Well, that was fast. Go me! I wasn't going to update as quickly, but again, I felt encouraged by my lovely, lovely reviews :D Thanks guys! Hope you like this one:
I couldn't sleep. Of course I couldn't sleep, I had just spent the last few days tearing out the mental stitches I had been so delicately threading through my past. I was almost done the healing process when just like that, Gill had shown up and tugged on the loose thread, reopening my wounds. That being said, I was undoubtedly the one who finished the job; opening up to Kathy like that was stupid, but I admit it was also the relief I'd been longing for since my arrival here. I sighed heavily and tossed in bed: not my bed, Kathy had convinced me (with minimal objection I might add) to spend the night in the Inn. She knew as well as I that I couldn't be alone after all that, but now I couldn't sleep. I could hear muffled voices from below me: the bar was still opened. I wasn't sure what time it was, but I was quite sure it was rather late. I sat up, placing my bare feet on the cool floorboards. My mind was going much too fast to even consider sleep. I rubbed my face roughly as I stood; grabbing my sweater, I headed downstairs to the bar. The conversations and laughter grew louder as I made my way tenderly down the stairs. My eyes scanned the room and stopped on a white blonde sitting hunched over at the bar, of course, of course I run in to him. I winced and then turned, hoping to escape back upstairs without detection,
"Hikari!" Owen boomed, Damn it. I fixed my scowl into a smile before turning around,
"Owen, hey," I tried to sound happy to see him. He stumbled over to me and threw one beefy arm around my shoulders,
"Kathy told me you were sleeping!" he then tried to whisper, but it came out slurred and rather loud, "I'm not allowed to wake you up," I could smell the alcohol on his breath as he laughed,
"She was sleeping, idiot," Kathy marched over to us, a tray of drinks in one hand. With her free hand she removed Owen's arm and led him back over to the bar, "Sorry Hikari, I told my dad to cut him off a while ago, but," she sighed, obviously exhausted, "Owen and him are like, buddies now I guess," She made an exasperated gesture and hurried to a table where a light blue haired boy leaned causally back in his chair, a fishing pole balancing on the table. Yuuki was sitting with him as well, but his head was buried in his hands. The bar was a lot busier than I thought it would be this late at night. I stood awkwardly at the bottom of the stairs, still debating going back up or staying,
"You know," the peach haired chef said, leaning out of the kitchen, "I made something especially delicious tonight Hikari, you'll hurt my feelings if you don't try it," he winked at me and waved me over to an empty table. I smiled up at him gratefully, and sat down. He presented a plate with spaghetti covered in pesto, I felt my stomach grumble: I hadn't eaten a lot the past few days,
"Thanks Chase," I said beaming, "It looks amazing,"
"It is," he said nonchalantly, shrugging, "Yolanda taught me how to make it today, she's the best so soon I'll be the best," he stood looking down at me, waiting for me try it. I brought a forkful to my mouth and chewed it slowly,
"Oh my gosh, Chase, this is the best!" I wasn't lying; it was probably one of the most delicious things I had ever eaten in my life. He beamed at my compliment and bowed dramatically,
"Thank you, thank you," he laughed and walked back into the kitchen, leaving me alone once more. I could feel Gills gaze on me, but I refused to look up from my plate. Was he still mad about seeing Luke and me like that? I couldn't' help but remember the look on his face. He had left without saying a word. I wanted Gill to talk to me, but at the same time I wasn't sure if I could handle it. I hastily took another bite, letting the taste blur out all the memories. I looked up to see the girl I assumed was Maya: her short blonde hair with a braid down either side that bounced with each step matched the description Kathy had given me of her co-worker. Her bubble dress clung nicely to her lean body. She walked past me, and then stopped suddenly turning,
"Is that Grandma Yolanda's super delicious, extra amazing, mouthwatering pesto spaghetti?" She walked slowly back to my table,
"Um… well I don't know: Chase gave it to me?" I looked up at her big eyes, staring down at the food in front of me,
"Chase?" She suddenly focused on my face, her head cocking to the side,
"Y-yeah" I stammered,
"He made this?" She pointed at the plate,
"I believe so, I—" I was interrupted by a storm of giggles and shouting as she ran into the kitchen,
"Chaaaase! I want some! I want some, you didn't tell me you made this!" She bounded into the kitchen, and I couldn't help but imagine little hearts floating up all around her, "Ohhhh, so delicious! Chasey, Chasey, you're so amazing!"
"Get away you horrible blob!" I could hear Chase shouting at her, it sounded like he was either trying to escape her grasp or protect of his food,
"Come on, just one little, tiny, insie-winsie bit?" I knew she was pouting,
"No! Go away!"
I couldn't help but chuckle to myself, eating another forkful. I could still hear them bickering when Yuuki walked up to my table,
"Are you feeling better?" he said quietly, staring at the ground.
"Yes, completely," I lied, smiling at him,
"Good, Um… I wanted to say thanks I guess," he blushed scratching the back of his head,
"Thanks? For what? I should be saying thank you to you! For looking after my farm!" I knew what he was trying to say, but played along anyway,
"No… I uh… I mean… for… you know… Renee and me… and… well," I burst out laughing; I knew Yuuki wasn't usually like this and seeing him so lovesick was especially amusing.
"Ooh, that," I winked, "No problem," I grinned as he blushed deeper.
"We need to sing!" Owen was suddenly standing on a table and gesturing to everyone, "Right now, we all need to sing!" Kathy's father Hayden was leaning on the bar, chuckling up at him,
"Kathy dear," Hayden called into the back kitchen, "Your boyfriend's making an ass out of himself again," Kathy emerged and shot her father a dirty look, then turned her attention to the drunk blacksmith,
"Owen, I'm only going to ask you once, get down," she was tapping her foot, her arms crossed tightly. Owen ignored her and started singing, acting like a conductor. The fisher man laughed and sang along quietly, tapping his foot to the rhythm, "Owen!" Kathy said, becoming increasingly annoyed, "Get down," she hissed.
"But I'm the entertainment!" he explained,
"No, you're drunk and annoying," Her eyes shot daggers up at him, but Owen wouldn't budge, he just continued singing off-key. Hayden laughed loudly,
"We need to hire some better entertainment around here if this is what we get for free," he chuckled,
"Dad," Kathy turned to her father, "Get him down!"
"Naw, I'm not in the mood to throw Owen out, he was rather pleasant tonight," He smiled at his daughter, obviously enjoying her pain.
"Chase! Come out here!" She shouted. The chef emerged looking disgruntled, Maya hanging off his arm,
"What Kathy, I'm a little busy to be—oh," he said looking up at Owen, a smile spreading across his lips. Kathy gestured at Owen, exasperated, "Well, I would but… Owen's kinda… tank. Gill? Care to help me out here?" Chase looked over at Gill, still smirking. Gill looked up from his drink and shrugged,
"Whatever." He said quietly,
"Come on, please?" Chase walked over to him. Gill sighed then stood to his feet, he glanced over at me and I looked away, I didn't want to get caught in those ice blue eyes again. I was already headed down a path with Gill that I'd rather not. I knew the price of falling so easily for someone I hardly knew. I couldn't help but think of Kurt. I shivered and looked back up to see Chase grinning at Gill,
"Yuuki, Toby, help them out please?" Kathy pleaded. I stared at them all quizzically; did they really need four guys to get Owen off? Yuuki grinned mischievously as they all walked over to the table. I noticed that everyone had come out of the kitchen and backroom to watch the fun, Yolanda, Maya, even Jake the owner of the Inn and his wife Colleen were smiling, waiting for the chaos to ensue.
"Wow Owen, that was a super great song," Chase said as if talking to a three year old, "But Kathy didn't like it so much, so before you start another… err… wonderful one, we're going to have to remove you," Chase and Yuuki were grinning, Toby yawned and stretched: I was quite sure he didn't care what happened, but Gill was still staring at me. Our gaze met and his expression softened, he looked confused, almost hurt. As soon as I had seen that in his eyes his expression hardened again and he turned around sharply,
"I'm not going an-knee-wear," Owen said slowly, pointing his finger down at chase. Chase and Yuuki exchanged glances before Yuuki jumped up on the table,
"Sorry man," he grinned, diving onto Owen, knocking him onto the ground. Gill stepped back and watched as Yuuki, Chase and Toby wrestled Owen, dodging his swings and laughing playfully. Everyone was laughing, me included as the four of them playfully brawled. They managed to get him almost to the door,
"Gill," Chase grunted. Gill sighed and walked over, and helped them push Owen out of the bar,
"And don't expect me to forget about this Owen!" Kathy shouted, slamming the door and huffing back into the kitchen. Yuuki, Chase and Toby exchanged high-fives and laughed, everyone else went back to doing what they were doing, all chatting lightly about Owen's antics. Gill, however, turned sharply and walked straight over to me. He stood and looked down at me for a long time, deciding on what to say
"I don't like the bar," was what he decided on,
"Then why are you here?" I was being snippy with him: after letting my old memories flood in it was hard not to be. I wanted to just tell him everything was fine, that what he had seen wasn't what had happened, but I kept remembering the boy who had pulled at that loose thread on my stitches,
"Because people like Owen decide they need to sing," he said, running one hand through his hair,
"I like Owen's singing," I mused, "He's fun, you should try that: being fun," I said it with more venom then I meant to. He looked down at me, suddenly intense,
"You and Luke," he said stepping closer to me, "You're together?" I stood up, frustrated,
"Is that what you think now?" I hissed, not wanting to make a scene, he took another step towards me,
"I saw him kiss you," he said quietly, now only inches away from me,
"You saw nothing of the sort!" I said louder than I meant to, "and besides, at least Luke is trying to be friendly," I said, frustrated. Was Gill jealous or something? I couldn't imagine why. It wasn't fair for him to be,
"I could kiss you," He breathed, a playful look on his face now, the same look I remembered from the clinic when I had nuzzled myself into his chest. My heart fluttered and I felt myself blush,
"W-why would you want to do that," I stammered as he reached up and tugged playfully on a lock of hair just below my chin,
"I'm just saying I could," he stepped back, his expression quickly turned from playful to annoyed, "I have a lot of work to do, I don't really have time to come to the bar like this."
"Then don't," I wanted to sound witty but I was still focused on settling my breathing. He looked frustrated,
"I wouldn't have to if you weren't acting so strangely: why are you staying here rather than your own home?" he asked, frustrated.
"That's not really any of your business," I said, looking away,
"Is it Luke's?" he sounded intense again, and my eyes darted back to his face,
"No. It most certainly is not." I glowered,
"Hm," Gill said and then turned and walked away, "Goodnight," he shot, his arrogant smirk had returned as he walked out the door of the bar. I huffed and marched upstairs to bed.
What a stupid boy he's being! I paused and blushed, What a stupid girl I'm being.
Oh man, I'm actually quite fond of this chapter, I very much enjoy writing drunk Owen I must admit ;D The whole bar scene in Harvest moon is one I'm very fond of. More to come! Don't forget to review! They encourage me to party: and by party I mean stay up until ungodly hours of the morning finishing chapters ;D Love you guys!
