A/N: I just love having Elli written into stories! She's such a sweetheart in the game itself, too. I've gotta add another friend or two, though.
Elli and Angela sat at the table, telling stories and secrets, and were both probably on their third cup of cocoa. They yawned in unison, and laughed tiredly.
"Well, I should get going, it's really late and I don't want to be late for work tomorrow." Her eyes were a bit unsure as she looked out the window to see Angela's pitch black farm, tree leaves swaying violently, a few tomatoes rolling along the ground. She didn't forecast a storm, but weather could be pretty unpredictable. The crops started to quiver, and it had started to sprinkle, rain, and then pour.
"Are you sure about that? The weather looks pret-ty harsh out there. My crops won't last long in this… I think I have enough money to buy some more if my farm capsizes." Elli shook her head in protest. "Nope, you're not going anywhere, not in this weather. You'll look like a wet dog by the time you get home." Angela got up to look in her closet. "I'm sure I have a sleeping bag in here that I used to sleep in on the way here!"
It was at this point that she knew that Angela would be the one to "fix" Gill. Or at least fix his attitude. Gill needed a friend desperately, and she could tell. He denied it, saying that it would get in the way of his work. Though she hid it with teasing, Elli could tell she was truly a nice person. Angela did have her flaws; everybody did, but her talent was irritating Gill. And she loved it. Elli's thoughts were interrupted by a rolled up sleeping bag next to her.
"Hey Elli, do you know anybody else that knows Gill pretty well? There's his father, but that would be a bit too nosy, even for me. I mean, is there anybody besides you that would have a bit of info on him?" Angela was resting her head on her elbows while lying on her belly in her bed.
"There's… Mira. I think she might know a bit about him, since they have something in common. They both lost someone important to them, so she was kind of his go-to for support. I wouldn't know about loss. Why are you so interested by the person you call a Grinch?"
"He fascinates me. He's like a mystery, and I've got to solve it. I always had a lot of friends back where I lived, and it makes me feel bad that he doesn't have any. I thought teasing him would make him laugh or something, but he just leaves and I don't get to have any more fun. All I want to do is become his friend." Angela rolled onto her back and traced imaginary patterns on the ceiling. "Do you have your eye on someone, Elli? You're still young! You're maybe three or four years than the boys here, you could easily land a good one." Elli blushed.
"You mean a crush, right? I've had a thing for the doctor down the road for a couple of months. He's always so calm, and caring, and handsome, and…I'm gonna go to sleep now, I have daydreaming to do!" She turned over in the sleeping bag dozed off within minutes. Staying up that late was something she hadn't done in years, as her job required long and busy hours. Being able to talk, girl-to-girl was also something she hadn't done in a long time. It made her happier than she looked.
Angela was awake and out the door by six in the morning, while her new friend was still dead asleep. She needed the rest anyway. The sky had cleared up a bit, giving her time to salvage what was still edible and/or shippable. The tomatoes were a bit squishy, which were most likely going to be used as spaghetti sauce later. The corn, thankfully, was protected. "Thank goodness for those husks." Her crops were disorderly from the start; she had never been good at organizing or math. But it was better than having to spend her hard earned money on the expensive food in town. She was offered complimentary meals because she would bring in fresh ingredients from time to time, but she would just shake her head, saying that the ingredients were just a gift. How she grew things so fast was a wonder to her. Back in the city, these things would take weeks or months to grow, but here, the crops seemed to explode into life within a day. It was as if the ground here came with built in plant food.
"Oh, that's right! I've got to go see Mira today!" Angela thought aloud as she finished cleaning up the casualties of the storm. They didn't need to be watered, with good reason. She scrawled a quick note to Elli, left it on the table, and left.
Gill sat alone, sorting papers, wondering what was taking Elli so long, and when his pesterers would show up. He mentally prepared himself for their taunts each day. It was strange. He had never really had to use his emotions for anything in a while, but then this girl showed up and started messing up his daily schedule. Worry couldn't possibly be the feeling he had right now. He was just bored. Bored. Normally, he'd use the time to get more work in, but he instead tapped his pen on the desk, his head propped up by his hand. He didn't look up as the door opened.
"Angela, I've told you to stop bugging me wh-" He stopped speaking when he realized it was her equally as irritating friend, Chase.
"Do I look like Angela, Grinch? Anyway, have you seen her around? I was kinda worried when that storm swept through here. Her house is pretty flimsy, you know." Gill shook his head without objecting to his nickname. It was stuck, and it wasn't going to change. "Elli isn't around either", Chase continued, glancing at the empty desk. "I know her house hasn't collapsed or anything since I pass it on the way to work. Anyway, back to the point. Have you seen her?"
"No, I haven't. As if I'd worry about for that farmer." Chase smirked at Gill's remark.
"I can read you like a book, Gill. You're worried, and I can tell. You wouldn't be all messy if you weren't." He said, pointing at the disorganized pile of papers. "You're gonna have it bad for her soon, I swear. But you'll have competition." Chase shrugged and left, leaving Gill to think about what he was feeling at that moment.