OO;;; SORRY! It took FOREVER to write this itty-bitty chapter ;;; It's more of a filler chapter, too TT

I'm going to try review replies, now I hope I won't forget anyone... Let's see.

Mrs. Story-- Oh, thank you! Graire fluff IS the cutest, huh? Yes, updates are cuter. Here's an update, but it might not exactly be "cute"...

xo-emma-ox-- O.o lol. Okay. I know, it is different, huh? I didn't even plan it. I just decided, "Time to write the next chapter," and sat at my computer. No idea what it was supposed to be. Then: BAM. Claire sob-story. lol.

Sarah303-- lol, thank you. Ann and Claire have an odd relationship. They're like best friends. Actually, Gray and Claire are best friends, but... You know what I mean, right? Claire is just forgiving by nature, I suppose...

Eve Pomme-- You're so sweet! lol, thank you, but don't envy me. Just read a bunch of fics, and start typing up randomness. That's what I did, and I got this story. lol.

MandarinOrange92-- Don't we all love the fluff? XD Oooh, look! I'M CONTINUING! XDDD

BeautifulAuthor-- First off: Love your username. Second: I know, I realized I made Gray TOTALLY OOC, so I tried to make it better in this chappie. TRIED. You have to remember, though, that Claire and Gray are best friends and have been for nearly a year. Thanks! YOUR REVIEW MADE ME SQUEAL. I love constructive Critizism! lol.

xxsummerangelxx-- rofl. You'll find out soon enough... Actually, you'll find out in like the last chapter or so, because I still haven't narrowed down exactly what Claire wished for XD. ...I'm partial to the TinaxBlue matching in MM. And Skye makes me want to barf. lol. Of course, Gray is my favorite in any game (or all games... :P). Here's an update! Let us sqeal together! XD

Durotos-- Indeed, she does get hurt often. She's accident-prone, XD. Yup, I know lots o' girls feel that way. Heck, I'm one of them XD But I just needed Claire to say that so Gray could overhear. It's sad, huh? At least, I hope people think it's sad, so that that chapter made sense O.O;;;

DISCLAIMER: I don't own Harvest Moon. D:

NOW... ON WITH THE STORY (FINALLY)!

I skipped down the path, allowing my scarf to fly into my face. I pushed the door to the Inn open, and just as I expected, Ann came rushing up to me.

"Claaaaaire!"

I smiled slightly. Gray had walked me home the evening before in a comfortable silence, and I thanked him one more time and he left. I slept like a rock, and I woke up on time at six. I decided that I didn't care what others thought about me –even though most of the time I didn't care, regardless- and I came into town. I'd have to straighten things out with Ann first, though, as the last few days I'd seen her we didn't exactly get along perfectly.

"Hey, Ann," I said, trying to act indifferent, "Did you hear?"

Ann looked at me quizzically, "Hear what?"

I smirked. I knew nothing she probably didn't already know. But she thought I knew something interesting, and that was probably what caught her attention.

"Oh… Nothing," I said, trying to make it seem like I was lying. I had no idea what I was even trying to do, but I decided it'd be fun to see where this lead.

"What is it?!" Ann demanded, pulling me over to the bar and sitting me down rather forcefully. I sighed.

"You'd never guess…" I trailed off, acting like I was daydreaming, when in all reality I was just trying to figure out what my amazing news was supposed to be.

"You're right. Tell me."

"No."

"If this is because of what Popuri and I did, we're sorry! We had no idea you'd trip and fall on your face and start crying!" She explained franticly. I rolled my eyes.

"What were you two trying to accomplish, then, by sending my down looking like some… some… superficial Barbie doll, only to be stuck at a bar with a bunch of drooling guys!" I said, exasperated. She looked at me intently.

"They were drooling?"

I dropped my head onto the countertop. She completely missed my point.

"Ann,"

"Yeah?"

I thought for a moment before saying, "Who're you going with on Starry Night?"

She seemed shocked. Shocked, or embarrassed, because she didn't respond right away. I had to remove my head from the table and give her an expectant look before she said anything.

"Oh, well, I don't know…" She said, fidgeting with her thumbs under the counter, "Maybe Cliff…"

I grinned. I knew whom everyone 'liked' in the Town. Ann had a crush on Cliff, similarly to Elli's on Doctor, but Ann was less… Spacey about hers. Rick loved Karen, and had told her, so when she wasn't totally creeped out by the chicken-hugger we all knew she had a thing for him as well. Mary loved Gray, and she didn't try to hide it nearly as much as I'd expected her to when I first met her, being so shy and all. Popuri and Kai had this soap opera-like love, complete with the insane brother who's out to murder the boyfriend.

"Ann, Ann, Ann," I said, shaking my head, "So predictable."

Ann scrunched up her brow. "So? What's wrong with Cliff?"

"Nothing. It was just so predictable that you'd choose him." I said matter-of-factly. Ann looked annoyed as she rolled her eyes.

"What about you, Claire? Who're YOU going with?"

I sighed. I knew this question was coming, but it didn't matter. I grinned slightly as I spoke, "I'm not sure. I haven't asked anyone yet, but I have a good idea of who-"

"Gray!" Ann cut me off. I was confused as to why she randomly blurted out the blacksmith's name. Was she just assuming that's who I'd ask?

"What?" I asked, tilting my head. Ann smirked.

"Oh, it's just Gray's standing right behind you," She explained, and I turned around. I was unhappy to find no one standing there at all. Ann had tricked me so easily. I turned back around, and Ann wasn't behind the bar anymore. I looked around, puzzled.

"Ann? Come on, Ann, where'd you go?" I called as I scanned up and down the bar.

I went around to the other side of the counter, searching for the peppy redhead. She was nowhere. It creeped me out. Sighing, I turned around to head back to my farm, defeated.

"Eeeek!" I shrieked, coming face-to-face with a startled hat-clad young man after I turned around. He stumbled backwards.

"Goddess, Claire!" He shouted, catching his breath, "Why'd you scream in my face?!"

"Why'd you sneak up on me?!" I responded loudly, equally as unhappy as the young man.

"Why'd you scream in my face?!" He repeated, clearly getting frustrated at my lack of response.

"BECAUSE YOU SNUCK UP ON ME!"

Gray blushed and pulled his hat down, probably embarrassed at his misunderstanding moments ago. I sighed. He stayed silent, his hat still guarding his face from my line of sight. I sighed again, much more exasperatedly, as I took a step closer to him and snatched his stupid little UMA hat of his stupid little head.

…Did I just call Gray's head stupid and little? Wow I'm out of it.

Gray's eyes widened like saucers and his cheeks flushed brighter than I'd ever seen them before after I had the hat completely off his head.

"Aw, Gway, why don't you ever take this thing off? You're awfully cute without it," I teased. He scowled and reached for the hat, but I was too quick.

I'd successfully moved around the bar and behind one of the tables before he'd even brought his hand back down to his side.

"Ha!" I said, waving his old hat in the air tauntingly, "You're too slow!" I called, mimicking an annoying blue hedgehog I'd discovered in a video game back in the city. Gray scowled at me once again.

"Claire, I'm dead serious, you give that back or… Or-"

"Or what? You'll be forced to go the rest of your life letting the rest of the world see your face?" I said matter-of-factly. I seemed to be doing that a lot. Gray's cheeks tinted a shade darker at my remark as he took off around the table towards me. I let out a tiny yelp and ran around said table, weaving in between chairs. I looked over my shoulder, only to find an extremely ticked off blacksmith coming dangerously close to me.

I let out a nearly silent curse and made a sharp right, conveniently heading right out the Inn's door. I glanced back again. Gray was still following me, looking more angry than ever– and that's saying a lot. My eyes widened as I tried to fathom what he'd do to me when -if, I mean- he got me. Crap, crap, crap! He's going to murder me!

I turned quickly down the road to my right, passing the winery along the way. Cliff, who was in the vineyard, watched us quizzically as we turned left, approaching the Blacksmith's. I thought as quickly as I could and decided I'd go through my farm and hide in the small area between my house and the fence surrounding my property. After I'd gotten my home remodeled there was a two-foot gap left there, where I could just barely fit.

I flew onto my quiet farm and quickly scurried into my hiding place before I caught my breath. I heard footsteps crunching lightly on the frozen grass and I held my breath, clutching Gray's tattered hat in both hands. I glanced down at it and frowned. Why did I even take it? I was going to be murdered!

"Claire? …Claire?" I heard Gray's rough voice call, "Claire?! Dammit, you better come out here, or… Or…" He trailed off. I smirked. He couldn't think of a good threat. I guess he's not going to kill me after all…

I secured his hat on my head, just for the heck of it. It was actually much warmer than I'd expected such a worn-out thing to be. Maybe Gray was just freezing without it?

"Or what?" I called from my hiding spot. I knew he turned around, startled at the sound of my voice, because I could hear more quick crunching after that. I squished back a little further into the crevice, hoping that if he did find me, he wouldn't be able to reach me all the way in the back.

I wasn't expecting to trip, though.

My foot got caught in a sort of gopher hole or something, and I lost my balance. Shrieking, I toppled over and hit my back on the fence, but it didn't hurt too much. Gray seemed to locate me instantly after my little yelp, and he seemed angry enough to take an axe to my cow. His face softened ever so slightly, though, when he saw my foot in the hole and my body lying limply against the fence. It… sort of creeped me out, even though he was a good yard and a half away and couldn't fit in the small space if his life depended on it.

I started to feel vulnerable just sitting there, with my foot keeping me from moving since it was locked in a tiny hole .I shrunk back, scared. Scared. I couldn't believe that Gray –of all people, my best friend- was scaring me.

He's not going to hurt me! He's just going to help me! Goddess, Claire, what's wrong with you?! Just laugh it off! ...Wait, why am I not talking?! My voice is gone! Oh my goddess, I can't talk! Hurry, hurry, think of something! Why does my heart keep beating so painfully fast?! Why am I sweating in this weather?! Why can't I move?! WHY THE HELL AM I ASKING MYSELF ALL THESE STUPID QUESTIONS?!

"Claire? What in Goddess' name are you doing cowering back there for?" He asked, furrowing his brow. He had to have noticed my freaked out demeanor. I looked up and my gaze met his, making my stomach turn over. At first I thought I was about to throw up or something, but then… It was sort of nice…

"…Claire…?" He asked slowly, searching my eyes for any sign that I wasn't spacing out. I tried to mumble, 'Hm?', but all that I got was a pathetic whimper-like sound that barely I could hear. Why the hell couldn't I talk?!

Gray looked at me, slightly taken aback, "D-Did I, uh, scare you or something?" He asked, upset. He reached up to lower his hat down, but was shocked to find it wasn't there.

I giggled at his expression: Pure horror. He couldn't have forgotten I took it! And he didn't even notice its ON MY HEAD!

I laughed louder now, much to Gray's confusion. Oh, the look on his face! I tried to yank my foot out of the gopher hole, but soon discovered it was lodged in there good. I sighed, still chuckling a little. Poor Gray, watching me act like a crazy person. Though I had told him I was pushing insane, even if he wasn't supposed to hear it…

"Cl-Claire…?" He murmured, catching my attention completely. He really did look cute without his hat; his short carrot-colored hair was all messy, and I didn't realize that he had bangs that covered most of his eyebrows. I shook my head, willing myself to respond.

"Hmmm…?" I hummed, proud that I'd managed a halfway decent reply. He watched me curiously as I kept tugging at my foot, trying to get it free. I heard him sigh and I looked up at him.

"Nevermind," He mumbled, and I scrunched my eyebrows at him questioningly. He noticed and shook his head, then gestured at my odd position, "How'd you manage to get yourself into this mess, anyway?"

"Hah… Oh, Cliff, you're SO funny!"

I walked into the Inn later that evening to find Ann behind the bar chatting with a red-faced Cliff. I smirked and walked over, taking a seat two over from Cliff.

"Ann, what have we here? Flirting on the job?" I giggled. Ann and Cliff both flushed so brightly it seemed inhuman. Now is my chance to get back at Ann…

"N-no, I-"

"Oh, it's fine, Anniebug," Ann scowled at me when I addressed her by her father's nickname for her, "I'm sure your dad wouldn't mind. He'd probably encourage it, actually…" I trailed of, trying to stifle another round of giggles. Ann shot me the worst death-glare I think I'd ever received in my life.

"Claire…" She growled, though I remained unfazed. I smiled sweetly.

"Yes, Annie?"

"Get the hell out of here," She mumbled, her cheeks still reddening.

"No thanks, Hun," I said as I span around on the barstool, "I think I'll stay here 'til the bar opens, mmkay?" Ann growled something incoherent and went into the back room, leaving poor Cliff alone down the bar from me. I swiveled around to face him, "Sorry, Cliff. I didn't mean to embarrass you, only Ann. See, I needed to get back at her for a few pranks she pulled on me,"

He nodded and exhaled, "O…kay…"

I slumped down into my seat and glanced at the clock as Cliff excused himself upstairs to his room. It was five thirty-four in the evening, so the bar should've been opened by now…

"Ann?" I called, hoping the redheaded waitress would come out of the back. Almost immediately after I called for Ann, Doug came out of the kitchen carrying a tray with two glasses of water and a bowl of French fries.

"Oh!" Doug exclaimed, looking slightly disappointed, "Where's Ann and Cliff?"

"Cliff's upstairs and Ann's in the back room," I said, eyeing the food on the tray suspiciously, "Was that for the two of them?" I nodded towards the French fries.

"Huh?" The innkeeper asked, "Oh… Yes, it was. Seeing as how Ann is too stubborn to make the first move and Cliff is too shy, I figured I'd… Nudge them closer to each other with this. Nothing brings people together like food, eh?"

I chuckled, "You're right. I'm not sure Ann appreciates your efforts, though," I said, staring at the door Ann had exited through moments ago, "But I'll bet she's truly thanking you on the inside, even if she doesn't realize it."

Doug nodded, and then set the food down near the sink before turning to me, "So, what can I get ya?"

I sighed and thought for a moment before smiling, "Anything'd be nice, thanks," Doug raised his eyebrows and shrugged before handing me some sort of honey-colored liquid, and I observed it before taking a sip.

"Is something bothering you?"

I glanced up at Doug questioningly and asked him honestly, "Do I look like something's bothering me?"

He chuckled, "Not particularly, but you never know,"

I sighed. "I'm fine, I suppose," I said, staring at the stairway to my left, "Thanks for asking."

Doug was silent for what seemed like an eternity before I finally had to look away from the staircase to make sure he was even still there. He was, and he appeared to be watching me intently while I was staring of into space.

"Is there someone up there you wanted to see…?"

I was startled by the man's question, and didn't even try to hide it. "Excuse me?"

"You were just watching the stairs for the longest time, so I guessed you were waiting for someone to come down,"

"Oh, no, no…" I said, shaking my head before taking another tiny sip of the drink. I scrunched up my nose and watched the odd substance splash around the glass, "What is this, anyways?"

Doug chuckled, "Anything,"

I was about to question him on what he meant by that exactly, but I decided against it. Maybe I didn't want to know. I sighed and sipped some more of my glass of 'Anything' before dropping 100G on the table and getting up.

"Thanks, Doug," I said, smiling as I grabbed the table for support, "I hope that covers it!"

He nodded, "Yes, thanks. Hey, are you okay to go home by yourself? It's already dark out, and you look a bit…"

"I'm fine," I cut him off and waved as I walked out the door into the absolutely bone-chilling cold of this mid-winter night. The truth was, I could never stay completely sober after even a few sips of anything alcoholic, but it was embarrassing so I didn't mention it to the innkeeper man. But I seemed just a teensy bit more… Tipsy, I suppose is the word -even though I was just fine- than I normally would be thanks to that goddess-knows-what concoction I was served.

I walked down the paths with one hand on the fence, keeping me steady, on my way home. It had certainly been an awfully long day… I sighed as I finally reached the door to my house.

I stumbled inside and flicked on the lights before plopping onto my bed. Kicking off my shoes, I peeled my overalls off and, being too tired to change, snuggled into my bed. I was surprised at how quickly I fell asleep, being it was so cold and I was only in my light flannel shirt and underwear. I guess I was just really, really tired.

One last thought ran through my head before sleep pulled me into the dark land one visits before dreams begin:

Tomorrow… What'll it bring?

Cruddy ending, sorry. But: good news! I might have a double update weekend! If I can devote tomorrow to nothing but writing... And I just got a new book that I'm dying to read. It's "Sense and Sensibility" By Jane Austen. A classic XD

Updating might take long times at a time, what with my crazy amounts of homework and stuff... Curse my stupid Accelerated English Class! IT GOES SO MUCH FASTER! So, my freakish amounts of English (and Geometry) homework make me unbelievably tired over the weekend, which leads to no writing. I'm sorry! But I have a good idea for the next chappies. Three or four more, then I start my next Graire fic! (lol)

/rant