"How does Mayor Hamilton expect me to meet ALL the people in town in one day? I don't even know my way around, and this map isn't any help either" Angela sighed, kicking a pebble out of her way as she trudged up the hill to the Church for the second time that day.
"You need to hurry so we can get to the Harvest Goddess!" The small sprite buzzing frantically around her head chirped in reply. Angela shot Finn a wary look. She still hadn't quite decided if she was going crazy or not, but after a day of him following her every move she decided to not fight it and to just follow the little guy's program.
"Well I can't even get over to the mining district until Bo get's his toolbox, which Hamilton won't hear of until I win the Little Miss Congeniality award for the island" I mutter back, only sparing a quick glance around to make sure no one saw me talking to what they would see as thin air. "Now get back in my pocket, Hamilton said he would be around here." The sprite huffed indignantly as I swatted him away, and instead chose to perch on my shoulder. I didn't have the energy to protest. Had I eaten dinner today? What time was it anyway?
"Angela, look!"
I jumped as Finn flew in front of me and pointed to a small alcove off the Church grounds, where a orange-haired man was contemplating the ocean. This had to be him. I was so excited I could almost scream. Actually, I did end up shouting an enthusiastic "HEY!" as I all but ran to the guy.
He started, and turned just as I skidded to a halt in front of him.
"Hey there I'm Angela!" I shot out quickly, still excited that my first task was (almost) over. I held out my hand and plastered a wide grin on my face as I waited for him to respond.
His violet eyes took me in, squinting in confusion and apprehension. His gaze lingered on my outstretched hand before wandering back up to my face.
"I…don't think we've met," he began, obviously perturbed by my overenthusiatic greeting. I made a note to lower my hand and tone down my smile a bit. Then some clarity dawned in his eyes and a bemused smirk slithered across his face "You must be the new rancher everyone's talking about."
"People are talking about me?" I asked a little self-consciously. I wondered what I had done in twenty-four hours that was so radical I was already the talk of the town. Instead of a response, he cocked a strawberry-blonde eyebrow at me, as if you say "Well, duh, look at you".
I bristled slightly which seemed to make his condescending grin grow even more. "Well I guess I should introduce myself. I'm Chase, the cook for the Brass Bar," at that sentence, his grin dropped and he regained the troubled, inward look I first saw him with, "not that I can cook anything decent with the fire lately. And not that we have any customers coming to the island to eat it for that matter." He sighed heavily, consumed in thought, seemingly forgetting my presence. Apparently, I was odd enough o be gossiped about but not interesting enough to pay attention to.
I cleared my throat, causing him to glance up at me again, somewhat annoyed. "Right, well, good luck with that ranching thing" He muttered, and strode off after a half-hearted wave in my direction.
"Well!" I exclaimed to Finn, once the cook was out of sight, "Seems we did not save the best for last. Now, let's see about that tool box."
A/N: This is a short intro to the story, the actual chapters will be longer, I promise :)