Chapter 4: An Invitation

Special, it means that Cliff is special. Ever since the day at Doug's I knew he was special to me. I'm still not sure what to do about it and it won't get any easier. Fall was a good month but also very confusing. We made a lot of money from Cliff's hard work with the crops and my amazing gathering skills. We brought in a total of $30,000 which was enough to upgrade my house and then have spending money. It was also confusing because of the fact that Cliff and I have been spending a lot of time together. We talked a lot more often now and we spent all the festivals together, including him asking me to the festival at Mother's Hill, which by the way was amazing. The only down side is that I still can't tell if he likes me or not. The idea of Ann hanging all over him while I'm not there doesn't give me much hope either.

Winter was dragging on slowly and the fact that there are no crops to grow made me resort to other ways of getting money like mining. Cliff was always concerned whenever I went he was always telling me to be careful and be back by a certain time. I never thought he would be so stubborn about it. With all of the struggle we went through we still made it through , I did have to cut back on his pay a little but he understood, unlike him Ann was not very willing to give me free meals.

With the expansion of my house I was able to get a kitchen and a few appliances but ingredients were scarce and having dumplings and curry rice every night wasn't my idea of healthy. That's why I rarely ate at home. That all changed though when I thought about Starry Night. A festival in which I'm supposed to invite someone over for a meal and then we're supposed to go to Mother's Hill to watch the stars. I wasn't really planning on celebrating until one day Cliff happened to bring it up.

*Flashback

I stand up holding what seems to be a ruby and gently out it in my rucksack. I decide it's getting a late and head home. When I arrive I'm greeted by Cliff and we make our way to the shipping bin. While I'm placing everything I mined in the bin Cliff turns to me and asks.

"Claire, what are you doing for Starry Night?"

I'm so shocked that he even asked me that it takes me a moment to respond.

"Well… I'm not doing anything really, just staying home…alone"

He smiles softly and says "Would you like to spend it with me?"

With me? He wants to spend it with me! I'm so happy I almost scream and I'm incredibly shocked by his courage, where is this coming from?

"Are you sure? I thought you would be spending it with Ann or something."

He gives me a funny look and asks.

"Why would you think that?"

"I thought she was your girlfriend or something" I say quietly.

All of a sudden he starts laughing.

"What! You thought she was my girlfriend? Ha ha, Claire you're hilarious. There is no way I would ever date Ann." He states between fits of laughter.

I'm so relieved that there not actually together, now I finally have some hope.

"Okay then, come here on Starry Night and I'll cook you dinner." I say joyfully.

"It's a date then" he says with a smile.

And with that he walks away.