Chapter 9

I sat my bedroom, reading a book that Mary had suggested for me. I had recently found a friend in the little librarian. Though, I never saw her much. But when she did come to the Church, we found that we shared some common interests: books, Church, music, and that talking wasn't much of our forte.

There was a loud rapping on the door, and I jumped in my bed.

Ann poked her head in, her brows in a taut furrow. "Her Highness isn't thrilled that we don't have a tenth electric outlet in her room."

Ah, Claire.

I nodded and gave Ann a sheepish, pitying smile. Claire was staying at the Inn until her new farmhouse was fully built and up to living standards (and human living standards, not wealthy semi-snob living standards). The blonde had taken fully over the second Inn room, her clothes filling the closets and dressers and flooding over to the other bed, her make-up container dictating the dressertop, and her purse and shoe collection… Good Goddess, they had to stay in their suitcases. I had no energy and the room had no space left to take them out. And from Ann's point of view, Claire would soon learn how to live of basics and thought she should start now. And from my point of view, Claire should enjoy what material items she had left.

Ann walked fully in, her hands folded over her chest and her hip jutting out to the side. It was the stern Keeper look. "She's also talking about having a few beers tonight, ever since I told her about Karen and Duke's drinking contests…" Ann said, giving me a look that was far too familiar to the disapproving look that my mother would give my father. I sighed and looked up with an expression saying 'what should I do about it?' "Go talk to her. She's dancing in her room to Shots."

I raised an eyebrow. I had been listening to the walls vibrating for the past hour. I pretty much knew already.

Ann smirked. "I'd dance, too, if I didn't already have responsibilities." Ann smiled at me. "She's a nice girl." Her smile darkened. "Let's try to keep my opinion of her that way."

I shrugged, giving her the same sheepish smile. She laughed. "I appreciate you getting her and all… Believe me; you're amazing to me for that." I felt my cheeks flare. "But she needs a bit of a waker-upper. I'd do it, but I've been told I'm a tad harsh." She rolled her blue eyes. "Anyway, I thought since you kinda know her better, could you say something?"

I was surprised. "I-I don't k-know h-how to f-farm!" I cried.

She gave me a look. "I know that, boy. Jeez, I didn't mean take her under your green-thumbed wing, moron. I meant let her know things run around here. You've been here long enough. I'd send Gray, but… He's kinda harsh like me and he's been ogling her ever since she arrived." Ann made a distasteful face, as if had eaten something sour.

Ogling? Hmmm, you'd think you'd notice…

"O-Okay…" I said, a little hesitant.

Ann smiled. "Great! Thanks, bud!"

I gave her a small smile. "N-No p-problem…"

She gave me a wave and then walked out of my room, closing the door behind her. I sighed, and this time, it was out of content.

Things going well for you, huh?

Absolutely… I get to stay, Ann and I are all cool again, nobody hates my guts, and I actually have a routine! A routine! It's been years since I had a routine… Sophomore year in high school. That's right.

Would you go back again?

Home? And leave here? No, I don't think so.

Yeah? That so? Why?

I guess I like it here.

Really?

Yeah.

What about Claire?

What about her?

She's kinda pretty. Tee-hee!

Well… Yeah, I guess…

Oh, you're blushing, Cliffy! Tee-hee!

I am not!

My cheeks burned as I stood up to go to the room of vibrating walls. I knocked on her door once, which after I realized she wouldn't be able to hear me. I opened the door a crack and peeked in. Claire was in a tank top and, um, real shorts. The music blared as though embedded in my eardrums. I watched her as she danced, lip singing to the loud melody.

She turned around, noticing me. She continued to dance as she winked at me. "Hey there, cutie!" She yelled over the music. My cheeks flared. "Care to dance?" I shook my head, opening the door fully and walking in. She fist pumped into the air, wooting. "C'mon! You know you want to…" She giggled, swaying her hips. Putting up my hands, I shook my head again. Claire smirked. "Ah, suit yourself!"

She danced her way over to her iHome and turned the blaring music down, then facing me and smirking, asking, "So why're you here? If not to dance with me, then…?" Her voice implied more and my cheeks burned.

I looked away, rubbing the back of my neck. "I-I w-wanted t-to show y-you around…"

She stopped smirking and smiled. "Aw, that's so sweet of you!"

Blushing furiously, I smiled a little. "S-Should w-we go?"

She shrieked. I jumped a foot in the air. "Are you NUTS?" She had a look of horror on her face. "I haven't CHANGED yet!"

I shrunk back. "W-What?" I asked, utterly confused. "L-Like, a-a b-butterfly 'c-change'?"

"NO!" I felt if I shrunk back any farther, I'd turn inside out. "I mean, I haven't changed CLOTHES for the day! Or done my MAKE-UP! Or did my HAIR! Or-"

"O-Okay!" I surrendered. "A-Alright! I get i-it!"

Claire sighed and pushed me out of the room. "Alright, alright, I'll be done in a few minutes. But while I change, you have to step out."

Before I was shoved outside of the room's threshold, I could've sworn I heard her whisper, "Or not."

My face was purple when the door closed.

I sat on the floor, leaning against the wall next to Claire's bedroom door. Steady, in a slow beat, I banged the back of my head against the wall's face.

A few minutes? WHO WAS SHE KIDDING? I had been waiting for the past forty-five minutes!

Hmm… some ladies take a little longer to put on their face.

A little?

Well, yeah, I guess… Well, I know I don't take this long.

Wait, what? You're a person?

Tee-hee! Not quite, Cliffy!

Well, what are you-

"Cliff~" Rang a sweet voice, pulling me out of my mental conversation. I looked to my right to see a different view of the blonde next door. Claire wore tight black jeans with strappy, high suede boots. Her designer shirt was airy and light, a picture depicting a wheat field. It was a little see-through, and a white tank top pocked out under the thin fabric of the shirt. She wore her humongous sunglasses again and her hair was straightened and fell down her back in golden sheets. I couldn't help but stare. She smirked as she lowered her sunglasses to look at me. "So… ready to go?"

I merely nodded and she giggled.

Stop drooling, Cliff…

Oops, sorry…

I got up, nodding to the staircase. She took the hint and began to walk down the stairs, me right behind. Ann came out of the kitchen, giving me a quick wave as I dashed out the door, Claire already outside. When the warm air hit my face, I found that Claire had already begun walking down the road. I scuttled over to her like a puppy. She grinned at me as I caught up.

"So where exactly am I heading, cutie?" I blushed at the newfound nickname.

"W-Well, w-we're heading to t-the B-Blacksmith's… S-So-"

"Alrighty, then we'll start there." She said smirking. "What happens at a Blacksmith's?"

I drew a blank.

The filthy ogres melt metals and implant jewels in them. Ugh.

"S-Smiths w-work metals a-and can make t-tools and j-jewelry." I said, mentally cringing at the voice's harsh words.

Ogres! They're ogres! They work hard, that's for sure, but all the sweat toiled over just for silver or gold? Please… plant a crop for Harvest Lord's sake!

"Jewelry?" Claire asked, her eyes sparkling. "Oh, I love jewelry and jewels. I especially like sapphires."

UUUUUUUUUUGGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH…

I nodded, smiling. "M-Maybe, w-when you make enough m-money on the f-farm, t-then y-you could b-buy a sapphire n-necklace."

GGGGGAAAAAAAGGGGGGG…

Her face fell a little, but she nodded all the same. Had she emphasized the word 'sapphires'?

CHHHHOOOOOOOOOOOKEEEEEEE-

We get it. You hate jewels, metals, and the whole she-bang that goes with it.

Oh, did I not make that clear enough? I DETEST them.

That's a strong word there…

LOATHHHEEEEEEE…

…That's stronger.

I know.

Clearing my throat, I curved over to the side of the road, just at the entrance of the Blacksmith's. Claire followed me in, me holding the door open. Saibara nodded to me and then quickly, as though it was a long-old argument, scolded his grandson, "See? Chivalry isn't dead! Clifford here held the door open for this young lady! You couldn't even do that for poor Miss Mary…"

…Clifford?

"Shut UP already, you crotchety old man!" I could hear Gray seethe from the back of the room, his head practically in the hot, hot ovens. Saibara gave Gray a few choice words, and then apologized to Claire, who was eyeing up Gray from behind. Even I noticed her ogling.

Claire's attention then snapped back to Saibara, and she giggled nervously. "It's no problem, sir. I've heard much worse in my dad's office."

Saibara nodded and I introduced her as our new farmer. "Ah, taking up the farm, are you?" The elder man nodded, studying her. "Well… you might be a bit thin… and your muscles might not really stand up to some of the work at first… But I'm pretty confident that you'll survive."

Claire's expression was unreadable, a strange cross between either shocked, distasteful, and a smile. I saw her brow twitch. "Err, thank you?" Her voice heightened.

He nodded, his bushy, white brows furrowing. "Well, this is the Blacksmith's, young lady. This is where we'll be able to fix or upgrade your tools. You might have some in your tool box at your home, lasting from the other farmers in the past; those are old, and they'll make it for a while, but they will need to be updated to newer, better tools. That or they'll break on you."

Claire blinked, and I could just see her working on her farm now, an axe shattering upon impact. Shards everywhere. Both she and I shuddered involuntarily. Saibara seemed to understand. "Yes, it can be pretty dangerous… That's why it's very important for you to come in from time to time, if you see anything wrong with your tools. Any cracks or tarnishes, please inform either me or Gray."

The blonde smiled warmly. "Thanks!" She smirked, looking over at Gray. "Mind if I see how it's done?"

I blushed and pulled on my collar, feeling hot. Gray turned around and shrugged at her. "No skin off my bones."

Not much of a flirt, is he?

He likes her?

No duh, Sherlock Cliffy.

What about Mary? And he's only known Claire for days!

Like I said, ogre.

I pursed my lips as Claire sauntered over to Gray's side. My chest tightened a tad and I followed behind. The heat radiating off of the ovens tickled whatever skin was bare. My face was overridden with the pure warmth and gagging stench of molten ore. I had to cover my nose and mouth with my hand.

Claire, however, was leaning into the oven as Gray worked. She and the redhead both seemed unfazed by the horrible odor and the intense heat. Smoke burned up into the bellows, some escaping into the room. I held back a cough as I listened to Claire chattering away to Gray.

"Wow, this is so hot… How do you work all day with this heat?" She seemed genuinely interested. "I bet you get so sweaty under all that." Claire remarked, referring to Gray's clothes. I saw a small smirk flicker on her lips a second.

Oh, ew.

What?

Ugh, just girl thoughts.

…ew.

Yup.

"So when my tools need to be fixed, you'll be fixing them?" Claire asked.

"Yeah." Gray muttered, giving her a sideways glance. She nodded and remained quiet, watching him work. I looked over at Saibara, who wasn't paying us any mind.

"So what kinda tools will I be using?" Claire asked.

He gave her a look, noticed genuine curiosity, and then answered, "Hammers, axes, watering cans, maybe a sprinkler system if you get enough money, fishing rods, hoes-"

Claire began to giggle. Gray looked over at me with a face that implied that he was getting fed up. "So… hoes? Do you work with them often?"

"Uh, duh. I'm an apprentice blacksmith; I work with hoes all the time." Gray grunted. Claire snorted and Gray suddenly realized what was so funny. I let my face fall into my palm. His upper lip curled up as he barked, "Are you serious?"

Claire laughed even louder. I noted how high it was and how it reminded me of a hyena. I cringed.

Gray turned around, facing Claire and I with soot-speckled flesh and flamed-licked clothes. Fear replaced the blood in my veins when he stared at Claire with utter distaste. She was still giggling. "Get out!" He snapped.

Claire stopped laughing and then gave him a frown. "Hey, you can't talk to me like that!"

"Gray!" Saibara barked from the front of the room. "You can't talk to her like that!"

I went to Claire's side, grabbing her arm and beginning to tug at it. "C-C'mon, let's g-go…"

"No!" She pulled her arm away. "I want him to apologize first! Apologize to your superior!"

Gray snorted. "Superior? As if!"

"Gray, apologize to Miss Claire!" Saibara shouted.

"No!"

"Then I refuse to leave!"

"You're distracting me from my work!"

"Gray, apologize!"

"Not until she admits she's being annoying!"

"Who you calling annoying, you ugly mug?"

"I'm calling you annoying, Little Miss Farmer! I bet you won't even last on the farm for a season!"

"You wanna see that?"

"I'd pay to see it." Gray snarled.

"GRAYSON CLYDE SMITH!" Saibara roared. The whole room went dead silent.

Gray looked over his grandfather with a look of utter shock and anger. Claire looked as though still seething. I swore I was about to cry. Saibara's eyes hardly poked out from under his bushy brows, but if they were visible, I'd think they were beady and filled with flames.

"Apologize right now." Saibara snapped.

Gray looked between his grandfather and Claire for a few moments before finally muttering an apology to the blonde. He whirled right back around to his work and I could feel the chill from the cold shoulder. Claire, however, was too busy fuming to even shiver. Saibara came back to me, and in a hushed tone whispered to me, "I think it's best if you leave…"

No need to say that again.

I pulled Claire behind me out of the Blacksmith's and took a few minutes to breathe in clean, fresh air. My knees were shaking under me.

Claire, with a huff, whirled her hair over her shoulder and scoffed, "What an ogre…"

Told you so.

I am so tempted to tell you to shut up.

But you won't cause I'm your superior.

…I'm going to pretend I didn't hear that.

Tee-hee!

"Oh well, he's just a waste. No humor. Where to next, cutie?" I looked up at Claire with disbelief. She was smiling, perky, and as chipper as before. As though the whole argument with Gray had never happened.

I sighed to myself. It was going to be a long day.

"M-Maybe t-to the C-Chicken L-Little Farm?" I asked.

Claire squealed. "Oh! Chickies! Yes! Let's go there!"

Claire and I dragged ourselves forward, feet tired and weary from so much social contact. I hardly said much (Claire took care of that), but every time Claire said something that could be confused with an insult, I got her (and myself) out of there as soon as I could. She, and I quote, had said:

"Corsets have been out since shaving legs was in; forever ago." To Popuri.

"So if I work with cows and sheep and stuff, will I really reek like that guy?" To me with Barley close by.

"I've have more flavor in a Gatorade than in this wine." To me in Aja's Winery.

"If this is all the store has to offer, then how does that guy's kid have the fakest highlights I've ever seen?" To me, with Karen in close range (I swear, Karen was about to spit fire).

I was utterly shocked how little of a conscience that Claire had. One thing was sure, she was bold and spoke her mind. But she just never really thought about what others would say to her after the words were out of her mouth. I'm guessing she was sheltered by her big-corporation daddy, and was allowed to speak her mind outright without any repercussions.

Whew… that was quite insightful, Cliff.

I guess…

We reached the peak of Mother's Hill, sitting down on the rough ground and staring up as the stars began to glitter. The sun was already setting, and the horizon was just beginning to become from a brilliant orange hue to a rich navy. Adding to the very few times in my life, I thought that life couldn't be better: I had a place to back to when the sun went down, people to talk to and to talk to me, and even a religion to believe in.

Claire sighed with a dreamy expression on her face, her sunglasses giving away to her big blue eyes and long lashes. "Cliff, this was an amazing day." I nodded, fully agreeing with her. While I did feel a little like a chaperone (and not just a little), I found that Claire was someone I liked spending time with. A lot. "And the people were so nice. A little weird, but really nice."

She tore her eyes away from the sky and looked at me. "And I'm glad to have spent it with you." She flashed me a genuine smile. I blushed crimson and nodded again.

"I-I had a g-great time, t-too, C-Claire." I said, bringing my gaze to the ground.

"Hopefully, even after my house is all done and I move to the farm," Claire's eyes showed excitement and pride at the word 'farm', "We'll still be able to hang out like this."

"I-I hope so, t-too." I agreed. Claire's face brightened at my words. I felt my chest warm.

She smiled again and looked up. "Wow… I didn't know there were so many stars… Now I get when people talk about 'wide open skies'…" Claire gaped as the sun faded from the horizon and the stars shone out. "I thought, I mean, wow… Oh, wow! Look at that one!" Her voice heightened. "It's moving! A shooting star! Look, Cliff!"

"I-I see it!" I laughed. A streak of white streamed across the night sky. Claire was giggling. "Y-You s-sound like y-you've never seen o-one…!" I pointed out.

"I haven't!" Claire quickly replied and stood up, her forefinger outright and tracing the star's path. "Look at it go! Oh, wow! WOW!" She laughed wildly. "There's another one! Cliff! Another shooting star!"

"N-Never seen one b-before?" I asked, my eyes widened with disbelief. "N-Never?"

"I'm a city girl, so what?" Claire replied. "Oh! Those stars over there look like a big measuring cup!"

"T-That's the B-Big D-Dipper…" I said, pointing to it. She giggled at the name.

"Oh, look!" She gasped. "That one's HUGE!"

"I-I'm pretty s-sure t-that's a p-planet…" I mused. Claire scoffed.

"No way… you sure?"

"Actually, y-yeah! I-I think t-that's V-Venus!" I said, confident.

"Ohmahgosh!" Claire gushed. "That's too cool!"

We both laughed as shooting stars streaked across the horizon, the moon half-lidded as though a sleepy eye. Claire reached over and looped her arm through mine, giving me a grateful smile. I nodded to her, my face warming to the contact. And we stayed that way for another hour, just sitting on the hill as the moon basked us in the light and the stars gave us a show.

The people of the town might take a little while to fall for Claire, but it didn't take long for me.


Miss Rouge Apple~ I'M ALIIIIIIIIIIIIVE! So, yeah, I'm still writing! I just had a viral MEGA-ATTACK that was launched on my lappy's arse, so I was unable to write for a couple weeks. But now that I'm on SUMER VAY-CAY, I'm pretty sure I'll have more time to write you guys this story (among many, many others) ^^ So, anyway, what is this? Cliff and CLAIRE? WHAAA? Well, here's a couple coming into play... Hmm... should I roll with it? Or no...? Temptation, temptation...

You know what to do: REVIEW TIME. Please review, huns! 8D