Disclaimer: I still don't own Harvest Moon, dang it. But if I did, oh the money I would have! Also, if you don't get this fic, I'm sorry in advance. :D
I tapped my foot and sighed in frustration while pulling on my golden blonde locks. "Come on, Rizo! Just fetch the stupid ball!"
The small floppy-eared beagle simply stared at me and yawned. I snorted, picking up the cream-colored round object and throwing it over the lazy puppy's head.
"Fetch, Rizo! Come on! We just started playing..." I sighed, running my hand down my face. "Okay, Rizo, we'll play your little game for now...but when I get back after finishing all of my chores, you better fetch that ball!" I shouted, slightly shaking my fist at my beagle.
He yawned at me and curled up next to my calendar. I opened my door quickly, and almost crashed into the sturdy chest of the carpenter from Mineral Town.
"A-ah! I'm so sorry, Mr. Gotz!" I apologized, my bright aqua eyes widening.
He simply nodded at me, "I'm here to build the livestock barn that you wanted. Tell me where to put it."
"O-oh, right. Um, I would like it over here by my grass field." I pointed out, taking Gotz to the large area I had prepared for the stone barn.
"It should take me about three days to finish." He stated, heading off to start construction.
"Thank you!" I shouted at the large man as I headed to my chicken coop to feed my two chickens.
I sighed at the immense heat radiating from the coop as I opened the door. The coop was always either insanely hot, or unbelievably freezing. I walked over to my newest full-grown chicken, Pudding, and picked her up gently.
"I think I'll let you girls outside today. It's a really nice summer day." I stated, cuddling Pudding and taking her out to the little fenced in area I had set aside for a pond later, but for now it was where I let my chickens run free.
Pudding clucked happily as I set her down on the cool ground. I couldn't help but smile at my happy little chicken. I skipped back to the coop and my other chicken, Rice, jumped into my arms.
I giggled at the excited cluck the older chicken gave me as I took her out to the fenced area. I set her down and headed back to the coop to collect the eggs I knew were there. I picked both eggs up and put them in the shipping bin.
"Okay...that takes care of the chickens...now I should take care of my crops." I nodded to myself, heading over to my stalks of corn. It's kind of sad that the only crop I've been able to successfully grow...is corn. I sighed, running my fingers through my hair.
I walked over to the stalks of corn and got out my watering can. Shoot, I forgot to fill it with water! I hurried over to the little watering hole and filled the watering can almost full. I knew for a fact that I couldn't carry the watering can if it was completely full, and I also knew I didn't need to fill it all the way to water my corn.
Today was...wait, what day was it? I shook my head and started watering my corn. It obviously hadn't been fifteen days since I planted my corn, so it wasn't the fourteenth, but it had to be close because the corn looked like it would bloom soon.
I finished watering the thirsty plants and put my watering can away in my medium-sized rucksack. I glanced over at the hardworking carpenter and looked through my rucksack, finding a loaf of bread. Well...he is working extremely hard in all of this heat... I gave up as I stood and walked over to the sweating carpenter.
"Um...Mr. Gotz? Here's some bread if you get hungry while you're out here." I held the bread out and the muscular man stood, wiping his forehead.
"Hahaha! Why, thanks, little lady!" He laughed heartily.
"Heh, no problem. It's the least I could do for making you work in the heat like this." I scratched the back of my head. "Well, see you later. I'm going into town for a bit." I waved and ran toward the entrance to my farm.
Okay, let me explain something. You may think that I have a little crush on the husky carpenter from Mineral Town, but hear me out for a second. I don't have a crush on Mr. Gotz, but I do have a bit of an interest in a certain blacksmith that comes into town every Thursday. I suppose I just have a soft spot for grumpy people. I find it really sweet when they get all fussy about something really trivial. I'd heard that the blacksmith had gotten really mad because someone didn't say they were sorry when they almost ran into him. I started fantasizing about the situation when Ann had told me, and she had to practically shake me to get me back into reality.
"Oh! I still don't know what day it is!" I crossed my arms and sighed, about to head back to my farm. Before I could turn around, the very object of my fantasies was walking past me and heading to the mines. Thursday the tenth of summer. I thought instantly, gawking at the blacksmith.
"What are you staring at?" He growled, his hand instantly pulling his hat down over his eyes and...Was that a blush creeping up on his face?
"I'm sorry..." I looked away from the blushing man as a blush started to creep up on my own face. I don't know why, but as soon as I looked away, I started smiling at how he'd growled at me.
"Why are you smiling?" He growled once again, his hat moving even lower.
"I'm so sorry. I really am, but I just can't seem to help it when someone...well, anyways, sorry." I bowed, my blonde hair falling in my face.
"Gray..." He stated, looking away from me.
"Excuse me?" I blinked, raising an eyebrow at the blacksmith.
"My name..." He mumbled.
"Oh! It's nice to meet you, Gray. My name is Claire." I smiled at Gray.
Okay, pause for another second. I know what you're thinking, "You didn't even know his name yet?! It's SUMMER, woman! SUMMER!!!!!" Well, I'd never really approached him before today. I would usually just see him walk out of the Inn, or into the Inn, and sometimes I saw him in the mines. But, riddle me this, you crazed fangirls out there, what do you think would have happened if I had gone up to him on the second Thursday of the year and rambled on and on about how dreamy he was? I think it would have been something like this, "Hi I'm –" "I don't care..." How did that sound to you? 'Cause I really didn't like it. So, nuts to all of you people who would have scared him away with your persistence. Nuts, I say!
"So, I'll see you later, Gray. I have some errands to run." I waved, leaving the blacksmith to think. As I had expected, he shook his head and walked in the opposite direction, heading for the mines.
"Claire! Can you please help me over here?" Celia called from the bridge.
I quickly turned around, "Oh! Of course! I'd love to help you, Celia!" I slightly jogged toward the bridge, crossing it and stepping onto Vesta's large farm. "What do you need help with?"
"Well, you see, we're getting our watering can upgraded, so I was wondering if you could help us water the crops?" Celia clasped her hands together and gave me her best pout.
"Well, mine hasn't ever been upgraded...so it would take forever...but I can't say no to that face." I sighed in defeat.
"Oh, thank you thank you thank you, Claire!" Celia jumped up and down.
As Celia hugged me nearly to death, I noticed someone walk out of Vesta's house and strained my eyes to see who it was.
"Celia? Air? Please?" I managed to cough out.
"Oh, I'm sorry, Claire!" Celia squeaked as she released me and jumped back a foot or so.
The person who walked out of Vesta's house walked past us and I realized who it was; it was Gray! How very strange for him to be here on Vesta's farm! He walked past and didn't seem to notice when he dropped something. It looked like a brooch or something.
I walked up to the small trinket and picked it up. "I should probably give this back to him. It could be something really important! But, it'll have to wait until after we water these crops..." I whispered, putting the small item into my overall pocket. "Okay, let's get to work on those crops!"
Celia squealed happily and ran off to tell Vesta and Marlin about my selflessness. I sighed and shook my head. Sometimes Celia was a nice, calm girl, but others times, when she got really excited she could be a bit of a handful. I felt a little sorry for Marlin at first, but now I can see her happy attitude could be good for him.
I took out my watering can and filled it in the river, filling it almost all the way. I decided against watering Vesta's crops like I did my own because, well, Vesta might eat me if I did it wrong. I sat by the river, splashing my hand in it for a little while until I heard Celia and the others exit Vesta's house.
"Claire! It's so nice of you to help us even though you have crops of your own! We'll have to share some of these with you once they ripen!" Vesta laughed.
"Oh, no, that's okay. You don't have to give me anything. I'm just glad to help you in your time of need." I smiled at the older woman.
"Well, we'll decide that later! Let's get to work!" She beamed.
I can't forget about this brooch...I wonder why Gray made it, anyway. I mean, I don't think he was planning on giving it to anyone here. But, then again, I've never really seen him while he talked with the other villagers...actually, come to think of it...I don't even know if he does talk to the other villagers... I sighed slightly and wiped my forehead with my arm. It was a hot summer day, after all!
"Okay, Claire, our work is done!" Vesta announced as she stood up and put her hands on her hips.
"Whew, that's good. I thought it would never end!" Celia exclaimed, wiping her forehead with the back of her hand.
"Hm..." Marlin grunted less than enthusiastically.
"Well, I'll see you guys later! I've got something I have to do!" I shouted, running toward the mines.
I rushed into the mining area and looked around. Outside of the mine was abandoned, so I heaved a sigh and headed for the actual mines. I'll tell you, though; the mines weren't always my favorite place to go. It was always really dark, and sometimes it was damp inside, too.
"Um, excuse me?" I peeked into the mine, looking around rather shyly.
"Oh, Claire, have you come to help us out?" Carter asked, looking up at me from the spot he had been digging.
"Well, actually, Carter, I was hoping I'd find Gray in here." I stated, walking into the mine, looking around some more.
"Oh, he left half an hour ago. He said he might have lost something, so he went to go check." Flora stated, tapping her chin as she tried to remember.
"Oh, well thank you anyway." I bowed, leaving the mines in search for the blacksmith.
As I walked out of the mines I sighed deeply. I must have just missed him, then...I must be blind or something... I shook my head at myself. I started walking toward Vesta's farm, hoping Gray would still be there by the time I got there.
"Oh, Claire! You're back!" Celia waved happily.
"Celia...please tell me Gray is still here somewhere." I pleaded, clasping my hands together and practically begging her.
"I'm sorry, Claire. He was here, but then he left in a hurry. I think he said something about going back to the Inn." She tilted her head. "But, Claire....why are you looking for him?"
"Well, I saw him earlier, and it looked like he dropped something, so I picked it up and now I'm trying to get it back to him." I subconsciously started twirling my hair with my fingers.
"Well, you better hurry, then! Before he locks his door, or goes home!" She blurted, pushing me, lightly mind you, toward the Inn.
"Of course! See you tomorrow, Celia!" I waved, running toward the Inn.
"Oh, hello there, Claire, dear. Are you looking for someone?" Ruby asked as I burst through the Inn door.
"Is...Gray...here?" I huffed, looking around.
"He went upstairs, I think." She looked toward the stairs. "You know where the guest rooms are, right?"
I nodded and headed for the stairs, walking up them quickly at first, but slowly toward the top. You never know when Rock could burst out of his room and rush down the stairs, knocking you over in the process.
I took a deep breath and knocked on the guest room designated for male visitors.
"What is it?!" Gray snarled, sounding like he was trashing the room.
"Gray? It's Claire. Can I come in?" I asked, a little afraid that he might come out and beat me with a shovel or something.
I heard a frustrated growl and then the jiggling of the doorknob. Gray slowly opened the door and stepped out of the room, closing the door behind him.
"What do you want?"
"Well, I think I might know how to make you feel a lot better." I stated, shoving my hand in my pocket.
He slightly glared at me, but raised his eyebrow in curiosity.
"I'd ask you to close your eyes and hold out your hands, but I'll just give it to you without that." I laughed a little and pulled the silver and sapphire brooch out of my pocket, holding it out for him.
"W-where did you find this?!" He shouted, snatching the brooch from my hands and glaring at me.
"I saw you drop it, but before I could give it to you, you ran off to the mines." I smiled softly at him. "I ran all over the town looking for you." I waggled my finger at him and crossed my arms over my chest. "Let me tell you; you're a tough person to find."
He pulled his hat down over his eyes, "Thanks....and sorry..." He mumbled it, but I knew he really meant it.
"Anytime. But, since it's almost time for the Inn to close, I've got to head home. So, I'll see you later." I waved, turning around to leave.
"Call me...you know, if you need your tools upgraded or anything..." He slightly called out. I didn't even have to look at him to know he was bright red, and probably beating himself up mentally.
"I will. Maybe sooner than you think..." I shouted the first part, but whispered the second part and laughed softly to myself.
I exited the Inn and headed straight home. Opening my front door I noticed my black cat, Key, and my beagle, Rizo, lying on my bed.
I sighed and took off my overalls and my tank-top, grabbing my over-sized sleeping shirt and some clean undergarments. I sighed, changing quickly and making a mental note that I really needed a bath or a shower, but I was just too tired to take either right now.
As I walked toward my bed I stepped on something and almost twisted my ankle.
"What the...? Ugh! Stupid ball!" I shouted, throwing the ball across the room.
Rizo looked up from the bed and jumped off, running after the ball playfully. He picked it up and ran back to me, dropping the ball at my feet.
"Oh sure...NOW you want to play!" I smacked my forehead with my hand and sighed, getting into my bed and turning the lights off. "Well, too bad!"
Rizo just looked up at me with his big puppy eyes. I simply huffed and turned over so I wasn't facing him. I was too tired to play fetch now, and tomorrow would be the same. He could just wait until Saturday. Stupid dog and his stupid ball.
Well, yeah. Hahaha, sorry if this doesn't make any sense to you. I'm also sorry if there wasn't enough Graire in it. It actually wasn't even going to be a Graire fanfic at all! So, be glad I decided to put a little love in there. So, anyways, I'm sorry it's been FOREVER since my last fanfic, but I have ADHD, so I was off in La la land. So, as always, review and tell me how I can do better! :D Thank you!