Chapter 5: Starry, Starry Night

I was speechless did he actually call this a date! More importantly had he just kiss me? Well that was a turning point in my life. For the rest of that week I prepared and worked to perfect my cooking. I was going to make curry rice and miso soup which I learned were two of his favourite dishes. I was also going to stop by Jeff's shop and pick up some wine, it couldn't hurt. The day of Starry Night Cliff showed up at the farm for his usual job and then left to return later that night. My heart could not stop beating I was so excited that night. I did not expect to happen what did.

*Flashback*

As soon as he was gone I set to clean my house. I scrubbed and dusted everything, wanting it to look its best for when Cliff arrived. I then took a shower and dressed myself in a simple knee length red dress and black heels. It was almost 6:00 and I checked to see if the soup was ready; it was I then set it on the counter to cool. I am so incredibly nervous but I calm myself just in time to hear a light knock at my door. I slowly approach it as if it will somehow burst open. I lay a hand on the handle and slow my breathing, which had quickened again at the thought of him arriving.

I open the door to see a very red faced Cliff dressed in a white button up shirt, black pants, a simple tie, and black dress shoes. He looked incredible and then I noticed he was holding something, a blue flower, the most beautiful flower I had ever seen. He cleared his throat and said with a slightly shaky voice.

"H-hello Claire, um… wow you look…a-amazing"

I then blushed at the fact that he had again given me a genuine complement.

"Thank you Cliff, I could say the same for you" I returned with a smile.

Now it was his turn to blush, he then stared into space for a while, and when he came back to reality he handed the flower to me gently and said softly.

"I brought this for you. It's a forget me not flower, from Forget-Me-Not Valley. I stopped by Jeff's on the way here and he had just got a shipment in."

He then blushed deeper and said in a quiet voice.

"The colour reminded me of your eyes, the most beautiful dark blue"

"T-thank you Cliff, it really is beautiful."

Indeed it was, it was mesmerizing and to think that he was so kind to bring me a gift. This was truly touching. I then invited him in and had him sit at the table across from me. We ate in silence until he said.

"Claire it was really nice of you to invite me for dinner, even though I sort of invited myself."

"No, thank you Cliff and I was really happy that you asked" I said shyly while looking down at my lap.

He continued. " I truly am grateful, I mean I don't have anyone else to celebrate with, all of my family is gone and I don't have many friends in this town, except for you and I guess Ann is nice to me so she' s okay." He said in a quiet voice, him, himself glancing down.

I ignored the part about Ann and wondered about his family. What had happened to them? Did they die? Abandon him? Or maybe he never knew them. I felt sudden pity for him and somewhat guilt for not helping him make friends. He never continued talking after that so I decided to leave it alone. We continued our meal in the same way we started it, in silence.

After the meal he finally spoke up.

"Wow Claire you sure can cook, why do you always eat at the Inn?" he asked.

I decided not to tell him the truth, that I actually learned these dishes for his personal liking. So I made up and excuse about just getting my kitchen or something along the lines of that.

"But how did you know these were my favourites?" he questioned, somewhat suspiciously.

I stuttered a bit until I found the right words.

"W-well… I-I see you ordering t-that all the time at Doug's s-so I decided to make it for you." I finished in a quiet voice.

"O-oh… I didn't know you noticed" he stuttered.

Oh Cliff always so shy about everything. Everyone thinks he's so reluctant to talk but after you get to know him a bit he starts opening up. It starts getting late so we decide to head to Mothers Hill to gaze at the stars.

We take a spot that's a little more secluded from the rest of the hill because it was also occupied by some other townsfolk. We watch the stars race across the sky and I'm so elated I didn't think this day could get any better, oh but apparently it could. I could feel Cliff's arm moving slowly behind my back to grasp at my shoulder and pull me closer to him. I sigh in contentment and lay my head on his shoulder, thoroughly enjoying the moment.

After the show is over and people start leaving Cliff offers to walk me home, we walk in comfortable silence. As we reach my front door he doesn't immediately leave, instead he leans against my door frame and waits for me to open the door. I can sense a cliché moment coming on when he says my name softy. I turn to him and he slowly leans in closing his eyes. His lips lightly touch mine and it's the single most amazing feeling in the world. It's such a sweet and tender kiss that my heart nearly bursts. He pulls away and I can see him blushing hard, and think that I must look the same.

"Thank you." I whisper very softly.

He says nothing and just leans in to kiss me again and I think that I couldn't be happier. Little did I know that what was going to happen could change a lot of things.