Oh no! It's been WAY too long! I'm sorry for the long wait! And, I'm also sorry for the teeny chapter sizes. Well... Here's an update I've actually had written for three weeks. Don't kill me for not posting it sooner! I haven't turned my computer on since the last time I updated! D:

Review Replies!

Hannah-Senpai: Haha, yeah, let's go with that. XD

yue asahi: Thanks for reviewing so many times! It means a lot! I shall give you an entire basket of cookies. Here you go! *Gives* :D

HarvestMike: Yay! You found my story! :D Thanks for reviewing, and here's the next chapter! I hope you like it! :DDD

xTrueEmotion: Yes! Another GFaqs user found me! I'm glad you like it! Here's another chapter after a long wait. I hope you check back ^^;;;

HmGirly: :O You're reviewing my story! *Dies* ...Sorry, major fan here. XDDD Don't kill me! I'm updating! And I'm glad to hear you're into my story. Since I'm on break, I get to write a lot! Yay? I suppose... Except for my painful amount of Advanced English homework. Ew. Here's the next chapter so you won't murder me!

Okay, here's something: Thoughts are now written in italics. It's easier to see them that way, I think. So this is my thought right now, and this is not. BD

Disclaimer: I don't own Harvest Moon or any of its characters. I have Gray's hat in my closet, though.

Popuri's POV

"So… Why'd you need me to come over, Karen?" I asked as I sat down on my friend's bed. We were over in the back room of the Supermarket, since Karen came over early and told me to come because she had something serious to talk about.

Karen smirked and sat next to me, "That new girl, Claire," She started, "what did you think of her?"

I frowned to myself, thinking hard. "Well…" I paused, "She isn't that bad, I suppose,"

"Poppy, you can tell me. What do you really think of her?" She looked at me through eyes shining with concern. I looked down at my hands.

"W-Well, I don't know… I guess I don't like her all that much, after all," I frowned. Karen put her hand on my shoulder.

"Why?"

"It's stupid," I warned, "but Elli told me that Claire reminded her of me and so now I'm afraid Claire is going to replace me! Oh, Karen, what do I do?"

I looked up at the brunette, and she looked… Amused? Her face quickly turned to a much more worried look, "Oh, Poppy, don't worry. We'll work something out."

I watched her, confused, as she smiled.

Claire's POV

"Three days… Three damn days! Why does it rain so much?! Ann, you gotta help me out here," I complained, my head resting on the Inn's bar. The redhead looked at me incredulously.

"And how would I do that?" She asked as she wiped down the wooden countertop. I sighed.

"I don't know! I'm just dying of boredom! I'm not sick anymore, which is good, but Elli won't let me go outside if it's raining because she's worried about me." I explained. Ann raised her eyebrows.

"Oh? Why is she worried about you? You're a grown woman." She said, putting her rag away.

"I don't know," I paused, before adding to myself, "I thought I got away from this when I left the city…"

Ann furrowed her brow, "Is that why you left the city?"

My eyes widened slightly, "Wh-what? Oh, um, no… I was just talking to myself."

She raised an eyebrow at me, but shrugged it off and started to set up for the bar. I watched her pull out the glasses and set out new napkins, but my mind was elsewhere. 'Am I really that much better off here? Now I have friends, but they worry about me just as much as mom did… But they're friends, so they're supposed to worry about you, right? I don't know. I never really had friends…' I thought.

"Hey, Ann?"

"Yeah?" The waitress didn't stop her preparation as she spoke. I frowned faintly.

"Are friends supposed to worry about you?" I asked, only just afterwards realizing what an odd question it was. Ann stopped and looked up at me.

"Only the good kind."

Mary's POV, The next day

I sat at my desk, struggling to continue on in my book. I had been reading it for five hours, and I hated to admit it, but it was beginning to bore me. How many stories can one read about Prince Charmings, distressed princesses, and evil dragons before they figure out the ending? The Prince Charming will always slay the dragon and rescue the princess, they'll fall in love, and live happily ever after.

I woke out of my thoughts as the bell at the door rang, telling me someone was entering. I smiled at the young man who made his way through the doorway. "Good afternoon, Gray," I greeted. He nodded.

"Hey, Mary."

As thankful as I was for company, I was almost disappointed that it was the blacksmith who came. He was certainly nice, and he had his sweet moments, but he was just too quiet to be the person one would hope to have as company. I watched him as he sat down at his usual chair and pulled out the same book he'd been reading periodically over the last season.

"So, summer is starting tomorrow, huh?" I asked, wishing for conversation. Gray frowned slightly.

"Mhm," He nodded. I spoke again.

"That means Kai's coming back… I'll bet he'll be surprised when he finds there's a new villager."

"That girl will be wishing summer was over once she meets that idiot," Gray snorted, "Kai'll be all over her if she's not careful."

I furrowed my brow, "Kai isn't that bad, Gray," I scowled at my desk. Kai really wasn't that bad. Sure, he wasn't the smartest guy, and he did have a reputation for hitting on several girls multiple times a day, but he meant well. I wished Gray wouldn't be so negative about him. Suddenly, an idea formed in my head. I don't know why, but I felt like picking on Gray...

"I thought Kai was only 'all over' the pretty girls. Or at least, that's what you said before," I paused, "So wouldn't that make Claire pretty? I mean, you did say that Kai'd be hitting on her, and you also said he only hits on the pretty girls..."

Oh, if only you could see the color Gray turned after that. I knew he and Claire weren't on good terms; the farmer had told me that before. If she and Gray were getting along, I knew that my comment wouldn't have had nearly that much of an effect.

"N-no, well, yes, but-" He stuttered. I couldn't help myself: I burst out in laughter. This only succeeded in turning his face an even darker shade. "Mary! You did that on purpose!" He growled.

Through my tears and hilarity I managed to choke out an agreement with his theory. He scowled and stormed up the stairs. I knew he would do that; he never could cope with embarrassment well. It was only minutes later when he came back down with a new book. After what seemed like hours of dreadful silence, he spoke again.

"Well, like you said, summer starts tomorrow, and that means the Beach Opening," He stopped.

"Gray, that's not even a real festival," I rolled my eyes. He continued.

"You wanna go anyway?"

"With you?"

"Maybe."

"Maybe."

He went back to reading and so did I... Okay, maybe neither of us were the best at flirting. It didn't really matter. It was just Gray, anyways; it's not like I was flirting with him.

…Great, now I've confused myself.