Part 1: Low key stalking

Howl would often work on his brothers farm. He loved the peace and quiet… just him and his thoughts out there in the open green fields. The fields stretched as far as the eye could see, with about 2 dozen little cottages dotted around. Howl had never left the county side. His entire family lived in the country, and there were no shortage of jobs for him, such as plowing the land, planting crops and looking after cattle. Yet, Howl was curious. He yearned for discovering the unknown and acquiring knowledge. He often dreamt of moving to the city… to explore the unknown. But now, when he had saved enough money to move to the city, for some reason he couldn't. There was something keeping him here. A force. A girl. A beautiful stranger.

He would often watch her… think of her… dream of her… yet he knew nothing about her. This mystery woman was driving him insane. She was both the disease and the cure. He knew that to cure his insanity and curiosity, he would have to meet her. There were too many times that they had made eye contact for him to not want to meet her… to know her… to love her. Howl would always remember the first time he saw her. It was only a few days ago. Early September.

He had just finished planting 2 acres of apple seeds, and was thinking how they would soon blossom into large trees in a few years. He had planted these seeds on top of a large hill, which got little shade. He walked for about 20 minutes back down to his brother's shack when he noticed a car pulling up to the cottage opposite to his abode. All he knew was that a strict middle-aged gaunt grey-haired tall woman lived there, alone. It was thought by many that she had no family, and moved to the country only a few years ago to escape her past... what ever it may be. The car which pulled up did not belong here. It was long and black...and there were no scratches and everyone on the surrounding farms could tell it was polished daily.

Out of this clearly strange, out of placed vehicle, came this girl… who instantly fell into my heart. I had reached my shack when she gracefully stepped out of the car. The car driver put her luggage by her feet then drove back off in the opposite direction, without saying anything to her. What first took Howl's breath away was her silver hair. It shown in the late afternoon sun like starlight. It was glistening and he was taken away. He followed her hair down to her waist and examined her petite yet perfect figure. He noticed her reaching for her bags but before he could go offer his help the elderly women stepped out of the cottage. Howl's eyes were transfixed on her face, which he had not yet seen the front of. It was as if she knew he wanted to see her pretty face, and so, tormenting him, decided not to show him. His eyes were still examining the back of her head, when she turned around to face the hill he had just planted apple seeds on. She was the most beautiful person he had ever seen…would ever see. Her dark brown eyes traced the hill, then his brother's shack, then him. Howls pale blue dreamy eyes looked directly into her's, despite being many meters apart. He felt as if he was reaching into her soul, and felt her honesty, her love, her integrity, her beauty pour into him. His eyes focused on hers what seemed like forever. She finally looked down at her luggage when the gaunt woman went to pick it up. Howl's mind was tracing her lips with his mind. How dark and lush they seemed... like red winter rose. Her eyes were large and dark brown like burnt caramel, and her eyes lashes were dark and thick. Her silver hair framed her perfect face. As she walked inside the woman's cottage, he knew he had to meet her.

A few days had passed since the mystery woman who he felt he already knew had arrived. Thankfully, her bedroom window was opposite his. When he was working the earth, he would look up, only to find her staring at him, then she would either quickly look down onto what she was working on, or pretend to look out onto the county side. After she looked away, the cormorants of his mouth would move up. He couldn't help it. This small smile tuned into a gorgeous grin. If only Sophie could observe his award winning smile upclose, instead of meters away. Howl would continue to stare at her as he smiled. He felt his smile was contagious, beside every time she looked up, she couldn't wipe the s,Ike of her face either. Howl could stare at her perfect smile all day, despite not really beinging able to see it from where he was. But he knew that she had dimples either side of her check when she smiled, because they were caught in the sunlight. 'What is in that beautiful mind?' Howl would constantly ask himself whilst staring at her through her bedroom window and across the field. 'I...I feel like I know you...' he would often whisper to her from across the meadow, hoping that she might just hear him. He would go talk to her, but he was far too nervous to approach such a beautiful woman. 'She must of gotten too many marriage proposals, and I would just be another guy who feels like he is destined to be with her. She would never fall for me...' Howl would continue to think as he watched her delicate dainty hands continue to draw something on the old bit of parchment laying on a table, which was positioned out looking the window. 'What is that wonderful girl drawing? And is her name as beautiful as she?' He thought to himself; as he was meant to be feeding the animals. This back and forth staring had been happening for 3 days now. If only he knew that all she thought about was meeting him... seeing him up close instead of meters away.

Sophie sat on the desk out looking the fields. The entire scene looked gorgeous. The grassy never ending hills dotted with little cottages; with some parts of the view appearing darker than others due to the shadows the clouds made. She could stare at the view all day, as it was so different, so quiet, so calm and reassuring compared to the stressfulness of the city. But she would rather stare at the handsome stranger who worked tirelessly outside her window. He was so close, yet so far away. She wanted to meet him, but she was to nervous. She didn't know how to introduce herself or start a conversation with him... it would seem abrupt, or like she was desperate.

There were many young eligible bachelors in the city where she spent most of her time in boarding school… but they were all the same. Boring. They had their entire life mapped out and all planned to become similar things… doctors, lawyers, business men…..the ruler of something, someone or somewhere.

So, this boy that she has been casually staring at for the past few days intrigued her… he seemed to be not like the others. She wanted to approach him many times but she was far too nervous. The one thing she liked about the city boys were that she never had to approach them. They always, always approached her; and flattered her with compliments. 'Oh Sophie! Have I ever told you how beautiful you look today in that dress. Absolutely beautiful in that dress. And your hair…ah…(touching her hair, however Sophie pulls away) softer than silk. You know (looking back down at the material covering her chest) I've always wanted to start my own company…' But then of course they would only talk about themselves.

She watched him plow the field outside her aunt's cottage. She didn't want to make it look like she was stalking him, but she couldn't help it. He was so handsome and dreamy... her night in shining armour ready to whisk her away from the city and kept her here in the county, with him. As she had watched him for these past few days, she had been drawing him; so that when she went back to the city, she could always remember this beautiful stranger. She knew that despite how nervous she was, that she had to meet him. If she didn't, she would spend the rest of her days thinking about him, and what could of happened if only she went up to him and said 'hello...'

Sophie sat on her desk by the window and continued to look out, at him. Not only to draw him, but just to stare. 'I bet all the girls in the whole country have already fallen in love with him' she sighed. 'Do I even stand a chance which such a beautiful man?!' She said sadly, looking back down at her drawing. Talking to her life like drawing of him, she said 'I know I don't know you yet, mystery man, but I will soon... I promise'. He was wearing a dark green flannel, which was tight on him; displaying his tall muscular figure. His light hole riddled pants were rolled up just above his ankles, followed by beige cargo boots; which were covered in mud and dirt. She wondered why he didn't wear a hat despite being out in the sun's beating rays. His dark blue, almost black hair was what caught her. Is finished just under his chin and perfectly cupped his perfect face. He had the biggest brightest blue eyes she had ever seen. They were like looking into large crystals. He also had a strong yet soft jaw line and a small pastel pair of lips. She could stare at him all day. But instead, she drew him. Drawing him in charcoal was all she had... she wished that she had some colours, so as to remember him as best as possible. Remember him and his ark blue hair and light eyes and his colourful soul.

It had been 4 days now since the mystery girl arrived in the county side. And finally, being the county, truth about her and why she came here had finally circulated throughout the county side and into Howl's ears.

'Sophie...' Howl said, staring into his brother's eyes. 'Sophie... what a beautiful name for such a beautiful girl' he said, now staring into his own lap. 'Did I just say that out loud?!' Exclaimed a frightened Howl. 'Why, yes you did brother... don't worry... I won't tell any one about your little crush on the new girl' the brother laughed jokingly at Howl. 'It's not a 'little crush'' said Howl defensively. 'Ok ok calm down... I meant a big crush' laughed the brother louder this time. 'Calm down Howl...' said the brother, seeing Howl's concerned and disapproving look 'I'll stop talking about her-' 'I didn't say that! Tell me more about her. Tell me everything you know about her. Everything you have heard' interrupted Howl with curiosity and eagerness in his eyes. 'Well, its a long story...' said the brother, and began.

'As you probably know, being the creepy stalker that you are dear brother, Sophie arrived here 4 days ago. Now, as you know, I was out of town that day. Meaning that other people in the country have talked to her aunt, then this information has only been passed onto me today. Because, you know, everybody in this little community knows everything about everyone, and what everyone is doing most of the time...'

'WAIT WHAT!' Shouted Howl, interrupting his brother's train of thought and his story, as he was too distracted about daydreaming of meeting Sophie to realise what his brother was talking about to interrupt before hand.

'That crazy strict old woman cannot be her aunt... they CANNOT be related!' Howl continued saying loudly, but not shouting. He was clearly enraged at the idea.

'Sophie, such a sweet, beautiful, truely amazing girl like Sophie, cannot be related to such a horrible woman. I..I thought that they were just family friends or they had never met before.' Howl stated, looking for agreement in his brother's eyes.

'Calm down Howl, I'm sure Sophie is nothing like her aunt. In fact, I know that they have never even met before until a few days ago.' Said the brother, looking deep into Howls eyes, trying to make him more at ease. It was clear that Howl was incredibly protective of Sophie. Not knowing her was only a minor detail to Howl at this point, and when his brother commented that Howl didn't even know Sophie, Howl realised how focused and protective of her he really was.

Howl nodded, giving the brother the signal to continue his story.

'Well, I know that Sophie is the only daughter of a famous business man in the city. Apparently she went to boarding school for the past couple years. But now, you see, she has just graduated boarding school and her father doesn't know what to do with her. Rumour has it, that her father put her in boarding school because he's working all the time, and thought it would be best if she continued to stay away from him, because she might be a 'distraction' to his work. She had no other family in the city, so her father sent her here, to live with his dead wife's sister, and to get a little fresh air. But I don't know how long she'll be staying here, in the country for. So promise me you won't go falling helplessly in love with this Sophie girl, only for her to move back to the city in a couple months.'

'Thanks big bro' Howl said, looking up at him. 'But I can't make any promises.'

'Haha, ok Howl, try to get some sleep' the brother said jokingly, ruffling up Howls hair, then walking off to his room.

Howl looked out of the kitchen window, across the meadow, and into the little cottage which was adorned with glass windows. As Howl looked across to see Sophie's small figure dancing in the living room to some uptempo music, her silver hair out and catching the moon. Her beauty in the moonlight over threw him. Staring at this dancing girl he said quietly, to himself, hoping that she may just hear, 'forgive me Sophie, but I can't help falling in love with you...'

-Authors note-

Hello fan fiction community! I hope that you liked this chapter which shows how Howl and Sophie first kind of 'met' eachother. Please líder me know if you enjoyed it, if you didn't, any ideas for future chapters etc. I can't promise when the next chapter will be out, and it will depend on how much you guys like this one.

See you soon!

Note: inspired by 'Howl's moving castle' (book and movie), and the songs 'Hallelujah' and 'can't help falling in love' by Elvis.

By Yet Another Hopeless Romantic