Everybody Loves Claire Chapter 6: Boyless for Weeks, a harvest moon fanfic

Guys, thanks so very much for the reviews! I LOVES YOU ALL! So here's the next chapter and Enjoy!
Doncha forget to put some reviews!! Next chapter will be up soon when I get at least 3 reviews on this chapter!

Everybody Loves Claire part 6

Claire trembled in Doctor's protective arms while Cliff, Rick, and Gray stared at them, confused and heartbroken. The blue feather grasped tightly in Claire's shaking hand.

Cliff just stood there, trying to analyze the situation in his head. In his hand was a long box, just like what Doctor gave to Claire. His eyes were beginning to water.

Rick was staring at Claire and Doctor and at Claire's blue feather.

Gray looked like he was taken aback. The newly-upgraded axe was at his feet. This time his cap didn't hide the confusion in his blue eyes.

Doctor Alex, with Claire in his arms, was also confused at the situation. He scanned the place, not really getting what was going on.

Claire, grasping the blue feather tightly, shook as she tried to hold back her tears. All her boyfriends at the same place at the same time…this is not good…

"C-Claire…?" Cliff managed to say. "What's h-happening? Why are you with Doctor and why a-are Rick and Gray here?"

Claire couldn't answer.

"What are you doing with him!? Did he give you that feather?!" Gray said, almost angry.

Claire couldn't answer.

"Claire…" Rick breathed out. "W-were you…cheating on me?"

Claire couldn't answer.

"Claire…" Doctor managed to utter. His chest felt heavy.

After ten agonizing seconds, Claire broke free from Doctor Alex's arms and dropped on her knees.

"I'm…sorry," she sobbed. "Yes…I…cheated."

The box in his hand felt empty. His downcast glance hid streaming tears. "S….sorry!" Cliff managed to say before running for the inn. She cheated on him! She cheated on the others! How could he not have realized!? Doctor was the perfect match for her. He knew how to treat gashes and sicknesses, which a farmer like her would always have. He was well-educated, a graduate, everything he wasn't.

Gray was trying to hide his tears with his hat. He faced down and ran back to his grandfather's house without a word. He was tough. The toughest among the bachelors, he believed. No one knew how to be a blacksmith other than him and his grandfather.

He was visibly stronger, able to carry heavy ores and metal tools, able to work in extreme heat, able to work for long hours under the strict supervision of his grandfather, able to emit tears and try to hide them unsuccessfully, able to run back like a baby to his loving grandfather for guidance. Some tough guy he was.

For the first time ever, Doctor experienced hurt. He breathed heavily, almost wheezing. She didn't really need him, she had other guys. Sure, Gray and Cliff will come back; they're the forgive-and-forget guys, right? And Rick too, he was kinder than him. He even looked kinder.

Whilst he, somehow he always had a grudge on somebody. He found it hard to forgive someone who had terribly wronged him. Claire cheated on four guys, three of them more compassionate than the fourth. Was this why people seemed to evade his innocent little clinic? Was this why he and Elli only stayed as friends and business partners? Most probably.

Doctor hesitantly picked up the blue feather lying on the street, next to Claire's trembling figure. "I'm sorry, Claire," he whispered, hoping she heard it. Then he slowly started down the street, heading for the clinic.

Rick was the only one left standing. In front of him was a sobbing farmer girl, ready to be forgiven. He could never stand to see anyone crying, and Claire is no exception. The kind guy he was, he sat down on the ground next to Claire. He felt terribly hurt and unworthy of her love at the same time, yet he also felt the need to help Claire get back on her feet."

"Claire…don't cry," Rick said, patting her hands.

"HOW CAN I NOT CRY?!" Claire spat out. "I was obviously DUMPED by all of you! And it's all my fault…" she sobbed harder.

"Yeah…I'm sorry. But why did you date ALL four of us? It's cheating!" Rick said.

Claire brought out a handkerchief and wiped her tears. "Because…because…I wanted to get to know all of you. And I found…out that all four of you are great…I just can't pick ONE!"

Rick reached out to hug her but Claire pulled away.

"Sorry, but I have to go back to my farm now. I got work to do…" Claire lied. She wanted so badly to cry her eyes out in her pillow. She wanted Popuri by her side.

Claire stood up and headed for her farm, leaving Rick all by himself.

For the rest of the day and the next day, Claire spent them in bed, crying. The blue feather she had been waiting for all her life has just tearfully eluded her reach. Popuri didn't come. Obviously Rick didn't want to talk about it at home.

As for her animals, the Harvest Sprites took care of them. The Harvest Goddess knows what's happening.

For the next few weeks, Claire was depressed. She had energy enough to take care of her farm though. But after farming, Claire slept on the farm grass with her now dog, Cocoa.

Rose Square

"I haven't seen Claire outside the farm in a while. Plus, Cliff stopped talking about her and whenever I ask him about her, he doesn't answer."

"Really? Manna, Are you sure he's not sick?"

"Yeah, I'm pretty sure he's not. I wonder what's happened to them. "

"Oh yes, I remember! That doctor from the clinic came back to the supermarket to return a blue feather!"

"Really!? Are you sure? I can't imagine someone dating him. Not even Elli! Ah, nevermind that."

"Do you think Cliff and Doctor broke up with some girls? Recently, Cliff's not being himself. When he works at the winery, he has no enthusiasm. Usually, he does his best and by closing time he's done picking grapes."

"But it's been weeks! Don't you think they'd have reconciled by now?"

"I don't know. But it's possible they haven't…"

"Why do you think so, Anna?"

"Well, when Basil and I were still dating, we broke up once."

"WHAT!? Really? You never told me about that! You have to tell me, Anna! Why did you break up before? Did he do something to you? Were you hurt? What happened…"

Summer 28

"Congrats, Potpourri!" Claire happily said to her newlywed friend. Popuri just had a grand wedding at Carter's church and they were having the reception at the beach.

"Thanks, Claire! I feel so giddy!" Popuri said. She already heard of the break-ups from her friend. "I hope you'll also feel the same…you haven't been yourself ever since."

"Yes, I know. I miss the guys already. I haven't seen Rick, Gray, Cliff or Doctor in weeks!"

"If you wanna talk to the best man, Rick's over there with mom." Popuri pointed with a gloved hand to their direction. Rick and his mom were eating lunch.

"Um…maybe later. Thanks, Popuri." Claire nervously thanked the bride. Popuri reunited with the smartly-dressed Kai while Claire went back to her own table.

"I wonder why Gray, Cliff, and Doctor aren't here." Claire wondered out loud while eating the rest of the veggies. "Maybe because I'm here." She finished her lunch in solitude. "I wonder when I'll ever see those boys again…"

After the lovely wedding reception, everybody went home. Popuri went home just to pack the last of her remaining stuff. She was leaving for the city with Kai on the next day. Kai went back to his shop to ready his things.

Claire went back to her house and got her tools. Since the wedding was in the morning, she didn't have time to take care of her animals and her shipping then. She greeted her animals happily as usual and she rode her horse for exercise. Cocoa happily bounded alongside his master.

Still, Claire felt as if something was missing from her life and she knew it. She needed a husband, yet her boyfriends have all dumped her. She had no hope of getting even one of them to be her boyfriend again. Maybe just as close as best friends.

Besides, she needed one as soon as possible. With Popuri gone, she'll need someone to talk with. She needed another best friend. Claire got off her horse and walked out into the town.

"Good afternoon, Claire." Elli sweetly greeted as usual. "My, I haven't seen you in weeks! How are you?"

"I'm fine, thanks Elli." Claire politely said. "Um, can I have twenty Turbojolts?"

"TWENTY!?" Elli was taken aback. No one had bought this much medicine in one visit. Was she taking drugs?! "T-that's a lot! Are you sure you're eating right? Are you feeling tired all the time?"

From the other side of the wall, Doctor Alex was listening in.

"No, I'm fine. It's just convenient not having to run from my farm to the other side of Mineral Town just to get a one bottle of medicine." Claire said. This way she didn't have to see Doctor as often. She knew him and after that day, he seemed like he had no emotions.

"Psst, hey Claire…" Elli whispered so Doctor wouldn't hear. Claire leaned in.

"What is it?"

"Um, do you know what's with Doctor Alex? He seems…different. He's been acting strange lately. Once, I caught him reading a book upside-down. He's concerned about something. Did something happen between you two?"

Claire knew she had to talk with him. But it's just so difficult! "Um…yeah…something happened. I want to talk to him." Claire whispered back.

"Go ahead. I don't think he's busy right now." Elli smiled at Claire. The two girls were forming some kind of bond. They were best friends now, yet not as close as Claire had been with Popuri, much to her concern.

Claire slowly walked over to Doctor's office, feeling nervous. She hasn't really been talking to him in weeks, except for examinations.

"Hi…Doctor." Claire felt that she had no more intimacy as to call him by his first name. Doctor looked up from his medical records.

"Good afternoon, Claire. How may I help you?"

"Um…I just wanted to say…" Claire racked her mind for what to say so they would make up. But after all those weeks, it's harder to apologize.

"Uh…um…"

"Yes?" His blank eyes were expecting.

"Um…nevermind. Sorry for disturbing you." Claire quickly stepped out of his office and gave Elli an I-can't-do-it glance before leaving the clinic.

Since that day, Claire didn't talk to any of her former boyfriends, especially Doctor and Cliff. She thought they were the most hurt.

It was 7:30am, Spring 13. Claire decided to go to the mountains early in the morning. The breeze was refreshingly cool and she loved the flowers there. She and Gray used to go hiking there.

At the peak of Mother's Hill, Claire ate breakfast with her dog. A blue and white checkered picnic blanket was spread out. Claire and Cocoa shared Caesar salad and mayonnaise sandwiches (yes the dog is a vegetarian, lol).

"Isn't it great up here, Cocoa?" Claire said. "I love the mountains."

Cocoa barked in reply as his master smiled at him. He happily chased a yellow butterfly.

"Careful, Cocoa! Don't go near the…ah, whatever." Claire bit off another piece of bread. She knew her dog was always careful. The worst thing it could do here was eat the butterfly.

After packing up the picnic stuff, Claire stood up near the edge and breathed in the fresh air as it passed her. It ruffled her skirt and played with her sandy bright hair.

Suddenly, Claire heard a whimper. She rushed to where the sound was coming from.

"Cocoa!" her dog had slipped from the edge of the high cliff and it had fallen into some tree branches below. He had followed to butterfly too much. "I'm coming, boy! Don't move or even bark!"

Claire cautiously bent over and reached for her dog but it was out of reach. She then tried climbing down to the tree. Carefully, she moved on down, holding her skirt so it won't snag on something.

"I'll be there, Cocoa, don't you worry," Claire assured her whimpering dog. It was she who was worrying. The cliff was so steep and high you could see another town from there. Plus, there were so many things where you could snag your skirt on.

"Almost…" Claire stretched her hand to the tree while holding on the edge of the cliff. The tree was just out of reach. How the heck did Cocoa get there?

She strained her hand to reach the branch. "Ah, better!" When she finally got hold of one of its branches, Claire let go of the edge of the cliff and clung onto the tree. "Whew!"

Cocoa gave a bark of relief. It was ready to jump onto Claire's arms.

"No, don't make…any…sudden movements, Cocoa." Claire warned. "I will get you there, promise." The dog stay put in its place on the branches. Claire reached out just a little more and when she was sure of her balance; she let Cocoa come into her arms.

"Finally…now to get back up." Claire held on to her dog with one arms and climbed with another. She managed to get halfway up…when the foothold gave way.

The wind blew through her ears, and the tree and the cliff was getting smaller and smaller. Then there was a loud thump and a whimper, and then everything went pitch black.

The next thing she saw, it was a very bright light.

I bet you guys are screaming KYAA right about now