New

Laura had moved in on a quiet sunny day in the beginning of the spring without much fanfare. She was obviously noticed by all of the locals and there was a low hum of excitement for a new resident, but only a few people met her at first- Robin, Lewis, and Pierre.

"She seems sweet, very quiet, but good form when swinging an axe!" Shane had heard Robin chirp while speaking to Jodi outside. He hadn't cared then, and even now, he barely did. She was generous, and admittedly, she was very sweet, strong, had loads of patience, but it aggravated him to no end.

"Good morning, I'm Laura." she had said in her soft and steady voice, a small smile picking up at the ends of her lips.

"And? I don't know you, And I don't care to either." Shane had aggressively responded. He had been hungover and annoyed. Sun too bright, air too hot, and her voice too sickening. Trudging to Joja Mart was one of the worst parts of the day especially in the summer. Judging from the fact that it took her a month to say hello to him, she must have taken heed from the other townspeople to not approach him for a while. Hearing the gossip about him was regular for him then.

But now, things were just… different. He didn't hate Laura, he didn't much… care for her. But she was good to him, and treated him with respect although they'd never fleshed out much of a deep relationship, she never pushed herself into his life. Which he, when honest, had mixed feelings about.

When the Community Center opened up again, Joja Mart was quickly run out of town, along with his job. Morris, an out of town girl, and himself were left without work. Although he was sure the other two were fine, he wasn't too sure about himself. The drinking hadn't yet slowed down for him, he was still burning through cash almost as fast as he made it and once he was out of work he was forced to bum off anyone who would take a scolding type of pity on him, and drown himself in big gulps of water, closing his eyes and pretending it was beer when the pity ran dry. Over time, his dependence waned slightly, and a month or so later Laura came to him with a proposition. Her farm had gotten bigger. The grass a little unruly as she attempted to keep it all tame and functioning. She asked him to help her with her massive amount of chickens, and to tend to the rabbits and ducks as well. Something he enjoyed a little less.

There was always drive in her, a grit that couldn't keep her down. It was strange for such a small and sweet seeming woman, swinging away with her axe, disappearing until late into the night. Rumors had been flying almost as soon as she had come that she was exploring into the mines. Mines he had only stepped into once, taken a look down into the dark and seemingly endless hole, and quickly stepped back from. One look was enough to satisfy him for a lifetime. But not her apparently. Or so the rumors told him. For the most part though, he was seeing her from afar from around the farm. He had hated what he assumed was pity at first, the job offer, and had almost denied it had the need for cash flow not been so hard on his mind when she first questioned him about it. They'd barely spoken in the two years she'd been in the town. He hadn't wanted to, and she never tried hard to get words out of him. After time though, he appreciated the work. It was hard work, but it left him feeling fulfilled. More than once she had asked him to do other tasks, doing simple repairs on fences, moving the heaters in and out of the barns, stacking firewood or mucking out stalls. Once even asking him help with pulling hot peppers from the vines. A task he was sure she gave him on purpose as he'd heard a couple giggles after he popped a few in his mouth, it had soured the taste in his mouth, but now after working for her for almost 6 months he looked back on the memory with an almost fondness.

Their interactions were almost always the same.

"Good morning, Shane." she'd kindly say.

"Morning, Laura." he'd respond with not much enthusiasm.

"I'll leave your lunch on the porch when you're ready." and he knew she wouldn't be there to eat it with him. The way he liked it. Instead, she'd work straight through lunch, munching on field snacks while she pulled weeds or tilled soil. He knew she loved the animals but her real passions seemed to lay with gardening. Or maybe monster slaying, if he thought deeper and let his mind run a little more wild.

At first she'd made him his favorite pepper poppers only. But as he continued working, the meals had slowly changed, he wasn't going to complain much, though as it was free. Parsnips and lentils were added to his catalogue of edible foods. Bok choy, and fennel- even a day when she'd made him a salad stacked with beets and he'd had a shock the next day and a trip to Harvey's clinic.

"It's the beets." Harvey had said with a chortle.

Everyone knew she was having a small effect on him. He'd become more lean, toned, his facial hair less tame as no one was around to get onto him about it except every now and then Jaz telling him he looked like "A wild man". No doubt referring to Linus. Mainly though, he was more docile. Still could get as mean as always, but no when people said "Hello." he'd at least nod his head in their direction instead of responding with a scathing comment.

He just wasn't as angry as he had been. Still a little bitter with the world. But many of his problems seemed distant now-a-days. He was calmer.

Notes:

This is my first story, I'm writing only for fun and I haven't I guess completely finished the game. I've finished up the community center but not much beyond that at all. So please bear with me and enjoy! :)