The seed, the soil and the flower
Chapter 1:
White Daisy
A/N: Hey everyone! This story has been going around my head recently, so I hope you enjoy it! It has a lot of drama and angst, but that's because it contains a love triangle… Between people you'd never thought of to be in a fic like this before… Anna and Basil! So sit back, relax and enjoy… The seed, the soil and the flower.
BTW, italicized bits are usually thoughts of people, primarily Jill. So keep that in mind. (:
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The sun rose up from the horizon of cooled land. The previous night's icy winds have gone far away from Mineral Town, as spring started to set.
It was around 6:00 am at that time, the rays of the sun, still stretching out to warm the frosty branches that have awaited its return, painted the black sky with a spectrum of colors.
The stone-paved streets were starting to liquefy, as the ice-encrusted crystals that seeped deep into the pavement started to melt.
Birds arose from their lengthy slumber, itching to just spread their wings within the colorful sky of blue, magenta and gold.
It was truly, Spring time once again.
The beauty of the awakening of Mother Nature wasn't felt in every corner of the town though. The new farmer, Jill, didn't think the first morning of spring was pleasant, or at least… Not yet…
"This is absolutely terrible, Mayor!"
Jill ranted while rubbing her head rigorously with her hands.
"But the ad said…"
"THE AD SAID beautiful pastures, clean barns and a comfy, cabin home! You know what I see?"
"Now just calm down, Jill… There's no need to…"
"I SEE weed-infested fields, run-down barns and a CAVE of a home. How can you expect anyone to work on this dump site? I've wasted so much money on buying this farm, only to discover that…"
"Well you should've thought of looking at the area first, don't you agree?"
"But! But…"
"See? I'm very sorry for saying this to you Jill, but you have NO choice but to run the farm!"
"…"
Jill looked around the area.
It's true that the HUGE field's a mess, filled with weeds, different-sized stones and branches, but it's still pretty decent. And the soil looks absolutely healthy and rich as well. And the barns don't look totally wrecked; they just need some elbow grease and fixer-ups and it could house a hefty number of livestock. The house… Well, it wasn't so bad. No holes on the roof, no insects, no leaks… Ok, so maybe the lot is pretty decent.
"…Fine. Like I have a choice anyway"
Jill took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly.
"Hey, the air's really fresh here too"
"See? One of the many positives about Mineral Town"
"I guess I better get started with the farm work. The problem is, I don't know anyone at all who could help me out, and the phone is all the way…"
"Don't worry, uhm… The library and Inn is still closed, so…"
The mayor thought hard of whom to ask farming tips from.
"Aha! You can go visit Basil!"
"Basil?
Who's Basil?"
"Oh, he's a botanist. He's really fond of
plantation and crops alike, so you better visit him before laying a
finger on the soil"
"…Sounds good. I'll go there right now; do you think he's awake at this time of day?"
"My dear, one more positive thing about this town is that everyone's an early bird!"
The blonde farmer scurried along the frosted road, following the directions the mayor gave her earlier.
"Just go on straight ahead from the farm and you'll find it"
She repeated to herself as she ran.
"I hope this guy isn't weird, I've met enough people who are… Like that Rick guy. I can't believe one human being can like chickens that much… It's freaky"
After a few more minutes, Jill finally arrived at her destination.
"Nice house. Two floors… Exterior made of fine bricks… And a library?! This guy must be loaded!"
As Jill stared at the door, she remembered something the mayor told her a day ago when she entered the town.
"It is best to find a special someone you'll have your eyes set upon, soon. With each and every available bachelor here in this town, there is a corresponding rival to his affection. It's up to you to know who is for whom, but it is also up to you whether to live a life of being single, or being happily married and established"
"So basically the mayor wants me to get a boyfriend. Hmm, reminds me of my dad. I hope this Basil guy is pretty decent… being rich AND smart gives him a big advantage above the rest!"
Knock Knock Knock
"Excuse me? I hope I'm not disturbing you, it's the new farmer from the city and I was just wondering if…"
Suddenly, the door opened.
"Oh, Good morning. Do, come in"
A tall, slightly-muscular, handsome and upright man answered the door for her.
Jill gazed at his face, and then slowly shifted her eyes towards his slender-yet manly figure.
"This couldn't possibly be the guy who owns the house with a LIBRARY in the right!"
He was wearing a dark-green sweater with brown pants; he had almond-brown hair, fixed in a neat way and soft, chocolate-brown eyes and a smile that beamed "Hey there, I'm Basil"
"Y-y-you… M-m-must b-be…"
Jill said, stuttering as her heart beat in a fast, uneven pace. Her blood, rushed to fill her cheeks from being frosty-pale, to warm and hearty red.
"Goodness, it must've been cold out there… When it gets too chilly, your jaw tends to be quite shaky, hahaha"
The brown-haired man suddenly felt her forehead and tilted his head.
"Hmm, you're pretty warm… No, hot! You must have caught fever with the cold… Is the city usually warm at this time of year and you haven't gotten used to the climate yet?"
Gulp! "I can't believe his hand is on my forehead! It's making me blush even more! I've got to control myself… You're just here for the farming tips, Jill… Farming tips!"
"I-I… I'm the new farmer and I'd like to ask you for s-some… Err, farming tips"
The blonde farmer nodded in confirmation, bowed to basil, and forced a "Hi, nice to meet you" smile; but all that came out of her face was a look of constipation.
Basil didn't quite care though, and he thought of how respectful and kind this girl is. He hasn't met anyone who's been like that recently. Actually, he hasn't met anyone new at all for the past… 10 years or so?
"Oh right! The mayor has informed me of your arrival, Ms…?"
"Oh r-right! Please forgive me for not mentioning my name right away, which was pretty rude… Uhm, I'm Jill. Nice to meet you Mr. Basil"
Jill lifted her hand and shook the botanist's in pleasant confirmation of friendship.
"Oh please, call me Basil. So, let's get to the crops. I've got loads of seeds stocked up that I've been wanting to plant for the longest time. Would you mind if I accompany you to your farm? Maybe I can…"
"…Show me how to plant crops and pull weeds?"
"Uhm, yeah… Sure. I figured it would be more educational, practical and at the same time, more entertaining as well"
"I would never. Please, by all means! My farm, is your farm"
"That is quite generous of you. Thank you, Jill. Well, I'll just get my coat and seeds from upstairs and I'll be right out."
"Alright"
Before going up though, Basil looked at Jill from head to toe, and realized that she didn't have a coat, scarf or even a jacket to wear.
"Don't mind me asking, Jill… But, it seems like you have no weather protection garments… Would you like to borrow a coat and scarf?"
"Oh, please don't go through the trouble…"
"Oh think nothing of it! I'm sure they won't mind…"
"…They? Did I just hear the word, they? Or 'kay? Better not ask… It would be rude"
"Well, thank you very much Basil… I appreciate it very much"
"You're very appreciative for your age; I don't see a lot of young people as polite as you"
"Th-thank you…?"
"I would expect him to think himself as one of the young ones too… right? Unless he's already 30+… Oh, I can't tell!"
Jill and Basil left the house; the sun was already high in the sky, beaming with rays of beautiful sunshine. The birds were singing, the grass started to sprout and the chilly winds started to turn into warm, breezes.
"What beautiful weather. I've always loved the start of spring, even if it is a bit chilly"
Basil said, inhaling a deep, breath of fresh, spring air.
"Yeah, spring is my favorite season. It beats winter, that's for sure"
"That, it does"
Basil looked around the awakening households, each with its own corresponding mailbox full of greeting cards and letters, until his eyes shifted on the blonde farmer that radiated a spark of gaining a friend.
A friend; Something Basil has sought over for years.
The doctor had his share of interest with herbs and plant life, but then he always ended up talking about his patients and medicine and he rarely has time to drink at the bar or explore around the mountains. Gotz was pretty interesting, he loved sharing stories about the different kinds of rare flora he sees, but they're mostly false. Gotz usually tries to entertain him rather than inform him. Basil was the type of person whom settled for waiting for the right person to come along, and by meeting Jill this morning, he felt that waiting for all these years has finally paid off. Maybe by meeting a farmer, whose livelihood solely depended on plantation and crops, would actually be interested in knowing what he has discovered during a lengthy hike, or would actually visit the library to read his books.
He gazed on her, so cheery and young. Full of promise; hands that look like their ready to bring life back to that farm… An eager smile that set his heart to flutter with excitement, blonde, flowing hair that reminded him of petals from a carnation flower… A slender, voluptuous body that look like the curves of a crystal-vase… Blue, gentle eyes that seemed to twinkle as they look at you…
"Basil, is there something… Wrong with my face?" Jill said, as she pondered on why he kept staring at her for so long; and at the same time, flushing in a bright shade of pink as she did.
"Why is he looking at me that way? Haven't these people ever seen a city girl before? I'm sure I changed into the right country clothes before stepping out…Oh god, he's so cute"
"Uhm, sorry… I guess it's just that… I haven't seen anyone new here since, well… That little girl named May"
"She's… Beautiful"
Basil thought. Her beauty reminded him of a young bud, just ready to bloom at any second. All she needs though is the right coaxing and she'll be a beautiful flower in no-time.
"The young man who receives a feather from this girl will surely be fortunate. Such a flower must have a strong vase, for without one, it can wither away into nothing"
She sort of reminded Basil of a white daisy…
A white daisy meaning, Innocence.
Although, for such a beautiful, white daisy to be making the yellow rose, jealous.
Tsk Tsk Tsk.
End of chapter 1
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IMPORTANT, READ THIS:
A/N: Lol! I didn't expect to be typing for 3 hours! Whew! Well anyway, I hope you like this chapter. I've used flowers as a sort of symbolism thing. Please check out the website in my profile for the different meanings of the flowers that I will be using throughout the story.
Trust me, with the reference website; you'll understand the story more.
OH NOES? What will happen to Basil when Anna meets Jill? And how will Jill react once she discovers that Basil's married AND has a daughter HER age!?! Find out in the next chapter! And remember,
NO REVIEWS, NO UPDATE.