Chapter 2

Spring 3

That night I had a dream. In the dream I was with the girl and we were standing on the peak of Mother's Hill.

"Look Gray!" she said pointing at the sky. "That cloud looks like a chicken!"

"Yeah, it really does." I laughed.

"Ooh, and that one looks like one of the cows my grandpa has!"

"Don't cows look generally the same?"

"NO!" She said, annoyed, "They all have different patterns of spots on them."

I put my hand on her head and ruffled her hair. "You're right, they do Claire."

And then everything went black…

When I woke up the next morning, I couldn't help but smile. I hadn't dreamt of that girl in ages. I had never forgotten her name. Claire. I really missed her. One day, I dreamt of getting out of this town and finding her. But that was just another dream.

I headed out of the inn and walked to the Blacksmith. I walked slowly, going over the dream in my head over and over again. When I entered the blacksmith, Grandpa looked busy.

"Morning." I said to him as I passed by the counter and back to my area.

"You're late." He said to me.

"No I'm not!" I said defensively. "It's eight thirty-five!"

"Yes! And you are to get here at eight-thirty on the dot!" Grandpa screamed.

"Whatever!" I screamed back.

There was more of this, back and forth, until he finally gave up and left me to do my thing. I was so focused that I didn't even bother turning around when the door opened. I already knew that it would be Rick or Mary. Although, seeing Mary wouldn't be so bad.

"Hello," my grandfather said, "I don't think I've seen you around here before."

"Yeah, I just moved into the ranch. My name's Claire."

At that, my head turned instantly around. In front of my grandfather was a small girl with blonde hair and big-blue eyes. 'Oh my Goddess, it's her' I thought. I wasn't even aware that my mouth was open until she turned around to look at me. I quickly stood up and shut my mouth.

"Umm, hi, I'm Gray." I could have sworn that her face lit up when I said my name, but it was probably just my imagination.

"Hi Gray, I'm Claire." She turned back to my grandfather and started talking to him again, but I was to engrossed in my thoughts to listen

'Wow, I can't believe it's her.' I thought. I thought that I would never see her again. It was amazing that she was standing right in front of me. But then, all too soon, she was gone.

"Bye Saibara, bye Gray." Claire said right before she left.

All of the sudden, I felt something hit me on the head. It took me a second to register that it was my grandfather's hand.

"Ow! What was that for?" I asked angrily.

"That was for making me look like I had an idiot for a grandson! All you did was stand there with your mouth open!" he yelled back.

"Why do you always have to make me feel like such an idiot!?" I screamed. And then, I stormed out.