Gray's POV

Two weeks, fourteen days. That's how long it had been since I had last spoken to Cliff or bothered to make eye contact with him. Two weeks, fourteen long, agonizing days. That's how long it had been since I started questioning if what I felt for Cliff was real or just an impulse. Yet here I fucking was sweating out my eye sockets in the forge; hammering metal, thrusting all my anger and confusion and frustration into the movement. It was all so confusing; my mind was screaming one thing, while my heart was clinging to another feeling.

"Ugh!" I yelled in frustration throwing down the tools and ripping my gloves off. It took everything I had not to start tearing my hair out over the matter, but I somehow managed that. "Why did I have to kiss you!" I screamed to no one in particular. I paused, thinking of the moment we kissed. It was so sweet, and I felt almost at ease thinking about it, but then when my thoughts started to go deeper I had to tear my mind away from such accursed, lustrous feelings. Like, what the fuck, I was a straight guy, I loved women! I could spend nearly half of my day fantasizing about a woman; her soft skin, the shape of her body, her gentle hands, the sound of her laughter, her thighs, her breasts, her…

That wasn't helping either! Sure I could spend nearly half a day thinking about women, but I could spend the whole day thinking about…Cliff. No, no no, this was not happening! I did not have feelings for, I gulped, another man. "Ah shit…" I mumbled biting my lip as I stood there before the flames that were licking up the sides of the kiln. This was going nowhere, I needed help, I needed someone to talk to, someone to give me advice. And then it hit me, like a sack of potatoes to the gut. Standing up straight I couldn't help but wonder to myself how I hadn't thought of it before!

"Gray!" My grandfather called from the front of the shop. What could he possibly want now? I had basically been his slave for the last two weeks, working away on whatever he wanted. He did seem pretty pleased with the amount of hard work and dedication I had recently been putting into my work and had tended to cut me more of a break, meaning that his yelling happened less frequently.

"Ya?" I shouted back in response. If it was nothing of importance I wasn't going to even bother with going to the front of the shop anyways- why waste the energy?

"You have a visitor, and some more work to do." I heard him grumble as his tone became a little kinder, just a little.

My heart almost stopped. Cliff wouldn't…would he? No, I didn't think that Cliff seemed like the sort of person to pursue someone. Nonetheless, I bravely made my way to the front of the shop and let out a breath I didn't know I was holding upon seeing my 'visitor.'

"I was just thinking about you." I smiled warmly as I as stood on the opposite counter of my blonde haired blue eyed friend.

She smiled smugly raising an eyebrow, "Oh? You were now were you? And why might that be?" Claire asked crossing her arms over her chest. She was a nice girl, and a good friend, and the reason I had become friends with her was most likely due to the fact that she was definitely not a push over.

"Actually." I began, shooting a sideways glance to my grandfather, who thankfully, got the hint and stepped into the back of the shop. Claire raised her eyebrow at this and uncrossed her arms, leaning forward on the counter out of intrigue. "I need help." I grumbled, a little embarrassed over the fact.

At this, Claire let out a snort of laughter. "Well duh!" She teased rolling her blue eyes.

I furrowed my brow, "Claire, this is serious, please." I even bothered to use my manners, maybe then she would get it.

She sighed. "Alright, what is it Gray?"

"I need some advice…" I paused and she looked at me, trying to push me to continue. "In….matters of…..love." I mumbled pulling down the rim of my hat. Goddess, this was embarrassing, it made me feel weak asking for advice like this. But whatever, I had to do it, or else I'd go stir crazy.

I heard Claire sigh from the other side of the counter and chanced a peek over at her; she didn't look too pleased, maybe this wasn't going to work… "Gray sweetie, I dunno if you haven't realized or not, but I'm single too. Who am I to give you advice on how to get a girl when I can't even snag a man in this town?" She concluded.

I looked at her hard. How could she not get it? She was a woman; she was into those 'guy on guy novels.' Wouldn't this at least be somewhere in the back of her mind. I kept looking at her, hoping that a light bulb would go off somewhere in that brain of hers. When it didn't I sighed and put my head down on the counter. "That's not it…." I grumbled.

"What's not-"

"I don't need advice on women!" I shouted out in frustration, throwing my hands up in the air.

She glared at me, upset about being yelled at. "Then why did you say you needed help!" Claire growled back, arms crossing her chest. We glared at each other for a moment, blue locking with blue. Soon my glare softened some into a look of desperation. Come on, why was she not getting this; did I really have to spell it out for her so blatantly? At this her eyes went from narrowed angry slits, to wide and full of shock. 'Really?' They basically said to me. In response I just nodded, pulling the rim of my hat down as my face began turning red. Finally, she got it…

Suddenly exuberant, she grabbed my arm from across the counter. "Okay Gray, I'll give you as much advice as you need! Make sure that you come to my place as soon as your done work here today alright?" Shyly, I nodded. "Oooh! I'm so excited!" Claire said as she headed for the door.

"Wait!" I called out after her, causing her to turn her attention back to me. "Just…don't tell Ann, or Mary…or anyone for that matter." I begged. Goddess, if anyone else in the town found out not only would word spread like wild fire and Cliff would know, but my grandfather would be absolutely furious, more so than on a day in which he was his angriest. I definitely did not want that.

"Don't worry." Claire flashed her pretty smile at me. "I cross my heart and hope to die." She nodded. "Meaning I'll take your secret to the grave. And see you at 4:30 today."

And then she opened the door, but again paused in the doorway when I questioned, "Claire, what did you actually come here for?"

"Oh." She replied turning around. "I just needed some tools to be worked on, so have fun!" And with that she was gone.

I stole a glance at the clock. '3:00,' it read. That meant I only had an hour left here and then would be at Claire's after that.

As I headed back to work, I couldn't help but wonder if I had done the right thing or not.

Ann's POV

Hot, sexy guys.

Ukes and semes.

Guy on guy action.

Man, I loved my brain.

It was turning out to be a long day at the Inn seeing as how it was so gorgeous outside and no one really bothered to stop by in the afternoon and eat inside on a day like today. So, rather than wait on customers I went to my room in the back and pulled out my favourite gay novel, "Only the ring Finger knows." A rather sweet story filled with high school drama and two guys who end up falling in love with each other.

I'd have to see what else Mary had in her collection later tonight, not that I was getting bored of this one though; I just wanted something else to read…something a little sexier than hand kissing or a kiss on the cheek. Shrugging I continued to flip through it when I suddenly heard the bell from the front door chime; oh, yay, more costumers to disturb my awesome reading time.

Although, when I saw who it was, I could feel myself suddenly smile. "Claire!" I shouted running through the Inn and into Claire's open arms. I guess my novel could wait. I mean how could I possibly be angry upon seeing my best friend?

"Hey!" Claire giggled. Then she looked around the Inn and back to me. "Seeing as there are no customers, I'm assuming that you were in the back reading 'novels' again." She her smile growing bigger as she used her fingers for quotations as we made our way back to the counter.

I couldn't help but nod. "Ya, I was reading Only the Ring Finger knows, but you know as much as I love Kazuki, I'm getting a little tired of his lack initiative!" I grumbled, earning a nod of approval from Claire, who now stood opposite me.

"I know right? I mean, I'm on the second volume and he and Wataru are already together, but hello! It's about time things get steamier!" Claire agreed. We looked at each other and laughed. Claire had a really pretty laugh. Actually, as I looked at her, I noticed that everything about her was pretty; her golden hair, her clear skin, even the shape of her body which was hidden beneath her baggy overalls. I could never be that pretty…. "What's wrong?" Claire asked as she noticed the way my smile faded.

I sighed. "I was just thinking Claire, you're just so." I paused and looked at her again. "So beautiful! I'll never be as pretty as you."

Claire blushed. "Wh- what? Ann…what makes you say that?"

I chuckled a little, "Oh, I dunno, just look at you!" I gestured towards her as she nervously scratched the back of her neck. Then she snapped her gaze up to mine.

"Ann, you're crazy. You're ten times prettier than me! Plus you're much cuter. You just need to let your hair down a little!" Now it was my turn to blush as she complimented me. She then walked around the other side of the counter to stand in front of me, a smile upon her lips. She reached her hand behind my head and pulled out my scrunchy. "There." Claire said with a nod as my red hair fell down cascading over my shoulders. "Prettier than me, cuter than Elli and more gorgeous than Karen, and don't you ever let anyone tell you otherwise."

Claire was officially the sweetest girl I knew. I gave her a hug, catching her by obvious surprise as it took her a moment to respond. "Oh!" Claire exclaimed snapping back with excitement she held me at arm's length. "I have a date with Gray tonight!" She exclaimed.

"Really?" I stared baffled, and happy for my bestie.

"Yes, at 4:30, he's coming over!" She giggled spinning around.

"So are you guys gonna eat dinner or something?" I questioned a little curious.

"Nope." Claire said simply with a large grin on her face, rendering me confused. "Actually…" She said, her grin turning a little sinister. Oooh, I liked where this was going. "Can you keep a secret?" She whispered leaning in closer.

I nodded, "of course!"

Sceptically, Claire looked around the room, and upon obviously spotting no one she said, "Gray actually wants advice from me."

"Advice on what?"

"Advice on how to get Cliff!" She giggled grabbing my hands and jumping up and down as I stood there shocked. Gray, liking Cliff? Oh my god! This was perfect! That would mean that my plan had actually worked!

I joined her in jumping up and down and giggling and bantering about typical situations involving who would be seme and who would be uke and the like. "But!" Claire stopped me as she put her finger in the air. "You can't tell anyone, especially Cliff. Even if he gets suspicious or something or begins to get upset, you can't let him know, Gray has to do this on his own!" Claire told me and I nodded.

"Of course!" But I still couldn't help but grin like a love sick school girl. This was so cute, if Gray actually did like Cliff, and they did end up together, well that would just be the best thing that could happen in this town! My mind started whirling with new ideas and I got so caught up in them that I didn't even realize Claire had said she was leaving and headed towards the door.

"So, I'll call you tonight!" My blonde haired friend called as she stood in the doorway.

"Alright! Have fun and play nice!" I yelled back with a wave as she shut the door behind her. I sighed a little and looked around; still no customers. "Well, back to my book."

Cliff's POV

"And here you go, Cliff."

"Thanks Doctor."

"Cliff…" The doctor looked at me a playful scowl on his face. "How many times have I told you, just call me Trent."

Yes, I was currently at the Clinic. It wasn't anything serious; I was just doing some allergy testing because of a reaction that broke out a couple days ago when I was in the vineyard. The Doct- Trent concluded that it was probably from some form of insect that only came out in the spring, and therefore we did some different tests.

There were lots of needles, but at least we found out what it was.

"So your allergic rhinoconjunctivitis caused by the Harmonia axyridis should be cleared up in a few days. I suggest a day's rest and in that day do try to stay away from the vineyard as Duke takes care of the insect problem." Trent said looking to his clipboard as he scribbled down some notes.

I looked at him agape. "My allergic what, caused by what?" What on earth was he talking about? I knew he was a doctor and all, but I sure wasn't.

Trent chuckled as he tucked the clipboard under his arm and sat down on the client's table beside me. "Sorry." He apologized with that handsome smile on his face. "Basically, your allergic reaction involving watery eyes and a stuffy nose, caused by the common Japanese beetle should be cleared up in a few days."

"Oooh." I said nodding. "Well, thank you for dumbing it down for your stupid patient doctor." I teased. There was something about the Doctor that made me relax a little and not be so shy or tense like I was around others. Maybe it was because, as Ann said a couple weeks ago, we were already `close.` I mean how much closer can you really get to a person right? Nonetheless, I still couldn't help the words that slipped past my lips, "Doct- Trent."

He looked to me, his eyebrow raised in question. "Yes Cliff?"

"I think we should, umm, be friends." A nervous chuckled passed my lips and I shyly looked down at my shoes. "If that'd be cool with you, ya know?"

Trent didn't respond at first as an odd thick silence hung in the air between us. I didn't dare look up then; instead I gulped and held my breath. Maybe he didn't like me at all, or thought I was weird or something. "Sure." He said after a while, and then I looked up and saw that he was smiling warmly at me; I'd never seen that smile shown to anyone before. "I'd really like that Cliff." His eyes closed in his smile and for a second my breath was caught in my throat.

"O, okay." I smiled shyly and looked back down at my socked feet. "Well, I should be going then." I said hoping off the bench and walking over the curtain that separated this room from Trent's office.

"Alright." Trent said coming up behind me to open said curtain. "Now, just don't forget. Take the pills twice a day and use the cream three times a day until they're gone. Even if you think it starts to get better, don't stop until it's all finished." He instructed, his tone returning to one of professionalism.

As I stepped forward, I felt his large warm hand grab my shoulder lightly and then retract immediately as he coughed. I turned around on cue and tilted my head to the side. "What is it Doc?"

"Well, I was just wondering, now that we're friends and all tomorrow is my day off, and you have to be off anyways. Would you like to have lunch?" The Doctor said as he looked straight at me with those dark eyes of his, and I swear, the slightest blush crept upon his cheeks. Taking note of that in the back of my mind I responded.

"Sure, that sounds great. I'll see you tomorrow Doctor Trent." And then I left the clinic, waving to Elli on my way out the front door.

If I didn't have other matters on the brain then maybe I would have noticed the blush on Trent's face, or the warm smile he showed only to me. No, my mind was definitely elsewhere. I was going to find Gray once and for all and figure out what the heck was going on.

For two weeks he had been ignoring me, not only was he not speaking to me, but he wouldn't even look at me either or acknowledge my presence; for crying out loud we were roommates! I was a little surprised he didn't just move out too, it's not like there would be any difference at this point either! He'd come back late at night while I was in bed and leave early in the morning while I was either out on a walk or still sleeping. It was driving me insane.

Maybe Gray hated me, or maybe he just didn't want to talk to me for goddess knows why, but I wished that he would at least do something then. Like he could always tell me he hated me, or he could ask me to move out. I just wished I knew what was going on in that messed up head of his.

Although, I still couldn't help but like him, especially after kissing him, it made me like him even more… I felt a little lonely and hurt over the matter and maybe Gray was just being Gray, but either way, Gray was being an asshole and I was going to figure out why.

I had now made it to the Inn. "Ann!" I called out upon walking in the door. I looked around the Inn, it was empty and not a single soul was in sight. Well, no wonder, it was a gorgeous spring day outside, and no offence to Ann and Doug or anything, but no one really wanted to eat inside on a day like today.

Suddenly, said red head appeared from the back room. "Cliff!" She shouted excitedly as she ran to her side of the counter and I did the same. "Hey gay boy! What's up?" Ann grinned, her hair falling over her shoulders.

Ignoring the nickname she gave me, I looked at her and then did a double take. "You took your hair out."

"Leave it to you to notice!" She giggled giving it a little flip over her shoulder. "Do you like it at least?"

I thought about it, and it did look really nice, better than her usual hair tie. "Ya." I nodded, still looking at her. "It makes you look older, but in a good way." I had to add in the last part for fear of Ann being insulted.

Instead she blushed and giggled a little. "You know Cliff, if you didn't have the hots for Gray, I would totally fall for you." Her blue eyes sparkled as she leaned forward on the counter.

"Speaking of which," I said sitting down on my regular stool. "You don't happen to know where Gray is do you?"

Ann looked at me and seemed a little nervous at my question, almost as though it put her on edge, completely changing her mood rendering me confused. "I uh…I think he's on a date with Claire tonight." Ann said looking at me, perspiration working its way down the side of her face.

"Oh…." Gray was on a date with Claire, well that sure explained a lot. If for the past two weeks he had been with her because they were dating then that made complete sense. Although I couldn't help but wonder why he didn't even bother to tell me, we were friends after all. And yet Ann knew, but that was probably because Claire told her at some point. "W, well. Good, they seem like they would be…cute…together." The words felt like poison as they rolled off my tongue and were left hanging in the air.

Ann nodded stiffly. "Uh ya, I guess so…" At least Ann agreed with me, it was obvious with the tone of discomfort in her voice.

And then for some reason it felt as though my throat was getting tight and it was getting harder to breath. My eyes felt a little watery, but that could have just been the allergies. "Excuse me." I said, walking pass Ann and heading for the stairs as calmly as I could.

I had to use the railing to steady myself as I climbed them, tears were threatening to spill out and roll down my cheeks. Why did I feel almost betrayed? I should have known that it would never work out between Gray and me. After all Gray was a straight man and I was undoubtedly gay.

Once I reached my room I practically jumped on my bed and buried my face in the pillow, sobbing heavily and uncontrollably. Why did I ever think for a moment that he could like me the same way I liked him. Goddess I was so freakn' stupid! Gray was with Claire now that was it, I had to give up. The little sliver of hope that I had was now crushed into tiny shards and sent flying in the wind.

"Enough of this." I mumbled. Sitting up I rubbed my eyes to rid the sorrow. This was stupid; moping would accomplish nothing. I sat there on the bed for a moment, knees drawn into my chest, the only light in the room coming from the windows. I turned to look at Gray's empty bed and chuckled a little to myself.

There was no way I was going to give up, not after I had come all this way to Mineral Town. I'd find a new way to win his heart, even if that meant waiting, I'd do it.

A/N: Hope you guys enjoyed it! Thanks for reviewing my last chapter! It made me really happy! ^^

Reviews for more chapters! ^^

Disclaimer: Characters belong to Natsume ©

And yes, I may be hinting at a slight TrentxCliff, but don't worry, Gray and Cliff will (hopefully) be together in the end. :D