Chapter 10

Accepting an Invite

It is Friday night and Abigail was sitting in her usual spot on the blue couch against the back wall of the gaming room inside the Stardrop Saloon. She was waiting for the boys, Sam and Sebastian to show up and of course Joan. She was excited, she had to admit, Joan was different from Haley and Penny the other girls in town. Haley was such a snob, seriously why that girl has not left Pelican Town already to pursue a career in ZuZu City is beyond her. Of course Alex might have something to do with that. Alex, the sports jock and Haley the fashion cheerleader…what a combination. Abigail smirked. They deserved each other; both were too much in their own heads anyway.

Then there was Penny….sweet, innocent, smart, romantic Penny. Abigail knew that Sam had a soft spot for Penny, might even have a crush on her. But she is too introverted and shy…besides she has seen Penny looking at Elliot. Gushing and drooling when he is reading from some historical romantic novel in the library. Sam needed someone like him, fun, outgoing and into music…very loud music. Abigail giggled, they had been scolded again by Jodi this week when they had been band practicing. Abigail shifted on the couch trying to get comfortable, she did not want to look like she had been waiting, which of course she has been since this afternoon. Sam and Sebastian have been hanging out at Sam's house the whole day…hope they get here soon.

Shane, like every other night this week, stepped into the saloon just before 6 pm, moved across to the bar, tapped on the counter for a beer, and then slipped into the shadows next to the fireplace. He had been more than usually quiet the last two nights, being more withdrawn and moody. Emily sighed as she watched her friend, his dark aura almost swallowing him up completely. She can be annoying she knows that, but since Marnie had confided in her, Emily had gone out of her way befriending Shane, to try and pull him out of whatever dark hole he is in. But she is failing and she fears that if something drastic isn't done, Shane will lose himself completely. Emily shook her head to rid herself of these dark thoughts, placed a big smile on her face and took Shane his beer.

"Hi Shane! How are you this evening?"She asked as she handed him his beer. Shane shrugged and said nothing, taking the beer and immediately taking a sip. He did not want to talk, to Emily, to anyone. He just wanted to be left alone. Shane tried to shrink back even further into the shadows against the wall. Emily withdrew and went back behind the bar counter. She was worried, very worried.

Sam and Sebastian came into the bar laughing, strolling leisurely over to games room.
"What 's so funny?"Abigail asked as they approached, "and where have you guys been?"
"Whoa…don't shoot!" Sam joked holding his hands up in the air, much to Abigail's annoyance.
"We were debating about whether we should play pool tonight and let Sam lose again" Sebastian said, and took his place in between the wall and pool table on the right hand side of the room.
"Ha ha ha" Sam drawled "I am not losing tonight…again." He said as he moved into his spot on the opposite side of the pool table. He bent and reached for the balls kept underneath the table and started to rack them up into position.
"So have you met the new farmer yet?" Abigail asked excitedly.
"No" Sebastian said, "and I don't particularly want to either." Abigail rolled her eyes. "Oh please, stop being so…so you!" She said, "Are you not the least bit curious?"

"No" Sebastian said flatly, and moved over to the pool cue rack, picking one, putting it back, and then picking another.

"I have" Sam said in a matter of fact tone, Sebastian turned to look at Sam and Abigail moved to the edge of the couch. "And? What do you think of her?" Abigail squeaked.
"Wait..what? Her?" Sebastian asked a slight hint of shock at the realization that the new farmer everyone has been talking about was a she, and looked at Abigail. "I gather you have met her too then" he stated rather than asked.
"Yes! I actually paid her a visit on her farm yesterday." Abigail told them and moved back into the couch and placed her legs up next to her. Interesting, Sebastian thought, and then looked at Sam who was busying himself with choosing a pool cue. He was quiet after his statement, and the fact that he had actually met this farmer girl and did not mention it until now...was also very interesting.
"And?" Sebastian directed at Sam.
Sam looked at them. "And she is okay, I suppose…." Then he bent down to position the white ball on the table.
Sebastian frowned, what is Sam not telling? "Out of all the places this farmer could live, she chooses Pelican Town?" He asked no one in particular.
"Technically she does not live in town…and why does it bother you?" Abigail said, "You can't wait to get out of Stardew Valley anyway."
"Are we going to play or what?"Sam interjected a little bit annoyed. Abigail shrugged and Sebastian moved to take a shot. "I'll go first."

The saloon quickly got busy as it usually does on Friday nights. Gus and Emily were happily serving the familiar town's people who gathered to chat and catch up on the week's news. Joan entered quietly and stored her backpack and newly acquired fishing rod beside the door and went over to the bar.
"Hi Gus!" She greeted a bit out of breath, she was still trying to catch her breath after running to catch Pierre before he closed up to fetch her phone.
"Hi! Please relax and enjoy yourself."Gus greeted.
"Can I get whatever is on tap and a pizza, please" she ordered and took up a seat at the counter. She had purposely avoided going too close to the right edge of the counter, she had noticed the shadow next to the fireplace. Instead she sat down just behind Willy and another man who she noticed wore a blackened apron. Must be a blacksmith or something, Joan thought. Joan scanned the room to her left and saw Elliot with another lady who she has not met yet sitting together drinking wine, chatting and laughing. She seemed tall like Elliot; her golden copper hair was tied back in a loose braid hanging over one shoulder. She was dressed in what looked like brown pants with matching waistcoat and a green buttoned shirt.
"That is Leah" Emily said as she gave Joan her beer, "she is an artist. She sculpts with wood and all things nature".
"Hi Emily" Joan smiled and took the beer. "An artist, interesting...she and Elliot seem to know each other well."
"Hmmm, they are about the same age and both come from the city…similar backgrounds or so I gather anyway" Emily told Joan, "They had both moved here about the same time a year ago and both are very creative, Leah sculpting and Elliot an aspiring writer."
Emily leaned forward and whispered in Joan's ear "Elliot can read me a bedtime story any day". She winked and then twirled away. Joan giggled, Elliot was very handsome, and being a writer would explain their meeting on the beach the other day.

Joan turned to look to her right towards the game room and saw Abigail on the blue couch and gave her a wave. Abigail waved backed and then excitedly turned to say something to Sam and another man who was standing at the pool table. He was slightly taller than the other two Joan noted, his raven black hair shone under the dim lighting, it was short and messy with a side fringe that fell over to the right side and a bit over his face. He wore a black hoodie with a pair of black jeans and boots. Joan could not really see his face until he turned away from Abigail to bend over the pool table to take a shot. His face was pale and his dark eyes matched his outer appearance. His eyes left the pool table and looked in her direction; Joan quickly turned away and took another sip from her beer.

Abigail had seen Joan as she had entered and when she had turned and waved Abigail jumped up, "Look sharp boys, our farmer girl has arrived" and with that she started to walk over to the bar. Sam moved in front of Abigail, "Leave her, she is most likely tired and does not want to be bothered."
Abigail raised her eyebrows at Sam's sudden concern and crossed her arms over her chest.
"I invited her to come tonight" she said, "What did you do?" she then asked as Sam moved back to the table obviously uncomfortable. He was fidgeting with his pool cue.
"Nothing...I was just saying..." he faltered and watched as Sebastian pocketed two balls with one shot.
"Seriously, dude...on the first shot?" he said annoyed, his mood had changed suddenly and Sam knew it was because of Joan.

Sam had known that riding past Joan with his skateboard yesterday had been a test, to see if it would get a reaction from her, but he had fled so quickly after greeting her that he did not know if it did. Stupid, stupid, he told himself. He should have just gone up to her and asked "Hey, remember me? Spider boy?" wait, what? Spider boy? But no he fled like a school boy running away after throwing eggs at the Mayor's house. Flushed and guilty as hell.