Chapter 5 Is up! And For you Cliffie lovers...please dont flame me for making him a bit OOC. i just dont find a Claire/Cliff coupling as appealing. R&R*

Chapter 5

I yawn and slowly stretch out like a cat in my bed. ning sunlight peeks through my window and I rub my eyes, ridding them from the night's sleep. I

climb out of bed and quickly dress and brush through my long blonde hair, not bothering to do anything more than tie it into pig tails. I grab my

rucksack and fill the old green watering can I found in the tool box to the rim. I carefully lug the heavy can outside and set it down next to where my

turnips have begun sprouting. I pour a little water on each little green sprout and sigh with content at my first sprouts on my new farm. "I think I can

fix this place but. I think I can do it." I say as I brush the hair from my forehead. I look at my watch and see that it is already half past noon. I gather

herbs and collect the honey from the tree next to the house and place it all carefully into the wooden shipping bin by the mailbox. Since all the work is

completed I guess I can go walk around town a little bit. I run into the house and take a quick bath. As I am buttoning up my favorite blue checked

dress, someone knocks on my door. I pull on my brown boots and rush over to the door. Before me stands a strange Asian man, in a bright yellow coat

and a rainbow beanie on his head. I hold back laughter as the man clears his throat. The man bows and says, "Good afternoon miss. The name is

Won and I am a traveling salesman. I have set up shop on the beach and I sell many rare and exotic things there that you will not find anywhere

else." I lean against the door way and motion for him to continue. The man continues his sales pitch. "I have with me today a very special item that I

believe will interest you greatly." As the man says this he reaches into his bag and pulls out a red apple. "In my hand is the most glorious apple you

will ever eat. Now because you are such a pretty young lady, I'm going to give you this apple for half price. This apple costs a mere 500 gold." My jaw

drops as I hear the price. I frown and say "I am very sorry sir but I do not think I will buy anything today. Sorry for the inconvenience. Good bye" The

man frowns and mumbles something as he turns and walks away. I lock the door and walk off towards the town. I wonder if the library has a lot of

books. It did not look very big when I passed by it the other day. My boots make a little pitter patter sound as they hit the stone road. I reach the

library and read the sign hanging from the door. Oh it's closed today. I exhale sharply with disappointment. I drag myself down the street and

straighten my dress. I guess I could check out the church since there isn't anything better to do. I push the big heavy wooden doors open and walk

into a candle lit sanctuary. I see a young man sitting in a pew; he is the only person in the church. I step back when a man in all black comes out of a

connecting room and walks to the altar. The man looks up and smiles at me "Hello there, are you visiting?" the man asks. I walk to the altar and

whisper "No I just moved here a couple days ago. My name is Claire and I was just exploring a bit since I finished my chores." The man smiles and

nods as he says, "Do you see that young man over there sitting by himself?" I look over and see the man with his head down obviously unable to hear

us talking. "The man's name is Cliff and he just moved here too but he is extremely shy so he does not have any friends. I was wondering if you would

be willing to go and talk to him." I smile, nod and then make my way over to the man. I sit down next to him and his eyes slowly migrate until they are

looking at me at the corner of his eyes. "Hi my name is Claire. I heard you just moved here, I did too!" I say in a bubbly voice. The man blushes and he

looks up so I now can see a sliver of his face through his long brown hair. "Uh…..would it be….could I be…..uh do I have something on my face?" He

stutters and I examine his face unaware of his bright red face. "I am not very good at talking, I…I feel so stupid." He mumbles obviously embarrassed

. I look into his bright green eyes and smile. "Hey just relax." He lets out a sigh and gives a little smile. "Thanks….I feel better. So you moved here from

the city right?" My mouth drops open. "How did you know that?" I ask in disbelief. "I can tell by your skin and hands. If you came from the country you

would have rough hands and tan skin, but you have very soft hands…and…..really…..pretty pale skin." The last few words he said very quickly and

softly. "Well do you want to go check out the town with me since we are both kind of new?" I ask and we both stand up. "Really….you would want

to…?" he asks. "Of course, come on!" I say and grab his hand and pull him out of the church. "I can show you the places I have already been too first."

I giggle and continue pulling him this way and that unaware of him staring at me with rosy cheeks and a tiny smile on the corner of his mouth.

I let out a sigh as I plop down next to Cliff on the sandy beach shoreline. I look to my right and see a crab scurry across the ground; I look out to the

ocean and see the crystal blue waters hit the shore in small waves lined with foam. I feel the cool salty sea air and smell the slight fishy aroma of the

ocean's life. "I love the ocean, it is so beautiful in the evening time don't you agree?" I ask as I gaze into space, going off into my own world. I am

startled by his voice as he says on a sigh "yeah, we didn't have places like this back where I came from." I close my eyes and imagine my life back in

the city. Nothing- absolutely nothing would make me go back. My brows furrow as I think of my ex- fiancé, my friends I knew since elementary school,

the graves of my family -dug after the accident ten years ago- no nothing at all could ever make me want to relive those moments. I feel a tear or two

hanging from my moist eyelashes, threatening to fall. I quickly wipe the tears from my face and force a little smile towards Cliff and he bites his bottom

lip nervously. He declares in a soft voice "I better head to the inn; it's getting dark, do….you…want me to…..walk…you home?" The last few words came

out in more of a shy inquisition than a bold declaration. "Oh no that's ok, you go on ahead, I am going to stay a bit longer. " I say and he gets up

slowly. After he has taken a few steps away from me he suddenly turns around and smiles a little. "I had fun today…I'm glad I met you….i hope we can

be friends." He stutters and I giggle. "Sure." I reply and he runs off and I fall onto my back and feel the coolness of the sand on my neck and arms.

"Miss Hinamori?" I snap into an upright position as I hear a man's voice in the distance. The sun was setting so there was still enough light to see my

surroundings. I feel the adrenaline rush through my body involuntarily as the unrecognizable male runs towards me. A flood of relief hits me as I see

that the man approaching me was the Doctor. "Miss Hinamori, why are you out here so late, it is going to be dark very soon and this is no place for a

young lady to be out and about alone at night." I smile at his concern for my welfare and chuckle at his childish expression of relief. "Oh Doctor I was

just heading home when you saw me, I come here to think." I say in a zoned out voice. My mind drifting away with the salty waves – now growing

larger and a bit more violent as the tide changes- I become distant from Mineral Town as I watch the water. "You come here to think? Think about

what?" I look at the doctor – who was now standing next to me with his hands in the pockets of his pants- as he asks drawing my out of thought. "Oh,

just about my home back in the city, my family, and those kinds of things." I reply trying to avoid the subject. "Oh, are you thinking of moving back to

the city Miss Hinamori?" Doctor asks in a melancholy tone. I laugh bitterly "oh gosh no. There is nothing there for me, nothing to make me want to go

back." He looks at me with a slightly confused expression on his face. "I can see you do not really wish to talk about it so I will let the subject be. But

remember that if you ever need anything or want to talk-"I smile and cut him off. "Thank you Doctor, I appreciate that." And with that I rush off the

beach shore and onto the cobblestone streets leading to my house. "That was too close; I'm just not ready to reveal any of my personal life to these

people, but maybe someday, someday soon." I mutter to myself as I arrive at my farm.