"Okay, Altea, it's time I stopped beating around the bush," Abigail stated, hands on her hips, "which one is it?"
Altea had no clue what her friend was talking about.
"Um. . .What?"
"Sam or Sebastian? Which one is it you have your eyes on?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Don't play dumb with me, I know you like one of them, I just want to know which one. I mean, it's obvious you're in love, it's always written all over your face."
Oh. So that was what she meant.
"Is it really that obvious?" Altea found herself asking.
"Yes!" Abigail exclaimed, throwing her arms in the air.
"Oh. . ." Altea muttered thinking back on earlier in the morning when she had run into the object of her affections. He had seemed to be acting a bit strange. Maybe he had noticed it too? Just how much she liked him.
Just the thought that he knew and felt the same way about her made the redhead grin from ear to ear.
"I hope he does." Altea admitted with a dreamy sigh.
"What? Who? Is is Seb?" Abigail questioned.
"I really hope he notices me. . ."
"Who? Sam? Sebastian? Give me some feedback here!" Abigail growled, frustration littering her voice.
Altea opened her mouth to reply. When the man in question walked through the door of the Stardrop Saloon.
"Shane! There you are!" The redhead cried, throwing her arms around him without thinking. Shane cried out in surprise, arms flailing in an attempt to keep his balance.
"Altea! Geeze! Be careful!" He shouted, somehow managing to keep himself on his feet. Altea giggled, pulling away with a sheepish but unapologetic smile on her face.
"Sorry. I'm just happy to see you," she admitted, "oh! Happy Birthday, too!" she added, pulling her backpack in front of her. Digging through the bag, she managed to find his present quickly enough.
"Here, I even wrapped it especially for you." She told him, handing the package to him.
Shane blinked, obviously surprised to be getting a gift for his birthday. Considering Altea had given him one last year too, he shouldn't have been. But, all the same to her, she just wanted to see him happy.
When he opened the present his eyes lit up, signaling she had done something pretty great.
"Pepper Poppers! And in a lunch box with. . .are those homemade pizza rolls?"
"Yep!"
Shane grinned and, to Altea's utter delight, pulled her in for a deep kiss. There was no tongue- sadly -but it was still a pretty passionate one all the same.
And then Abigail shrieked in the background and the spell was broken.
Shane pulled away just as fast as he had pulled Altea in, glaring at the blue-haired young woman.
Abigail shut up quick enough and Shane even pulled Altea out the door.
The redheaded farmer really, really hoped he wanted to do what she thought he did.