Wow, thanks guys! It is my first REAL fanfic, but I have written one other that crashed and burned after two chapters. Let's hope this one doesn't do that! Here's chapter two!

I opened my eyes slowly, wishing I had stayed asleep. But the realization of today's date got me up and out of bed faster than I thought possible. I stared at my calendar.

Winter sixth.

It was Gray's twenty-third birthday today. And tomorrow would be our 'Ultimately-huge-big-birthday-bash-extravaganza', as Ann called it. I chuckled as I remembered the evening Gray, Ann, and I planned the party.

I was sitting down at one of the Inn's many tables, waiting for Ann to finish cleaning up the counter and for Gray to come downstairs.

What if he doesn't come? What if I totally freaked him out earlier and he never wants to see me again? Oh no! That probably-

I was interrupted from my thoughts when I heard a bench creak in front of me. I looked up and saw Gray sitting down across from me. I let out a small sigh of relief.

I'm an idiot for even thinking he'd flake.

Ann skipped over a moment later and sat down next to Gray. I felt an awful pang in the pit of my stomach, and it made me want to rip Ann's braid off her happy little head. But I didn't, and quickly dismissed the sudden, strange urge.

"So?" Ann asked as she rested her chin in her hands and stared at me from across the table.

Next to Gray.

Shut up! I don't care!

Yeah, you do.

No, I don't.

Yeah, you do. Why else would you want to scalp Ann?

I did have a point there. Wait, What?! I'm arguing with myself. I've officially gone insane.

"So…?" Ann repeated, her expression unchanging. Gray was looking at me like I was crazy. Which I was, I reminded myself.

"So," I started, snapping my attention fully into the task at hand, "How's this party going to work?"

Gray grunted. "I thought you knew. It was your idea, after all."

I glared at him and he smirked. Ann looked back and forth at us, probably thinking something inappropriate. She was always thinking something inappropriate. I finally spoke up after I long silence.

"Well, I do need some input on your part. It's half your party, too," I said to Gray and he rolled his eyes. I continued, "So, who do you want to invite?"

"Um… I don't care." He said and hid his face with his hat. Again. Perhaps he didn't want to share who his friends were?

"Oh, come on! It's okay if you tell me. It's not supposed to be embarrassing. Goddess, Gray, you are so stubborn sometimes!" I said, nearly shouting towards the end.

I have no idea why I just said that. WHY did I just SAY that?! He probably thinks I'm a psycho now! And WHY THE HELL DO I CARE WHAT HE THINKS?

Gray looked shocked but managed to answer, snapping me out of my mental screaming once again.

"Jeez, Claire. Okay, I want to invite Cliff, Gramps, and… Mary. Okay?"

I smiled at him, about to thank him for answering me. But wait- did he say MARY?

"Mary? Okay… But, she's always kind of had it out to get me, or something. I mean, I just walk into the library, and she 'accidentally' chucks a book at my head. You were there. You saw." I said, dead serious. She really did have it out to get me, but only when Gray was around. Weird, I know. I guess the smell of all those books was messing with her head.

Yeah, right.

"I know. But you, her, and Cliff are my only friends, really. So, can we still invite her?" Gray asked, and I suddenly felt a stitch of guilt in my gut. I felt like I had just stolen a lollipop from a little kid and threw it on the ground then stomped on it.

"Oh of course, of course! I never said we couldn't! I wanted Mary to come, anyways," I lied. Ann gave me a questioning look, as did Gray. I just smiled as genuinely as I could, hoping they'd buy it. Luckily, they did, and we moved on to the next matter of business.

I studied the seventh day of Winter on my calendar. I had doodled light blue flowers and hearts on the day's little box, and in big capital letters across the top, it read, 'BIRTHDAY PARTY AT INN 6PM'. I smiled and brushed my hair.

After I finished, I changed out of my pajamas and into a light gray turtleneck and dark jeans. My overalls and light plaid shirt were too cold to wear outside in this weather, even though it still hadn't snowed since the first day, nearly a week ago. I sighed as I thought this and headed outside to take care of my animals.

I hurried inside my house nearly two hours later, after I had finished my farm work.

Damn chickens, I thought, they always try to run away!

I had just gotten back from trying to recapture five very fast and determined chickens. After I opened the door, the all ran outside, like they were waiting for me to come just to run away.

I plopped down onto my couch and flipped the TV on to the news.

"Today is Winter sixth. The holiday season is approaching quickly!"

I gasped. I forgot it was Gray's birthday after all that commotion!

I sprinted over to my refrigerator and pulled out some corn I had frozen back in Summer, just for this occasion. I thawed it and glanced at the clock. 11:00am. I shoved the defrosted corn into the oven and watched it bake, looking back at the clock far too often. By the time it was done and you could smell the delicious aroma all over my house, it was almost noon.

"Crap!" I shouted, realizing I forgot a card. I ran over to the counter and grabbed a pink piece of cardstock and wrote:

Gray-

Happy birthday! I'm so glad I'm here to share it with you. I hope your wish comes true!

Love, Claire

I reread it at least ten times before I decided to leave the "Love" part at the end. It was just on little word, right? Right.

I set the card on the plate with the corn, and remembered that I always added salt to this particular dish. It made it perfect. I searched the counter frantically for the salt and pepper, but to no avail.

"The fridge!" I remembered. I started keeping my seasonings in there, for some reason.

I ran over to my refrigerator and flung the door open, causing an egg and a bottle of milk to come crashing to the floor.

"Dammit," I muttered under my breath, staring at the runny, goopy mess at my feet, "I don't have time for this!"

It was true. I had to hurry and make Gray something fast, before he left for the library at one. I couldn't go to the library with him; odds were Mary would've tried to murder me again.

I knelt down and picked up the eggshell and broken glass, and quickly tossed it in the garbage. Then I turned on my heels and darted towards the paper towels on the other side of the kitchen. I didn't make it very far; I slipped on the egg and milk mixture.

I heard someone knock on my door just before my head collided with the tile and I blacked out.

Oooo, what now? Who was it? And sorry. Next chapter is when I tell ya'll what happens at the party. Um, all I can say is this: sit tight for fluff. I guess.