Chapter 4: The Beginning

The next morning, Amy awoke at five thirty. She combed her messy hair with her hand. She took out a white shirt and overalls from her bag as well as a brush. She bathed, brushed her teeth and washed her face.

As she left the bathroom, she brushed her hair straight. She looked around the room. The cat from last night was sleeping on one of the beds. Amy left the room quietly, carrying her rucksack. After having a quick breakfast of scrambled eggs, she headed to the farm. Ann watched her go, happy to see that Amy was looking cheerful that day. 'She deserves better…' Ann thought.

During the day, Amy dutifully worked on the farm as Karen watched, holding Marc in her arms. After some hours, Amy took out a handkerchief from her pocket. She wiped her sweaty face. Suddenly, a cup of water appeared in front of her. She looked beside her.

Karen was standing there, smiling as she held out the cup. "Thanks, Karen." Amy took the cup gratefully. She drank.

"You work really hard, Amy."

"Thanks. I like working on the farm. Matt is lucky." Amy smiled, she was happy for her cousin.

"I agree…I first thought Matt would not last here for more than a few days but he proved me wrong. But because of that and his kindness, I fell in love with him." Karen blushed, her thoughts wandered to the memories during the three years since she met and got to know and love Matt.

"Matt was never a quitter." Amy laughed, remembering their childhood days when Matt strove to fulfill his parents' aspirations for him by doing extremely well in school, while being able to gain a reputation for himself.

Karen could only smile, knowing that she would never belittle her husband again.

"Now, what could the two of you be talking about?" A voice sounded from behind them. Both Amy and Karen gasped in surprise. They both looked behind them.

"Matt Dear, welcome home." Karen kissed her husband on the cheek. Matt kissed her softly on the lips, holding a full basket in his hands.

"Matt, welcome back." Amy smiled.

"I'm glad to be back. Oh which reminds me Amy, it was prosperous day today."

Amy was puzzled by his words. Matt showed her the basket. Amy gasped. In it were gold, mysterile, orichalcum and adamantite ores which filled the whole basket.

"Wow, Matt, I…I can't thank you enough. This is too much."

"Some of them are your reward for doing a great job on the farm." Matt put the basket down. Amy looked at Karen, who nodded in agreement.

"Thank you so much, Matt. You're too kind."

Matt laughed. "Now, how many times have I heard that?!" Matt looked at his wife affectionately.

"It's true, Matt Dear." Karen held his arm.

"Well, we should go inside, it's lunch time." Matt suggested.

Amy nodded.

Karen blushed. "Matt Dear, perhaps you should cook."

"Of course, Honey. I think your cooking skills need to be saved for a better day, perhaps on a rainy day." Karen flushed. Amy guessed that Karen was ashamed of her cooking.

They went into the house. Amy gasped when she saw what Matt had prepared, stir-fry, stew; fried rice and boiled spinach…Amy ate with delight. The food was superb.

While they ate, Amy noticed that Karen kept looking at Marc who was drinking his hot milk ravenously. "Karen?" She finally spoke when Matt went into the kitchen.

"What is it, Amy?"

"Is something wrong with Marc?"

Karen looked at Marc who was reaching out to her, hoping to be cuddled. "Oh no, there's nothing wrong with Marc. Why did you say that?" Karen cuddled her beloved son.

"It's just that you kept looking at him as we ate."

"Oh that, I was just worried Marc would grow chubbier than normal."

"You're health conscious for Marc." Amy giggled.

Karen could only nod, slightly embarrassed. Amy went to help Matt in the kitchen as Karen put Marc to bed after crooning him to sleep.

Amy bade the two of them goodbye half an hour later, the ores in her rucksack, and headed to the supermarket.

"Hello, Amy." Jeff said.

"Good afternoon, Jeff. May I have this wrapped?" She handed him the mysterile ore, having found out that it was Saibara the blacksmith's birthday.

"Of course, that will be 100G."

Amy handed him the money then put the newly wrapped gift in her rucksack. "Thank you, Jeff." She said earnestly and gave both he and Sasha, his wife, a moon drop flower.

"Thank you, Amy. I like this." Jeff said. "Yes, thank you, Amy." Sasha smiled.

Amy immediately headed towards the blacksmith shop, after saying goodbye to Jeff and Sasha. When she arrived, she did not see Gray working. Saibara smiled when he saw her. "Welcome Amy." Amy handed the gift to Saibara.

"Why, thank you, Amy. I almost forgot that it was my birthday today."

"You're welcome, Saibara." Amy gave him a smile. "Saibara…Where is Gray?"

"Oh, Gray is at the Inn, Amy."

"The Inn?"

"Yes, he usually reads during the afternoon except when the library's closed."

"Thank you, Saibara. Well, I have to go. Goodbye."

"Goodbye Amy, come back again."

"I will." She promised.

Amy left the blacksmith shop. She took the right path and ran all the way to the Inn. She greeted Ann and Harris the policeman, as she entered. She half-ran up the stairs but, when she reached the top, slowly walked towards the boys' room.

Before going in, she took a deep breath and knocked. The door opened and Gray stood before her.

"Hi Amy."

"Hi Gray." She reached into her rucksack and took out a silver and a gold ore. She shyly handed them to Gray who, though surprised, was pleased.

"Thanks, Amy." Gray smiled shyly, his eyes slightly hidden by the bill of his blue cap. Amy looked at him adoringly. His smile was so adorable and slightly contagious.

"Come in." Gray moved to give room for her to enter. Amy gingerly went in though she was nervous. This was the second time she had entered the room yet she still felt slightly uneasy because, though this was a room Gray and Cliff shared, at the moment they were alone.

"Thank you again, Amy. I am really thankful you are around. I cannot stand my Grandpa's excessive criticism. He really does not appreciate my work but you encourage me to do better."

"You're welcome, Gray. I am glad I am able to help you." Amy said as she tried to hide her slightly flushed face. Gray did not seem to notice. She was thankful. "Well, I have to go now, Gray. I will see you later."

"See you later, Amy." Gray smiled.

Amy closed the door behind her and sighed dreamily. "No." She told herself. "What's happening? I shouldn't feel this way. I can't love him. It's impossible." She remembered what happened to May, her mother, when she and Henry, her father got divorced. "Papa had a mistress, Mama was heartbroken and I had a heartless boyfriend."

Amy controlled herself, her eyes almost at the brink of tears. "But is it possible that Gray is different? Or perhaps any of the other young men here are different from Alex. Gray is sweet but Alex was like that before too but...I don't know." Amy thought deeply for awhile. "I have to move on with my life; besides I think…I think I am falling for Gray." Amy told herself.

She went downstairs and asked Doug if she could borrow an empty box. Doug agreed and gave her one. It looked new. She went up to her room after thanking him. She noticed the cat had left. Unloading the ores in her rucksack, she put them in the box. She lay on her bed, her body felt somewhat sore yet winning Gray's affection made it bearable. It was worth the soreness. Amy slowly took her diary from the bedside table.

Spring 11, 2:10 pm, Monday

I worked at Meadow Farm today. It was so much fun. I liked it a lot. Matt found a lot of ores today, enough to fill a whole basket. I could not believe the look on Gray's face when I gave him a few of them. He has such an adorable smile. I have decided to leave Alex in the past and move on with my life. I like Gray, a lot...

He is so cute. I really want him to like me too…I feel so happy yet so sore. Maybe it is because I had to carry all of the ores in my rucksack. But I am alright. I will work hard for Gray and my future. Who knows, I might want to stay here.

-Amy

Amy put the diary back after locking it again. She lounged on the bed for some time before thinking of going to the Poultry Farm to chat with Popuri. She left the Inn and walked, heading towards the Poultry Farm which was close to Meadow Farm. She stood outside the door, listening to the clucking of the chickens. When she opened the doors…Rick and Popuri and a woman, whom Amy guessed must be Lillia, their mother, were standing around the table. The smell of boiled eggs filled the room. "Wow, cool!" Popuri smiled. "They laid many eggs today. Everyone's so healthy! I made spa-boiled eggs so let's eat them together." A big smile was plastered on Rick's face. "Okay." Lillia agreed. "Hi Amy." Popuri said, being the first to spot Amy. "Good afternoon, Amy. I'm Lillia." Lillia smiled. "Hey Amy, are you shopping today?" Rick asked. "I was thinking of going shopping later." "Just take your time, by the way, I was wondering, do you like eggs?" Rick looked slightly shy. "Yes, I love eggs." Amy softly smiled. "I knew it. Wait right there." Rick smiled and picked up a spa-boiled egg which he handed to her. "Here, this is a spa-boiled egg. It's a healthy snack." "Thank you, Rick." Amy said. "Well, I have to go…I still have some things to do." "Okay, Bye, Amy." Rick had a big smile on his face. "See you later." Popuri said. "Goodbye, Amy." Lillia bade her farewell. "Bye."

Amy left through the doors again, the spa-boiled egg still in her hands. "Mmmm…this smells good." She thought. She walked towards Rose Square. When she arrived, she sat on the bench nearest the trash can and slowly began to take off the eggshell. She took a small bite. "Mmmm…it's so good." She savored every bit of the delicious egg. After a few more bites, she had finished the egg and was thankful Rick had given it to her. It seemed to have relieved her of her soreness. She then stood and took the right road towards the church. She looked at her watch…it was 3:00 in the afternoon.

Author's Note: Thanks for the reviews. As you might have read or may know, I've placed Rick's Black Heart Event here but I made this the Purple Heart Event instead for two reasons: 1.) Because I thought this was much sweeter than the real Purple Heart Event and 2.) Because I actually triggered this event when Rick had a purple heart on my character in the MFOMT game...:)