Everyone who's reading, I've got some great news! For those of you who didn't know, I have a twin (yes, in real life) and she has FINALLY gotten around to reading this. She's not that partial to this couple, so I honestly didn't expect her to think much of it. But she read it—and she absolutely loved it! She's now a follower, just like you guys, and we've been swapping ideas. Her FF name is GarnetMonsoon—check her stuff out! :D I didn't think I'd manage this, but I've got the basic plot all mapped out, or at least the important parts. My drive to work on this has been totally restored! Not that I don't value my reviewers, of course. :P My characters will still have the most say in what happens, though, so I won't drop details in fear that they may change. That, and no one likes spoilers. So.
If you have any questions or concerns, feel free to leave it in a review or message me.
Nothing will happen if I don't sit down and work on it, so here we go!
The silence in the room, while it hasn't lasted long, is stifling. Tina finally acquiesces, unchaining her arms from his neck and lowering her feet flat on the ground. A shy look mists over her face, like she's just realized what kind of position she's in, and she makes an awkward move to smooth her shirt. Looking up to Jamie again, she pins him with a content smile. There's no malice in it, no hidden agenda, and she wants more than anything to just let Jamie know how she's feeling right here and now.
Since she'd seen him kneeling at her side the other day, things have changed—for her, at least. The look on his face was something she'll never forget. No, it was his eyes; the way they were so wide and full of panic, practically screaming, "This can't happen! This can't be real!" not just to her, but to himself.
He'd shed tears, even. Cried. Big, bad, grumpy, I-don't-care-about-anyone Jamie had cried when he thought she wasn't going to be okay. At first, it kind of scared her. Jamie wasn't usually such a wild card. But she thought about it a little more; thought about Jamie, and herself, and everything that had happened in that one short season. In spite of the nagging voice in her head that told her she was crazy (which oddly sounded like Jamie himself), Tina began to think of only one explanation. Obviously, Jamie liked her more than he let on, perhaps even more than Tina herself thought he did!
Soon enough, she actually began to admire him. She had just about told him as much that day they went fishing back in Spring. Yes, there were a lot of things about Jamie that she admired, things she wished she could be. Of course, Jamie had his faults. No one ever needed to tell her that. And even though Jamie had always been so distant and testy with her, she began to faithfully believe that there was a way to pierce the ice around his cold heart; to become someone close to him. Maybe one day, she thought, a day would come when they would both help the other shine. The fact that they both seemed to be tied to a destiny of freeing the Goddess only made it all the more likely to her.
So when she saw him that day, broken up all because of her, she really, really had a feeling that she was right, no matter how much he grumbled and called her ditzy or childish.
"It's all for the best, I guess," Jamie murmurs, breaking her reverie. He blinks a few times, blushing still, and though he's talking to her he won't look her in the eyes.
"Actually, I… There's something I wanted to talk to you about."
Without even having to ask, he knows he's got her attention. Tina is that kind of person—she'll sit and listen patiently and openly to whatever you have to say, no matter who you are. It could almost count as one of the only good things about her, Jamie thinks, except for the fact that it makes her gullible.
It would make Jamie smug to hear it, but he's right. He does have her attention, every single ounce of it, and Tina's mind is racing. Is he really going to say what she's hoping he'll say? That he was scared, that he was worried, that he finally wants to let go of this rivalry thing and be friends?
"Go ahead and shoot, I'm listening," she quips, hands crossed behind her back.
"Right," he sighs. "Hmph, I'll be to the point. You probably don't remember, based on the way you acted when I walked in, but I… Well, I said something I shouldn't have before the race."
He digs up the courage to meet her gaze, face burning with shame. Apologizing will be hard, but Jamie is no fool. He knows that it's wrong enough to be mean to people, but it's even worse to go and tell them you pretty much wish they would die. Jamie isn't a nice guy; he probably never will be, but for Goddess' sake he's at least a decent human being.
Her brow furrows, and she shakes her head ever so slightly. "No, actually when I blacked out I kinda forgot most of everything before the race… What is it?" Now she's definitely curious. It's not at all what she wanted out of him at the moment, but there's always time to worm that into the conversation later.
"You got amnesia?" he asks, genuinely surprised.
"Yeah. Just some short term stuff, the doc says it's no big deal. But I wanna know what you said! Won't you tell me, pleeeeease?" she oozes somewhat jokingly.
'Well, this is… ironic.' Jamie thinks. 'Maybe I don't need to do this. I mean, she doesn't remember it, right? So it would be kind of stupid to say sorry, wouldn't it?' But suddenly, he pictures the Harvest Goddess' face, smiling gracefully. He knows she wouldn't approve, and he knows he doesn't truly mean it.
Just because she forgot those harsh words doesn't mean he never said them. Her amnesia doesn't change the fact that he's wronged her. It would be childish to run away just for the sake of covering his wounded pride.
"Fine. B-but I was going to tell you anyway, so don't think it's 'cause you begged me like that or anything!" Tina presses a hand to her mouth, trying to suppress giggles. "Stop laughing!" he snaps indignantly.
"Okay, okay! Go ahead, I promise I won't laugh anymore."
He takes in a deep breath. "Right before the mayor blew the whistle to start, when we were all lined up at the shore, I told you… Well, I said…" He hangs his head, face scarlet. That shame, that guilt that he'd felt when he watched Bob carry her away to the ambulance, comes rushing back.
'Argh, this is pathetic! Be a man and say it!'
Fists balled so hard his knuckles are white; he grimaces at the dingy tiling and draws another deep breath. "I said, 'Why don't you go home before you drown?'!" he cries, disgraced.
Tina jolts, shocked. "Jamie…"
"I know, I know, okay?!" he rushes. The breath he's holding tumbles out, and he crosses his arms, still too ashamed to look at her face. He doesn't want to see the disappointment in her eyes.
"It- it was uncalled for. I went too far with that one. I… I'm sorry."
A pause lingers in the air as Jamie waits patiently for her reaction.
She speaks, softly, and closer to him than before. "Jamie."
His shoulders tighten.
"Jamie. Look at me, please." His heart races faster, though it's been doing that since the door closed.
Reluctantly, he raises his eyes. Part of him is amazed, but another part quietly murmurs, 'Of course…'
Again, she is smiling that gentle, strange smile from before. It's as though her eyes are holding his in place, not giving the option to move them.
"It's okay." 'Stop it.'
"You had no idea that would happen," she continues. 'Stop it.'
"And really, I'm just happy that you even came to apologize. I wouldn't have expected that from you in a million years!" she laughs heartily. "Oh, am I rubbing off on you perhaps?" she teases, fiercely hoping he won't notice her insecurity.
"That's ridiculous," he scoffs. Her faith wavers, but she trudges on. Jamie is always like this; he may act distant, but you have to whittle him down a bit. Then, he'll be honest with you. She convinces herself this is the usual pattern, and doesn't miss a beat.
"Awww, c'mon Jamie! Everybody learns something from others at some point in life. Is it really so crazy that I may be a positive influence on you?" she inquires confidently. The tone of voice she's using is still that playful, taunting one, and she hopes it'll help nullify any rising anger.
He huffs in annoyance. 'Whoops!' Tina giggles to herself. 'But maybe I can still turn this around. Don't give up, Tina! Jamie may be—'
"That's not what I mean," he replies, cutting her inner ramblings short. Tina turns her head slightly, piqued. "Oh?" she asks.
"I mean, it's ridiculous for you to think that I'd be above apologizing when it's due," he grinds out, starting to get offended. "Listen, I'm by no means a nice guy, but just what kind of person do you think I am?"
She stutters, caught off guard. "Err, no, I just—"
"I shouldn't have said that in the first place, I know, but at least I'm trying to make it right! And you're standing here like you're shocked. I lose my temper a lot, but aren't you the one who never takes my insults seriously? With that kind of logic, I would think you'd be a little more—I don't know—unsurprised when I tell you I didn't mean it," he says, insulted.
Breathless, she stammers, not quite sure how to answer his accusations. "Ah—gosh, Jamie! I was just kidding around! Th-that's what friends do, you know? Poke fun at each other a little bit, that's all!"
"That's another thing I wanted to talk about," he snaps, finally feeling like he's getting the upper hand back. Not being in control of a situation had always been a pet peeve of Jamie's. As he feels his tenacity return, he stands a little bit taller and his world starts to make a little more sense.
"This whole friendship you've invented between us… I'm not sure where you got these ideas, or how, but you'd best forget them."
She pales. But he can't mean this; he always says things like this! He'd even just said so moments ago! Unrelenting, she speaks her thoughts.
"I don't believe you one bit. You literally just said you're always saying things you don't mean. Why should I take this to heart?"
Drawing his lips into a thin line, he contemplates what to say next. "Hmph. Good point, but mind you, I've told you time and time again I don't desire a close relationship of any kind with you. I show it in my actions, as well. It's not something I say out of anger or in the heat of a moment. I really mean it. I don't like you, and I don't want to be your friend."
Uncomprehending and almost unwilling to accept it, she's rendered speechless. A few seconds pass, and she finds her voice again, wavering as it may be.
"Y-you've got to be kidding me! You always push everyone away, Jamie, but you can't live like that. Think about it; it's a part of life to become close to other people and build relationships with them. They're rewarding. They teach you things, and bring you happiness. What could be more important than that?" she asks, almost pleading.
"Saving the Goddess, for one!" he exploded. "There's another reason you disgust me! You came here acting like you were gonna work so hard on your farm, and you kept mentioning how you wanted to bring the Goddess back, but what have you done about it?! I've seen your farm, and it looks pathetic! Are you even putting any effort into it? It's like all you do is spend your time socializing! And you call yourself my rival," he spat.
She gasps at his outburst, but lets his words sink in. Maybe she hadn't been putting enough energy into her farm. At first, she did have a drive to collect notes and build a huge farm. But as the weeks passed, she couldn't think of new ways to get notes, and money got tight. Every now and then, she would reward herself by spending money on little things that made her happy, but didn't it all add up in the end? It wasn't that she didn't care about the Goddess. She did, very much, but…
"Farming is way harder than I thought it would be," she mumbles meekly, more to herself than him.
Having calmed down, he grunts softly in agreement. "It is. It's a demanding job, in a lot of ways. If you can't handle it, then maybe you shouldn't be here."
Now it's her turn to scoff. "Are you joking? No way! I may not be very far, but I'm not giving up yet. If you don't want to be friends, then, then… fine," she gulps.
"I suppose you might not a complete waste, then. Just maybe. If I were you, I'd spend less time goofing off, and more time working. You'll never pass me up, of course, but it's amusing to watch you try," he sneers.
His snide jeering is the final straw. If he wants to play hard ball, then so be it. She scowls, enraged. "Well then you'd better watch closely—because I'm going to leave you in the dust! And for your information," she seethes, "From now on, I couldn't care less about your stupid rivalry idea. I'm doing this for me, and for the Goddess as well! She's the only person I care about not letting down."
"Fine!" Jamie hisses.
"Fine!" Tina bites back.
"Fine!" he yells, and slams the door as hard as he can as he leaves. Ignoring the inquisitive stares of Tina's friends, he storms off down the halls and takes the staircase, too angry to wait for the elevator and in need of some way to burn off his anger. Forget stuffing himself in that nasty truck; he'll take a bus, or better yet, walk home.
He sure as hell isn't riding home with her!
Ohhohohohohoho, lol, lol, lol! *trollface* The ending really took me by surprise! Well, there you have it, their first fight. I want to explain that at this point, Tina no longer wants to establish a friendship with Jamie. Starting now, she will actively engage in a rivalry with him- despite her specifically saying she won't in a fit of anger because really, Jamie's not the only one who says stuff he doesn't mean. She's trying to make it clear that she's not aiming for his approval.
However, will this change? Only time will tell….
NOTICE: I will be starting my next semester starting tomorrow, so don't expect such frequent updates! I'll still be working on this as much as possible, especially in light of recent events and Garnet now being a follower, but college does require a lot of attention. Wish me luck, and thanks for reading! :D