It took me a LONG TIME to write this chapter, but I've taken on too many projects at once and only now I'm realizing how hard it is to keep it up. So, slow updates…yes…but reviews are encouraging. –hopeful look- I don't depend on them, however, it's just nice to get one once in a while. Lumina went from twelve to thirteen at the end of the first chapter, but it isn't mentioned. At least, I thought her birthday was in spring. Anyway, there are alcohol references in this chapter, folks, but no drunkards.
Tripping and Falling
Lumina lay on the lawn, her golden hair splayed across the grass, shining in the late morning sunlight. Her eyes were half-closed, lazily following the movement of a bright red butterfly's path through the air. She had finished her chores shortly before, and was now lounging around outside with nothing to do. The red haired lady hadn't walked in the area for a week, and Lumina felt the lack of presence, but knew that she might get better results if she sought the other girl out on her own. She just wasn't brave enough.
"It's too good a day to be slouching there in the dirt," came an amused voice from somewhere behind Lumina. She sat up and turned around to see who it was. Sebastian walked over to her, holding gardening shears in one hand.
"Why don't you go for a walk?" he suggested, smiling at her. Lumina hopped to her feet, and grinned back. She paused a moment to brush her hair out of her face.
"Sure! I don't know why I didn't think of it before. The weather is making me drowsy," she groaned, and then laughed. Sebastian nodded understandingly.
"The summer heat and humidity in these parts really gets to the city folk. Still, the autumn is so glorious, it makes up for the hot summer months and the cold winter months," he responded, heading back over to where he had been working on trimming the bushes.
"I like winter, though, just not summer," Lumina called after him, and cheerfully skipped down the path, kicking up dust clouds behind her. Gripped by a sudden, wild impulse, the young thirteen year old began to run down the hill as fast as she could, letting momentum speed her farther as she released the energy trapped inside herself.
Psychologically, Lumina was perhaps trying to release all the guilt and torment built up inside herself, but she did not relies it if she did, so enveloped in the feeling of running and laughing. The wind blew through her hair and the sun warmed her back as she sped along.
Suddenly, Lumina, not looking at where she was going as she plunged through the trees toward the turtle pond, tripped over a rock embedded in the earth and flew threw the air, landing with an awkward thump. Then, as she wobbly tried to steady herself, pain shot through her ankle and Lumina collapsed in surprise. Swallowing, she tried to move her ankle, to check the damage. It hurt to move it. This could be a problem…
"You shouldn't run so fast without looking where you are going," came a cool, reprimanding voice. Lumina blinked, then saw that the red haired woman from before standing right in front of her. She hadn't noticed her walk up. Lumina nodded mutely, her eyes as wide as saucers. She was able to keep her jaw from falling open, but still…all this time she had wanted to talk to this person, and now this older girl was talking to her. The woman's forehead creased.
"You hurt your ankle," she stated, instead of asking. Lumina nodded again.
"Are you going to say anything?" the girl asked, looking at Lumina curiously, "Listen, umm…if you need any help walking back…I know Doctor Hardy isn't home right now, but I could take you to the Inn. It's really close by." Lumina searched around for her voice and eventually found it.
"Sorry, thanks, that would be helpful. It really hurts, do you think I broke it?" her reply came, rushed and breathless, but at least she had said something. The red haired girl frowned.
"I don't think it's broken, you probably just twisted it, but I doubt you'll find walking easy," she muttered, bending over Lumina's foot and probing it cautiously. Lumina winced.
"If you could just, kind of…" Lumina had been about to suggest that she grip onto one of the girl's shoulders and hop all the way to the Inn, but the girl effortlessly swept Lumina up and carried her all the way to the Inn. She was strong. Lumina was impressed, needless to say.
When they reached the Inn, Ruby appeared at the door with a worried look on her face. She ushered them inside, an ice pack already made and ready to put on Lumina's ankle.
"I saw what happened through the window," the innkeeper explained, sitting Lumina down and putting the ice on her ankle, "I've already called Romana and she's sending Sebastian to come get you," Lumina nodded gratefully. The older girls raised an eyebrow, and it looked like she was almost suppressing a smile.
"You're like a bobble head doll," she commented idly as Ruby rushed back into the kitchen, looking for some temporary bandages, not that Lumina needed them. Lumina wrinkled her nose and the older girl did finally laugh. It was short, but a glint of merriment held in her eyes for a second and Lumina smiled.
When Sebastian came to help Lumina back to the mansion, the older girl opened the door for her and followed her outside. Squeezing her shoulder and giving Lumina a crooked grin, the redhead turned to go back inside.
"Get better soon, ok? You're a good kid, Lumina," she said, walking in without a backward glance. Lumina stared after her, smiling faintly, not wondering until later how the girl knew her name. She turned to Sebastian.
"Sebastian, who was she?" Lumina asked curiously. Sebastian looked at her with a slightly surprised expression.
"Oh, you don't know? That's Nami; she arrived in the valley right about when Jack did," he explained. Lumina thought back to when Jack came. That was the beginning of the year, in early spring. Jack was the new farmer in the valley, who Lumina had only seen once, but he looked like an ok sort. But had Nami really come that soon? Yes, she must have. Lumina just hadn't noticed her at first.
"Oh," was Lumina's only response. They were at the foot of the hill when she turned back and gave the Inn one last look. In the fading sunlight, Nami could be seen on the porch of her room, looking over at her. Lumina smiled and waved, and thought that maybe, just maybe Nami smiled back.
Bar Scene #1
"Hello there, Jack!" Muffy greeted one of the Bar's frequent visitors with enthusiasm. Jack smiled at her and slid into one of the stools at the counter.
"Dish me up something strong tonight, Muffy, I have some major strain to unwind from," Jack said cheerfully, wiping sweat off his forehead. Taking care of a farm on his own during summer was hard work. Muffy nodded and went to fetch him something to drink. When she came back, she clucked sympathetically at his dejected posture.
"Want to talk about it, hon?" she asked, sliding Jack's mug over to him. He sighed and stared into the brew for a long moment.
"I definitely need to unload, but I don't know where to start," Jack said, taking a sip at his drink, lost in his thoughts. Muffy lifted her elbows off the counter to let Griffin clean the area she had been occupying with a washcloth. He was determined to keep the Blue Bar meticulously clean, for reasons she couldn't quite comprehend, but complied with.
"Then start with what you think is the beginning, even if it doesn't seem significant," suggested Muffy. "I find that sometimes little things build onto bigger and bigger things until it seems…well, overwhelming." Jack nodded.
"Well, it started when I was a small lad. I lived in the city and my family decided that for vacation we should visit the country. That's when…I first went to Mineral Town," he began, leaning back and taking a long draught from his mug, "We stayed at an old man's farm and I made friends with him…and another girl who was about my age. The old man and I agreed to be, well, pen pals, before I left." Jack laughed embarrassedly, but Muffy did not seem bothered.
"There is nothing wrong with that! Go on, I like stories," she offered encouragingly, smiling. Jack chuckled and nodded.
"Well, years and years later, he stopped responding to my letters and I went back to Mineral Town to find out why. Turns out that he died and left his farm to me. I wanted to take it, but my father had taken up farming in the valley when he and my mother separated, and wanted me to take over his farm when he passed away. He knew how much I wanted this other place because of my old memories, and said I'd get a trial year there. If I could get married and settle down with my own life on that farm, I could keep it," Jack stared into space, remembering the details of his memories and he recalled them to Muffy. She shook him slightly after he didn't continue.
"You were saying?" asked Muffy meaningfully. Jack jerked out of his thoughts and took a few more gulps of his drink before continuing.
"At first it was awkward. I didn't know anyone, and the Mayor took an instant disliking to me. But then I met Karen," he smiled, staring at his reflection in the dark liquid, "She was wild, she was energetic, she was snappy, but overall, she was amazing. I'd never seen a woman with such fervor, such character. I think I fell in love somewhere along the way…" Muffy was beaming throughout the story, and she sighed at the description of Karen.
"That sounds so sweet…did you propose to her?" she asked, dreamily. Muffy was a huge romantic, which was one of the reasons Jack had chosen not to mention his relationship before now. But he had started talking, and he would finish.
"She didn't love me," Jack said sadly, "I was so blind…I didn't even realize that she loved someone else the whole time. The only comfort I have is that she didn't realize it either. Not that she ever really thought she loved me, but it was a big confusing jumble. In the end, she was as nice as she could be about it, but I don't think I really got over it."
The bar was quiet. As it had gotten later, people had gradually drifted out. Jack, Muffy, and Griffin were the only ones left in the bar. Moonlight shone in through the windows. Jack finished off his drink before finishing up his thought.
"Then, Dad died and left the farm to me, pointing out that he still recognized my failure, even in death. I sold the old farm and moved here. I'm all on my own…and it can be…hard sometimes," he murmured. Muffy nodded, turning as the door opened and a figure entered.
"Celia, help this poor man home. He's been having a rough time," she said softly, making Jack look up to see a longhaired brunette in the doorway. His face relaxed and he smiled.
"Celia! Hey, what are you doing out this late?" Jack asked, standing up and slapping down the money for his drink on the counter. Celia grinned at him.
"I came to get you, silly. If you stay out this late every night, it's no wonder you're suffering from fatigue. Now, I brought along an extra coat so you won't catch cold, so let's get going," she said, looking tired and concerned, but happy to see him. It made Jack feel almost like everything was going to be ok, and he walked over to her, smiling back, and accepted the coat gratefully. Muffy grinned after them, waving cheerfully.
"If anyone can help that man get back on his feet, it's her," she told Griffin as she scooped up a rag and helped him clean up. Griffin raised an eyebrow.
"What about you? Don't you need someone, Muffy?" he asked thoughtfully. Muffy shrugged.
"Oh, it would be nice, I'm sure," she said slowly, "But I don't need anyone. I've got all these wonderful friends in the valley. Besides…I could never get between those two…they make such a sweet couple."
Muffy grinned at Griffin's still unsure expression and gave him a light peck on the cheek before bouncing into the back room to get ready for bed.
"Good night, Griffin!" she called downstairs. Griffin stayed out for a little while longer, staring at his guitar, but decided not to play tonight. Perhaps Muffy would meet someone in the city someday. He hated to see her like this – happy for everyone else, but not thinking enough about herself. Griffin had never had a kid, but Muffy was the closest thing to that, and he wanted her to be just as happy as Jack and Celia.
About the "bar scene": Well, this story is centered on Lumina, but it will have a bar scene occasionally, focusing on other, minor characters. I hate writing about one character straight, and it's easier to split up scenes. Though, that one took up half the chapter…teehee.