A/N: This isn't my first time writing a fanfic, but I do believe this is my second time posting fanfic online, and my first here ;;; I'm not much of a writing, since I'm more of a drawing person ;; But I do get some random spurts of idea for my OTPs that I can't express through drawings ;;
Lately I got back into Harvest Moon, and now looking at it through the eyes of a 15 y.o. fangirl instead of an 11 y.o., I got really into ships and Harvest Moon itself and I have been reading a lot of Gray x Claire fanfics so, why not make my own? I've got a few ideas myself, so yeah.

ABOUT THE STORY NOW;
The Graire fluff won't appear until later. There will be more Grary and Cliffaire (?) than Graire in the beginning because (this was me trying to decide between Gray and Cliff) drama will be interesting, don't you think?
Anyway, I tried to pace myself in this fanfic, because I have a bad habit of going straight to the point in the beginning of fanfics, but I hope it's alright!
Constructive criticism is always welcome!
Currently rated 'T' due to strong language. (sorry)

Chapter 1

I still can't believe that lousy man this town calls a mayor tricked me into buying this farmland! I ABSOLUTELY CAN NOT BELIEVE IT!

A blonde bundle of hay like hair flutters in the air before lightly floating back down as the owner slams down a heavy axe on to the wooden stump.

THUNK.

I use up all the money I had earned back at the city and buy this, supposedly BEAUTIFUL farmland for a change of scenery, and I get this crap.
UNBELIEVABLE.

The axe is slammed down once again on to the stump; this time splitting it in half.

The blonde owner heaved a sigh as she plopped herself down onto the grass.

It's been two weeks since I moved here, even if I had money to return to my previous life, I have no place to return to. I might as well stick to my word and try bring back the so called 'beautiful farm'. I mean, I did end up agreeing with that scumbag of a mayor to look after this farm. I only agreed to do it for the heck of it though. Who knew that looking after a farm would be so hard…

…

"Oh, who am I kidding? Of course it's gonna be hard, it's a freaking FARM, for crying out loud!" the blonde screamed aloud.

Whoa, Claire, you might want to calm down a bit, the blonde girl thought, after hearing her words echo in the valley below.

Sighing deeply, the blonde looked up at the sky, watching the clouds roll by.

If only life just rolled on easily by, just like that, Claire thought, closing her eyes to take a short nap.

"Hey." A voice called out.

One eye lazily opened, and she turned her head to the source of the sound. Slowly raising her head, she opened her other eye to a blurry figure in the foreground.

"If you have time to laze around and sleep all day, then you have time to tidy this place up. It looks like shit." The same voice called out in a dull manner. Claire recognised this dull voice. It was Gary, or Gray, whichever it was, whom she describes as 'the rude and annoying grandson of the blacksmith who just happens to have a lot of angst [and sass]'. She obviously couldn't be bothered to remember the male's name as his first impression made her not give a damn.
His first impression stuck to Claire when she first met him two weeks ago. She had accidentally dropped the ore she was carrying, startling Gray, which caused the accessory he was currently working on to shatter into pieces. Naturally, due to his short temper, he was furious with Claire, and went absolutely ballistic on her. Claire did, however, take it upon herself to go over to Gray's quarters' and apologise. She had wasted her time doing that really. It was futile trying to apologise to a young man who acts like a teenage boy in his hormonal stages. During the time she was trying to apologise to him, he just kept quiet, and when he had enough, he opened the door to say (more like shout) a simple 'shut up, you are so annoying' before slamming the door in Claire's face. His action obviously infuriated her (as well as humiliate, since his roommate was also there) as she threw curses at him and left the inn with a terrible mood.

"Well, excuuuuuse me! Mr Expert-Farmer! I'm sure you realise that I only arrived here two weeks ago and I still have not adjusted to this life. Not to mention that I have never lived or work on a farm before! Being relatively new here, I think you should cut me some slack here!" Claire shot back, as she stood up and putting her hands on her hips.

"On the other hand, what do you think you're doing, wondering into other people's properties?! Talk about rude and uncultured!" she added, hoping for the rusty haired male to leave her land.

"I know you're new. That's exactly why you shouldn't be lying around and slacking off. You're not setting a very good image of yourself, are you now? Especially for a newbie." Gray sighed. "As for rude and uncultured, I only came here to drop off the tools that you wanted upgraded. Of course, they are upgraded. So, I do believe you're the one being rude here, since I'm practically doing you a favour."

Claire expression remained the same, annoyed and beaten, as the male dropped off the sack, containing newly upgraded tools, in front of her. Of course, Claire said a small thanks. I mean, she has manners. She was taught proper etiquette by her family as a child, so it's only natural to offer thanks when you receive something for someone. Even if that person was being a rude shit.
Upon dropping off the sack, the young lad gave the latter a cold glare, before turning and heading off elsewhere.
As soon as he was out of hearing range, Claire started to badmouth Gray once again.

The same young lad had just exited the farm when he let out a long, low sigh of annoyance. Stuffing his hands in his pockets, he gave a pissed off look from under his cap.

"How dare she be so cocky and rude?! And she only just got here? What a nerve that chick has!" giving a huff, he stormed back to the blacksmith, where he grabbed his belongings and headed towards the library. At the library, Gray would free himself of stress (although temporarily) in the world of books. It was the only place in the world that allowed him to do that. Other than smashing rocks in the mines, that is. The library wasn't nearly as effective as the mines, but it was definitely a lot less violent.

"Oh, Gray! Good afternoon." A petite young lady, about the age of 19, maybe 20 or 21, greeted Gray as he entered the library. Her voice was soft and quiet, like a mouse squeaking.

"…Afternoon…" Gray replied just as quietly as Mary spoke, not to disturb the level of peace that was in the library. He set down his belongings down on a table, and walked over to one of the bookshelves and grabbed a book about gems and other precious stones you could find in this town.

"How is your day so far?" Mary enquired softly.

"I've had better days," Gray answered, his eyes not leaving the book. "That new girl, whatever her name is, gets on my nerves. I can't stand her."

Mary gave a small giggle that made Gray's heart flutter a little.

"Isn't that what you always say to new people you meet? Or just to people in general?" she smiled sweetly, meaning no harm behind her words.

"Well yeah, but I swear to goddess! This girl, she's so… ARROGANT! She thinks she knows everything and lazes around! Ugh, she frustrates me so much!" he continued to whine, like a teenager blaming something on someone else.
All Mary could do was laugh lightly.

"I think," Mary began, cutting Gray off in midst of his whines. "I think that Claire is wonderful."

"…you're kidding me, right…?" Gray's jaw dropped.

How could that Mary think of that 'farmer' as a wonderful person when she is clearly the polar opposite? She couldn't have-! No, that wench must have brainwashed this poor innocent girl, he thought.

"Mary…" Gray spoke slowly with a dark tone.

"Yes?" Mary chirped, not noticing the change in Gray's tone.

"Were you… Brainwashed by that farmer chick? Or was that your honest thoughts…?"

Mary giggled.

"Of course it's my honest thoughts! She's so hard working! You know, she's working hard to restore that farm, I can't help but look up to her and admire her!"

Gray stood there in shock to what he just heard come out of this librarian's mouth.

She… Looks up to her…? What.

"…how. How is she hard working?" Gray asked questioningly as he continued to stare dumbfounded at the petite librarian. "She's nowhere near hard working! She lazes around and takes naps all the time. I mean, she was napping today, I saw! I bet she was pulling a front when you were there!"

Gray also felt it was necessary to curse and call Claire a 'bitch'.

"Ahh, so she took a nap, huh? She deserves it, I reckon." Mary smiled.

"W-why is that?" Gray replied, trying not to be rude.

"Well, you know this town and its residents. We like to see how we are doing by walking around and peering in other's properties. That sounds really creepy, I know, but that's how we do. Pretty much every single one of us, with the exception of you, Kai, Cliff and Doctor Trent, has seen her working all day, nonstop for the past two weeks. Of course she must be worn out."

All Gray could do was to stare at Mary with a stupid face, refusing to believe what he just heard.

"Plus, I heard that she gets up as early as 5am, starts working at 6am and finishes around 9pm. Something like that." Mary added, trying her best to prove to Gray that Claire was hard working.

"And how do you know this?" Gray was rather curious as to how Mary knew this information. Could she be making it all up? Or is it all real, as she says it is? Gray could never tell.

Mary gave a light laugh, bringing Gray from out of his thoughts.

"Silly Gray. My mother and her friends are the three gossiping musketeers of this small town. Of course I would know this. How could you forget such a fact? Especially since you've been living here for a few years now and…" Mary looked down at the counter, her cheeks steadily going from pink to red. "Well, we've been, um, dating for a while too…"

That's right, the lad thought. We've been together for a few months now, although we haven't done anything intimate.

Not that anyone would expect them to. They weren't like Kai and Popuri, who would just start kissing and making out whenever they saw each other. Much to the dislike of Rick, Popuri's older brother. Rick always manages to catch them kissing or at least hear about what they did together, which infuriated him.

Every.

Time.

In fact, just hearing Kai's name sends him into a sudden blast of fury.

Mary and Gray, well, Mary wasn't really into the kissing scheme of relationships. Actually, it was more like she wasn't ready, as she always blushed at the thought of that ever occurring. Of course, Gray respected that and told her that he'd wait until she was ready.

"Right, how could I have forgotten?" Gray chuckled. "Although, I still think that she's a good for nothing, lousy wench."

"Whatever you say, Gray."

Once Gray made up his mind, it was hard changing it, unless something were to happen which completely changes his view of the farmer. Not like that was ever going to happen.
Mary sighed and returned to her book. Gray did the same, leaving the library in total silence.