I woke up the day of the festival understandably nervous. I mean, it's not every day you make out with your best friend's arch nemesis, and I wasn't quite sure how to handle the situation.
"Take it as it comes," I muttered to myself as my feet dragged me sluggishly into the bathroom. I closed the door behind me, blocking out the noise Annie was making downstairs as she prepared. My eyes were puffy and gross looking- compliments of staying up all night worrying. I sighed as I dabbed cover up on the exaggerated dark circles under my eyes and did the rest of my make up as usual. By the time I had dressed and gone downstairs, Annie had made breakfast and was digging frantically through the refrigerator.
"I can't find the corn anywhere!" She grunted as I entered the room. "I know I left at least several stalks of them in here and I really need them for the festival . . ."
"I put them in the bin yesterday," I yawned and sat at the table as Annie removed herself from the fridge.
"Oh." She wiped her hands on her pants. "How are you feeling?" I tiredly began to eat my breakfast as she sat across from me. "Well?"
"Okay, I guess." Other than the fact that I got no sleep and am probably going to be sleeping in the forest for the rest of my time here, I'm peachy!
"That's good. Because I planning on finding out who your mystery guy is!"
I managed a sarcastic shocked look before turning back to my food. Annie sighed and stood up again, hopping into the kitchen to retrieve her crutches. I yawned again as she removed my mostly-empty plate from the table and took it to the sink to wash.
"We gotta get going if we're going to make it," she told me as she turned the sink on.
"But what about the animals?" I asked, hoping to buy some time.
"Naw, you can get them after the festival. Besides, don't you want to get there early?"
"Not really," I told her, standing. "Maybe I'll take care of the animals and meet you there later; if you're so excited about it."
"Party pooper," Annie pouted as she turned the water off and dried her hands. "Fine then. But you'd better show up, and show up before it ends too. It's going to rain tomorrow, so put the animals inside, kay?" I sniffed at her and left the house, immediately heading toward the barn.
"Okay, so if I get there later there's a slight chance that I can avoid being near Jamie and Annie at one time," I reasoned with myself, and then shook my head. "That's impossible. The square is too small to hide from two different people at the same time." I yawned as I stepped into the fenced pasture and did my animal-related responsibilities slowly, wasting time effortlessly. By the time all the animals had been taken care of and replaced in the barn, it was close to noon. I grinned triumphantly at the prospect of having wasted close to six hours as I began to walk toward the square.
A scent similar to the smell of Annie's refrigerator, except stronger, wafted around me and grew stronger as I approached the square. My nerves were buzzing. I approached one entrance to the square and took several deep breaths as I gazed over the people celebrating. Jamie and Annie were both there, along with several other people. I surveyed the stacks of fall vegetables and decided they were high enough to hide behind if I needed to. I took one last deep breath and headed bravely into the square.
"Alex!" Annie waved at me from one corner, Katie, Ray, Joe, and Dan surrounding her. I grinned weakly and cast a short glance in Jamie's direction. He hadn't noticed. I walked toward Annie and her friends self-consciously. When I reached the group, I waved weakly and was quickly pulled into a conversation that I had nothing to do with. Every now and then, Annie cast me a few suspicious glances and then looked around the square, looking for the 'mystery' guy. I coughed quietly and Annie looked at me as I began to step backwards, gesturing with my head. Unfortunately, the talking stopped with my cough, and the group stared at me.
"I'm, uh, going to wander around, kay? Nice to, um, see you all." I walked away quickly, heading toward the opposite end of the square so I could pretend to gaze at the lovely vegetables. When I reached the corner, I slid quickly behind the mound of veggies and waited until I thought Annie was wrapped up in conversation. Jamie was across the square from me, and across from Annie as well. He hadn't noticed me yet, seemingly in a staring contest with an eggplant. I looked toward Annie again and walked over to Jamie undetected.
"Hey," I said quietly as I approached. He jumped slightly and turned around, straightening his hat bashfully.
"Oh hey, I didn't see you back there." He rubbed the back of his neck as I giggled stupidly. He couldn't possibly be good for my mental health.
"So, um, it smells nice here?" My attempt at conversation was definitely not up to par.
"Um, I guess. Oh yeah, I, uh, found something I thought you might like this morning . . ." he trailed off as he reached into a seemingly hidden pocket and pulled out a blue flower. I knew from Annie's lectures that these were incredibly rare flowers. He held the flower out to me shyly and I took it, smiling unsurely.
"Are you sure? I mean these flowers . . ."
"Yeah, don't worry about it." Jamie slid his hands into his pockets and smiled bashfully.
"Wow, thanks!" I held the flower delicately as Jamie led me over to a corner with food made from the fresh crops. I discretely kept an eye out for Annie as we crossed the square; finding myself lucky that she had bent down awkwardly to tie a shoe. When we reached the small food area, Jamie picked up a plate containing something that resembled a pie and stared at it.
"Who makes this stuff?" I asked in wonder, using a fork to poke at an overcooked eggplant.
"Probably the mayor," Jamie guessed, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he stared at the odd mixtures off food on the tables around us. I reached for a plain raw carrot and chewed on it as Jamie continued to survey the food.
"At least this carrot is good," I said, continuing to chew on it. Jamie looked up shortly and nodded, seeming amused as he looked at the odd foods.
"Yeah, thanks, I grew the carrots." He sighed and straightened, scratching his head as he gazed up into the sky. "It looks like rain."
"It sure does," Annie's slightly angry voice rang from behind us. I bit my lip and turned around slowly, hiding the flower behind my back. Jamie's face contorted into a blank glare as he faced her.
"What do you want?" He asked, his voice level. Annie raised her eyebrows at him and looked at me.
"Wow, I'm impressed. He's actually trying to stay civil to impress you!" Annie's eyes narrowed slightly and she frowned, her gaze flicking over the two of us. An awkward silence fell on us and I shifted slightly. Annie's glare instantly locked on me.
"I trusted you!" She began, her voice rising. "I trusted you and you've been going behind my back to meet," she paused disbelievingly, "him?"
"Annie, I—"
"Alex has a right to do whatever she wants," Jamie hissed, stepping next to me. Annie's glare intensified as she looked at him.
"Don't be so cocky, Jamie. She obviously hasn't been too honest with you, either," Annie put her crutches in one hand and leaned on them, her hand on her hip. I stepped back as Jamie's eyes narrowed in confusion, seeking mine out.
"I, um. . ."
"Well I have no time for this crap," Annie turned around and then glanced back at me. "Whenever you come back to your senses, you're welcome to stay with me again. After you apologize profusely, that is." I watched as my best friend angrily left the square. There was a moment of silence as Jamie and I watched her go. As if slightly on cue, lightening streaked across the sky and it began to pour. The villagers streaked out of the square, trying to cover themselves in vain. Jamie turned to me slowly.
"Care to explain?" His voice had dropped into a monotone, and his facial expression had become just as blank. I looked around helplessly, seeing the deserted square through my soaked bangs. I pushed them out of my eyes and stepped back again. Jamie continued to stare at me.
"I'm sorry!" I said desperately, shouting over the falling rain. "I wasn't trying to screw everything up like this." Jamie just stared at me. I could feel tears beginning to threaten, and I blinked quickly, looking at the ground.
"What now," I heard barely heard his soft voice over the rain. "Me or her?" I sobbed once and dropped the carrot to clap my hand over my mouth. He was asking me to choose between Annie and himself. I looked up at him and shook my head quickly, the bored expression on his face making me cry harder. When he didn't say anything else, I threw my arms in the air.
"I can't choose between you!" I cried, gripping the flower a little too tightly. "How can you expect me to choose!" Jamie paused for a moment and finally looked away from me and up into the dark clouds.
"I really like you, you know," he said softly, looking back at my face. I didn't reply, hiding my face behind my unoccupied hand. It began to rain harder, and a close lightening bolt caused me to jump. I saw Jamie bite his bottom lip through the gap in my fingers and watched as he looked at me indecisively.
"I'll give you another chance," he finally said. I looked up in surprise as he nodded to himself.
". . . Thank you. . ." I lowered my hand from my face. Jamie took a step back and shook his head, his eyes obscure under his wet bangs. I looked on as he took another step back, farther away from me.
"Just not yet," he finished, looking me straight in the eye before turning and walking away, leaving me alone in the square.
I watched him until he disappeared in the rain before turning and running aimlessly. I could barely see through the mixture of rain and tears and running make up, and I ran until I felt my feet sink into wet sand and water ran up to my ankles. I sunk to my knees and stared out into the ocean hopelessly as the storm raged around me. I hated feeling desperate.
By the time I had removed myself from the ocean, my clothes and hair were completely soaked. Shivers climbed my spine and I wrapped my arms around myself, feeling my old sickness returning. I coughed twice and began to head to the river, where I followed it until I reached the Inn. The door was closed and locked, and I banged on it desperately for a minute before stepping back. I hated feeling desperate. I hated angst.
I headed for the first warm place I could think of, hoping to sleep the rest of the day, or my life, away.
I ended up sleeping in the barn, sharing body heat with two sheep.
When I woke up, the flower had been crushed.
Sorry for the shortness, but I had surgery on my shoulder so typing isn't exactly easy.