A/N: Whoops, I broke the deadline I set for myself! Sorry, guys!
...But eh, you know those times when you look at what you have written for a chapter and just not like what's there? That's kinda what happened here. I had it mostly written and ready to post yesterday but then I reread it and said to myself, "This is crap. I can't post this!11"
So I hope this version's better! I'm glad I didn't post the unpostable crap version. Also when I was first planning this story, I turned Raeger into the creepy second dude who develops feelings for Annie out of nowhere. I'm extremely happy to say that won't happen here. I've been wanting to write a "pure" love story for a while now, and I hope that's what this will be. (Mainly because I think I'm pretty sapped out of ideas for Annie-centric stories for a while now.)
In other news (well, actually, I think I'm late to the party), did you guys know a new BokuMono/Story of Seasons game's been announced? If not, go check it out! I don't want to spoil anything for those who want to go into games blindly. The hype is reeeeal~
Uh, other than that, I finally bought all 23 volumes of Fruits Basket. It's the first entry in my officially licensed manga collection, which I'm hoping to expand on now that I'm not paying off car issues. Don't be a pirate if you can help it! Even if scans are super nice
...I dunno when I decided to make these author notes ranting spaces. I'll stop now. Chapter five marks the beginning of a brand new arc, and I promise you'll like it!
"So I threw it on the ground."
Raeger dropped his fork on the plate in front of him, making a loud clinking noise. He stared at her with wide eyes. "You threw his phone on the ground?"
His incredulous tone caught Annie off guard. She nodded hesitantly. "Is that bad?"
He scoffed. "Well, I think so! What if you broke it?"
Annie bit her lip and turned away. She didn't break it. She would've heard it.
Then again, after throwing the phone down, she just stormed off. Maybe she didn't hear anything in her fit of anger.
"So I'm in the wrong?" she asked softly. She hadn't thought of that possibility until now, chalking it up as "Fritz being inconsiderate." It wouldn't be unlike him to do something like that – ignore her in favor of someone more important.
Raeger nodded. "You didn't wait for him to finish his conversation, or ask who he was talking to, or even respect his personal property. It could've been something important."
He chuckled. "I can't believe you have to ask if you were wrong. And I'm even more surprised that it took you two days to question it."
She slouched in her stool. Two days passed because it took her that long to calm down. She was so angry, believing that Fritz blew her off for some stupid phone call. It was supposed to be their first date.
But she saw his face. It was full of pain. He had to strain himself to keep up whatever conversation he was having, and she didn't like seeing that. Maybe she was being too harsh...
"I just... don't like phones," she admitted, twiddling her fingers.
"You need to tell Fritz that, not me," Raeger told her sternly.
She groaned. Why couldn't she just be normal? Fritz probably would've been better off with a more obedient girlfriend, someone who wouldn't go traipsing off because she was upset over a little thing like this. She'd ignored everyone else in town out of fear that she would see him somewhere.
Fritz had to be a masochist or something. Why else would he put up with her selfish, stubborn attitude all the time?
Annie looked up at Raeger with a weak smile. "Sorry for dragging you into this."
He brushed it off. "It's all right. I'm happy to help. Just don't make a habit of it, because I'm busy."
"Yeah, right! That's why you're here slacking off and eating!" She punched his arm.
He rubbed at it tenderly, feigning pain. "I'm on break."
She rolled her eyes. "Whatever."
The two ate in a more comfortable silence. When Raeger finished, he spoke up.
"But really, you should apologize to him."
Her face fell. She knew he was right. Fritz didn't deserve to be treated like that, especially not by her. She was such an idiot.
She took in a deep breath. It was time to buck up and shape up. "Okay."
She dug her fork into her omelet, cutting it up into tiny, bite-size pieces. It was good that she went out for dinner today. She didn't realize how much she needed to just rant – and get told off. Jeez, relationships were difficult.
As she ate, she noticed Raeger had left his spot behind the counter. He was tending to the other customers now. That was fine. After reflecting on her actions, she needed a few minutes to herself. She didn't know what she would say to Fritz just yet.
She'd collect her thoughts here and then she'd go try and smooth things over.
The door slammed open and Annie nearly choked on her food. She was about to yell right after Raeger did, but then she saw who it was.
Of course it had to be Fritz, just because she wasn't ready to see him yet. Besides, she didn't know anyone else who burst through doors like that.
They locked eyes and Annie gulped, completely unprepared and speechless.
But then he looked away and smiled at Raeger instead. "Hiya, Raeger!" He seemed unperturbed by the scolding Raeger had just given him for startling the customers.
Fritz and Raeger engrossed themselves in a conversation, and Annie just sat there.
So he was ignoring her. She guessed she couldn't blame him, because she'd been avoiding him since she chucked his phone. Would he even accept an apology from her? Or was he tired of her already?
She put a hand to her forehead. It wasn't like her to get bothered and insecure like this. Stupid Fritz... doing more than necessary.
Well, in any case, seeing as he was currently preoccupied, she'd wait. At least she could get her thoughts together.
…
They were finally alone, at his house, even, so they wouldn't be bothered.
Before he left the restaurant, she called out to him so they wouldn't miss each other again – and so he didn't leave without saying anything to her.
But now what? The mood was horrible. How could she start?
"F-Fritz, um..." Her words caught in her throat.
"I'm sorry."
She snapped her head up. "Huh?" Why was he apologizing? He had nothing to make up for...
Fritz averted his eyes. "I should've told you what that was all about."
He probably meant the phone call. She couldn't deny that she was still curious.
Annie cleared her throat. "No. It's none of my business what it was. You don't have to tell me."
"R-really?" he asked, a complicated expression on his face. "You're not even a little interested?"
She sighed. "Don't say it like that. I mean... jeez, of course I'm interested. I like... knowing things about you. I want to know more." She turned her head in an attempt to hide her flushed cheeks.
"Aaaaannie..."
"Wh-what?" She turned back towards him. That was a new tone.
"Don't... say things like that." He rubbed his neck.
"You're the one who told me to be nicer!"
"Well, sure, but it's just, y'know... a little embarrassing."
She rolled her eyes. "You're telling me."
Annie lay back farther on the sofa. At least they could still talk normally, but the atmosphere still felt a little tense.
"Um, so Fritz," she started awkwardly, "I'm really sorry."
He cocked his head to the side like a dog. "Sorry for what?"
"F-for nearly destroying your phone!" Did he forget already, or was he just that naively forgiving?
"What, this?" He pulled it out from his jeans pocket almost immediately. The device looked completely unscathed.
"How...?"
Fritz laughed. "This thing's kinda indestructible. It's perfect for someone like me!"
She smiled in agreement. She watched him brush off the screen, and then her earlier curiosity got the better of her.
"How did you get the money for that?"
He seemed a little caught off guard, stuttering before finally replying intelligibly. "Well, I didn't really pay for it."
"Y-you stole it?!" Her voice grew louder. "Fritz, what the heck - "
"Hey, you didn't let me finish!" he interrupted, wearing a slightly hurt expression. "It's like you don't trust me at all sometimes."
Annie scoffed and crossed her arms. It wasn't like he jumped at the chance to continue after saying he didn't pay for it. What was she supposed to think?
"Anyway," he started, "let's just say I, uh, know someone in the electronics business. When there's a janky product or something, he has to get rid of it, so he usually just gives it to me."
Did that explain the remote-controlled truck, too? But what was up with that suspicious wording?
He "knew someone in the electronics business?"
"...You're actually a pretty shady person, aren't you, Fritz?"
"What?" His eyes widened. "I-I'm not! I promise!"
Annie laughed while he tried to redeem and explain himself. She felt multitudes better already. What an overreaction earlier. She still felt like she had to apologize more, but Fritz wasn't giving off any upset vibes.
Was everything okay, then?
The air was cleared and they were just talking about silly, mundane things until the clock on the wall chimed. They both looked up at it.
"Crud! It's already ten?" Fritz ruffled his hair and turned towards her. "It's getting kinda cold out now. Want me to walk you home?"
She didn't understand the connection between those sentences, but she nodded. She didn't realize that so much time had passed already.
She wanted to stay with him a little longer... But she wouldn't tell him that, no way.
Besides, now that they were on pretty good terms again, she could probably see him more often.
It was dark and quiet as they traveled up the hills, and the early autumn breeze caught her by surprise. When Annie shivered, Fritz grabbed her hand and pulled her close to his side.
"Y'know, Annie, you should probably start wearing a jacket this time of year," he told her in a teasing voice.
"Sh-shut up."
He was right, though. The thin knitted sweater she had on did nothing to protect her from the wind. She was pretty sure her hand was the only part of her upper body that wasn't cold, because Fritz was holding it.
She squeezed his hand tighter.
"...Sorry I'm not a good girlfriend."
Fritz stopped in his tracks, startling her and making her stop, too. She stared back at him, a blank expression on his face.
"Fritz?"
He shook his head as if snapping out of some reverie. "Why would you say that?"
She bit her lip, not expecting him to have actually heard that. "W-well..."
She scolded him most of the time for being childish and silly, but she could be like that, too. And there was nothing wrong with that at all. In fact, she kind of liked it that way.
She wasn't very honest, especially when it came to matters concerning herself. She didn't know how to communicate like that after keeping to herself for such a long time, but she knew that Fritz wanted to talk about their lives before Oak Tree Town.
That wasn't all, though. She pushed him away when he was quite possibly the only one who could make her feel better. He never put her down or made her cry or anything of the sort, and he always made situations fun.
That was why she liked him. But...
"All I do is cause trouble," she admitted, originally saving that thought for him. "I'm unreliable, worthless, and kinda mean, and I'm always doing something wr - "
"Annie."
She looked up just a second too late to back away.
Fritz kissed her gently on the lips. She didn't feel sparks or butterflies or anything, but she did feel an indescribable warmth wash over her entire body. It relieved all of her doubt, if only for that one moment.
He brought a hand slowly up to her face, and as soon as it made contact she pulled away, brought back to reality.
"S-sorry," she muttered, hiding her face. That was... a kiss? With Fritz?
"I don't want you to say that again."
She blinked in confusion. "You don't want me to apologize?"
"No, no, not that. Well, I mean, not so much apologizing." He frantically stumbled over his words.
"...You're not worthless, Annie." He grabbed her hand again, rubbing a finger over her knuckles. "I know I'm not the brightest guy around, but you like me, anyway... I think, and that means a lot to me. You mean a lot to me."
She averted her gaze, unable to hide her embarrassment. "Y-you can stop with the mushy stuff any time."
"I don't want to."
He used his grip on her hand to pull her into him, resting his chin atop her head. She smelled nice.
"F-Fritz - "
"Annie, do you like me?"
"What?"
How could he be saying and doing all this without getting flustered like she was? She should've been asking him if he really liked her.
"You do like me, right?" he tried again, totally oblivious to her racing thoughts and heart. Or maybe he could hear her heart pounding and wanted to test it more.
She nodded slowly, clinging to him. Either way, she really did like his bluntness. She was drawn to it.
He wrapped an arm around her waist, holding her tighter. "Then say it. I want to hear it from you."
This was so unfair. He was pouting like usual, but he was using their proximity to ensure she couldn't back out.
But she was the cause of his insecurity. She hadn't even told him she liked him yet... She was so inexperienced and awkwardly clumsy with everything, she was always surprised that she was who he picked.
Fine. He could have it his way.
"I like you."
"Hmm? I didn't catch that; you were mumbling."
"You - !" She pulled away and stared up at him, watching angrily as he smiled.
He'd expect her to get mad and refuse to say it again, right? Maybe she could do a surprise attack, even if it was embarrassing.
She looked him in the eye. "I like you, Fritz."
As soon as she said it she turned away, face hot. The cool night breeze was no match for her now. Speaking of that...
"Come on. I wanna get home." They'd been standing there for a while. She was just glad it was nighttime, otherwise someone might have seen them.
Fritz smiled and followed after her.
"Oh, and Fritz?"
"Yeah?"
She crossed one arm over the other as she walked. "I'm expecting something better than that for our first date, so..."
He grinned. "Got it. I'll call you out again soon, so be ready!" He caught up to her. "Annie?"
She turned her head to look at him.
"I'll tell you everything about me someday, too."
She smiled and nodded. She'd look forward to that.
~CGA
