Chapter 3: Fated Meeting

Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon.

There was something everyone had to get use to in this school, and it was the simple knowledge that the Foster kids were twins and the closest kind of twins. They may mock each other but deep down they knew exactly what they were doing and how each other felt but never read each other's mind. Rather just the feelings.

Seated on the seats that provided them a good view, she noticed girls below were cheering for Gray but she felt the sharp jab of annoyance that she knew wasn't hers but a familiar brother of hers as he turned to her and met her eyes as she merely smirked in an attempt to annoy him even more when Gray merely blew a raspberry at his sister.

"My goodness, you two should really grow up."

Claire shot a look at her smiling mother and she noticed her father had his arm around her mother with the same sheepish and shy smile but his eyes were sparkling with love and adoration for her mother. That was why she wanted to do this, because she wanted to have a husband as loving as her father was to her mother and she wanted a happily ever after and it seems her parents were the only close to achieving it.

"ALMOST! ALMOST! GOO GRAY! GO! KICK IT!"

There were only 2 minutes left, Gray had possession of the ball and Caroline was so enthusiastic for she was now standing up and cheering for Gray apparently her lady like behaviour long behind her abandoned in the heat of the game. Gerald watched with keen interest and he never tore his eyes away from his own son as he silently prayed for the win of the son.

Claire on the other hand after so many years of this adrenaline rush, she enjoyed with when she felt the distinct anxiousness and fear she felt from her brother as if she was the one of the main field. Feelings was something she got use to and she can easily distinguish which was hers and which weren't and that was the same for Gray.

Gray was pretty pleased to have his family cheering for him, but everything was now silent as he was in his own realm and playing his part as he passed it to his friend and his friend passed it back to him. He was worried as he was scared, he wanted this win so badly it was working strain on his heart. Claire's arrival was very welcomed because her peacefully innocent bystander behaviour was very much appreciated. He found that he could use some of her emotions to concentrate even more as he kicked and the ball just ran past the goalie.

"GOOOOOAAAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!"

Caroline screamed in delight as she hugged her husband and Gerald looked proudly at his son as he watched his son being carried up by his own team mates. Claire stood up on the bench itself and clapping her hands in delight because her brother's relief and euphoria added with her happiness was almost too much that she was delirious of happiness.

The family went to their favourite restaurant to celebrate his win although they understood that Gray would be going to celebrate it with his friends later. After his whole account of his point of view the family fell into a companionable silence only to have Caroline to break it with shocking news.

"You will go to the next Blind date will you not Claire?"

Gray who had a sip of his drink nearly spat everything out as he watched his sister suspiciously. He knew of her keen interest in finding a husband but Gray was very sceptical about any man marrying his sister and especially since she was so young but she was already doing so!

"Are you sure you want that? You're going to be stuck to that man for years!"

"What is wrong with that? I met your father at this age too."

Gray rolled his eyes but he could see that his sister knew his concern and she didn't want him to worry too much but with his mother burning holes into his head, it seems likely that he had long regretted saying something of the sorts.

"You will like him Claire! He is very good looking and if I hadn't married your father, I would very much like to marry him."

Her mother explained with her eyes shining with delight, but no one was blind to their father's slight annoyance at the man as he cleared his throat and said

"I disagree. Looks is never the basis for marriage."

Their father opposing their mother, now that doesn't happen very often… but he was probably jealous since she praised the man so much and he was still so insecure about her leaving him. She looked young and so did he but they were already well into their 40's.

"Give them a break, I did agree on the next few Blind dates with you because you were so dashing and I knew I must have you."

Gray and Claire cringed when they saw that their father and amused twinkle in his eye and Gray nodding at his sister she understood that he offered her a way out and she gladly took it as she and Gray both ran out of the place laughing when they realized their parents weren't at all bothered that they had left them there alone.

"You know sister, I know I am being repetitive, but as your older brother…"

"Older by 1 and a half minutes."

Grumbled Claire as she earned a cheeky grin from him and she knew he would always be that very annoying brother they all would have at some point.

Let's get this party started ~

Gray picked up his phone as he listened for a while before he nodded and agreed, only to shut the phone and he looked very sheepish but without Gray even opening his mouth, Claire speed dialled her friend and winked at her twin brother, earning a thankful look on his face.

"Hello? Yes, you heard? I know, but hey… ok… Alright. See you soon."

Gray wrapped his arms around in as he said

"Thanks sister."

Claire smiled as they headed towards the location of the party side by side and at the same time enjoying playful banter. Arriving at their favourite bar called DJ DRINKER, it was a bar owned by Gray's friend and senior on the football team, Kai.

"Hello beautiful!"

Kai came around from the bar and picked up Claire's hand and kissed with not forgetting to give Claire a wink but Claire was totally immune to it as she smiled back at him not even blushing as she replied

"Hey Kai,"

Kai was disappointed but was shoved in the arm by Gray as he looked threateningly at Kai as Kai waved it away and went back behind the bar to which Gray and Claire sat on whilst Kai fixed them their drinks. The only reason why Claire had gotten over Kai was the idea that she was now really used to his flirting and was happy enough to move on from it, she did happen to have a crush on Kai before but realized it pretty quickly that Kai was just a playboy with a title, and Claire wanted a family, not a man who would cheat on her when she had her back turned.

"Told you she isn't looking for men like you."

Kai sighed as if he was about to lament about it when the door swung open and the huge group of his friends came into the pub and waved enthusiastically at Kai who waved them in. They all took their seats and begun their cheer but Gray and Kai kept a close eye on them to make sure that none would lay their hands on her. Everyone in school knows that Claire and her gang of girls were known to be popular girls and that was why every guy hoped Claire would show some interest in them.

"So when Gray got a clear, he shoots! AND HE SCORES! THE CROWD WENT WILD! GO MINERAL TEAM! MINERAL ARE ORGINALS, WATCH IT CUZ IT'S YOUR FUNERAL!"

They chanted as Kai laughed but seriously started to join in, to which Claire only laughed and sipped her drink when…

BAM!

The double doors swung wide open and all the guys could only watch and drool. Karen was dressed in a very sexy mature red dress as Popuri came in cute T-shirt and jeans and Ann came in with a nice shorts and tank top. Claire was relieved to see her friends as she watched Karen make every guy weep at their bad luck as she made her way towards Gray and settled right beside him, allowing him to drape his hand over her shoulder but she ordered her martini with pride as her intelligent green eyes watched as envy spread on everyone's face.

"…Whoa… you got a mighty fine catch here Gray!"

Kai slapped Gray on the back but Gray scowled at Kai but before Claire could do the introductions, Kai went around and flirted with Popuri and Ann but the look on Popuri was enough for you to sign the deal to the devil. Ann who wasn't the least interested went to hug Claire and settled right beside her as they all watched the guys lamenting on their lost.

Karen was the hottest and yet coolest girl in school, because she had a hot body but a very expressionless face as she sipped her martini. Everyone wondered how Gray managed to snag this one, but no one knows except the girls and Gray… it was all an arrangement. Karen hated her fans and Gray hated his fans, so they band together to ward off the fans but it seems some became a Karen x Gray fan, others were just downright envious.

Popuri couldn't keep her eyes off the senior Kai and she hung to his every word, which made Kai extremely nervous. Popuri was extremely cute and her wide curious eyes almost swallowed him up and spat him out. He knew he had an effect on ladies but he didn't want THIS much attention.

Ann was bored when she said to Claire,

"Let's go dancing!"

Claire agreed and soon they were on the dance floor pulling off moves and making every guy around walk around them as if they were magnets and attracted towards them and they couldn't help it. This was the one other reason why they were so popular, and that was because once all four hits the dance floor, the whole place will become HOT HOT HOT! Like a hot spot, everyone would come and swarm here to get a good glimpse at the dancing queens.

Karen unfortunately stuck to please Gray but they were admirable friends as they talked, and Popuri was emotionally unavailable and watching Kai like he was the strangest thing on living earth and yet she loved it all the same.

"WHOOP WHOOP!"

Claire swung her arm slightly in the air almost fist pump in joy when she slipped slightly and bumped her head onto the floor with a slight crash. Ann screamed in fright as Popuri turned away from Kai, but Kai was already running up to Claire, Gray and Karen hurried there and there was a frown on Gray's face.

"Claire! Claire!"

"Anyone here a doctor?"

A deep baritone voice answered smoothly as he made his way through the crowd and inspected the girl.

"Do you have any ice?"

"Uh… how about cold beer?"

"That would be good."

Claire couldn't really see anyone and her mind was in a haze, however there was a warm hand stroking her head and as if it was inspecting her but then became a comforting gesture as he whispered to her in his deep voice

"Don't worry, you are going to be alright."

With that voice there to sooth her, she closed her eyes with a slight smile on her face saying

"Thank you…"