Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon.

Chapter 10 – He's gone now.

Claire waved to Kai as he got on board the ship.

"I'll miss you!" he yelled.

Claire faked a smile. "I'll miss you more!"

Kai laughed then finally, the ship sailed further and further into the sea. Claire sighed.

'Three seasons without Kai huh…' she muttered.

Claire walked to her farm. On her way there she saw the usual. Anna chatting with her group, Cliff pruning grapes and so on.

"What a big morning!" she yawned as she passed the chicken farm.

"What's a big morning?" a voice asked behind her, but it was not Gray's.

Claire spun around. Of course, it was Rick, the crazy chicken guy, who's had a crush on her since she came.

Claire shivered. "Err… Hello…"

"It's been a while since you came 'round 'ere…"

"Yeah…" Claire mumbled speeding her pace.

"So, what'cha doin' on this fine day?"

"Nothing in particular."

"Really?"

"Yea."

Claire made her way to the library. There's one thing that Rick hates more than chickens dying. And that's books. He may look like the smart book worm type, but when it comes to reading he just can't stand it. Probably cause his eyes are small and beady, just like a chickens. Claire laughed at the thought of his eyes like a chickens. Rick looked at her and smiled.

"Mind sharing that joke?"

"Yeah, sure!" Claire said with sarcasm. "I thought that you're eyes are beady like a chickens."

Rick pretended to laugh. "Hahahahahahahaha!... Funny."

"Hahah! I know right?"

Rick rolled his eyes. "…Uhm… Where are you going?"

"Just following the road… Wherever it leads me…"

The library was just one block away. Claire's pace quickened. 'Gotta get there. Gotta get there. Gotta get rid of this guy. Come on Claire! Power walk! POWER WALK!' her brain yelled.

"Hey Claire, why are you walking so fast?"

Claire did a fake laugh. "Just… Power walking! You know? Good for your thighs!" Claire looked ahead. It was only a few meters to the library.

"Claire where are you going?"

"I dunno! Wherever my feet takes me! AHAHA!"

Rick suddenly pulled her. "Smart! You're going to the library!"

"Ahahahah… NO!... Now let me go!"

"No…"

"What?"

"I said no."

Claire struggled. "Gosh you're strong!"

"Of course! I only worked out for you Claire…"

"You're- ugh!- Crazy! –Grr!"

Rick pulled her closer to him. 'AAAAAHHHH! Where's the rape whistle when you need it?' she thought.

"I've always liked you Claire…" he said.

"Yeah.. I know.. You told me…"

"Then why don't you like me aswell?"

"Cause! That's not how like or love goes!"

Rick sighed. Then looked deeply in her eyes. Then leaned in closer.

Claire pulled her head back. "Uhhh…. Riccckkkk…. What are you doing?"

"Giving you what I was supposed to give last year."

"EEEHHH?"

Rick pouted his lips. 'Ew! Ew! Ew! Ew!' she thought, at the sight of his lips.

"Stop no! Don't! Stay away from me!" she closed her eyes tightly.

"Ahh!" someone screamed. And at that moments she felt Rick's hands let go of her.

Claire opened her eyes, a boy with a blue hat and a cream yellow jacket appeared in between them… With Rick on the floor with his hands in front of his face.

"Dude, she said no. Just leave her."

Claire's eyes sparkled. 'Thank you Gray!' she thought.

"Ahhh!" Rick yelled. He got up and ran away.

Gray had a confused look on his face. "What the heck? What's wrong with that guy? Liking chicken and- Oh! Sorry! Didn't see you there." He offered his hand to her.

Claire took the offer. "Eherm… Thanks for that.."

"No problem… He was a chicken anyway… Too easy to scare."

Claire laughed at remembering at the thought of him being a chicken.

"What are you laughing at?"

"Nothing nothing!"

"Oh come on! Tell me! I wanna laugh at it too!"

"But what if it's about you?"

"Then I'll beat you up for it."

Claire was silent for a moment. "I'm still not telling you."

"Don't talk to me."

Claire's eyes widened. "Wh-what?"

"Didn't you hear me? I said don't talk to me!"

"Wh-wha?.. Sorry! Was it something I said? Wa-was it something I did? I'm sorry!"

Gray didn't reply. Calire started to panic in her head. 'Did I say something? Did I do something? What did I do? Oh no! I just made the guy I like mad at me! Right in front of me! Nooo!'

The two stood there in silence. Until Claire started speaking. "I'm sorry Gray… I'll just go now.."

Claire started walking. "Hey, why're you sorry?" She spun around. Gray stood there with a smug smile on his face. Claire ran to him.

"IDIOT!" she yelled as she punched him.

"What?"

"You had me worried there for a second!"

He laughed. "Well, you didn't want to tell me what was funny so might as well not talk to me at all!"

She punched him again. "I thought I actually did something to you!"

"Just tell me!"

"Geez fine! … I laughed cause, Rick has chicken eyes." She laughed.

Gray stared at her for a second. "No I'm serious tell me what you're laughing at."

"That… Was it."

"…. THAT'S SO STUPID!"

"What? I'm serious! His eyes looks like tiny little chicken eyes!"

Gray laughed. "You've got a point there!"

"Told you so!"

"Hahahahah…. Yeah… Hey wanna come with me to the inn? I'll treat you something."

"Has to be anything I want though." The two said together.

"Wow! You know me so well!" Claire laughed.

"Of course… I'm always the one treating you!"

The two started walking towards the inn. "You don't always treat me!"

"Oh yeah? Well why don't you treat me today then!"

"Fine! I will treat you today!"

"Good!"

"Yeah! Whatever!... So what do you want?" Claire asked as she opened the door to the inn.

"Hmmm… the most expensive one there." He smiled.

She punched him. "That's mean! But I'LL go buy it cause I'm a good friend!"

"Sure." He coughed.

Gray sat on the table, while Claire payed for the food.

"There! Are ya happy? I paid for the food!" she said sitting down on the chair.

"Yeah…"

Ann came and offered the food. "Here's the water."

"Water? Cheapskate!" Gray said taking it and having a drink.

"Well at least I'm not a snobby rich person!" Claire said back, also taking her drink.

"Well, you guys seems to be having fun… You guys on a date?"

Claire and Gray spat their water out at each other.

"NO!" they both yelled.

Authors Note: To HarvestMoonAddict, Thank you for the advice I hope I used proper punctuation in this story Please do tell if I have anymore mistakes.

I hope you guys liked this story. Tests and school is coming up so… It's kinda slowing me down on updating.. But don't worry! We are halfway through the school term so yeah yay! :D