This is a remake of a fic I started writing when I was 14, back in 2014. I decided to start over and try again with writing that isn't awful lol. The original story is unfinished, but the plot is going to stay the same. So if you want to get a sneak peek at the plot, you can head over to my page and read the fic called "Forgetting" Thanks for reading!

"Happy Monday!" Julia sings in my ear.

I glance in her direction from my seat at the breakfast table, a stormy expression painted on my face. "Julia," I begin, "please don't talk to me unless you got a reason." The locals know I'm not much for conversation, Julia among them. I wasn't sure what kept this bubbly bimbo coming back for more, but Mirabelle was nice enough to let me stay with her when my work took me to the Sunshine Islands. I figured I should be nice enough to tolerate her daughter.

"But I do have a reason, Vaughn!" she chirps. "I'm wishing you a happy Monday!" She gives me a toothy grin and a dainty side-hug, something she knows I hate. Julia has a habit of provoking me with such things. I'm not sure if her intent is to piss me off or if the silly girl genuinely means well. I wriggle out of her grasp and turn my attention back to my breakfast, stirring the warm porridge with a spoon too small for my hand.

Julia takes the seat across from me, placing her head in her hands, a mischievous grin on her lips. "Soooo, did you hear?"

I scowl and swallow a bite. "Hear what?"

Julia looks at me with a glimmer in her eye, the same one she gets when she hears some hot new gossip that she can't wait to pass along. Uh oh. "Well, I overheard my mom on the phone with Felicia last night. She told her that some girl moved into that gross abandoned farm. She's gonna try to actually grow stuff and raise animals in that dump, isn't that CRAZY?!"

I furrow my brow. "A girl is going to try to revitalize a farm that hasn't been used in decades? All by herself?" Julia nods furiously and I scoff. "She's got a lotta work ahead of her." I punctuate my sentence by taking another bite of porridge.

"And," Julia continues, "she just got here yesterday morning! I think my mom said her name's Chelsea. Will you come with me to say hi?"

"No, thanks."

"Aw, why not, Vaughnie?" I cringe at the sound of my nickname. "Because. I'm only here two days a week. Seems like a waste of time to bother introducing myself." I finish my breakfast and place my dirty dishes in the sink. "I don't have time for friendship when I'm here. I come here strictly for business." Julia opens her mouth to say something, something probably along the lines of I'm being a jerk, but I cut her off. "I'm going on a walk."

Julia smirks. "Didn't you just say you come here strictly for—"

"I need to clear my head, alright!"

I see Julia swallow a laugh. "Okay, Vaughnie. Have a nice time." I glower at Julia before making my way out the front door of the animal shop.

Cool morning air hits my face as I start off down the cobble stone road. I have no destination in mind, but my feet naturally take the familiar route to the beach, a place I like to visit often. It's a good out-of-the-way place to just sit and think. There's just something about the lulling sound of waves hitting the shore that I find comforting.

My boots hit the sandy ground as I find a place to sit beside the seaweed rock. The ground had finally thawed after weeks and weeks of the coldest winter the islands had ever experienced. I was happy to finally be able to sit in my favorite spot again without my backside catching frostbite. I lean against the rock, pull my hat over my eyes and just breathe in time to the sound of the waves. For the first time in a while, I allow my mind to drift, thinking not about work, but idle things, like the guitar I had sitting in the corner of my apartment I hadn't played in months and the stylish boots I saw in a store window in the city a few weeks ago. My thoughts drifted to the new farmer girl. Maybe I was being rude with that speech about my time at the islands being for business only. Maybe I should go introduce myself. I ponder the options, but the sound of my name brings me back to reality.

"Vaughn?" a meek voice calls out. I push my hat to the crown of my head and out of my eyes. Sabrina, the girl that lives in that enormous mansion down the road is kneeling next to me, a small box in her hands.

"What do you want?" I mumble. I was a little annoyed she had bothered me, but the poor girl had trouble talking to anyone, yet here she was talking to me. I figured there must be a reason she sought me out. She thrusts her arms out at me, offering the box, which I gingerly take.

"I just wanted to give you this." Her whisper is barely audible. She must have seen the confused look on my face so she continues. "It's for your birthday. I-I know it's tomorrow, but I wanted to give this to you today, while I had the time. I'm supposed too do a bunch of secretary work for my father tomorrow." I say nothing and stare at the box in my hands, keenly aware of her watching me. "Won't you please open it, Vaughn?"

I sigh and gently remove the lid. Inside the box sits a bundle of truffle mushrooms, placed neatly on top of a bed of tissue paper. I inhale and glance at Sabrina. These must have cost a fortune. "Wow," I say. That's just about all I can say. "These are so nice, thank you. But why give them to me?"

She gives me a small smile, a rosy tint dusting her cheeks. "Well… I know you like them. I figured, I don't know, someone should give you a gift that was sure to bring you a little joy." She tucks a stray strand of hair behind her ear and returns to her feet. I do the same.

"I appreciate it. Thank you." She bites her lip and gives me a silent nod. I opened my mouth to say something else, but before I could, the raven-haired girl was well on her way. I peer back at the perfect little mushrooms nesting in the box. 'What a strange girl,' I say to myself. I'll have to return the favor someday.

The chilly spring breeze picks up, causing me to shiver and my skin to break out in goosebumps. I carefully place the tiny box in the pouch at my waist and start off towards the local café. Perhaps a mug of warm milk can get rid of this chill.

~~O~~

Seated in my usual spot in the corner, I wrap my cold fingers around the steaming mug. It was still a little too hot to drink, but I didn't mind waiting. The moments of solitude at this café are something I cherish.

My ears perk when I hear the café door open. A lively purple bandana bounces its way into the store, stopping briefly to grin and wave at me before taking a seat at the bar. I give a small wave back. Denny has always been pretty nice to me. We don't talk much, but we have an unspoken mutual respect for each other. He doesn't force anything, and I respond in turn. Still, I consider him a friend.

I take a delicate sip from my mug and feel the tension in my body dissipate. Despite what some think, my job can be pretty stressful, especially during the winter. I'm not a pious man, but I say a silent thank you to the Harvest Goddess for getting me through another bitter season.

About halfway through my milk, the café door opens once again. I wondered if it was Sabrina back to trouble me once again, or if Julia had come in for a slice of cake with her best friend, Natalie. I glance up, prepared to tell Julia to beat it if she dared to come near my table, but instead I am met with the most brilliant pair of blue eyes I've ever seen. The girl that had just wandered her way into the café was unfamiliar. I would remember if I had seen her before. It's hard to forget eyes like those. The girl uses a nimble finger to twirl her chestnut hair and nervously taps her booted foot. Her eyes scan the room, her expression making her look like a lost puppy. She suddenly locks eyes with me, catching me staring, and begins to make her way to my table. She approaches and gives a timid wave.

"Hello." A small smile. "I'm Chelsea. I'm new in town. Taro told me it would be a good idea to introduce myself to everyone here, so…" she holds out her hand, "Here I am." A nervous giggle.

I shake her hand. "Vaughn. So, you're the lady running he ranch?"

She beams. "Yeah! I'm so excited to get started. It's gonna be so much work."

"I'll bet."

Silence falls over us like a blanket. I was used to silence, but it was apparently making Chelsea uncomfortable. She clears her throat and nervously wipes her palms on her baggy denim shorts. Julia would have called them "jorts."

"Well, uh, Vaughn was it? I guess I'll see you around. It was very nice to meet you." I nod curtly. She grins at me and bounces away, probably to introduce herself to Denny at the bar.

The corner of my lips curl into a small smile. I had only just met Chelsea, but I already knew she was going to be popular. Even I didn't hate her. A sunshine girl for the Sunshine Islands.