Firsts days in a new place

"Annie, dearie, can you please come here a second?"

"Coming madam Eda!"

...

It's have been 3 days already since I got to Oak tree town, and been honest, I'm doing a pretty good job if I may say so. Okay, the only people that I have met until this moment are just Veronica and madam Eda so I can't make a big fuss about this yet. But I can dream, right?

It was a little tough at the beginning when I started to talk with Veronica, with all my nerves and stuff. But, like I noted after, she is a very perceptive woman and quickly realized that I was nervous so she tried to relax me, even when I was acting like if nothing happened (and here I thought I had deceived her, dammit…).

"I know that such a drastic change in your life can be very frightening, but I want you to know that I never, and I'm pretty sure that nobody of the folks here, is going to judge you for what you are doing. You are a very brave person for deciding to come to help this little town of ours, leaving behind everything you had in the city and everything you were accustomed. From now and forever you will always have all my support and my gratitude Annie" Was what she told to me when we were climbing the mountain path to madam Eda's house. It may look like just a couple of comforting words, but to me, those words were something priceless.

When Veronica and I arrived to madam Eda's land, she was already waiting for us in the entrance. The presentations were made and then both of them told me that, since my farm space wasn't ready yet and I didn't have any experience with farming, I would be staying for a couple of days for training with madam Eda until I learn the basics.

Madam Eda was a whole different story. Since the moment she said hi to me, I knew that I would never be nervous around her. This has happened just one time in the past, when I met my best friend Lillian in our second year of high school. Both Lillian and madam Eda have this relaxing and loving aura that makes you feel like I think a chick should feel in their eggshell, safe. I know it's a weird analogy, but I like chicks and that was the first idea that pops in my mind.

These three days I have spent in the Sunnyside farm I have been taking care of the crops, of Hanako (my sweet and pretty cow that madam Eda gave me) and helping madam Eda with here chores. Everything here is so beautiful, enjoyable and peaceful that I don't even notice the pass of the day.

…

"Do you need something madam Eda?"

"I am so sorry to bother you my dear, but could you do me a little favor?"

"There's no way you could be bothering me! You have been so kind to me that I have been asking myself how could I be to more use to you. Now, how can I help you madam Eda?"

"You are such a heaven Annie, the problem is that I have just come from the storage room and noticed that I'm running out from fertilizer, can you please go to the town and buy a couple of sacks from the general store?"

… Okay, I didn't see this coming.

Don't misunderstand me, I knew that eventually the moment when I would have to go to the town would arrive, but I didn't expect it to be so soon! I can't help but get nervous in those kind of situations, just the idea gives me the shivers. But I'm so, so grateful to madam Eda for everything she has done for me in such a short period of time that is impossible for me to refuse to her… I want to repaid her kindness to me in any way I can. Alright Annie, is settled then. You need to put out a brave face and suck up any fear you have in this moment, is just go to this general store and buy a couple of fertilizer sacks, how bad can it be?

"Annie are you alright? You look a little pale…"

"What? Oh, no! is nothing really, I'm perfectly fine!" Smile Annie, smile. You are worrying madam Eda, the idea is being useful to her, not the contrary. "Of course I can go to buy the fertilizer; I just need to know where the shop is located"

"That won't be a problem at all since the general store is just at the entrance to town, you just need going down the road in the bridge area, right in the left side of the entrance. The owner, Otmar, is an old friend of mine. So if you say to him that the sacks are for me, he will know how much I need and charge to me later."

"Very well, I'll go right now then. I don't think the trip takes much time, so I will come back in maybe one hour or less" The sooner, the better for me.

"Oh don't worry about the time! I also wanted to tell you that I want you to take the afternoon off. You have been working nonstop since you arrived. You deserve it!"

"But the potatoes…"

"I can perfectly take care of the potatoes in the meantime sweetheart. Here, takes this money and go to the restaurant to have a piece of cake and tea. The sweets that Raeger prepares are delicious"

"But I…" oooh, she is making such a sweet face, I can't say no to her. I think I now understand what Johnny feels when I put the puppy face… "Fine, I'm going to take the afternoon off. Thank you, madam Eda" I say as I smile, both because of her concern for me and to hide the fear I have.

And now here I am, going down the mountain path to the town entrance. I've tried to distract me looking to the scenery that surrounds me, there is a huge paddy area and a little smaller grain area besides the river near the bridge. I wonder who takes care of them? Both are completely planted and seems to be well cared. It's just three thirty pm. Immediately after I finish purchasing the fertilizer in the general store I will go to this restaurant to have a cup of tea and then go back to the farm, it can't take much time; maybe one to two hours' tops. I know I need to start talking with the villagers, I just don't know how. Is in moments like this that I wish to have Lillian with me, is much more easy to talk to new people when I have someone in who I trust near to me. But since she moved to Konohana nearly a year ago we have mostly talked by mail only, the last time I knew of her she told me she was dating a guy named Cam and wanted to introduce me to him. When things stabilized a little, I'm going to invite both of them here.

As I walk into the bridge area, I can see a young redhead man who was just fishing for what I can see (he has a wet fishing rod and a bucket with him). Our eyes cross for less than a second, and in that same moment he starts to run in my direction. Oh goddess, he is approaching. Should I start to run too? No, that wouldn't help at all. Very well, breath and put your best smile Annie, you can do it…

"Heya there! Your face doesn't sound me of nothing, so I suppose you must be the new farmer, the name is Fritz by the way, good to meet'cha!" So many words in such a small account of time, he must be very energetic, but he doesn't look like a bad person. Okay that doesn't matter now anyway, I need to breath, smile and introduce myself

"Hi! you are right. I'm the new farmer, my name is Annie by the way. Nice to meet you too"

"I heard you arrived a couple of days ago and was just thinking that it would be a great idea go to granny's house to say hi to both of you! Since you are here, you may be in your way to the town, do you need help with something?" His smile is so big and sincere; he really is a nice guy! Madam Eda have already talk me a little bit about him and of most of the villagers, but I could notice that she has a special affection for this person. I'm still very nervous, but if he is someone who also cares deeply for madam Eda and has gained a space in her heart, there is no way I can't make my best effort to talk to him.

"Actually, I'm going to the general store to get more fertilizer for madam Eda"

"That's great! I will help you with that and then show you the town and some of the folks here; Let's go!"

And there goes my plan to end quickly with my chores. Honestly, I don't know how many people I can manage in one day; but one of the goals I set when I decided to come here was to start to make something about my social phobia. I can't stay in my shell all my life, and Fritz looks like the perfect person to start.

Fritz guided me to the general store, where I met Mr. Otmar. He was very gentle with me, although he changed my name like three times while we were talking (it seems to be something very common with him so I didn't mind), and helped me with the fertilizer. He told us that he will send later the sacks to madam Eda's house, so that way Fritz could show me a little more of the town. He called me Carla one last time and dismissed us with a big smile.

As we walked around the town, Fritz introduced to me a lot of people. Some of there were Mistel from the antique shop and his sister Iris – side note, I'm a huge fan of her novels! I couldn't believe it was her, meet someone like her makes me talk less than I normally do when I meet someone new; dammit, I should have asked for her autograph! – A perfumer named Klaus, Mr. Gunther and his wife Mrs. Corona from the carpentry shop (maybe I should call her miss Corona, it doesn't fell right to call her Mrs.) and finally Marian and Angela from the clinic. When I saw Marian for the first time I really thought he was a woman, so when he talked to me and I realized he was a man, I only wanted to bury myself because I was about to call him miss…

All these presentations have drained almost all of my stamina, but Fritz insisted that he wanted to introduce me one last person before we went back to madam Eda's place.

"Come on Annie! you really need to know Raeger and his restaurant; he serves the best food I have ever tried; You'll really love it!"

"Well thank you for all this promotion here Fritz. With you here I don't need any publicity" Said a young man standing in what I suppose is the entrance to the restaurant.

"Heya Raeger!" Fritz run to him trying to hug him, but failing as Raeger's put his hand in Fritz face to stop him "What are you doing here instead of the kitchen?"

"I don't have any costumers inside in this moment and I thought I heard your voice from the kitchen, so I decided to come to open the door for you. By the way, nice to meet you. You must be the new farmer right? My name is Raeger and I'm the chef of this restaurant" He said all this smiling to me while he stile have his hand and poor Fritz face. It was pretty hilarious and pretty difficult not to laugh at the scene.

"Aah... hi, nice to meet you to. My name is Annie" I can feel how my fingers are starting to tremble in this very moment. I'm very, very scared right now.

I'm not going to lie; he is very hot. And I'm not good talking with attractive persons (either male or female). Of course there is the social phobia to explain certain things, but I never understand why is more complicated to me to talk with people like him or Iris. Oh goddess please, I'm so close to finish the day in a very decent way after meeting so many people, please let me not have a panic attack right now…

"Hey Annie are you fine? You look a little green…" Fritz stops trying to hug Raeger and comes closer to check on me. I need to made something right now!

"NOTHING at all Fritz, I'm just a little tired that's all. That reminds me, Fritz have been talking nonstop about how a good cook you are Raeger, and I'm a little thirsty right now. So why don't we enter the restaurant and let me try some of the cake and tea I have been promised" I say as quick as I can. Fritz relax a little with what I said, but Raeger stills looks at me a little worried. I need to put more effort into this, just a little more until the day ends, I just need to keep my nervous under control for a little more.

"My pleasure Annie. Considers what you order as my welcome gift to you. And no Fritz, you need to pay"

"Aaaw man come on!"

Raeger start to smile again, but it seems he doesn't buy what I have just tell. The start of the panic attack has already past, but stills worry me that it can come back and I'm still trembling a little. The three of us enter the restaurant and both, Fritz and me, sit down in the table next to the kitchen, where Raeger cook for us.

"Here you have, enjoy" in front of me there is now a hot cup of chamomile tea and a delicious piece of strawberry cake.

"Wow Raeger, this looks amazing!"

"Yeah dude! This stew is also incredible yummy; I knew you wouldn't let me down" Fritz is eating as if there was no tomorrow. I take a sip of my tea and have and immediate relaxing effect on me that also goes incredible good with the flavor of the strawberry cake.

"It's like I'm in heaven right now, so delicious…" have I just said this out loud? Dammit words, just stay in my mind and don't leave my mouth!

"Hahaha! I'm glad you like it Annie, chamomile tea has very relaxing effects so I thought it would help you a little bit, and also enhances the flavor of the honey and the strawberries from the cake so they go perfect together." So he did notice my nerves. Fritz is so busy eating right now that he didn't notice what he just said but ooh I did notice it. He is much cleverer than what he makes you believe at first sight. I need to be more careful with him in the future.

The three of us talked about a lot of things as we were finishing the food; and I really appreciate how Raeger made his best effort to make me feel comfortable during the conversation. He still looks a little frightening to me, but now I know that he isn't someone I should be scared. After all he really helped me out there when I was about to have a panic attack.

"Well Raeger, my buddy, I think is time I help Annie to take that fertilizer back to granny's house; so we should start moving now. Thanks again for the food!"

"Everything was delicious Raeger, thank you. I definitely will come back to have more of that strawberry cake if you don't mind." I'm glad we are finally going back to the farm, but a little part of me still wants to stay here and talk more with Raeger. I know is contradictory because I'm still afraid of him but, I don't know, I really want to talk more with him …

"My pleasure Annie, you can come here whenever you want to. Take care Fritz, see you tomorrow." He waves at us from the door and later he enters again in the restaurant.

We are now in the way to madam Eda's house, taking with us the fertilizer sacks. In all the journey we talk about substantial thing and how everybody in town are so good people. I'm really tired after talking to so many people, but I'm also really glad that I started to talk to them. If it wasn't for Fritz, the most probable is that I would only have done what I needed and then go back to the farm.

"Hey Fritz, thank you for what you have done today. I'm really appreciate."

"You're welcome Annie! Whenever you need something you just need to call and I would be right there" and then he shows me his big and comfortable smile again, making impossible for me not to answer his smile with another just as bright as his.

We are almost at the entrance of the farm, and the only thing I can think in this moment is how glad I'm that I decided to come and live here.

Hi everyone, JustKohaku here! I hope everybody is fine. I took me for ever to write this chapter, but I hope you like it (I made it way more longer than the past because I ended up thinking that it was very short xd)
As I said the last time, english is not my native language so please forgive for the spelling mistakes you will maybe see (I'm working on this). If you have any piece of advice to me I'll gladly take it so don't be shy :D
See you all who reads next time! c: