A/N: ALL RIGHT! Another chapter! Only took me like, what, A year to write it? Ugh. That's sad. -_- I gotta work on that.

All right, this chapter is a little strange. Now I know that in the game, you get money in the begging, but I thought it would be fun to start our heroine out with close to nothing, because I like the idea of her having to get a job, even though In the game you ship roots and junk, A little alternate universe there, but ah well, I hope you enjoy. More to come soon! Really, I promise this time!

I stared, harder I would guess, than I ever had before. Dust billowed around my exposed ankles, but the resulting tickling sensation had stopped bothering me. In fact, any feeling at all had seemed to dissipate from my legs. Standing for an hour or two could do that. I wasn't really sure what my plan was, or if such even existed. It seemed foolish, standing there, rooted to the ground like a tree, staring hopelessly into the store window at the long row of seeds and equipment. Things I wanted, things that I knew I needed, things I couldn't afford. I went over the prices, crunching the numbers through my head. Each time I would go a little slower, adding everything a little more carefully, hoping that somewhere I had perhaps added an extra zero, maybe threw in another ten.

I was in trouble. A lot of trouble. Another splendid example of my own stupidity. Really, who did something like that? What kind of a brainless idiot would leave home to live on a farm and not bring money? I helplessly tried to mentally defend myself, the add for the farm HAD been grotesquely exaggerated. How could I have known that this much time and cash would have to go into it? Regardless, the conclusion was the same either way. I simply did not have enough money. Not even by a little bit, I REALLY didn't have enough money.

So what would I do? The answer seemed straightforward in theory, yet the actual thought of it made me convulse with worry. I would do what people in the real world did (that is, compared to the Claire world where money grows on trees) I would get a job. An honest to goodness, real money paying job. But where? Anywhere, I concluded almost immediately. The story of my little tantrum had probably burned through the town like wild fire by now, any one who would actually consider hiring me was crazy. I puffed out my chest in defiance, it never hurt to try.

I had guessed correct. The first stop was the store, after standing outside for a matter of hours it seemed time to finally go in. It was my preferred place of employment, although my hopes for a good outcome weren't high. I was right to doubt. My presence in the seemed to act as a trigger for the immediate cold shoulder.

"Uh…hey. Guys." I fidgeted nervously, their cold reactions adding to my already overflowing apprehension.

"SO, you know, I was just maybe wondering…if you had a position open here. At the store. I'm a hard worker, I think, even though I've never actually had a job. But, you know, I still think…. yah."

Fail. Epic fail. Their faces stayed hard, cold and brittle as stone. I was blowing this big time, any miniscule chance I had was gone. Better quit well I was ahead. "SO…going to go now. Bye" I left in a hurry. Oh the humiliation.

I made my way hastily to the chicken farm, my head hanging low in utter failure. This wasn't turning out well, I had expected harsh reactions of the towns people, what I hadn't planned on was it to turn me into a babbling idiot. How was I going to convince the already angry villagers to hire me when I could hardly make out a coherent sentence?

I took the long route cutting through the towns square; I didn't want to risk a run in with Gray now. I hadn't even begun to think of what I could possibly say to make things better. A lot of "I'm sorrys" and "I was an idiot". I could only hope he would forgive me.

I entered the chicken farm quickly; pushing aside the huddle of squawking birds trying greedily to slip into the cool air-conditioned space. I was expecting the same reaction as before, cold faces and hard expressions. It was worse. Lilia's eyes, so disappointed, so pitying, they stung me like salt in a fresh wound. Rick, his look of utter disgust, regarding me like a bug that needed quick squishing. Popuri was nowhere in sight, but she had always been close to Gray, I didn't expect her reaction to be much better. I turned and left abruptly, my eyes sparking with tears, knowing immediately that anything I said would simply make things worse.

I headed off to my final stop, the Inn. As much the new improved grown up Claire hated to admit defeat I had to admit if I couldn't get a job, I really had no choice except to go home.

I pushed open the wooden doors, hopes dashed and self esteem in the gutter. It was early afternoon on a weekday and the tables were deserted. I had always wondered how the place managed not to go bankrupt, every time I had been here it was empty. Doug was perched at his usual place at the counter, waiting patiently for a customer while Anne was busying herself by wiping down the tables.

I had saved the Inn for last, knowing that this was the least likely place to hire me. It was still worth a shot. With a deep breath I walked forward, shoulders straight, head up. I new immediately from Doug's infuriated expression, his face red and bulging with sudden anger, that I was in for lecture.

"Listen to me." I cute him off abruptly, crossing my arms defiantly. "alright, I know your all mad at me, ok? I know, I get it, you've made your point. I'm a bad person, I was terrible to Gray and I'm a selfish spoiled stupid baby who never finishes what she started. I was weak, I wanted to quit. I know all of this, trust me I have had constant reminders of this throughout the day. Look. I am not the person I was…. err…a few hours ago. I've had…. an epiphany! Yes, an epiphany! I'm trying to right my wrongs here I'm trying to earn your forgiveness but I can't unless you give me a chance. Please, PLEASE just let me work here and I promise I will change your opinion of me." I sudden impulse to drop to my knees and begged, but quickly dismissed the idea. My dignity was already bruised.

I waited silently, hardly noticing the hot tears dripping down my face. Doug paused, his expression scrutinizing, I could practically hear the gears turning in his head processing what I had said. He looked me up and down, then with a small sigh nodded his head. I wanted to jump, to clap, to yell and sing with joy. Of course I didn't, I had already made enough of a fool of myself today. I simply smiled a long toothy grin, I felt like I was on cloud nine.

"I want you to start at eight tomorrow. You can help Anne, serve the customers, mop the floors, things like that. If I hear one complaint out of you though-"

"Which you won't"

"-You'll be out the door so fast it'll make your head spin."

Anne spoke from her table across the room, her voice mistrusting and harsh. "So that means your staying here, in Mineral town, am I right?"

"Of course! Yes, one hundred percent."

She shook her braid, her expression angry, "have you even bothered to apologize to Gray yet? You were really rude to him, I'm sure you at least owe him an explanation."

"Uh…. I haven't run into him yet, so…no. But I plan to, trust me." I bit my lip nervously, what was I going to say to him?

"Fine. See you tomorrow. Don't be late."

I strolled down the stone path back to my farm with a new skip in my step. I felt lighter, happier, like I was actually doing something productive with my pitiful life for once. This was a start, a push in the right direction. Heck, with a little money I would have my farm up and running in no time. I smiled to myself, envisioning my soon to be residence. Cows grazing merrily in a field of grass, sheep lazily soaking in the sun, my house beautiful and new, fresh paint and a flowerbed…. and maybe a husband? My cheeks flooded immediately with colour.

I considered for a moment the bachelors of mineral town. Rick, I'd never really talked to, but he seemed nice. Then there was Cliff, the handsome adventurous heartthrob; then again Anne would kill me if I ever tried to make a move The doctor, good looking AND smart, a definite thumbs up. Still, there was really only one I couldn't keep my mind off of…

Sheer euphoria had taken over my senses, I didn't even realise who was standing in front of me until I was only one a few feet away. I looked up, dazed, face to face with a bewildered and clearly angry Gray.

A/N: Uh Oh! I sense confrontation! I'll get the next chapter up soon, please review! Every time I get a review it inspires me to write, so the more reviews, the faster the chapters will go up. Love you guys!