Chapter Eleven: Someone Like You
Whenever Annie went to Raeger's restaurant, she hardly spoke. She hadn't spoken properly to Raeger in some time. Raeger was really starting to get worried.
He kept on asking her what was wrong but she never answered.
Annie started becoming quiet around other people as well. She was always lost in thought.
"Has Annie told you what's wrong?" Raeger asked Agate.
"She hasn't really spoken to me in awhile either," Agate replied.
"Do you have any idea what it might be about?" Raeger asked.
"You said she started acting like this after talking to you? Must be you then," Agate said.
"You think I offended her? But to this extent? She won't even talk to anyone else!" Raeger said.
"Okay, no, I don't think that. That would be ridiculous. I have no idea what she's thinking," Agate sighed.
Annie spent most of her time on her farm nowadays. She couldn't face the people in town too often. Everyone presumed she was working hard but if they stopped by her farm, they would see she spent most of her day sitting in the midst of fields, staring into space.
It was becoming too much.
Everyone asked her what was wrong when they saw her. She always shrugged in reply.
Eventually, progress was made.
Klaus arrived at her door one day and invited her to his house to eat lunch. Annie would have liked to have refused, but it was Klaus, so she accepted.
Annie wasn't very keen on eating and stared at her food more than she ate it.
"Annie... You can't keep going on like this. Everyone knows something is wrong. You have to tell someone," Klaus said.
Annie so wanted to tell someone at this point. She just wished it hadn't been Klaus. But she couldn't keep it inside any longer.
"I'm... I'm just so scared. There's something I want to say... Something I need to say... But I'm so scared... I'm so sure I'm going to be rejected," Annie said.
Klaus was startled. "...Well, you... you can't say nothing. You have to get it out in the open. Otherwise you won't be able to do anything," he said.
"...I have to. I know I do. I'm going to try," Annie swore. "Thank you for the lunch, by the way," she added, even though she knew she hadn't eaten most of it.
"Take the rest with you," Klaus offered and Annie obliged.
Klaus watched Annie leave sadly, a little disappointed she liked someone else.
The next day, Annie returned to Raeger's restaurant. She walked up to the counter and Raeger waited for her to make an order. She didn't.
"You can't completely stop talking to me. You can't make an order if you don't!" Raeger said.
"I'm just trying to decide what to say! Raeger... can we talk privately?" Annie asked.
"Nobody can hear our conversations, you know," Raeger reminded her.
"I know, but... I still want to talk alone," Annie murmured.
Raeger finished up all the work he had left and then closed the restaurant momentarily.
Annie and Raeger walked along for awhile. Annie still couldn't find the words.
They walked and walked until they were at the bridge. Annie finally faced Raeger and spoke.
"Just so you know, no one will have to worry about me after this. Because this is the thing I've been thinking about so much recently," Annie said.
Raeger was relieved. "So, what is it?" he asked.
"Well... you see... Your magic is really cool... I mean, you're really cool too," Annie mumbled.
"Um, thanks. But why are you saying this?" Raeger asked.
Annie took a deep breath. "I want to be like you, and be a wizard too!" Annie said.
"Are you serious?" Raeger asked.
"I know I don't seem like a good student. I'm just a farmer and I make stupid mistakes. But I want to be confident and wise like you are!" Annie said.
"Annie... I'm so glad! I always thought you'd make the best student!" Raeger said.
"Really? Me?" Annie asked, disbelieving.
"The only person I can think of who I'd rather teach than you would be my own grandson... So I'll gladly take you on!" Raeger said, smiling broadly.
"And... while you're at it, can you teach me how to cook too?" Annie asked.
Raeger laughed and nodded.
"...But why do you want to teach me so much?" Annie asked.
"Because... you're so cute?" Raeger replied.
Annie's face turned red quite quickly. "You're... messing with me, aren't you?" she murmured.
"This is what I mean when I say cute," Raeger said.
Annie saw the sincere look on Raeger's face and couldn't deal with it. "I'll see you later!" she said and ran away. Raeger laughed softly to himself and then sighed.
To be continued(one day when I actually have the game and play it for myself)
(Thank you for reading! Congratulations if you made it all the way through!)