Here's a revised chapter one. I hope to revise the rest of the story also so that it isn't so choppy. Thanks for reading, and let me know what you think!
disclaimer- I'm not rich. Therefore, we shall conclude I don't own HM
/
I tie my shoulder-length brown hair back into a bandanna and slip on my usual work boots. No, I'm not the most girly-girl, but, being a farmer, what would you think? Six-inch heels just don't do it. They're Julia's thing, though I don't know how she can work in them.
I run out to the barn to take care of my animals. Absentmindedly petting Cecily, my cow, I glance down into the bin of fodder and groan. I had hoped I had more left, but there's only enough for another day or two.
Deciding to go and get more now rather than later, I grab a jacket and head out. It was storming all week, so large puddles of mud line the path. I'd jump in them, but one kinda has to be in the right mood for that. A jumpy, happy mood. Not the mood of: "Ugh I'm out of fodder and now I have to spend money to buy more because all my grass flooded."
I open the door and glare at the jingling bell signaling my arrival. I don't like loud contraptions that make me the center of attention.
"Hey Mirabelle, I need some fodder," I say as I toss the money on the counter.
"Okay, dear. You know where it's kept," she says, not looking up.
Walking back to the storeroom,I grab a bag of fodder and drag it out the doorway and down the street. Halfway back my farm, which, by the way, took, like, ten minutes, I groan again, remembering Sabrina asked me to come over for lunch at 1:00 this afternoon.
Sabrina doesn't really have any friends around here. Julia, Natalie, and Lanna are all a clique, with me on the boarder of their group.
Sabrina, being younger and quiet, doesn't get included most of the time. She's nice enough, so I agreed to come and have lunch even though I hate her huge mansion. I got lost in it once. I mean, I love libraries and all, but sometimes bathrooms are needed. When you can't find one while lost between the shelves of Poe and Dickens, gigantic mansion libraries aren't as cool anymore.
Finished with lugging the bag, I drop it by the side of the barn and dash back into town.
Past Chen's store, past Mirabelle's, past the houses that I can never remember who lives in, past the hotel, and here we are.
I'm just gonna ask this: why does every mansion have to be intimidating? Like, can we have lot's of pinks and purples and flowers, please? 'Cause that'd be pleasant.
Opening the door, I step into the hallway and then head upstairs. Remember, I tell myself, you're doing this for food. You're bearing the creepy staircase in hopes of crem-brulee.
As soon as Sabrina sees me she comes running towards me in greeting. "Hey Chels," she says, hugging me. "Guess what? I got engaged!"
"Good for you," I congratulate, "Who are you-" I stop as I glance out of the corner of my eye at Vaughn standing behind her.
"Vaughn. Isn't it exciting?" she replies, not noticing I never finished my question.
At this point, Vaughn raises his head and we make eye contact. I raise an eyebrow and he looks down at the floor again. Him not talking to me is a sign something isn't right, but I'm not sure what.
Lunch is awkward, to say the least. Vaughn just stares into his soup, while I act like I'm paying attention to Sabrina's rambling. All I'm really thinking about is the question of what is going on. I'm surprised and hurt Vaughn never said much about Sabrina to me, especially if this is the way he felt. I mean, Vaughn and I are close. Really close. We've known eachother since we were two. He proposed to me with a daisy ring and a kiss on the cheek when we were five. We may or may not've shared a couple real kisses years afterwards. I feel like I should've known.
The off-ness of this whole situation bothers me. I think Sabrina's caught onto the awkwardness too, because she's starting to get flustered.
I can't handle this. I excuse myself as politely as possible, telling Sabrina I have a sick chicken that I must take care of. She walks me to the door and asks, "W-would you be my maid of honor?"
I nod, give a fake smile, and break out in a run for home as soon as I'm out of sight of the mansion.
Curled up on my bed and bundled into a quilt, I go over the situation, trying to think rationally and ignoring the tears threatening to fall.