Yeah, can we come in?"

"Sure, but still be quiet. She still unconscious by the way."

"Okay. Is she getting any better?"

"Yes. Maybe by Sunday or Monday she'll wake up."

We entered the quiet and dark room with the moonlight as its only light. Nothing changed, except that the filaments that were attached to her were removed. I was still as amazed as yesterday when I saw her, and I see my two companions smiling.

"Kai," Cliff whispered. "She's beautiful."

"Yeah." Gray agreed.

"Too bad you guys are taken." I teased.

And we continued to gaze at her, until Elli called us that it's getting late.

Walking home, I can't help but feel excited for Sunday. She's going to wake up, then like a simple love story, I'll confess to her that I like her, then get to know her, then we'll start dating, then we'll get married… as simple as that.

"Hey Kai?" Gray asked.

"Hmm?"

"Since you're obviously in love with the girl, what'll Popuri think?"

I haven't thought of that. She'll definitely get hurt. "I… I don't know."

"You better be careful."

"Yeah, I know."

Days passed, business was good and I continued visiting her. Sunday finally came, and I eagerly went outside. It was approximately 7am. I was so excited to see her open her eyes. On the way, I was surprised by Popuri who caught my arm and said, "Where are you going?"

"Uh. To the clinic."

"Why?" she held my arm even tighter.

"N-Nothing."

"Visiting someone?" her eyes became suspicious.

"No. Um, I was… I was going for a check-up." I lied.

"Let me come with you!" she smiled.

"No. It's all right. I can do it myself."

"I insist." Boy, she sure is stubborn.

I have to think of a way.

"Hey, do you want to go to library instead? Let's congratulate Mary." I suggested.

"You're not going to the clinic anymore?"

"Uh, it's not important anyway."

"As long as you're with me, anywhere is fine."

"Um, let's go then."

Ugh. This is one hard situation. We passed by the supermarket, then the Mayor's house, then Grandma Ellen's and finally the library. Popuri was about to open the doorknob when Rick came into view. I can't believe I'm saying this, but, Rick, thank you so much for seeing us! Now I can finally go to the clinic.

"What are you doing with my sister?" he quickly pulled Popuri from my side.

"I didn't do anything!"

"Liar! Where were you taking her?"

"Rick, stop it!" she started crying then ran away from us.

"Popuri, wait!" Rick yelled. What a stupid, over-protective brother.

I ran past the houses when Karen, holding three huge crates, stopped me.

"Ugh. Little help here?" she whined.

"I'm in a hurry…" I huffed.

"What the! Carry these!" she passed the crates to me. "Give them to Doug!"

"Then what will you carry?" I complained.

"Hey, there are three more crates inside our place, and I'll be carrying them. Got any problem with that?"

"Fine. Fine." I walked off carrying the heavy crates. Jeez, Karen was so tough.

I barged inside the inn and called out, "Hey Doug, here are the crates you asked for at the supermarket!"

I was about to leave when he yelled, "Kai, can ya carry 'em to the kitchen? I can't carry things as heavy as those!"

"Ugh. Sure, sure." And I carried them to the kitchen unwillingly.

Finally, I had my chance to go to the clinic. Approximate time: 8am in the morning. I barged inside and saw Trent and Elli talking.

"Hey, is the girl awake?" I asked in a hoarse voice. I was so dead tired.

"Oh no," Elli said. "She just left with the kids earlier."

"WHAT!"

"Yeah." Trent joined in. "But I got her name. Claire Rosebelle."

"Claire." I smiled. That name was sort of familiar. Ah yes. Claire Heathers, the one I was about to marry. But it's definitely not her. "So where'd they go?"

"I think they had a surprise for Claire at the beach." Elli giggled.

"You're going there?" Trent asked.

"Absolutely! Thanks for everything!" I exclaimed.

I ran again to the beach and found her standing in the middle of the coast, laughing with the kids. I hid behind a tree near the stairs going down to the beach. Then I heard her saying, "Yes, I'm going to live here from now on." I felt that a very wide grin stretched across my face. Wow, she was really going to stay here! Next thing I knew, they were running towards my direction. I quickly hid under the bushes.

They ran past the square, then past the inn. I got out of the bushes and plucked the leaves out of my clothes and bandanna. But the grin that was on my face didn't settle down. I was so happy that she would be living here. Like it was fate or something like that. Jeez, I'm getting lovey-dovey and cheesy thinking of her. I walked lazily back to the beach to start working.

"Claire Rosebelle," I murmured. "I'll see you soon…"