Disclaimer: Not. Mine. End of story.

Spring 6, The Beginning

Yes, diary, I did it. I visited James' farm this afternoon. It's coming along fairly well – I was impressed. I was disappointed at the size of his field of crops (it was quite small) but then, he's new to farming. I also learned that he is a rancher as well, with a beautiful cow he called Nanners.

He told me that the crops he was planting were only coming out to average quality. He'd seen my vivid, bright tomatoes and juicy watermelons and wanted to know my secret. Of course, I could only tell him so much. Mustn't have him stealing all my secrets, or he'll come out with a better farm than us! Of course, if I give him one tip every once in a while, I am given an excuse to keep speaking to him! One of his largest problems was that he was only using the average quality soil. Now, if you have bad, average, and excellent patches of soil on your farm, you'd think you'd use the excellent! At least, I'd think so.

Unfortunately, it began to rain. It was only a light drizzle, but I assume that I haven't entirely recovered from my cold, for I nearly immediately began to shiver from the cold. Instantly, James was around me, wrapping me in his jacket and leading me to his house, apologizing profusely for not thinking. After I had assured him that I was quite well, he set to cooking a pot of tea for me. It was very good tea – unlike any other I have ever tasted. It had just the right amount of sweetness, with a strange herbal taste I could not identify.

After placing the pot and two mugs on the table, he reached into his rucksack and pulled out, once again, a beautiful Goddess Drop. "This is for you," he whispered gently, placing it in my hair. I looked into his mesmerizing brown eyes and knew I was falling, and falling hard. Vesta really wants to arrange something between Peter and I, but at that moment, I knew that as long as James is around, that wouldn't be possible.

James walked me home once the rain let up. It would have been the perfect end to a day if it hadn't been for Muffy, who seemed to think it was her place to walk along with us, flirting with James all the while. He didn't ignore her, as I wished he would, but at least he didn't seem to flirt back, however charming his responses were. Muffy finally left us when we reached Vesta's farm, unfortunately making James promise to visit the Blue Bar when he was done working.

When she left he had a strange look in his eyes. "She's cute," he said. "Kind of quirky. She can brew up some fantastic Cherry Pinks though."

Her? Cute? I couldn't imagine what he must have been thinking. My confusion (or was it horror?) may have shown in my face, for he glanced at me and quickly added, with a slight laugh, "And when I bring her flowers, she brews them even nicer!"

I smiled. So he wasn't particularly trying to get her attention. He had just managed to catch hers. Well, you can't really blame the girl. Eyes like that, what girl wouldn't get swept off her feet? As we walked past Nami and Gustafa, even she watched James longer than necessary.

Funny, now that I think about it, it wasn't a particularly interested look she gave him – more questioning than longing. I don't think James even noticed, concerned as he was with my seemingly fragile physical disposition and the imminent arrival of Muffy moments later. I hear he's already built up quite the friendship with Lumina and Romana as well as Tim, Ruby, and Rock. Actually, I think he might have the whole town under his spell. He's charming enough that everyone seems to get along with him. That is, everyone except my father, as you'll later see.

When we came to the farm, Vesta was just about to go inside for dinner. "Ah, James!" She said, "How are those tomatoes doing?"

"Quite well, thank you," He replied, giving her a slight bow and flashing a pearly white smile. "I think those seeds you gave me made all the difference. Not the mention the help your lovely Celia gave me this afternoon," He added with a nod to me.

I nearly burst with pleasure. From the look on Vesta's face, she nearly did too. She trained me, you know, after my mother passed on and Marlin and I came to Forget-Me-Not Valley. It was always her and Marlin's plan that I could take over the farm when they were unable to continue working, so I've spent the nearly ten years I've lived here learning from Vesta about how to manage a farm. My mother taught me the basics, but you can only teach a small child so much. Vesta's pride was evident in her voice when she responded, "Yes, well, Celia's always been quite good with crops and animals. Her mother used to grow world famous goods, you know! She was held in quite high regard!"

"Really" James asked, and I could tell he was interested. "May I ask—" But just then I let out a terrific sneeze followed by a fit of coughing and he immediately let the subject go. "My apologies, I'm afraid you're not quite over your cold. You go in there and get some rest, you hear?" But he was gentle when he said it, and I knew he was merely concerned for me.

"I – oh, yes," I stuttered as Vesta took me by the shoulders and steered me to the house. "Thanks for helping her home, James!" She called over her shoulder.

"It was my pleasure!" He called back as he struck up the path home. I heard him whistling a merry tune as the door closed behind me.

Marlin ushered me to a chair as Vesta brought a bowl of soup to me from the kitchen. "It's more of Tim and Ruby's special! They brought it over while you were visiting James." She bustled about cleaning up, though it looked a little suspicious, as though she were trying too hard to look as though she were doing something.

"That was so nice of you to go and help James out, the poor young man," She said, her head in the cupboard as she shoved pots and pans around. "He really got thrust into this work. He seems a nice fellow, though."

Marlin finally spoke. "I haven't really taken a fancy to him, personally. He seems like too much of a city guy to me."

I was shocked – of all the people to not enjoy James' company, my father? He's always had a short temper, but he's never taken a disliking to anyone this quickly. I was going to question this, but perhaps as a way of heading me off, he gestured upstairs. "Peter sent some flowers after he heard you were sick. Van brought them by with some new seeds to try this summer. I left the flowers up on your bed."

I felt my stomach drop, and suddenly I was even more confused. I had a beautiful picture of Peter built up for me: he was charming, caring, and an all-around wonderful young man. When I met him, my impression was of a somewhat-well intentioned man, whose first responsibility was to care for himself. And after that, he sent me flowers? Well, maybe he was just sending them as a courtesy, as it was on my way back from visiting him when I took ill.

I quickly finished my soup and excused myself to go upstairs. Touching the flower in my hair, I looked to the bed. I saw a large bouquet of Toy Flowers, accompanied by a note. I'll leave it in here for you.

To Celia,

I was deeply sorry to hear you had taken ill.

I know that your visit was cut short, and I wish to make it up to you.

Would you care to join me for a trip into Mineral Town?

I was going to visit a friend of mine, and thought you might like to get out for a bit.

I plan to leave the First of Summer and stay a night or two.

Please send a note back with Van by return post.

Love, Peter

He signed the note love? I hardly feel that one day spent together, not even a full day, qualifies the term love! I know this is all a part of courting, but I'm not sure I enjoyed Peter's company enough to return his sentiment.

I am now rather dreading the First of Summer. It is the beginning of a new season, and I really feel that my place is at the farm. Knowing Vesta, she already read the note and sent off a reply telling him how thrilled I am to go. I love her, but she is nosy at times. That's why I try to keep you so well hidden. I can only hope that she has not found you as well.

It's nightfall now, and lights are beginning to dim as the townspeople prepare themselves for bed. Tomorrow they'll be preparing their goods to sell to Van, who will set up shop the day after tomorrow. They will need their rest. And wait---what is that? The fiery red I see, it can only be Nami's hair. And it's heading to James' farm!

Curious…I can only wonder what kind of relationship they have. I'm afraid to say I don't particularly see Nami romantically involved with anyone, but you never know. Anyway, I suppose it's not my place to pry. But I do get nervous when I see James with other girls…

It's been a long day and I'm extremely tired. Tomorrow I think I'll take one last day of rest. After today's adventure I'm not sure I'm fully recovered, so I think one more day in bed will do me good. Perhaps I just need to think. Perhaps I just need to gaze longer at my collection of Goddess Drops. I've got six now, you know. One for each day James has been here.

Well, due to my current state of exhaustion and the fact that it is now 10:00 PM, I'm quite certain this entry made no sense whatsoever. I'll now go to sleep and leave you to peace.

A/N:

I'm sorry doesn't even begin to cover it. There's been more stuff going on than you could possibly care to know – band events (which I'm admittedly too involved in for my own good), community service, school work (just finished freshman year of high school taking all honors courses), emotional trauma, self-esteem highs and lows, family issues, romantic troubles…I've left you guys in the lurch for way too long.

The good news is, I'm back! My life has changed quite a bit since I began this story, and I'm not sure how similar my writing style will be. I tried to keep it similar to the way it was in the first three chapters, but you know, as your life changes, so does your style. I hope you'll all stick it through with me as I attempt to find my voice.

Reviews and constructive criticism are, as always, much appreciated! And if it takes me a long time to update again (hopefully not, I'll get to work on Chapter 5 right after this) please don't hesitate to plague me with messages about it!

Thanks and much love,

Tineley