A/N: Hi guys! I wrote this Harvest Moon 64 fic with an OC named Page (female equivalent of Jack/Pete). I know many of us, including myself, played 64 wishing we could play as a female character, so I thought I would make that happen :). I hope you enjoy!


What was it that made Flowebud Village so special? From soaring mountains to rich sandy beaches, plentiful wildlife to quaint cobblestone roads, it was unlike anywhere else. Perhaps that's what drove Page to take over the old man's farm in the first place, or maybe it was something she hadn't found just yet.

A week had passed since Page moved to Flowerbud. She and her grandfather had never been particularly close, however she wasn't very close to all that many people to begin with. Ties with her family were strained and stressful and it seemed that over time her few friends had scattered to the wind. Her life was at a standstill as she felt herself trudging from one day to the next, living with a purpose she just couldn't seem to find.

While some may speculate that the young woman's recent move was just another decision made on impulse, for Page it was much more. She needed space to breathe with boundless time to spend and refresh her senses. The stresses of day to day life seemed to have drained the color from her world and she feared the day would come where she couldn't trudge through anymore. And so, her decision was made. It was time to appreciate life for all it had to offer. After all, life, like the cherry blossoms, was beautiful and fleeting. When the opportunity to take over her grandfather's farm presented itself she simply couldn't refuse. Perhaps, it was fate.

Page had an iron will. She was smart, strong, charismatic, but most of all, she was determined. The blatant doubt in her father's eyes as he challenged her to restore the old farm was all she needed for motivation.

BEEP BEEP BEEP It was 6:00 am when Page jolted out of bed, her heart pounding in her chest. A wave of panic rushed over her as she once again realized the overwhelming challenge that lay ahead. She turned off her alarm clock and quickly brushed her teeth making certain to avoid her tired reflection in the mirror. She threw on a red t-shirt and picked her worn pair of overalls off the floor, pulling them up over her slightly pudgy stomach and buckling them. Page quickly tied her curly, dark brown hair into a half pony tail and slapped on her grandfather's old backwards baseball cap as a sort of "good luck" charm. She grabbed a few tools, threw them in her rucksack, and started towards her fields.

"What a mess…" Page sighed to herself unsure if she was referring to the farm, herself of both.

She grabbed her sickle and hacked away at the weeds littering her farm. One by one she managed to clear a small space that she reserved for planting her first spring crops. She stood back and relished in her small accomplishment.

I've got this. She thought to herself with determination.

An hour passed…and another…and another and before Page knew it the sun had began to set. Time seemed to pass so slowly in the city. Every minute seemed to drag on and tick by almost as if it were in slow motion. In Flowerbud, time seemed to pass in the blink of an eye. The days just didn't seem to last long enough.

Page had just sat down to catch her breath for a moment when she caught a tall, muscular man approaching the farm out of the corner of her eye.

"Crap! Is it 5:00 already?" She cursed to herself.

Page struggled to make herself look busy as Zach, the buyer, approached her empty shipping bin. As Zach began to examine the bin, Page couldn't help but wish she could sink into the earth and disappear.

"Nothing today again I see?" Zach shared the same doubtful gaze Page had seen in her father's eyes a week prior.

"No, not yet." Page muttered, struggling to make eye contact.

"You know, Page, I've said it before and I'll say it again… there's lots to forage in the mountains! You ought to give it a try, you know, get out a little bit."

He wasn't wrong. The young woman could use a little time away from the farm. Zach couldn't help but notice the large, dark circles under her eyes.

"Look," the buyer added "a bunch of us are going to the bar tonight, why don't you join us? You know, get to know some of the townspeople. It would be good for you. Plus, you look like you could use a drink right about now."

Page chuckled and smiled. Her bright brown eyes glistening in the setting sun.

"Ok, ok you're right. I'll be there!" She relented.

Page found herself longing for friends and companionship as of late. Images of young men and women gathering around tables, sharing drinks and laughing with each other filled her head. She smiled again to herself.

"Ok, great. I'll see you later then. And, seriously, you really should start shipping. You're going to need an income to get this place back to how it was." Zach smiled halfheartedly.

Page couldn't help but feel like a disappointment as she had many times before. She felt her confidence and sense of pride somehow managing to slip away with a single comment. She could feel the tears welling up in her eyes. She had been working so hard and yet, had nothing to show for it. She was overworked, overtired, and overly emotional. The brunette shook her head in an effort to rid herself of such negativity. Come on Page, pull it together. You've got this. One step at a time. She took a deep breath and nodded.

"Thanks for the advice, Zach. You'll be seeing much more from me."

"Good!" Zach smiled and gave Page a pat on the back. "I'll see you later, kiddo."

Page nodded and watched Zach vanish into the distance before picking up her sickle and heading back into the farm house. She hadn't brought many clothing options with her to Flowebud, as space within the house was limited, however she managed to rummage up a pair of black jeans and a light blue blouse to go with it. She quickly showered, changed, and even applied a little makeup in hopes of making a good first impression. She slipped on some sneakers and headed out the door, butterflies in her stomach.

Page was nervous both with anticipation and excitement as she headed for the bar. She followed the cobblestone path through town towards the square passing the bakery, flower shop, and church. Flowerbud Village had a unique quaintness to it. The town was beautiful and serene, and almost eerily quiet at this time of night.

Page had reached her destination. She took a deep breath, straightened out her shirt, and opened the door.

The door creaked open and shut behind Page with a loud thud alerting her presence. The bar had several small tables scattered throughout, each with one or two people sitting at them. Zach stood to the side of a table drinking a beer.

"Page, you made it! Wasn't sure you'd show, hah." Zach teased playfully.

Page made her way over the table where a young man of about her age was also seated. He was tall with red hair and wore a tattered jumpsuit.

"Hey, I'm Page nice to meet you." Page attempted to strike up a conversation with the young man.

"…leave me alone." Was all he mumbled.

Page looked to Zach, blushing in awkwardness. Zach shrugged and set his empty beer down on the table. The bar was far from bustling with only several young men scattered about. Page felt suddenly intimidated and completely out of place. She felt herself starting to panic when a young woman, also around her age, brushed by her and sat another beer down for Zach.

She was tall and slender with brown hair and blonde strands falling on either side of her face. She was unlike anyone Page had ever seen before. Beautiful in an effortless sort of way, she sported jean shorts, brown boots and a purple vest. Page met her piercing green eyes and quickly averted her gaze.

"Can I get you something?" She asked.

"Uh…um…no, I'm fine." Page managed to sputter out.

"Whatever you say." The young woman walked back towards the bartender without a second glance.

Page saw this as good of an opportunity as any to make a new friend. She gathered up her courage and started towards the bar. Page tapped the young woman on the shoulder and she turned around.

"Hi, I'm Page. Just moved into town, so figured I'd introduce myself." She smiled.

"Ah, taking over the old man's farm. Hah, doesn't matter you'll be gone soon anyway." The young woman scoffed and turned to walk away.

"Hey! Um, I was just-"

Before Page could finish her sentence she was cut off.

"Look, I'm working. Unless there's something you need from me I suggest you just stay out of my way."

The young woman grabbed a few drinks from the bar and turned away.

Feeling slightly defeated, Page waved goodbye to Zach and headed towards the door. Tonight may not have been the great success she had hoped for, however tomorrow was a new day and for the first time in a long time, Page was ready for it.