Summary: "Fine. I guess I'll just leave. That should solve things, shouldn't it?" Lillian and Ash have been friends for as long as Lillian had been in Bluebell. When he starts giving her the cold shoulder, though, things take a turn for the worse.
Disclaimer:Harvest Moon belongs to Marvelous Entertainment.
"I hate my life."
"Well isn't that just a peachy attitude," Dirk laughed, patting Lillian's shoulder as she collapsed face down on the mattress. Groaning, she grabbed her pillow and roller back and forth for a few seconds, causing the man to laugh once more.
"It's not funny!" she snapped.
"Sorry, sorry," Dirk chuckled, holding his hands up, "But you're over-reacting a bit, aren't you?"
"Oh my Goddess, go away Dirk. You wouldn't understand. Shoo. Be gone with yee."
With a smile that was not unsympathetic, he sat on the edge of her bed, and slowly starting running his fingers through her hair. "Actually, I would. You seem to forget that I came to Konohana only a year ago."
"Are you gonna tell me now?" Lillian questioned, "About why you came here in the first place?" With that, she scooted slightly, and rested her head on his lap, facing away so he would continue with the hair playing. Because, let's be honest here, when one's hair is being played with, one does not simply maneuver to make the hair-playing act stop.
"Do I have to?" the mailman asked in response, his voice faltering slightly. Lillian's silence was answer enough. With a sigh, he stayed silent for some time. "Let's just say I had some girl issues."
At that, the farmer rolled her eyes, "You still have girl issues. You're not getting off that easily."
Dirk, once more, took an extended pause. "There was a girl who moved into the town I grew up in. She wanted to be a farmer, just like you. Zephyr Town isn't really all that big, so everyone knew everything about one another, and we were all pretty close. We always wanted the people we were courting to get to know our family members before marriage. The girl and I got really close really fast, so I decided to introduce her to my brother…"
"And? Isn't it normal to introduce people like that to family?" Lillian waited for an answer, but with the combination of his silence and his hand no longer going through her locks, she turned to look up at him. "… Dirk? Dirky?"
Slowly, Lillian sat up, one hand on Dirk's shoulder, and the other gently touching his cheek. Out of the silence, he inhaled sharply with a quiver in his voice. The boy forced himself to look at the farmer with glazed eyes, and smiled weakly. "Let's just say Ivan isn't easy to beat in any way."
If she didn't have to let go for the rest of time, she wouldn't. Lillian held Dirk as tightly as she had her father when she was a young girl, and he protected her from the boogie man. "I am so sorry."
In the crook of her neck, he shook his head. "It's nothing. It's old news. I'm over it." The small tear that dropped on her shoulder told the farmer that he was lying. As if that wasn't already obvious from his shaking voice.
"Is there… Something I can do?"
The brunette seemed to have started a nasty habit of being silent for many heartbeats today. "There is… One thing."
"Anything. What is it?"
"Close your eyes."
Lillian did as she was bid, confused and slightly worried for what was to come. Dirk moved his head from her shoulder to look at her sitting silently, waiting for whatever was to come. "Dirk?" she inquired after a few minutes of absolutely nothing happening.
Choosing not to reply, Dirk let his own eyes fall partially heavy as he moved in close to her, his breath tickling her cheeks. Only an inch from her lips, he decided to place a light kiss on her cheek. "Thank y-" The mail carrier was cut off, however, with a light pressure against his lips, which became harder after a moment.
The two sat there, arms wrapped tightly around each other with their lips practically glued together against one another. It was a sweet moment; no tongue or wandering hands or sexual frustration. The kiss lasted, and when it was broken, it was obvious neither wanted to stop.
As soon as Lillian realized what she had done, though, she gasped and her eyes snapped open. "Oh my good Goddess. I am so sorry." Even as the words passed, it took her a moment to scramble away from Dirk, her hand covering her mouth in shock as her face became more flushed by the second. What had she just done.
There was an awkward pause, and then the bed creaked as Dirk stood, and soft footsteps that stopped just barely behind her. The man put his hands on her hips, and kissed the top of her head. "I know how conflicted you are about farmer boy. But… But you can always consider me too, you know. I've managed to be here for you when he hasn't. And I… Just think about it, okay?"
Hearing Dirk's voice so serious so much in a day was just down right uncomfortable. It was… different. Lillian was seeing a new side of him. "Dirk…" she breathed, turning and putting her hands gingerly on his chest. "I…"
It was her turn to trail off and be silent. After a minute, he smiled, lifted her chin, and leaned in… only to place the kiss on her cheek once more. "I understand. Sorry. Didn't mean to make things harder for you." With that, he lingered a moment before heading towards the door. He buttoned his shirt, grabbed his coat, and tugged on his hat and shoes. All the while, Lillian stood in the doorway of her bedroom, watching as he redressed, her hand once more over her mouth.
"Dirk, wait," she blurted when he opened the door. The brunette stopped in place, and turned half his body, only to have his teeth smash against hers awkwardly when she ran over to kiss him. The two reared from each other, hands instantly going to their sore mouths. They looked at each other's reaction to the pain, and couldn't help but laugh.
"I'll see you later, Lil," Dirk remarked, the chirp back in his voice. He was half way down the path when he was called once more.
"Dirk!" Lillian shouted, "I'll consider it. Okay? I will!"
"Well you had best consider fast!"
A/n: You know who's horrible? Me. Oh my freaking God, I can't believe my last update was in July. I feel so horrible for having made all you amazing people wait for so long :( I have absolutely no free time anymore. School became way more of a pain than I was expecting, and it's been pretty tough balancing my mounds of homework with my job, along with the social life I attempt to maintain when I can (which isn't often ; w; ). Even though it's winter break now, today was the first day I've been able to lie in bed all day like omfg. I haven't given up on this story, though! If anything, I keep getting ideas to make it even longer haha. Still, sorry again for the wait! And thanks to everyone who's read, fav'd, reviewed, etc. You're all amazing and I love you and many smooches! Also, Happy New Years!
