I'd like to thank supernae, xFujimotox, XxXTwilight-SinXxX, and my first very mysterious Anonymous reviewer for sending in their word! Looks like I'm getting more reviews towards the end! But I'm not sure if this will keep up. . As serious as things should probably be getting, I end up working in some inexplicably funny moments in this chapter. Well, here goes the epic flashback:

Chapter 15: Confessions of a Farmer

"I don't understand at all. Every time I around her, I feel great and warm. I was sure it was just because she was my friend at first, but it got more confusing as I spent more time with her. I started feeling strange and flustered from this warmth, and my heart started pounding. And I was grateful for kindness, but it felt like I wanted something more than she could offer me. But we've been bonding all this time. I was sure it's just because she was such a great friend to me the whole time. And now it's really bad. I'm scared of her for something I don't understand, but I still want to have good times with her." Claire shared.

"Then I assume you're afraid of the only reasonable conclusion that can be reached from these feelings." Dr. Trent replied.

"But that can't be it, Doctor! It doesn't make sense! We're best friends! She's my best friend!"

"And that will only make it harder for you." Dr. Trent sighed.

"Doctor, please just check what's wrong with me!" Claire demanded.

"I already ran a thorough checkup, Miss Kafka. You have no virus or any other pressing illness in your system. The only thing affecting your health is your mood. Aside from that, you're perfectly fine." Dr. Trent explained.

"Then why do I feel so strange around Mary? Why am I so scared and anxious? That just can't be! We're both--"

"Claire, you just might be in love with her." Dr. Trent stated abruptly. "Now, I can't say for sure if this is true. I don't have your feelings. But please tell me, if you were to just strip away your denial for one moment, does that statement feel like a lie to you?"

Claire remained silent. She only clutched her heart in reaction.

"Do you really not know, or are you afraid to confirm an answer?" Doctor Trent asked gently.

The anxious girl's eyes started tearing, then her face slowly turned a soft pink.

"She's very special to me. That's all I can really say…" Claire uttered softly.

"Good. At least you have someone that really means something to you in this valley." Doctor Trent told the farmer to console her.

"Please, don't say that. You, Elli, and Gray mean a lot to me, too. You're all my friends, after all." Claire replied. "It's just… why do I have to feel so confused Mary? My best friend of everyone? I want to be able to trust her with everything. No secrets."

"You still can, you know. Nobody else can make that decision except you." Doctor Trent advised.

The blonde farmer's teary eyes closed shut as she tried to think over her dilemma.

"Say, Doctor… is it okay? For a girl to really like another girl? I'm not trying to say it's wrong or anything, it just sounds… weird to me. The thought of it… "feels" weird…" Claire asked.

"It's perfectly fine, Claire. There may be others who have qualms about it, but most of it is a huge misunderstanding. Having feelings is never wrong as long as you hold compassion with good intentions." Doctor Trent answered.

For a brief time, Claire started to giggle.

"Do you realize you kinda sounded like a fortune cookie just now?" she blurted aloud.

"I get that a lot. Actually, Elli once suggested I should take a few small strips of paper on my days off at the lake and write down anything I can think of. I seem to do my best thinking there."

"I can tell. I was with you last week, and you sounded like a regular sage." Claire replied with a weak smile. "Still, with what you just said. I really want to believe it."

"Then go ahead and do so." Doctor Trent encouraged. "And you just might be relieved to tell Mary should you come to that conclusion about your feelings. I haven't talked to her much, but I can tell she's the most understanding young woman in the village. And you said so yourself, she's really kind. That's what you like about her, right?"

"Just to be clear: it's not like I've been having these weirdo feelings around other girls this whole time in secret. It was just Mary. It started with Mary. I remembered having a few awkward crushes on guys in the past. This time just happens to be different. Really strong and different." Claire shared.

"True love's supposed to be a very unique and special thing, Claire." Doctor Trent shared. "It's much more than going crazy because you think someone looks good or because your hormones are reacting to someone. You feel a strong, genuine compassion for that special someone. You'll want to understand them and take care of them."

The blonde farmer winced a little, then leaned back in bed to take a deep breath.

"You're starting to sound like Dad again…" Claire said uttered.

"Really?"

"I think he might have been my first crush…" she confessed.

"And how does this relate back to me, exactly?" Doctor Trent asked.

"I think… it would've been neat if I fell for you instead."

This sudden statement grabbed the curious Doctor's attention.

"Really. Everything would be much simpler if that happened instead. I'd feel a-okay if Mary and Gray finally hooked up in front me, and it would make Elli's job of trying to hook us up that much easier. Everyone would be happy then. No problem." Claire explained.

"You can't necessarily control who you fall in love, though. Especially for convenience's sake. I'm sure this experience is showing you that." Doctor Trent responded.

Claire clutched her chest once again and groaned.

"I really wish this was one of times I could." She said regretfully.

"Still, it wouldn't hurt to tell Mary. Like you said, it was her kindness that you really liked about her. And, I may not know her all that well, but I can tell that she's a very understanding young lady, maybe even the most understanding one of this whole town." Doctor Trent encouraged her.

"I don't know… besides, she loves Gray." Claire lamented.

"So then, are you afraid to say anything in fear of outright rejection?"

"No. They're my best friends. Both of them… I just really don't want to weird them out with my feelings right now. I'm not sure with Mary, but with Gray, he might see me as some crazy freak and keep me away with his over- protectiveness." Claire gulped.

"I wouldn't be too sure about that second part. Gray's been watching out for you, too. Who do you think brought you in here from your mining adventure the other day?"

"That was him?" Claire asked in surprise.

"Other than Saibara, he was the only one who knew about it at that time, and I don't know if the old blacksmith would be up to it." said Doctor Trent.

"Even if he's some crazy kung fu master?"

"Even wisdom isn't enough to compensate for a lack of vitality sometimes, but yes. Rest assured it was your friend Gray. Elli and I saw him carry you in his arms." Doctor Trent stated.

"Wow. That's pretty sweet of a guy who's in love with someone else… or is it mayonnaise?" Claire muttered to herself.

"Whatever the case may be, I can only make assumptions of your friends. Only you alone can determine how they'll react, as you are the one who shares those bonds." Doctor Trent advised.

"I really can't say for sure, Doctor. It's only been about a season, now. I didn't think anything like this would hit me so soon in my farming career in Mineral Town. I haven't even attended a festival yet with anybody. Did I really spend enough time with them to know them for sure?" Claire asked.

"Did you?" Doctor Trent repeated with a shrug.

Claire sighed and stared up at the ceiling.

"I know Gray's a stubborn guy who can't stand my weirdness half the time, but he's a pretty cool and smart blacksmith guy who cares a lot when he wants to. And Mary's a sweet, smart, and…beautiful… librarian friend who's great at listening to me and has a lot of interesting things to say. Yeah, they're really neat friends, for sure, but I don't want to lose them. I don't want to find out my friendship with them was a lie because of one creepy quirk with me." Claire lamented.

"Then maybe try having faith in them. I'm not urging you to face them immediately, go ahead and take your time. Find every little reason you can think of that they will still accept you. Gather your courage and energy. It might be best if you feel as close to 100 as possible when you decide to do it. In the mean time, Elli and I will be doing our best to care for you, so don't sweat it." Doctor Trent assured her.

"Hey, what about the bit where you mention the consolation friends? Normally, the consoler would say that she'd still have him, right?" Claire asked suddenly.

Doctor Trent shook his head.

"For now, I've decided to put my faith in your friends, just as they've put their faith in me to take care of you." He simply replied.

Suddenly, the worn and weakened farmer's eyes started blinking, but gradually, the eyes remained closer for longer periods of time until they stayed shut.

"I really hope they really care for me like you say…" Claire managed to say before she slipped into a deep sleep.

"And I really hope you don't let this whole thing get to you…" Doctor Trent said in turn.

After that, he placed the back of his head upon her forehead to check for any stray fever that may have hit her. Luckily for her, her temperature remained fairly normal. He then placed a stethoscope by his patient's heart. In her current state, it was beating a little fast out of stress, but it showed nothing life threatening. Once again, the doctor concluded that Claire was still in decent shape.

"Sleep tight, Claire."

Coming up next, we return to the present. So… just how will Mary cope with this? Will Claire and Mary retain their friendship? How will Mary's feelings for Gray affect this relationship? And speaking of Gray, how is HE going to take it when he finds out the new female farmer has feelings for Mary? Perhaps there's more to this "mayonnaise fetish" than Gray let on. Be sure to check out the upcoming concluding chapters! And don't forget to rest & relax!