Hello everyone! Sorry for the chapter wait, I know that's not usually what I do. However, I recently started another story I had to get established, shoving this one aside for two weeks. If anyone enjoys Legend of Zelda, they should totally check it out! Anywho, hope everyone enjoys this even though it's more of a filler chapter for what will come in a few chapters away. However, there is plenty of GillXLizzy fluff in this, which should appease everyone (I hope). Continue enjoying, supporting, reviewing, criticisizing, the whole shebang!
A/N: The end of the chapter may seem a little choppy and may possibly contain some errors. I was very intent on getting this chapter out before I went to bed so I edited everything in my groggy state of mind. I think I caught everything, it's just not as polished as usual, sorry!
And also, big shout out to sushi4427. Because well, I can. And they did the same for me! If you were wanting a little bit of laughs, check out their story "Slacker." It's some more Gill fandom and it's pretty funny. For them, I made sure to especially check out my commas so hope that it makes a difference!
Enjoy everyone!
"Ow," I groaned as I rubbed my head where I had just hit it on my nightstand. Usually I wasn't a very active sleeper, but after last night I just couldn't fall asleep and had spent the whole night tossing and turning. This seemed to carry into this morning when I hit my head, and since these things weren't the norm for me, I didn't really know how to respond to the situation except with an 'ow.' Of course, as of late, many things that typically didn't happen to me had been occurring.
I sat up and stretched my arms as I looked at the alarm clock. 8:13. Good. I knew I had overslept quite a bit than normal, but I was glad it was still a fairly good time so that I had could still take care of my crops and do other things I needed to today. It was the flower festival after all and apparently that was a big deal around here. I went to the restroom to wash my face so that I didn't look completely gross while I started to try and comprehend all that had gone on last night.
"James, where on Earth are we going?" I asked with a laugh as he took my hand, swerving me from the punch bowl like he had said, and instead started to lead me down some other hallway that was lined with cobblestones. I grinned at James as I put my hand on the walls, tracing patterns as we walked by.
"You'll see, I think we're almost there," he grinned at me as we turned a corner in the hallway. This led to a beautiful patio area of scattered tables and chairs with twinkling lights that winked coyly at me, as if they seemed to know something I didn't. Several arches of flowers and ivy were all around the area, giving a very beautiful and romantic aura to the area.
"I'm surprised there isn't anyone out here, this is stunning," I said to James as I went and ran my hand through a fountain a little ways off. Yes, there was even a fountain. Waffle Town may have been homely and a little on the poor side, but boy did they know how to decorate for things.
"Well I for one am sure glad there aren't," he said, pulling me out of my thought trance. I turned back to him as he stared at me with an odd expression before turning his gaze so that he was looking into far off scenery. I frowned as I walked up to him, putting my hand on his shoulder.
"What is it, is anything wrong?" I asked, a little concerned by his expression. He continued staring off and turned back to me.
"Lizzy, you know there was a reason I asked you to this, don't you?" he said as my heart stopped a little. He was looking at me as I had never been looked at before, causing a tighten of my stomach and the sudden inability to breath.
"Well, yes. We're friends after all, and you probably wanted a date you could get along with," I stammered, trying not to think of what he was insinuating. I knew exactly what he was trying to say, but for some reason I didn't really want him to say it. At the same time I wanted him to say it, wanted to hear how much he cared for me. I wanted passion, I wanted romance, I wanted it all.
Before I could think of anything else, he had cupped my face to his so that he was kissing a very startled me. I closed my eyes, letting all my emotions and thoughts go, allowing the moment to get and overcome me. My arms winded around his head, my hands twisting themselves into his curly hair. I forgot about everyone and everything and just, kissed him. We broke apart for a second, breathing in each other's arms as we both looked at each other with a grin.
"I wanted more than a date. I wanted, I want you," he whispered to me as I looked down shyly. I knew I shouldn't have done anything more, especially since I wasn't so sure what my current feelings were about him, but I threw my arms around his neck again and went on my tip-toes so that I was up to his ears.
"I just want you too," I said, caught up in the moment a little so that I didn't fully think of the consequences that came from such a bold statement. I heard him gasp a little, but then he gave a hearty laugh as he swung me around romantically, like Christine and Raul on the top of the roof in "Phantom of the Opera." It was that much of a movie moment. When he set me down I stumbled, nearly falling back into his arms.
"Sorry," I said quickly, used to apologizing for most things. He helped me back up and looked at me strangely.
"Why are you apologizing? We're together now, you don't have to apologize for falling of all things," he laughed a little as he started playing with my hair strands in my front.
My mouth opened several times as I thought of what to say. "I didn't know we were official now." He hadn't asked me to be official, and it bothered me a little that he hadn't done it properly like guys are supposed to.
"Of course we are. What would you call this after all?" he asked cheekily as he reached down and kissed me again. I kissed him back of course, though this one lacked a little what the first one had. There were no fireworks (though there hadn't been for the first one either), no passion, and I was slightly not as much into the kiss as I probably should have been.
James, however, once we finished with it looked at me happily, oblivious to my new inner turmoil. He offered his arm and motioned back to the dance. "We should probably return. Don't' want to be the talk of the school or anything."
"Oh, right," I said, a little distracted by what I was thinking and feeling. I had never kissed a guy and never had a 'boyfriend' before, but all in all I personally felt like it should have been a little different. Maybe if I had a nice glow or eternal butterflies in my stomach I'd be good. Something at least. But as I walked back to the dance, all I was feeling was the contact of James' arm in mine and the stares of the whole school as we walked back into the gym. And to me, the feeling alone was just not enough.
I frowned as I dried off my face from its washing. Last night had just been so strange and now, as a result, I was no longer single, which was in fact the weirdest thing that could have possibly happened. As I fumbled through my house to find my glasses (as I had idiotically forgotten to grab them earlier), I thought more and more about the dance. Other couples had also seemed to get along well, including a very cute Kathy and Owen and Chase and Candace (I think that was her name). I was also very pleased to see Phoebe go and talk to Calvin, something I knew she had been dying to do.
"Ah-hah!" I said as I finally reached my bed, found my nightstand and my glasses on top of it. I slipped them on, grateful for sight again as I continued to do other morning related things. As I went out of my room and into my kitchen, I grabbed a bowl of cereal and milk, sat down, and ate as I looked at my phone, noticing I had a message from James.
6:23 "Hey hun sorry, can't do flower festival today. I'm sick. Might be your fault haha jk. Hope to see you soon, have fun."
I frowned as I sent a simple but sweet reply back. Pushing my bangs back, I ate a spoonful of my cereal, wondering what I was going to do about today. Currently, the one person who I would have gone with to this festival was unable to attend which actually may have been my fault, making me feel worse. As I started stirring my cereal to try and think who I could ask to come with me, I heard a knock on the door.
"Hm, wonder who that is?" I mused aloud as I stood, thinking it may be beneficial to me to ask Kathy if she wanted to hang out today. Vowing I would probably do that, I opened the door to surprise number one of the day.
"Is this a bad time?" Gill asked, looking at me with confusion and a little horror. I looked down to my super baggy t-shirt and unattractive sleep shorts that had little trees on them. Combined with my dorky glasses and messy hair, I must have looked like a real looker.
"No no, it's fine! Please, come in," I said awkwardly, showing him into my house just as I realized how absolutely messy it was. After I had gotten over my illness I had been so preoccupied with getting ready for the dance, not making my house presentable for someone as esteemed as Gill to look at. He sat down on my couch as I threw several tissues into a bowl lying around and kicked one of my sweaters behind the couch. I bustled back and forth from the kitchen to my living room as Gill sat there, watching me.
"You know, you don't have to do all this just because-"he began as I grabbed one of my water bottles off the ground close to where he was sitting.
"No, it's totally fine. I've been meaning to clean and it really is a big mess," I cut him off with a grin. "Don't feel bad just because I'm a slob."
"I think you're a little justified, you just had a bad cold."
"I did, but…." My voice trailed off as a sudden thought entered my head. "Hey, you're not sick are you? From the exposure to me or anything like that?"
"I don't think exposure to you could ever make me sick," he said as he froze and looked at me with horror. "I mean, your being sick could not in turn make me sick. I'm as fit as a harmonica."
"I think you mean whistle," I laughed as I sat down next to him, deeming my house decently presentable.
"You look tired," Gill said as I pushed up my glasses. I looked at him as he stared at me with a little more concern than usual. I didn't know what it was, but concerned Gill was a little more foreign than angry pompous Gill. Something about the last two weeks had changed in him so he actually cared about my well-being and for the life of me, I couldn't identify what it was.
"It's probably from last night, that was a crazy dance," I laughed at him, trying to gauge his expression to see how his night was with Luna. True to my prediction, his eyes widened a little as he looked down, playing with something in his hand that I couldn't see. He finally looked up at me with a look I couldn't quite describe.
"I'm sure that you indeed had much fun," he said, looking away at something else in my house. I shrugged as I tried to see what he was looking at.
"You know, as sickly as I am, I'm totally sure I'm way more exciting than my fridge. Did you eat?" I asked as I jumped up, remembering I had a bowl of cereal waiting for me. I went back to the table and stirred around the soggy contents. Gross.
"Yes I, um, already had food," Gill said, looking at me with a slightly amused expression. I went and threw my bowl contents away with a disgusted look as I tried to think about Gill's sudden change of behavior and what was up with him. I got out some yogurt and my fresh strawberries, making me suddenly remember my crops. Once again Gill had distracted me from what I was supposed to be doing!
"I'll um, be right back," I said as I grabbed my watering can and went outside, taking care of my produce as quickly as I could. I shipped most of what I had harvested that day, but I brought in two strawberries that wouldn't have sold very high anyways. Smiling at them in what must have looked a very stupid manner, I put them in my fridge, grabbed my yogurt and continued eating.
"Sorry about that, I totally forgot all about my main source of income," I laughed, shaking my head in reprimand of my scatter-brained ways. Gill continued watching me with amusement as I ate, making me feel semi-self conscious for some odd reason.
"Your garden is looking quite nice, I was going to tell you," he said as I finished my yogurt. I threw away the container and put my spoon in the sink.
"Oh, thanks," I said, taken aback by his compliment. Another very unusual thing for Gill. Maybe something really was up with him, and he was ill without knowing it. That must be it.
"What must be it?" he asked as I froze, realizing I had said the last statement out loud. Crap.
"Um, that you heard James was sick? And that's why you're here?" I suggested, hoping he'd buy it. He looked surprised and nodded.
"Oh right, right. Of course that's why I'm here. Because you're, boyfriend is sick and you needed someone to attend the flower festival with."
I noticed him cringe as he enunciated the word 'boyfriend', piquing my curiosity. He and James had never made it a secret they disliked each other, but I didn't know how strong the loathing was until he had just cringed. Interesting. Even from the mouth of someone else, the term 'boyfriend' just seemed so strange to apply to James in correlation to myself.
"Yeah, boyfriend. That's him," I said with a little less lack luster than he was probably expecting. "I do need someone to go with though; you're so smart for thinking ahead of time like this!"
"I try," he said, looking down at the ground as he stood. "And not to be assertive, but though I don't altogether mind your attire if you were wishing to go out in public you might want something a little more, covered." He looked at me charmingly, making me wonder again where these sudden mood changes came from.
"What's wrong with my shirt? It's from New York you know," I laughed as I started to my room to change. "But I get it. You're embarrassed of me, its okay!"
I closed my door and started ruffling through my drawers for something cute as I heard a cough coming from somewhere seemingly close to my door. "I'm not ashamed of you Lizzy, not at all."
"Are you right outside my door?" I asked, a little amused beside myself.
"Um, yes. But my back is to the door don't worry. I'm not trying to be creepy I just, enjoy talking to you." The whole situation seemed to be awkward from him, making me a little curious if he was being honest instead of acting like a peeping Tom (like most teenage boys). Before I changed my shirt, I got on my stomach, looking at his feet underneath the door. True to his word, they were pointed away from the door, meaning his face was probably in the same direction. Huh, surprising.
"Why? I'm sure I'm not nearly as exciting as some other people. Like Luna. Or well, others," I said as I stood up and decided on a button down for the day. I pranced over to my closet, picking out my favorite blouse and the very necessary tank top for underneath it.
"You don't give yourself credit you know. You really are quite interesting to talk to," he said as I started fumbling with my buttons. I had almost gotten them all buttoned up as I realized I had messed up on the bottom, as usual. Groaning, I unbuttoned them all and started from the bottom to rebutton them all.
"Huh, sorry?" I asked him as I finished (successfully) buttoning them all up. Who knew shirts to be such a hassle, honestly? "I mean, pardon? I didn't catch that last part you said."
He was silent for a couple of seconds as I pulled out a pair of khaki shorts from my drawer. I frowned at the silence and went to peek my head out the door.
"Gill? Hello? Did you disappear?" I asked, looking around to see if I could find him. He was looking down at something that I couldn't quite see from my angle. It looked to be either paper or a book of some sorts. I closed my door, realizing he wouldn't answer me even if the house was on fire and I needed to shout about our safety. The somewhat short khakis were put on as I threw all my pajamas in my hamper. I sat at my vanity and applied my normal face makeup, holding my hair back with an older looking lace headband I had as I put in my contacts. Again in the past month, I decided to channel my inner 1950's fashion, trying to look polished instead of washed up, like I usually looked. Deeming myself acceptable, I nodded at my appearance and went into the living room.
"Why are you staring at your handkerchief still?" I asked as I stood next to Gill, greatly startling him. Score one for me.
"You kept it," he stated simply.
"Uh, yeah. I couldn't give it back to you; so unsanitary!" I said, giving him a strange look. "What's with you, someone is awfully pensive today, more so than your usual wise self."
"I don't know what you are talking about, I am always exactly like this," he said stiffly, setting down the cloth as he looked at me again. "You look awfully preppy today, more so than usual at least."
I chose to let that one slide. "Well you look preppy every day, it's got to be met from both ends you know," I shrugged as I looked at something he had in his other hand.
"It was open on the couch and I just picked it up," he answered quickly to my expression as I gave him an amused look and took what was in his hand.
"The great Gill, lover of all things that are more female oriented. First it was the watching of Pride and Prejudice, now it's the willing look at Seventeen, a very teenage girl based magazine. Which article…? Ah yes. 'How to get your guy to like you.'" I looked at him sternly. "Is there something you're not telling me?"
"Of course not, don't be preposterous," he snapped, taking the magazine back. "Do these idiotic sounding methods genuinely work on guys?"
"I don't know, you tell me. You males are what we poor girls waste our charm on after all," I said, still laughing he was reading the magazine.
"But, they sound so stupid. No sensible guy would fall for this," he said with slight contempt at the article. "Like I've said before, girls shouldn't base their beauty and self worth on what idiotic guys think. You're much smarter than this, right?"
I shrugged. "I guess. Sometimes though, it is nice for a boosting compliment from such idiotic males. Gives us all a sense of, joy and a bounce in our step. There are of course those days when you don't even care if the guy is sensible, you just want someone to care for you, no matter what he's like."
"Well whatever it was, something seemed to have worked for you," he said through a tight line in his mouth as he set the magazine down impatiently.
"Wow, stop bringing it up if it's such a big deal to you. Let's just, no more romance talking for you," I said as I suddenly remembered something. "Oh, while you're here I'll get you your movies."
"Oh, right. On the way to the festival we'll just drop them by my house since it's not too far," he agreed, though I could tell he was still thinking about romance involved things as I went around collecting various items that were Gill related. Movie here, book there and even a very random picture of a rubber duck.
"I've never seen your house so I'm kind of curious," I laughed as I surveyed the room, finding I had grabbed all the things.
"Oh, it's not much. Not really a big deal," he mumbled as I looked at him inquiringly. I shrugged again as we made our way out the door and towards town, talking again about various things that were not romantically linked. We passed different people who gave us curious looks, but still said the polite 'hello' as we walked by. I was just about to launch into a very funny story about when I had fallen in front of the whole school at a rally when we suddenly turned the corner and I stood, staring at the big gorgeous house I had admired my first day of school.
"Are you coming in?" he asked me from the porch with confusion as I realized I had stayed in the front of the house just staring at it. I looked at him then back at the house and eventually back at him.
"You, live here?" I asked, laughing slightly like a deranged person.
"Um, yes. Why is this such a big deal?"
"You're the mayor's son," I stated simply as it all finally clicked into place. How Luke had first told me the mayor's son was someone I didn't really want to get to know since he was so stuck up. Gill's reaction when I first told him about what Luke had said when we went to dinner. Why Gill talked as formally did, not to mention those adventurous sweater vests in his wardrobe that never seemed to have an end. He was the mayor's son and thus, future mayor.
"Again, I don't see why this is a problem. I'm just, Gill," he frowned as I followed him inside. The inside was almost as elaborate as the outside, making me self conscious and ashamed of my simple house in Caramel River District, especially in the state it was in this morning.
"You're like, royalty now. Ooooh, is there a special mayor crown?"
"Oh goodness… No, there's nothing at all like that," he said, rolling his eyes as he started putting the various items I had brought back away. "It's honestly not a big deal. No one else treats me differently so you shouldn't either."
"Yeah but like, everyone else has know about this for years. This is, this is new for me. Before this, the only exciting political figure I had ever known was when I got to see several Congressman walk by in DC and I didn't know them. And now here I am, best friends with the future mayor. It's slightly a big deal to me."
He froze in what he was doing and turned to look at me. "Do you mean that? Are we really best friends?"
I bit my lip as my heart sunk. "Oh, well… I thought so at least. Sorry if I'm being presumptuous with our friendship."
"No no, I thoroughly consider you to be my best friend too," he smiled at me, a slight blush on his cheeks that looked very cute on him. I giggled, elated once again.
"You should be embarrassed more often, it works for you," I said as I stopped, realizing how my statement could be taken the wrong way. Gill, however, didn't seem to notice as he put the last movies away and turned to me.
"Are we finally ready to go do you think?" he asked as I nodded with a smile. We walked out the door and turned to head up the stairs to the flower festival.
Due to my inability to get ready on time as well as many other factors, by the time we arrived the festival was already happening and everyone looked like they were having a great time. A couple younger children were running around, sparkly pinwheels in their hands that spun happily in the wind. Someone was cooking something on a barbeque near a big tree that smelt absolutely delicious, making me wish I had thought to bring more money. Various peddlers were all around, trying to sell different wares that were here and there. And of course, there were hundreds of flowers all over the place, their lovely scents drifting in the wind. All in all, it seemed to be a very lovely festival that I was very happy I was able to attend.
"Where do you want to start?" Gill asked as he looked at me with a grin, something I was kind of not expecting. I liked seeing him like this, so very in his element. It certainly was better than how uptight he usually was and all I could do was stare at him with a smile and shrug.
"Let's look at all the vendors first," I suggested as he agreed. We went and looked at various seeds as a woman explained what they all were and why they were so important to the town. They involved this thing called a Harvest Goddess which I wasn't very sure about it but decided I'd ask Gill about it later in the day. I eventually bought a package of blue herbs to grow as we left the kind lady with a smile.
We moved unto another booth where there was a girl standing who didn't look too much older than us. She had such beautiful flowers that I almost wished to buy them all but decided against it. I started talking to her about the flowers, looking at the pretty and simple moondrop flowers. I was just about to talk about prices when Gill pulled my back, forcing me to say goodbye to the girl very quickly.
"What was that for?" I asked him as soon as we were out of her earshot. I put my hands on my hips and frowned at him as he rolled his eyes put his hands on my shoulders to turn me around. An Asian looking guy in a white coat had just gone up to the girl and was talking to her as she smiled happily at him, laughing and talking as well.
"Are they together?" I asked, a smile on my lips at the sight of blossoming love right before my eyes.
"Not yet. But I think there is something there. They are of equal temperaments and personalities, as well as the fact that both have shown interests in each other recently."
"Someone should make it happen then," I mused, suddenly realizing what Gill had down for them. "Oh, right then." It was at that moment that I abruptly remembered his hands were still on my shoulders.
"Sorry about that," he said as he took off his hands, apparently realizing the exact same thing at the same time I did. "And about pulling you away, I was just trying to give them some privacy."
"It's fine. I'm always okay with rude behavior if it is for a good cause like love," I laughed as I turned back to him.
"Like Mr. Darcy?"
"Just like him."
He laughed, once again expressing joy in his natural habitat of town. We continued walking around, looking at various other booths as we passed by. He even bought me a small thing of perfume, despite my constant protests (even though it did smell incredible) which was surprise two of the day. For some odd reason, we started to play a bug finding game with some of the children who were running around which made me laugh at how good Gill was with interacting with them. He was almost a pro at helping them catch worms and dragonflies with a net, especially in comparison to my failed ability to do anything athletic. After the game (where Gill and the three children with him had obviously won), we went to buy some food from the various vendors, since it was around three or four at that point. We took our food out of Town Square and down to the beach where other people had done the same. I sat down first and Gill followed suit.
"My, I do love potatoes," I laughed at my choice of a baked potato for food. Gill had bought some fancy looking tomato dish, even though they were totally out of season. We started eating as we looked at the ocean, the sun slowly starting its descent down.
"It's been such a nice day," Gill mused as I grinned at him.
"What? You mean, you've enjoyed my company and all, even though you had to spend a whole day with me? However did you manage?"
"Well, I did beat you at the bug catching," he laughed as I playfully shoved him.
"Not my fault I'm entomophobic. You'd be too if just, ugh," I said, shuddering at the thought of scary things like cockroaches.
"Your very funny when you freak out," he laughed again as I pretended to glare at him.
"Well you're funny, looking. Oh yeah, boom, just went there," I said as I tried to keep a straight face. He raised his eyebrow at me, making me start laughing really hard.
"Your pretty strange, but in a good way of course," he quickly said as I looked at him, trying to stop laughing.
"You're, strange too," I said, still laughing hysterically for some reason that was mystery to me.
We were silent for a couple of minutes as he ate and I eventually calmed down a little. I started on my potato again as he suddenly said, "I like your laugh. It's so, happy."
I looked to him curiously as he stared out into the ocean, probably very embarrassed by his sudden outburst. "Um, thanks. I like yours too, as well as your smile. It was nice seeing it so much today."
"Well, I've had a good time today."
"You already said that," I smiled at him as he looked back at me, somehow with a different expression than before. The sun hit the water just right, giving a romantic feel to the conversation for some unexplainable reason. I forgot all about James, all about my life and everything as I stared at Gill. Gill, who had helped me have the best day I had ever had. Gill, who was my closest friend here and had always cared about my well being. Gill, who was cute and my mystery boy and had never been presumptuous about anything. He looked at me as his mouth parted a little as he started to come a little closer. I blinked a couple of times, taking me out of what I had felt and looked back to the ocean.
"Tell me about the Harvest Goddess," I said, trying not to look at him so I wouldn't have a repeat of the strange feeling I had just felt. Out of the corner of my eye I could see him freeze, shake his head with a frown and eventually look back to me.
"The Harvest Goddess? Where did you even hear about her?"
"Not important, just talk," I said, looking down at the sand as I started doodling.
"Alright, but not here." He got up and helped me up as well. I tried not looking to his face, too embarrassed by what had just happened. If he knew what had happened (since I personally couldn't explain it), he didn't show it as easily as I had as we walked over to his house. He opened the door for me and led me to the drawing room where there was a map of the island on the wall with various colored dots and lines that represented certain important looking flowers.
"Nice. I didn't know your family was cartographers along with royalty. Anything else you need to tell me about yourself, like you're secretly Batman or something?"
He looked at me and shook his head. "I worry about your sanity sometimes. No see this; this is a map that has been in the Hamilton family for a very long time. You asked about the Harvest Goddess and I'm willing to tell you the story just, be warned. It's pretty long and I don't know it all myself, but here goes.
'This island had always been big and prosperous, full of life and energy and many establishments. It was those days everyone remembers about Waffle Island and it is those days many still wish to remember. This was before my time, back when my father was younger was when the island really was at its peak. Sometimes, I wish I could have seen it like this and it's what I aspire the island to be when I'm eventually mayor.
'About 25, maybe 30 years ago or so the island started declining. Businesses started decreasing and closing up shop, there were more storms, the crop quality started declining, and many other things. No one could figure out what was wrong with the island until it was realized the island spirit, the Harvest Goddess, was dying, so the island was dying as well. This was devastating to most residents and many left as well, making this a ghost town. Only a few devoted islanders stayed, including my father and some of the older inhabitants, such as Simon and Barbara, or Dale and his family. In short, the island became a ghost town, haunted by the spirit of the dying Harvest Goddess.
'It was at this time, when all hope seemed lost about ten or fifteen years ago a girl moved to the island, a girl named Angela. She was an aspiring farmer who had seen a pamphlet my father had sent out, hoping that someone would see it and come to help. Her moving here sent the whole town in frenzy; never had they thought someone would willingly move to a decrepit town. Through her intuition and skill, she was able to waken the Harvest Sprites and bring prosperity back to the island. She even was able to save the Harvest Goddess. The time she got through doing all this was and when everyone first saw the return of the Goddess was around the time of the Flower Festival, so every year it is a little more special than other festivals.
'Angela eventually left, much to the dismay of many of the eligible bachelors in town, including my older brother. He was, as you say, smitten with her, though she didn't return the feelings I don't believe. She left town after everything was all said and done, leaving behind a new age of prosperity. This is why we now have a school, and why there are more islanders on here than before. The town has grown immensely and it seems that every month another family arrives. It's, strange sometimes but nice."
"And your brother?" I asked, speaking for the first time through his whole story.
"He's gone of course. He sends letters every once and a while from the states, still trying to find Angela to see if her feelings have changed. I don't think they parted on a very good note."
"That's so, sad. But sweet he still loves her after all these years. She must have been quite the catch."
"She was," a voice said from behind us, making me jump. I spun around to see the mayor looking at us both with amusement and wondered when he had come in.
"Hello Father," Gill said with slight annoyance.
"Hello sir. Mr. Hamilton. Mr. Mayor…. Sir," I said, feeling like an idiot as I fought the urge to curtsey as well.
"Hamilton, please. It's what everyone else calls me," he laughed as he looked to Gill. "So son, catching up Lizzy on our town history then I see?"
"She asked about the Harvest Goddess, so I just told her the basics."
"Ah yes. Why we celebrate this joyous day, why the town has almost doubled in population. All because of that amazing woman."
"It was a good festival today Father," Gill nodded in agreement, followed by silence.
"Lovely house by the way," I piqued I (unable to think of anything else to say) as Hamilton smiled at me.
"I'm glad you think so. Nothing like anything of when my wife was alive of course, but I try and maintain it best I can. Are you staying for dinner Lizzy?"
I opened my mouth a couple of times and shook my head. "No sir, I do need to be getting home, plus I'm sure Gill is quite tired of me after today."
"I told you I wasn't," he mumbled as I smiled back to Hamilton.
"Thank you though, I appreciate it." I started moving to the door as Gill followed me. I waited until we were outside before I questioned him about what he was doing.
"You don't honestly think that I'd let you walk home by yourself. It's dark and there could be axe murderers," he laughed as I rolled my eyes.
"Now you're just being ridiculous sir," I laughed, linking arms with him as we went down the path on the way to my house. We again talked about random things of absolutely no consequence, but it was nice. With Gill, we just talked with almost no barriers, minus the subject of romance which was probably for the best.
My mind thought of James and I suddenly felt very bad, as if this talking was wrong, even if we weren't doing anything at all. Maybe that was equally bad in relationship etiquette. I wouldn't know. Gill was explaining something as we made our way on the final road to my house. I was silent, trying to think of how to make up for my lack of anything about James. Before I knew it we were at my doorstep, our arms still linked.
"Lizzy? Are you alright?" Gill asked me, unlinking our arms to look at me. I blinked at him, realizing I had been zoning out in thought in response of what to do about James almost the whole walk over.
"Oh yeah, right, everything is a-okay. Really," I smiled, laughing a little nervously. Gill looked at me with puzzlement, then shook his head.
"I don't believe you, but won't bother you about it to respect your privacy."
"Thank you Gill, you really are the best," I said, giving him a giant hug that I thought he well deserved. "I'm just, so happy after today, truly I am." I let go of him and stood there, smiling.
He looked as if he wanted to say something else but didn't. "I'm glad you're so happy then," he eventually said as he turned to leave.
"Wait!" I said, causing him to turn around immediately. For some reason I didn't wish him to leave and I thought of something I had been meaning to do for a while."Um, we're best friends now and well, silly me we haven't even exchanged numbers!"
"No, I guess we haven't," he agreed. I smiled and nodded and took the phone he offered, immediately putting my number in it as he did the same. Once again, I grew a little ashamed at my cheap slide phone in comparison to his nice iphone, but I smiled as I handed it back to him.
"I, um, need a picture for your contact," he said with embarrassment as I nodded.
"Right, right," I nodded. "Do you want it together or just by myself?"
"Just you is fine. I know what I look like." I grinned as he took the picture with a little beam at his phone as he finally got the picture.
"Is that good?" He nodded. "You know, I'm so proud of you. That last comment was totally something I would have said," I laughed as he shrugged.
"Maybe you're rubbing off on me or something along those lines."
"Oh dear, if that's the case I'm sorry. I wouldn't want to be like me," I laughed, not paying attention to what was happening. In a second he had grabbed my hand and kissed it, looking up at me with a smile.
"Don't say that. You are a bright ray of happiness Lizzy and I, I'd be honored to be considered anywhere similar to you." He paused, as if maybe meaning to say more as I stared at him speechless and unable to do anything. Gill flushed a little and suddenly pulled out a lavender flower he must have bought earlier. He handed it to me, making it the third surprise of the day even though I was still incapable of speech. He bowed to me before he promptly turned around and left, leaving me standing there confused.
As soon as he was out of sight, I went into my house, turned the light on and collapsed with my back to the door, unable to fully comprehend all that had just happened.