Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon.

It wasn't fair. I knew you first, and you still chose her. So I'll sit here and smile, pretending everything's alright. Because she's my friend, and because you were my first love.

Third Wheel

Ann

I knew there was something about that boy who had been staying at our inn for the past couple months. He was quiet and didn't talk much… He ate his meals silently, paid silently, and went back to his room silently. I asked my father about him, but he only said that so long as he paid and didn't cause much trouble, he was fine.

"But don't you think he should… I don't know, be a little more social?"

"Ann, if somebody doesn't like talking to people, you can't force them. Look at Gray. Do you see him waltzing around town greeting every person or flower he passes? No. You don't. Leave him alone."

So I did. For a while at least. But I couldn't help but think how lonely he looked, how sad he looked. I knew he needed to a friend, so that's what I decided to be. His first friend.

"Hi, Cliff. How was your day?" I asked one evening while serving him his dinner. He murmured something under his breath. "Uh, I'm sorry?" He looked up at me, his eyes wide and his cheeks bright red.

"Sorry--!" He muttered, digging into his food. I walked away wondering what on earth he could possibly be apologizing for.

I gave him a little space and after a few days I tried talking to him again. This time I visited him in his room.

"Hi, Cliff." Once again his head shot up and his eyes were wide like he'd been caught doing something bad.

"Oh… h-hi, Ann." It was nice to know that he knew my name, but I suppose it would've been hard for him not to know considering I gave him his dinner every night and cleaned up his room almost every day.

"So, um… I was wondering…" I stopped to scratch my cheek, it felt strangely warm. "What made you come to Mineral Town in the first place?" He made a soft noise with his mouth and his eyes visibly saddened.

"I'd actually rather not talk about that…" He stated slowly and quietly. My face flared up easily.

"Oh…! I'm sorry. So sorry! I mean… I didn't mean to, you know, pry…! I really--just, I'm sorry! Um, I'm gonna go… tidy up the other room now, so I guess I'll… uh, see you around!" I hurried out the door but just before my hand touched the handle Cliff called out to me.

"Hey, Ann?' I turned back cautiously and was shocked to see a tiny ghost of a smile on his face. My heart could have melted. "Thanks."

I smiled back, and his cheeks reddened. "Of course, Cliff."

I was a little happy with how that went and I tried talking to him again a few days later, but he ducked his head, still talking with his mouth seemingly closed and hurried on his way. Did he not like me? I thought I was being pretty nice…

Then I started to notice him leaving sometime in the mornings. He would eat a quick breakfast, pay, and leave. I wondered where he went during the day, but seeing how I worked all day, there was no way I could find out unless he told me himself… and since I knew there was no chance of him doing that it only fueled my curiosity.

"Ann, I need you to take this order to Carter at the church." My dad said one afternoon.

"Okay," I took the package and headed out the door, "I'll be back in a little while."

It was nice to get out every now and again. It was a simple autumn day, the crisp breeze was a little chilly, but the sun was still warm enough to compensate.

"Mister Carter?" The church was peacefully silent, as always. "Mister Carter, I have your lunch."

"Oh, thank you, Ann." I walked toward his pedestal, a cheerful smile on my face. I absently wondered if I would have enough time to look for Cliff before my father needed me again. "It smells good." Carter gave me that smile of his and as I was about to walk away he touched my arm.

I turned to look at him, "Mister Carter?" I asked quietly.

"Ann, could I ask a favor of you?" I nodded slowly. This was unusual behavior for the pastor after all, "Do you see that boy sitting in that pew over there?" He discreetly pointed over at someone I recognized.

It was Cliff!

I nodded seriously, though inside I couldn't have been more excited. So this was where he had been sneaking off to during the day! I wonder why.

"His name is Cliff and he's very shy." That was an understatement, "I was wondering if you could do me a favor by being his friend."

Gosh, was that all?

"Sure, Mister Carter." I smiled and walked over to the boy. He didn't seem to really notice me, his gaze on the floor in front of him.

"Hello, Cliff." He jumped, startled by the sound of my voice apparently.

"Ah! Y-Yes?" He looked up and me and couldn't help but realize how cute he was.

"So this is where you go during the day, huh?" Cliff's cheeks flared up and again and Carter appeared beside us.

"You know, Ann. I just thought of something." he said in his quietly pleasant voice and I looked at him, curious.

"What is that, Mister Carter?" Cliff also seemed somewhat interested in hearing what Carter had to say.

"Why don't you take Cliff around town and introduce him to people?" I nodded happily but quickly noticed the look of discomfort and nausea wash over Cliff's features.

"That sounds great, but not today. I have to get back and hurry to help my dad back at the inn, you know…" Carter nodded understandingly and I bid them both goodbye. Cliff looks really relieved.

Hmm… That must have been around when Claire moved in… I know that because that was around the time I stopped seeing Cliff as often. Of course it didn't help that it was almost summer and Kai would be coming for the summer and while he was a nice guy and all, he tended to be a handful. I didn't think it was such a big deal until Claire started coming to the Inn every night for dinner and she just conveniently sat near Cliff. That's all it was. Just near him. Maybe not at the same table, but she was always one table over.

After a few weeks of this she started coming during the days too. I told her that you weren't here during the day and she just smiled and said that's alright. She was here for the food anyhow. At first I wasn't really sure if I wanted to be friends with her in the first place, but I soon learned that she was a pretty affable person.

She asked me what it was like to work at the bar at night and asked if there were ever any bar fights. I told her all about it and she told me all about what it was like being a farmer. She told me it was even harder since she was all new to it. I encouraged her and she wished me luck at the inn. I decided she was decent.

So, it became a normal routine when she came by for dinner or lunch. She would say hi, we would chat for a bit and that was that. It wasn't long until I considered her a good friend. But… I didn't even notice how close the two of you were getting. Fall was just around the corner and Claire came in looking more than just a little upset one day. She asked if we could use any more help here at the inn. I told her that me and dad pretty much had it all covered. I asked her why and she said that you were running out of money and were thinking about leaving town.

I remembered feeling shaken. You leaving? How could that be? I didn't know what to think… I think the hardest part for me to grasp was just the fact that I hardly knew you. It made me a little uncomfortable to feel so attached to you when we barely spoke to each other on a regular basis… but I didn't know how else to feel.

Maybe I felt guilty that I hadn't exactly spent the time with you that I had promised myself I would. I felt depressed, but when I looked at you… you didn't seem to be very worried at all.

Were you happy to be leaving?

Were you happy that you wouldn't be around here anymore?

That you wouldn't be around me?

That made my heart hurt a lot more than I liked it to… About a week passed and I was secretly waiting for the day you would come to the counter and tell my father you were checking out for good. I didn't like not knowing when your last day here would be. I tried to make everyday special for you… I made your dinner more tasty, gave you more of your favorite foods, bigger helpings. I washed your things faster, made your room absolutely spotless and always made sure your bed was made and clean. I smiled at you, tried talking to you, and while you were more open you were still shutting me out.

Then Claire would come in and she'd sit at your table, the both of you completely comfortable with one another. She talked to me and joked around like nothing was wrong. She ordered and smiled and acted like this was something that was completely normal. Maybe to her it was.

Where was I?

How did I not notice any of this happening?

You two were… so close… I felt cold.

The next day I decided to confront you about it at the church, but you weren't there. My heart stopped. Did you leave without saying goodbye? How could you? I think I deserve even a simple little farewell, at least.

"Ann, do you need something?" Carter asked, totally oblivious to my inner turmoil

"C-Cliff… Where is Cliff?" I asked slowly, focusing more on trying not to cry. He tilted his head and looked confused.

"Cliff? Why, he's working. Didn't you know?"

Working? You found a job?

I was ecstatic to hear you would be staying. Having a job meant you had something to stay for.

"Yes, yes. Claire found it for him." Carter said with a happy smile on his face, my heart stopped again, "She's a good girl, don't you think?" Carter… you…?

Wasn't I the one who was supposed to help Cliff?

"Yeah, she's really nice."

How did that go wrong?

"I agree. They seem close don't you think?"

Stop it! I can't--!

"I have to go."

I don't remember how fast I ran away from the church after I got outside its doors. I remember the tears blurring my vision and I remember tripping in the square and Manna calling out to see if I was alright. I ignored her and kept running. I ran until I hit the woods, choking back the tears and praying nobody saw me like this. I was going to go to the Harvest Goddess Spring, but when I saw Karen there, not wanting to explain my current condition, I headed farther up the mountain instead.

It was getting dark, the sun was starting to set. I still kept going, higher up the mountain, until I reached the top. The tears flowed freely, and then I saw it. You two were together on the mountain. You looked like you were talking and I watched silently as you gave her that necklace. She looked so happy…

And then you kissed her.

My heart broke. In a numb haze I walked back down the mountain and continued walking. I knew my father was probably worried sick about me, but… I couldn't help but feel… oddly detached. I ended up at the beach. I sat on the sand and I stared out at the ocean for what seemed like hours. I guess at the time I didn't really know what to feel.

All those little signs… you talking to each other, smiling with each other, laughing with each other… this pretty much made it official, huh?

You never did any of those things with me…

Did you?

I wanted… to be jealous and spiteful… I wanted to hurt you two, I wanted to damage your happiness…

But I couldn't.

After all, it's not like Claire knew… I never told her about my little crush on you… so how could I expect her to not go after you?

You were a great guy…

You still are.

I don't know what time it was, but eventually Harris found me and brought me home. My father said he had been worried sick about me… that he closed shop early because he didn't know where I was. I crawled into bed, emotionally exhausted and slept hard.

The next morning, I still felt off and began my chores on autopilot. You caught me on your way to work. You seemed so concerned.

"Ann, are you alright? What happened yesterday?" You talked to me.

You talked to me.

You talked… to me.

I didn't have to go up to and start a conversation because you came to me… This showed just how far out of your shell Claire brought you…

I smile and told you not to worry about it. You gave me a look and hurried on to work. I knew I still cared about you… and I had a feeling it would take me a while to get over this… but at least I knew you cared for me… even if it was only a little.

I kept living my life. I watched the two of you come into the inn every night for dinner together. You two looked happy together, and I really appreciated how you weren't the kind of couple to rub your relationship in everyone's noses. You seemed to keep it secret, and that made things easier…

Until a few weeks later Claire came bounding into the inn one day. She rushed up to me and threw her arms around me in a big hug. I wondered what could have made her so happy… then she told me.

You had proposed.

Claire showed me the blue feather and I cried. Claire didn't understand why I was crying.

I told her I was so happy. She believed me and cried too. It all happened so fast. It wasn't long before I was watching the two of you kiss for the second time. You both walked so happily down the aisle. Manna and Duke looked so proud, Manna was crying. Claire looked at me, her eyes watery and she smiled so brightly.

I smiled back. Because what else could I have done? Scowled and glared?

No. Absolutely not. Because she was my friend.

And you were my first love.

Author's Note: So, this is going to be a series of… well, one-shots, basically. When you marry the guy of your Harvest Moon dreams, do you ever wonder how the girl he was supposed to marry felt? Not everyone has a happy ending.

Did you notice how I switched from her narrating to talking to Cliff? That was a little bit of an accident and I was too lazy to go back and switch it around so it all matches. Was it okay?

Thank you very much for reading.