Author's Notes: Hello! I wanted to write a story with shocking drama/tragedy/romance (but i think at the same time very cliche...) so I came up with this. My friend said this story is just like every other story I wrote because it sort of has the same concept...? Maybe later on in the story you will notice it... Well, but I want to know what you think! And oh hey! I finally did an Ash x Lillian story! Yay! Please tell me if there is anything you don't understand! Thank you for reading!
Another day of watching the farm animals, Ash sighed as he petted a small calf that was resting its head on his lap.
"Don't you just wish there is more excitement in your life, Bubble?" he asked.
Bubble licked his mouth.
"Me too."
From the door that led to his house was the sound of his mother calling out his name.
"Ash! Can you bring me a calf? We have a customer."
"Okay!"
Bubble got up and ran into the barn.
"Bubble! I'm not going to sell you! Come back!" Ash shouted.
The little calf stuck his head out and returned to the rancher. He followed Ash to the counter where there was a young lady waiting in the corner.
"Hello," she greeted with a pretty smile.
"H-H… Hi…" the boy stuttered with his cheeks flushed red.
She was the prettiest girl he had ever seen. An orange bandana wrapped around her hair and neatly tied them together. She wore the same color dress and a red vest that looked extremely good on her. He could hear the clicks of her boots as she ran to her new calf.
"Hello, little cutie, nice to meet you!" She said.
Even her voice sounded enchanting like a melody an angel had created. She looked up at Ash and apologized for not introducing herself.
"My name is Lillian. I am a newcomer!"
"Oh! Welcome to Bluebell!" Jessica said. "In that case, I'll give you a discount! Just 800 G for the calf and the feeds."
"But-"
"Ah! No buts. All for 800 G."
Lillian giggled and said, "Thank you very much!"
"D-do yo-you want me to help you bring the calf home?" Ash asked.
"Yes, please, if you don't mind. Thank you."
Bubble followed the couple but the rancher stopped him.
"No, Bubble, you stay here," Ash ordered.
Lillian smiled at Bubble and bent down to pet him.
"Hi there, do you want to come with us?"
The calf licked his mouth.
"You're so cute! I might steal you away from your owner!" the newcomer said jokingly.
Bubble ran to the young man and hid behind him.
Ash sighed and said, "Okay, you can come. Let's go."
"The calves seem to be very fond of you," Lillian said.
Ash looked at the two animals tagging along side them.
"Yeah, especially that little Bubble."
"I think it's cute." She giggled.
His heart beat so loud inside his chest that he was afraid she might hear it. Wait. Did she call him cute or did she call Bubble cute? Which one was it? Maybe both? Well, he would be satisfied if she called him and Bubble cute because it meant he was cute too! He was too busy thinking about what she said to him that he didn't realize they had reached her house.
"Thank you for helping me. I'll see you around!" Lillian said, waving her hand. Then she motioned her new calf to follow her to the barn.
"See you around…" Ash said.
On a Wednesday morning, when the rancher was heading to Cam's flower stand, he spotted Lillian sitting in front of Howard's Café reading a thick book. She looked so focus on the book that he didn't want to interrupt her. A moment later, she caught a glance of Ash and motioned him over.
"Good morning," he said.
"Good morning," she replied.
The rancher stared at the words that were written on the cover of the book. He couldn't read them, sadly. Not many villagers know how to read in Bluebell or Konoha except for words that are crop-, food-, and animal- related. For Ash, he could only read a few since he spent most of his life taking care of his animals. That was the only talent he had anyways.
"Have you ever read this book?"
The young man shook his head as his cheeks flushed with embarrassment.
"I can't read." He scratched his head. "Even Cheryl knows more than me."
Lillian smiled and closed her book. Her finger traced along the title and she pronounced each word for him.
"The Sto-ry Of Two Lo-vers," she read.
"The Story of Two Lovers," he repeated.
A smile on her lips and two dimples on her cheeks.
"That's okay. I'll teach you how to read!"
"Are you okay with that…? Isn't that too much trouble for you?" Ash asked.
"I don't mind! After all, I have always wanted to become a teacher. This would be a good experience don't you think?"
"Okay, if you say so."
"Great! I'll come by around the afternoon starting tomorrow, is that okay?" Lillian asked.
Oh heck yes! Ash wouldn't mind seeing her tomorrow or that day after that or every day after that.
"Of course! Come anytime you like."
"Okay then. I'll see you around, Ash."
With that, Lillian waved at him and headed back to her home.