Like any other day, my job consisted of me pacing back and forth for at nine to five. My father, the mayor, is nowhere to be seen. You'd think that we would have at least one customer a day, or someone to check out a book. But the last time I saw someone walk through the door besides myself, Elli (my coworker), or my oafish father was last Monday. When the general store closes that day, the owner comes only to contact his daughter.

I looked over to Elli; she can hide her boredom so well. She just sits there all day with a smile on her face, waiting for the day that someone would walk in and ask to buy a plot of farmland. Like that would ever happen. I can tell that she doesn't want to be here as much as I do. She told me once that she only wanted this job because Sundae Inn didn't need her and she didn't want to go back to being a nurse at a clinic.

I glanced up at the clock; it had only been ten minutes into my shift. I sighed quietly. More silence hit us. I really could have used some tomato juice, but it was out of season. I looked over to Elli, still staring at the door and smiling with anticipation. How did she stay like that? I scooched over closer to Elli and waved my hand in front of her face. There was no reaction. I snapped in her ear. No reaction.

She was sleeping with her eyes open. WHY COULDN'T I DO THAT? I collapse onto my desk and groan. Today was the first day of spring! "Oh, Goddess!" I moaned, "Just give me something interesting to do!"

"Gill!" My father exclaimed when he burst through the door dramatically, "My genius plan worked!" he said with the biggest smile he had since the day he discovered potato pancakes.

"What plan?" I asked. What genius plan had my father ever thought of? Did he mean that brochure that glorified this small, dinky, oddly named, ghost town of an island?

"A girl! A girl has taken up the job as the new farmer!" Father squealed. A man his age shouldn't squeal like that. Did Father really think that the first person to fall for his brochure would bring this island back to its former glory? I didn't know much about what was going through father's insane mind, but if we were related at all, he probably had an ulterior motive to his happiness, "Isn't it wonderful to have a fresh face in town! She isn't that bad to look at, either."

I was right. He wanted to get me hitched. The island could die for all he cared, as long as his son gave him some grandchildren. "And you are telling me this because?" I asked skeptically.

"She is new to town, no friends, no family. Not even a home to call her own. Maybe you could take her to lunch to welcome her to the island." Father sighed overdramatically, trying to make me pity her.

"Actually, I have a lot of cleaning to do upstairs" I lied, "But how about you have her go around town and introduce herself."

Father frowned at my refusal, "Fine. Be a spoilsport. But you will meet her!" he shouted at me before he left.

I rolled my eyes, if she was daft enough to fall for the brochure, she wouldn't be a person I'd want to meet.

-3 hours later-

I liked it better when Elli was sleeping. Now, all she could talk about was the new girl. "Hamilton even bought the town plot!" She said excitedly, "Do you think she can cook?" she asked rhetorically.

No, I did not think she could cook, however. She was probably one of those idiot girls who sits on her butt all day and files her nails. One of those girls with the bleach blonde hair and the fake tan, an IQ of four and a city accent where she says "like" as filler between words. The idea of her just got my blood boiling. I didn't want to hear about it all day.

"Elli. I'm going for a walk. Do you mind?" I asked in an annoyed tone.

"N-not at all. Just be back before closing!" She said weakly after realizing how much of a bother to me she was.

I wasn't going anywhere far; I was just going to the courtyard. I wasn't going to risk going to town with city girl running around introducing herself. I grabbed my books and diary so I could read and write in the tranquility of the silent town square. I left the town hall quite hastily with my face buried behind my books and made a beeline to the closest bench in the shade. It made sense that I would run into someone quite quickly.

My books spilled out of my hands and onto the ground. Most were getting dirty and the rest were going to be soon. There was one thing that you do not do to me, and that was damaging my books. "Watch where you're going!" I shouted in book-influenced fury. I didn't care at the moment that I knocked the person down. I didn't even care that it was a girl that I had never seen before. All courteous qualities that I possessed before had left when my books were injured

Before she stood up, she picked up every single book and tried her best to spiff them up. All of the books were still covered in scratches. She was actually quite petite and small, like a little pixie. She had short, brown hair and wore a short-sleeved green shirt. Or was it a dress? It was pretty long, I couldn't tell. "I'm sorry for messing up your books." She apologized handing the books back to me, "I'm Akari, and I'm new in town." She introduced herself.

"So you're the twit who fell for the brochure? Nice to meet you." I said sarcastically.

"Yes! I am the twit!" She said happily, "What does twit mean?" she asked.

"Look it up in the dictionary, it will have your face as an example." I explained.

"Ohhh." Akari said with understanding, "It must mean girl! So I am a twit!"

I tried so hard not to laugh. It was really hard.

"Are you Hamlin's son?" She asked.

"No, I'm Hamilton's" I corrected. This meant that Father had already got to her about how I am so pleased to meet her and everyone.

"Right! Hamilton...Hamilton… Okay! I got it memorized!" She exclaimed. She was excessively excited about everything. "And your name is Gill!" She stated as she examined me closely, "You aren't as kind, friendly, and gentlemanly as your father described you."

I buried my face in the palm of my hand. I couldn't believe that Father is that desperate. I am not going to just marry anyone, if I would even get married. I don't know anyone my type, and my type isn't that hard to find. Just someone with brain cells, nobody on this island seems to have that. Moreover, I didn't raise a girl's hopes if she doesn't have them. I mean, I am attractive, but it wouldn't work out. Maybe she would have liked Luke. They wouldn't hurt their brains much when talking. 'Akari, I think I'll avoid you' I thought to myself.

-1 season later-

Avoiding Akari was harder than I thought. First of all, whenever I saw a crop, I refused to eat it unless it was from Soufflé Farm. I didn't really like spring crops, but summer meant tomatoes, my favorite crop. Next, she just happened to get a part-time job here. She said it was for extra money towards a barn.

"Mining pays well. Why don't you do that?" I asked her when she first started, trying to shoo her off.

"Oh… I'm kind of scared of the mines." She admitted sheepishly. Akari was a spineless twit.

And if working with her wasn't enough punishment from the Harvest Goddess, she almost kills me every day with her "help", she follows me around like a lost puppy, and she thought we were friends! (Which we weren't)

"Hey Gill?" she called while lying on the desk behind me. I would tell her that it wasn't a table, but it would have been the nth time.

I sighed and turned around," What now, Akari?" She pulled out a cup with tomato juice from her rucksack and gave it to me.

"It's for you!" She confirmed. I looked at her in sincere happiness; it was the best gift I had gotten all year! "Work" (a.k.a. making sure Akari didn't knock over the bookshelves upstairs) had kept me from getting any.

She giggled when she saw the smile on my face, "I had some extra tomatoes, and I just got a mixer. I heard it was your favorite, so you can have it!"

Almost driven to tears of joy I asked, "I-I can really have it?"

She nodded, "As long as you come to the Ocean Festival with me tomorrow! I think I could get all my work done by 7:45, so maybe you can pick me up at..."

"No, thank you" I interrupted.

She snatched the tomato juice from my hands, I practically screamed. "No Ocean Festival, no free, homemade, tomato juice! Besides, you need a break from work every once in a while!" I thought about the tomato juice versus the day with her, I wanted the tomato juice more.

"Fine, I'll go. I'll pick you up at 8:30, if you aren't ready, I'm not going" I responded, snatching the tomato juice from her hands, practically inhaling it.

"Yes! Oh, I've got so much to do! I've got to get a new outfit!" she said excitedly, gathering her things, "I'm leaving early! See you tomorrow, Gill!"She shouted while running out the door. I chewed off more than I could bite, oh well.

"Ooh, Gill's first date! I'm so proud of you!" A familiar figure said gliding downstairs, it was Julius—He is the closest thing I have to a friend in this town. Why him, though? Ask him, I'm still clueless. "But Gill, you can't get the girl wearing that. But not to worry, I'll help you!" He said gracefully pulling out his measuring tape.

"Uh Julius, I don't need your help, it isn't really a date." I said awkwardly as he tried to take my measurements.

"But even if it isn't a date, it is a festival, which gives you an excuse to dress in style for a day!"He persuaded, "Now lift your arms."

"No offense Julius, but he doesn't want to be flashy, just look nice, I'll take over" Luke said coming through the door with Bo.

What is this? Nobody ever came to the town hall, but Gill escorts a girl to a festival and it is posted on the notice board?

"No, he doesn't need any of your help!"Julius yelled grabbing my arm.

"Well I don't need yours!"I shouted at him trying to escape his grasp.

"I'll help him more than you ever could!"Luke shouted as he grabbed my other arm, pulling away from Julius.

"No you can't!"Julius shouted back, pulling my arm in the opposite direction.

"OK YOU CAN BOTH DRESS ME UP! BUT DON'T TEAR OFF MY ARMS!" I screamed. The both let go and smiled.

"Okay, but we'll need more people than two, Julius. I can go get Jin and Toby."

"What would a doctor and a fisher know about this stuff?" I commented knowing that none were listening.

"Do what you must for fashion advice, and date advice, so get Gray too."Julius said to Luke, ignoring me, in a giddy voice.

"But guys, it's not a-" I tried to say.

"Right! I'll get on it, and I'll get Owen, just in case he wants to run off "Luke smirked uncomfortably at me.

"Get Owen quickly to the tailor shop, the victim is starting to squirm."Julius said, tightening my grip.

I needed to work out more, and then I wouldn't be violated like this anymore.

"Wait, it's not a date!"I shouted too late. Luke was already out the door and Julius was already pricking me with needles.

"Right, and a sweatervest is totally in right now "Julius scoffed sarcastically, "Let's go, Gill, we need to get you an outfit"

Right then, I knew that I should've said no. I should've asked Elli for help. However, it was too late for that.