Okay, this was what I was talking about in Chapter 15. This is the one that's not going to be pretty. And I mean that in a lot of ways, because not only will it be bad, I suck at writing stuff like this. I'm not even sure where the hell I'm going with it. I might post the whole damn thing and realize 2 days later that I left a big, important piece out of it. …Sorry.
Buckle up. (Listening to "Somebody to Love" from the Ella Enchanted soundtrack.)
Summer 18th
Tina smiled as the strolled down the dirt pathway that was one of Flower Bud Village's many roads, a smile on her face despite yesterday's trauma. Sure, a tornado had blazed through, almost destroyed half the village, and completely desolated the Spring Farm. That wasn't exactly rainbows and sunshine, for sure. But no one was hurt. And they could always rebuild. She idly flipped her foot out as she walked, kicking a small stone, and watched as it bounced off the path and into the dewy grass. So really, she reasoned, there was no need to get down about it. Just taking a look around town could give anyone motivation to smile.
'Besides,' she giggled to herself, 'Any day that I'm going to see him is a good one!'
Ah, Alex, her prince in shining armor! …Well, that was how she preferred to look at it. Charming and mature, the town's resident doctor always had time and smile for Tina, and loved listening to her stories. He'd even gone with her to the Star Festival! That was totally a date, right? It had to be. She'd wished to receive true love's kiss before the year's end, with a sidelong peek at her crush. Laughing again, she hoped that Alex had been wishing about her, too.
With a spring in her step, Tina flounced up the steps of the Clinic's stoop and swung the door open.
"Alex, it's me!" she called cheerfully. "I came to get some first aid kits in case we need them today. You here?"
Some faint noises clattered in the back of the clinic, followed by the sound of a chair's legs scraping against the tile. A few seconds later, Alex appeared from behind blue curtains, clipboard in hand. He smiled amicably at the young lady.
"Ah, Tina! I was glad to hear you made it out of the storm all right," he said.
She grinned, a rosy flush on her face. 'W-was he worried for me? Oh wow!'
"Me?! Haha, oh yeah, I'm just fine! It'll take more than a little wind to keep me down!" she chattered nervously. The doctor's smile deepened with a soft chuckle.
"Yes, I can see that much. You really have been doing very well since you came here, Tina. Starting a ranch out here all by yourself, and being so young. That's amazing."
Blushing even deeper at the compliment, Tina didn't wait a moment to protest.
"No way! A few crops and one chicken, that's nothing. But you—I mean come on, you're a doctor! All those years of college and medical school, all those tests and stuff. I could never do that. You're way more amazing than I am!" she cried.
He startled a bit, then laughed. "Tina, really, you flatter me too much!"
"But it's only 'cause you're so cool!" she gushed.
Alex laughed, a soft, calm sound that felt like music to Tina's ears. When he took a hand to affectionately pat her on the head, Tina could have sworn she was dreaming.
"Tina," he said warmly, "You really are one of the kindest girls I've ever met. And pretty too!"
Unable to control herself, she gaped. She felt like she would sprout wings any moment, and her heart began to pound mercilessly. It was almost too much to handle. Was he about to say what she thought he was going to say?
"A-Alex… I—" she breathed.
"Yes, you remind me so much of my little sister!" he declared.
The wings were gone, her heart stopped. Life had slammed her back into the ground, broken in one single second.
"…Huh?" was all she could manage to squeak out. The doctor reached a hand behind his head nervously.
"Ah, I'm sorry, did that offend you? I don't intend to call you childish, merely innocent."
Tina displayed no reaction, but simply stood in silent grief as her hopes over the last season and a half were dashed. That was certainly no love confession, he'd equated her to his younger sister. Men didn't fall in love with women that reminded them of their sisters. To him, she wasn't dateable at all. She was just... a kid.
"My younger sister… Well, I haven't seen her in a while, but she's always been a lot like you. Very kind, and bubbly. Good to everyone she met. She's about your age, and she used to follow me around all day! I bet you two would get along well," he rambled, unaware of the rancher's pain.
Tina blinked, staring blankly ahead. 'But… but I had been so sure…'
"Tina?" Alex questioned, now a little worried. "Are you alright?"
A lump rose in her throat, constricting her voice. "Huh? O-oh, no, I-I'm… fine."
Leaning a bit closer, he scrutinized her with the unmistakable gaze that only doctors possessed.
"Are you sure? You do look a bit pale…"
"Yeah!" she yelped suddenly. "I uh… I-I just forgot to eat breakfast this morning. Ahahaha!"
It was a flimsy lie and an obviously phony laugh, but it was her only hope of deterring his concern. Maybe she could even trick herself into thinking it was funny. Crying in front of him would ruin everything. And a great guy like him, he'd probably do all he could to make her feel better… Which would make the pain truly unbearable.
Alex frowned. Skipping meals was never healthy, especially not for a young girl running a farm all by herself. Shaking his head, he chided her lightly.
"That's no good Tina, you'll wear yourself out. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day."
The rock in her throat was a boulder now, and try as she may to suppress them, bitter tears began to flood her eyes. Ashamed of her tears, and desperate to not let him see, she turned away.
"Ah, you're so right! As always, Alex." She said shakily. Her fists clenched at her sides, and Tina steeled herself to endure just a few more moments.
"Um, so yeah, I better go get something to eat. W-well… bye then!" she cried, her voice wavering ever so slightly at the end. Before the doctor could stop her, she dashed out the door blindly. She hoped no one would try to stop her and ask her what was wrong. That was something she just didn't think she could deal with right now. No, she only wanted one thing: to be alone.
Back inside the clinic, Alex had extended an arm to catch her sleeve, but missed.
"Tina, wait! …Ugh," he sighed. He could have always given her something to eat right here… 'Maybe I should go after her,' he thought. Then again, maybe she was just being her usual whacky self. Girls were difficult to understand.
"What's gotten into her?" he muttered.
A matronly voice sounded next to him disapprovingly.
"You'd best not go after her, dear." Alex turned his head to the side, spotting the kind old midwife. Puzzled, his head tilted sideways a degree. The woman smoothed her hands over her neat, navy skirt and she quickly readjusted her glasses before speaking again.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, but I simply couldn't help but overhear what you two just said. And I'm telling you, you need to just leave her be for now," she stated. It was hard not to sigh. Even a young man as intelligent as Alex was still so oblivious to the delicate heart of a girl… What a shame.
"Was what I said honestly that bad?" he winced.
Martha shook her head. "No, no, it— well, not quite."
Alex sighed again, and turned to stare out into the open summer air. "What's gotten into her?" he couldn't help but mumble once more. Martha stepped closer, putting a plump, wrinkled hand on his shoulder.
"Not even something you could help, dear. Only time," she said, as though she were comforting someone much younger.
As Tina tore through the dirt roads of the tiny town, she scrubbed at her eyes periodically, wiping away tears that seemed to never stop leaking. Just when things were going so well—just when it seemed like Alex had really liked her, like she really had a chance to marry a special guy like him— life had to snatch her happiness just out of reach.
'Alex doesn't love me… I'm just a kid,' she thought to herself. So he liked mature girls… Maybe all guys did. What guy would want to date a girl who was childish anyway? Sighing for the thousandth time, she resorted to appealing to a higher power. Perhaps she could find guidance and answers there.
'Oh Goddess' she prayed. 'I know my prince is out there somewhere. I'll find him someday, won't I? Please, just send me a sign!' So caught up in her dreaming was she, that the innocent girl wasn't paying attention to where she was walking at all. The frame of her vision jarred in a blur of colors, and she stumbled backwards with a jolt of sharp pain.
"Ow! Watch where you're going, i-!"
"Shut up Jamie, I don't have time for you right now!" she snapped, and promptly stormed off before he could say anything else.
The minutes wore on, and the sun climbed higher into the sky as the afternoon greeted the earth. All the walking and crying was making her tired, and she wasn't even sure where exactly she was headed. She lifted her head, scanning the surroundings, and realized she was all the way on the other side of town, near Sunny Lake. For a moment, she remembered that she was supposed to help rebuild today; the reason why she had gone to get a few first aid kits from the doctor. But sadness weighed upon her heart, and the tears had still not stopped, and she knew that she couldn't face her friends. Not like this.
'I'm sorry, everyone,' she thought sadly.
So she continued walking, around the lake, until she found one of her favorite spots under a large spruce. The grass was warm and soft in the shade, so comfortable that she decided a nap was in order. Sleep was good for clearing a troubled mind, right?
Somehow, despite the heartbreak, falling asleep wasn't difficult at all.
"Tinaaaa! Tiiiiinaaaa! Tina, where are you?" a voice called. Said rancher's eyes popped open; she knew that voice! Rubbing her eyes, Tina sat up and cleared her sore throat.
"Ann?" she murmured. "Ann, I'm over here!" she called, her voice growing less groggy. A flash of orange hair glinted in the sun as Ann, who now spotted Tina, trotted over to the shady tree. She leaned over, her hands on her knees.
"There you are! What the heck are you doing here? You just gonna take a nap while we do all the work?!" she taunted. A moment passed, and Ann noticed her best pal was strangely quiet. Just before she could ask what was wrong, Tina's face twisted into a wan frown. She slapped her hands to her face, sobbing.
"Oh, Ann!" she cried. "It's horrible! I was… and I thought… b-but he didn't! He didn't!"
Ann reached out, enveloping her best friend in an embrace. She wasn't quite sure she understood what all Tina had said, but… It sounded like it was about a guy. Not that she was an expert on guys, but hugs, she could do. Glancing down at the forlorn girl, Ann deduced that another sleepover might be in order.
Summer 22nd
In his routine checking of the profits and overall status reports for each ranch (to ensure that, of course, he was at the top), Jamie couldn't help but notice a peculiarity. That pigtailed menace, Tina, his sworn rival, had… improved? Just barely, by a small average, she seemed to be doing better than usual. And for the past few days, it had been constant. An interesting development, but unexpected. A problem? No, not in the least bit. She was a far ways off from even coming close to his greatness. But still… he'd have to watch her a little closer. The numbers proved that.
He skimmed the page again, trying to figure out where the increase in profit was coming from. Fishing, maybe? Impossible, she didn't have the patience. Then the mines, perhaps. Smashing away at rocks until she fainted like an idiot—that seemed like her. Humph.
Though for some reason, the thought of her swinging that giant hammer around, again and again, returning each day to do the same thing—which wasn't healthy, the fool… As small as she was, to do something so reckless, out of the blue… His eyes widened. Could it be she was getting serious about staying here? Was this a challenge?
He was filled with a strange emotion. It felt like anger, and apprehension, and… and something else he just couldn't put his finger on. Something fiery and big that swelled up in his chest and all throughout his veins.
Whether or not he liked it, he found that he couldn't tell.
Do you guys think this is unlike Tina?
To be honest, she's very different from me… But I figure that an 18 year old girl who loves things like happiness and romance and is just always bubbly and sweet would be very affected by this. Alex is pretty much her first serious love, so I hope I'm not overdoing this any. Let me know if it seems funny, cause I'd gladly change it!
To all my tumblr friends who are here…. I TOLD y'all I'd update more! :D