-Chapter 9-

Happy New Year!

The day had finally arrived. It was time for the double-town New Year's celebration. Tortimer had pulled out all the stops. There was a big countdown reflected in Thornville's lake. Gabe, Andy, and Pauly were over by the station, listening to K.K. He would be back the next day, as it was Saturday, but Tortimer had requested him for the celebration. Even the owls of the museums were here, ordering drinks from Brewster's small stand. Other animals were scattered about, laughing and eating, occasionally stealing a glance at the countdown.

June had a mission though. It was now or never. This was the only time when the Able Sisters would be here in Thornville, and she knew Tom Nook would not leave town. She ran across the bridge, waving to the train that was coming in upon seeing Porter's smile within it. His brother was bouncing beside him, she also saw.

She burst through Nook's shop door, startling the raccoon. "June! What in heaven's name?"

"Aren't you going to be joining in the festivities?" she asked casually.

"Um…" Nook was trying to think of an excuse, but June was ready to counter.

"I'm sure the mayor would much appreciate you joining in on the celebrations and allow you more luxuries in your business. Aren't you trying to expand your store again?"

"Well… I guess so…"

"Come on!" She practically dragged him out of his store. Pausing only to let him lock up, they headed toward the station and the countdown. June kept her eye out for Gabe. He was supposed to grab the sisters and planting them strategically.

She caught sight of him. He was talking to Mabel over by the countdown, and Sable was right beside. She made sure to keep Nook away from them…for now.

In the meantime, she said hello to Tortimer, who gave her a noisemaker. "It's good to see you again, whippersnapper!" he added.

"Hey, June!" Gabe approached her, with a yellow squirrel behind him. "Don't worry, I made Mabel aware of our plan," he said when June gave him a startled look.

Her look became worse. "You what?" she asked.

"She's all for it!" he assured her.

She glanced over at the blue porcupine, who winked and gave a thumbs up. "This will be a disaster…"

"Oh come on, give her more credit. Besides, I just left to introduce you to Uan." He gestured to the squirrel behind him.

She tried to remember when he had mentioned that name before.

"He's from the island."

"Oh, right! Of course!" She extended her hand. "It's nice to meet you, Uan. I'm June."

"Nice to meet you, too, nut!" He grinned, which made his buck teeth look even bigger. "Man, what a party! I'm so glad I could come! I usually don't get off my island!"

"Wow, that's a shame."

"Nah, I love it there! Shaking palm trees, finding random cash that comes around, swimming in the ocean… It's all great!" He patted Gabe on the back so hard, June was sure he would have fallen if he wasn't ready for it. "And Gabe here visits me a lot, nut! So I'm never lonely!" His eyes grew wide and he grabbed her arms. "Say, you should visit too! It'll be fun, nut!"

Gabe gave her a pitying glance, then they went away. A few minutes later, Gabe returned without the squirrel. "Sorry about that. He's like a kid," he explained.

"No worries."

"He's an interesting little guy, but I wouldn't call him one of my best friends."

June smiled. "Well, it's nice of him to invite us to his own little island."

"True."

"So, how's Pauly? Is he getting back into the swing of things?"

"Getting back into the swing of things? Of course!"

"Good. Glad to hear it."

Gabe studied her face. She tilted her head.

"What?"

"He was nervous to come back, wasn't he?"

She was taken aback. "How did you know that?"

"Because I know Pauly. Poor guy was always tripping over himself trying to please people. He kinda reminds me of you a little bit, only you're not quite so nervous all the time. He probably felt like he let us down, moving away."

"He felt like he let you down before he moved away."

"The bee, huh?"

"You know about that?"

"I could see it on his bee-stung face."

"It's good that you guys aren't holding the move against him. It's really good for him."

"It's also really good for him that he can call you a friend now, June. You'll be hanging out with us a lot more, right?"

"Me? I'm not a part of your original trio…"

"Well, now you're a part of our new original… um… quatro…"

June laughed. "If you say so."

"Come on, let's listen to K.K.! I'm sure Nook's gonna be staying awhile." He gestured over her shoulder, where Nook was in a deep conversation with Tortimer, who was nodding approvingly. "And Mabel will keep an eye on her sister. She wants them to solve this issue as much as you and I do." June looked over at the sisters. Mabel was talking excitedly about something, and Sable was listening patiently.

June followed Gabe over to K.K. Slider, who had just finished playing K.K. Salsa for Pauly. "Ah, June. How are you?"

She nodded, "I'm good, Totakeke. It's good to see you could make it."

"Ah, always ready to please my fans. What can I play for you?"

"Um… actually, I haven't heard K.K. Country for awhile. It'll be nice to hear it again."

"As you wish." He strummed the intro, and pretty soon, he was playing and singing. When he was done, his small audience applauded, then looked at the countdown. There was a little more than two hours left. The plan was in place to get Nook and Sable together an hour before the stroke of midnight. Then, they could start the year off on a good note.

June stood, "I'm going to go get a coffee from Brewster. I'll be back."

At his little stand, Brewster looked just the same as he always did at the shop, only this time, he had no mugs to wipe. "Good evening, June. Coo."

"Hi, Brewster. I'll take my usual."

"Coming up."

"You seem to be getting a lot of business tonight."

"It's good that the mayor let me put my stand up here. The animals are getting to know my business."

"That is good!" June agreed. "You'll be a hit!"

"With K.K. and this new publicity, I don't know what to do! Coo…"

"Keep doing what you do best, Brewster. Make great coffee for your many guests."

He smiled and handed her the drink. "I do have some very wonderful guests."

She returned his smile and went back to join her friends in front of Totakeke.

After a few more songs, it was time. She went to find Nook, who was still talking to Tortimer. "Hey, boss," she whispered. "Sorry to interrupt, but I wanted to ask you something…"

He looked down at her, "Hm?"

"Can you come and see something? I have a question for you…"

"Um…" He cleared his throat to hide his confusion. "Certainly, my little worker-bee! I'm coming—" He stopped and stared. June knew without turning that Gabe had done his part well. She looked behind her, and there they were, the Able Sisters.

Sable had the same expression on her face as Nook. Mabel came in between them, "Isn't this great, ya'll? We can let bygones be bygones for the new year! Out with the old, in with the new!" She looked back and forth between them. "Right?"

Nook glared at June. "This is your doing, isn't it?"

June swallowed, but stood her ground. "Mr. Nook… it pains me to see how such close friends could get so distant from each other… What happened?" she asked.

Nook's glare softened into a small defeated look, something her boss did not wear well. He balled his paws and looked Sable straight in the eye. "I don't need to explain myself to y—" he faltered. Gabe stepped forward to say something, but June grabbed his arm and shook her head.

Sable was looking at him with those droopy eyes. June couldn't read her as well as she'd like, as she barely knew her, but she could've sworn those eyes were pleading. Nook must have seen it too.

He sighed and hung his head. "I… I owe you an explanation."

Sable waited.

"When I left," Nook started, "I was so excited. I didn't have any intention to come back…" June could hear Gabe exhale, but he was staying quiet under her grip. "When I heard…" he stopped and raised his head, quickly saying, "I never meant to abandon you, Sable." His head dropped down again, and he spoke slowly and gently now, "I just didn't want to end up going back and staying back. It was selfish of me, I know." He looked up again. "I moved to Thornville afterwards because I was too afraid to face you… but I still wanted to keep close… if you ever needed me. There!" he said with sudden volume. "I said it! I've been too stubborn to admit it, but there it is. I'm—" he sighed, "sorry, Sable."

Sable looked at him, her drooping eyes forming tears, her freckled cheeks forming a small smile. Mabel grinned widely and cheered inaudibly. Gabe peered at Nook and nodded. June closed her eyes and sighed lightly. She had done it. Nook was a better tanuki now, she knew.

Mabel finally ran to Nook and wrapped him in a hug that was obviously uncomfortable for the raccoon. Gabe and June looked at each other, smiled, and looked up at the countdown.

They watched the numbers drop lower and lower.

Pawpi, Andy, and Pauly joined them. "Looks like you figured it out, June," Pawpi nodded towards Nook and Sable. Sable was smiling gently as Nook was talking. Mabel was grinning so wide, the animals thought her face would hurt in the morning. "Arf! What a way for them to start the New Year!"

Andy nodded, putting an arm around Pauly. "What a way for us all to start the new year, thanks to June."

"Here's to June!" Gabe cheered, making noise with his noisemaker.

"Hey, whippersnapper!" Tortimer called from in front of the clock. "Not yet!"

Gabe chuckled. "Well, here's to you, June. We all owe you."

June shook her head. "You guys don't owe me anything," she insisted. "Just happy to help."

There was one minute left until the New Year…

June closed her eyes, feeling the nipping breeze blow across her face, hearing the crunch of the snow under her boots, and smelling the food that was still out for the celebration. This, she determined, was her favorite day so far. And as much as the countdown was anticipated, she didn't want it to end.

"Thirty seconds, June!" she felt Pawpi nudge her, and she opened her eyes to look up at the clock. 25 seconds… 24… 23…

She looked around at her friends. She'd only been here a little more than a month, and had already fit in nicely with them. Sure, she had a frustrating job, but even that didn't bother her right now. She was happy. She was home.

"Ten! Nine!" she chanted with the others. "Eight! Seven!" They all huddled together. "Six! Five!" She gave a slight glance toward Nook and Sable, who were so close they were almost touching. "Four! Three!" The train came in, and she saw Porter, Champ, and even Rover look out to call out the countdown. "Two! One! Happy New Year!" Every animal cheered. The ones that had noisemakers used them.

"What's your new year's resolution, sweetie?" she heard Ginger ask behind her.

"To finish work so I can get to my life!"

Tom Nook's ears pricked. She blushed. Had he heard her?

He approached her. "June…" he said.

She looked at him.

"You're long overdue for this, but… You've paid off all your debt."

"Really, Mr. Nook?"

"Yeah. And here," he held out a bag of bells. "Payment for the last week."

"Wow! Thanks, Mr. Nook!"

Gabe smiled and patted her on the shoulder. Andy did the same, on the other side.

Nook continued, "Be sure to stop by my shop and buy something now that you're not working there!"

June giggled as he turned back toward the sisters.

Gabe told them he had to get going back to Rosetown, "All of these festivities made me exhausted, guys. I gotta go."

Andy shook his hand, Pauly gave him a hug, and June decided to walk him to the train station.

"Well," Gabe sighed before he hopped on the train, "looks like after getting around to helping with all our stories… it's about time your story can truly begin!"

June smiled and looked down at her week's pay. "Yeah, my life is just about ready to get started!"

"See you tomorrow night… or I guess later tonight… for K.K. at the station!"

June saw him off and then headed back to her home. After a crazy couple of months, it was a brand New Year. After finding a way into the hearts of her neighbors and the other animals she knew, she found that she made a difference in their lives. Most importantly, her debt was paid, so now her life in Thornville could finally start. Gabe was right. It was time for her story to truly begin. :)

and who knows? I had such a fun time writing this story (back when I started and when I finally picked it back up a couple years later), I may continue into a sequel… if readers so desire it… So REVIEW! Any requests of non-OC's to explore? Maybe I can add a mayor to one of the towns so Tortimer only has one town to worry about! Or, if you don't want a sequel and just want a brand new AC story from scratch, that's also a possibility!