Welcome to chapter 10! I have names for each, and perhaps one day I will put them in when I'm satisfied that they fit properly lol. Thank you to YOU the readers of awesome! {virtual} COOKIES FOR ALL! I was initially worried about posting chapters too quickly, but I decided that there's no real reason to hold em back if they're done and I've edited as much as I feel I can to be happy with it. So expect updates to come more than once a week at least. A big thank you to those of you reviewing, they are putting smiles on my face and helping me when I hit a little block.
Unfledgedd - Thank you! I am so glad that you are enjoying the story! I'm loving writing it and seeing where the characters are telling me they want to go!
Liane - You take all the cookies you want! And don't you worry, Claire will indeed have to work, I don't believe in letting characters off the hook that easily ;D. And I just love Kai, he is too easy to make into a good guy, and he loves cookies!
KeepCalmandReview - Oh I do love a Claire that isn't all bubbly too! It works in the game, but in real life things just aren't so cut and paste :). She's more complicated and definitely full of spunk! Shhh, Gray may indeed have something to say in the future about his feelings for Claire and where they came from ;).
So here it is, the 10th chapter! **I don't own anything Harvest Moon but the games in my systems** Enjoy!
Jack was grumbling to himself as he walked to up to the library. Claire had informed him that a friend was coming over while he was out and that just didn't sit well with him. However, he had already told that Basil guy he would be coming in for the books, and Jack was nothing if not true to his word. He reached for the doorknob and stepped into the quietest library he had even been in. True, a library was generally quiet, but this one didn't even have those subtle noises you would find in one. He was just about to call out for anyone there when something collided with him.
When the flurry of airborne papers cleared he was left staring down at a lovely woman scrambling on the floor. "S-sorry! I was so lost in thought I wasn't paying attention." She glanced up at him through her glasses and he stood in silence for an uncomfortable period of time. The woman blushed at the awkward situation and he quickly came to his senses and dropped to the floor to gather up the papers she had dropped.
"Oh it was my fault, I didn't even see you there." He never took his eyes off of her as they hastily collected the rest of the strewn papers. "Jack, by the way." His mind raced furiously as a heat rose into his face. She was beautiful, and adorably frazzled. He reached a hand out and helped her up. He handed her his pile of papers and she clumsily tried to flatten her flyaway hair and skewed glasses as she smiled sweetly at him.
"I'm Mary. Welcome to the library! Not many people come in so when I am working on something I tend to get a bit lost in my thoughts and..." She grinned sheepishly and a blush crept over her face, "well I don't notice anything."
Jack nodded at her and glanced around the library, "Do you need any help? With your thoughts? I mean, well with whatever is on your mind or... do you need any help?" He groaned at his awkward speech and glanced sideways at Mary. She was giggling at him, her hand raised to her mouth and her eyes crinkled with amusement.
"Thank you Jack, but it's nothing really. I'm working on a novel and I just got a little stuck with the plot. It's very kind of you to offer though. Is there anything I can help you find while you're here?" She smiled enthusiastically at him. In this moment he was sure she had already helped him find something he didn't even know he was looking for. He allowed a smile to break through his nervousness and decided that being at the library for a while may not be such a bad thing.
With the cast on her leg she was finding it harder and harder to get into her regular clothes, so she decided to put on another long blue skirt to go with her flannel shirt. It didn't exactly make the best match, but Claire decided she wasn't going to worry about that. She pulled her hair back into a ponytail and decided to sit outside by her apple tree to wait and see if Gray would be coming.
They hadn't really gotten to spend time together, or even speak more than a few awkward sentences to each other since the bonfire. Between Cliff kissing her and then the misunderstanding the other day, Claire was sure that she had a lot of explaining to do herself.
She sat at the apple tree and pondered the first of those subjects and felt guilt creep into her. She hadn't intended on kissing Cliff, and was shocked when he was the one to initiate the simple peck. Before that moment her feelings were torn between the two and confusion seemed to rule her world. When it happened though, clarity settled over her and she saw that she was never torn, only full of regret for her lack of action.
She knew that that moment had been the catalyst for the sundering of whatever she had with Gray, and because she had let it happen, it was her fault. She hung her head at the realization of it and groaned, "What the hell is wrong with you Claire?" She shook her head and glared at her hands.
"If you figure it out, I'd like to know too." Claire nearly jumped out of her skin at the sound of the voice. She didn't even hear Gray as he had walked up behind her and now her face was growing hot as she realized he had heard her talking to herself. When she peered around the tree he had a small smile on his face. He made a gesture at the spot on the ground next to her and she nodded her head at him.
He leaned back into the tree and looked over Claire, taking in her fading bruises and the cast on her leg. He pulled his cap down over his face and cleared his throat before speaking, something Claire found she had missed. "So what's the damage? No one bothered telling me anything." The annoyance was hitched in his voice, "the doc told me he couldn't even tell me your state even though I'm the one who brought you in, can you believe that?" He threw a hand in the air in irritation before he noticed Claire's wide eyed stare. "I'm not sorry. You could have died and I wouldn't have known until they started digging the grave with the way things were going."
Claire hung her head and nodded. Her voice was barely above a whisper as she spoke to her lap, "I'm so sorry Gray. I'm sorry for so many things, I don't even know where to start..." She reached a hand up to rest on her neck and Gray noticed she was still wearing the necklace he made for her. It surprised him for a moment before he reminded himself that he was still a little angry with this woman and wanted answers.
Gray gazed out towards the fields and kept from looking directly at her, "Well start at the beginning then." He caught her head lift up and look at him in his peripheral. He clenched his hands and stuffed them into his pockets. Claire sucked in a breath and steadied herself.
"I'm sorry that I let Cliff kiss me." Gray nearly flinched at this. He remembered the moment at the bonfire when he glanced over curiously at the pair on their walk and Kai almost had to physically restrain him as Cliff grabbed Claire's face and leaned in. "I should have done something, anything, to just not let it happen." Gray nodded as he kept his focus on the chicken coop. "The only good that came from it was that I realized my feelings for Cliff were misguided." Claire's words started to falter as she fought the instinct to to hide her feelings now. "I... I realize now that I didn't love him." Claire looked forward and squeezed her eyes shut before finishing, "because whatever it is I feel for you is stronger." Gray's eyes widened underneath the brim of his cap and he felt his insides go cold with nerves as his body stiffened.
Claire let her breath out in a heavy sigh of relief. It felt good to be honest about her feelings after so long. She looked over at Gray and noticed his still frame and reached a hand out to touch his shoulder. "I'm also sorry that I didn't tell you sooner. I was so stupid for taking so long, and when I finally built up the courage to say anything to you I ended up walking in on a... sensitive situation... and misinterpreting it." Claire grimaced, "And I didn't even give you a chance to explain it, though I should have known better in the first place." She shifted her body and leaned forward to peer under Gray's hat.
His eyes were staring straight ahead into the brim of his hat, wide and unblinking before they darted to her face. "I really am sorry Gray." His lips parted as if he meant to speak, but nothing came out. "I don't know what to do to make it up to you, but I'll start with telling Cliff that there's nothing for him on this farm other than vegetables." Claire cracked a smile and the corner of Gray's lip twitched up.
Claire leaned back to the tree, checking that it was indeed still behind her first. "I just miss you..." Claire leaned forward, pulled up her good leg, and wrapped her arms around it. "And I will do whatever I can to at least earn your friendship back."
They sat quietly for a moment before Gray sighed. Without looking at her, he reached an arm behind her and tucked her close to him. She leaned her head on his shoulder and he sighed. "I missed you too Claire."
When Jack got back to the farm he had basically finished planning out the rest of his life with Mary. The goofy grin on his face hadn't faded since he left the library. He had never spent more than a few minutes in any library, but now he was pretty sure it was his favorite thing to do. They spent over an hour looking at books together and talking about anything and everything that came to mind. It was a bit bold for him, but he had decided to ask her on a date before he left. Her face had gone the brightest shade of pink and his nerves almost made him leave before he got the answer. When she nodded a wide eyed yes he had literally jumped for joy. His day couldn't get any better.
When he saw his little sister cuddled up to some random guy he knew was probably one of the jerks she had told him about, he had a hard time maintaining his composure. "Hey!" They both turned to stare at him in surprise. "Who the hell are you and why are you molesting my sister?!" He stomped closer to the two and reached a hand down to a confused Claire. She hesitantly took his hand and he hoisted her up and away from Gray. "Since you're not 'rocking' a ponytail I assume you're Blue?"
Gray stood and dusted off his hands on his pants and smirked. "It's Gray actually. You must be Jack." He held a hand out to Jack and waited.
Jack glared at his hand and ignored it as he pulled Claire closer to him and grabbed her crutches. "I really don't give a damn what you're name is man. Just stay the hell away from my sister." Jack pushed the crutches into Claire's arms and turned her towards the house. Claire turned to look over her shoulder at Gray, worry creeping into her face.
"Look I don't know what you think was happening here but it's-" Gray's eyes went wide as Jack turned and strode right up to him until their faces were only inches apart. He had never met Jack, but he was pretty sure the guy already hated him.
"I don't give a shit what was happening. I know what already happened. You screwed my sister over and she ended up breaking her leg and nearly losing her livelihood because of it." Jack clenched his hands into fists as he glared at Gray, almost hoping he would give him a reason to hit him.
Gray's eyes narrowed and he felt the heat rise in his entire body as he tensed. This guy is out of his mind. It was Claire who brought both of them out of their death stare as she shouted, "Stop it! Right now, both of you! Jack, who I hang out with is my business."
Unafraid of Claire, Jack turned on her with his glare and shouted back, "Yeah and look at how well you have handled your business so far." He threw his hand out and gestured at her current state. Claire's eyes went wide and filled with hurt. She turned as quickly as she could with crutches and started making her way back to the house. Jack groaned heavily and called to her, "Claaaaire, I'm sorry!" He turned to glare at Gray when he made a move to follow Claire and pointed to the front entrance. "You need to leave. Now."
Gray gave a small and scornful laugh before turning away from Jack and walking towards the house. He could hear Jack groaning behind him and mumbling something how he should have stayed at the library. Gray caught up to Claire and gave a sympathetic smile. Her face was flushed and she looked flustered. When her eyes met his she opened her mouth, "I'm so-" and he cut her off with a finger to her lips.
Gray leaned forward and kissed her forehead, effectively silencing her. "Nope. This one is on him." He chuckled as he thought back to a few months ago, "Maybe I'll see if Ann will pass notes for me as well." He winked at Claire and she smiled.
Jack stomped over to the pair and his eyes shone with agitation. "Dude, get the fuuuu-" Claire punched his shoulder and glared at him. He returned the look before clearing his throat and returning his attention to Gray. "Okay. One. Get the hell off my sisters property. Two." He looked to Claire with an oomph as she elbowed him with her crutch. "Three. Don't come near my sister."
Gray put up three fingers and tapped each one in succession as he gave a thoughtful and pointed glance to the sky. Jack groaned and turned Claire to the door. Once she was inside, giggling loud enough to be heard outside, Jack turned back to Gray. "Listen. You may have her fooled, but I'm going to let you know right now; It's not going to happen." He glared one more time at Gray before turning and walking into the house.
Gray could hear the bolt of the door being slammed into place before he took a step away from the front of the house. He smiled as his thoughts raced. The day could have gone worse. His mind was racing with fantastical thoughts of Claire when he heard a hissing noise. He turned to the side of the quiet farmhouse to see Claire leaning out an open window waving him over. He glanced around and snuck close to her smiling face and blushed when he realized she was in a thin pajama dress.
"I'm sorry about my idiot brother, he can go a little overboard sometimes." Gray chuckled lightly and put his hand on the window frame. "I have to see the doc tomorrow at noon to check on my leg. Unfortunately, Jack will be busy so it'll be just me." Her face went serious and she reached out and touched his hand. "I..." Claire smiled nervously as Gray eyed her hand. He looked into her face and nodded with a smile.
A knock sounded from inside the room and Claire called out a "just a minute", worry all over her face. Gray smiled at her before turning his hand and twining his fingers with hers. "I'll see you tomorrow Claire." He stepped back and their hands stayed locked for another pace before he turned and made his way back to the inn, a smile on his face for the first time in weeks.