Chapter 6

Blush

The next week or so was uneventful. I continued my routine of feeding Flower and Beauty, who now stayed under my careful watch, and preparing my field for next season's crops. I was holding on to the hope that Skye would keep his word about my seeds, as I had no other choice. Today, something was different. I knew if I wanted to catch Skye I would have to go to the bar, and since he hadn't told me exactly when he was going to strike, I had to go there every night. I went just before ten p.m., when no one was walking the paths, and looked around the bar. I stayed for a while, and if there was no sign of Skye, I left the area, rushing towards my farm as quickly as I came. Tonight though, as I was walking around the bar, I felt a tap on my shoulder, and when I turned around, the reigning town beauty was looking straight at me.

'Jill?' her lips form, and she looks at me, confused. I tentatively waved at her, and wrote a short note.

'Hi Muffy,' it said, and she smiled after she'd read it.

'Did you come for a drink?' she asks. I'm about to say no, when I pause and think the matter through. Right now, I must seem to be acting strange since I'm alone in the back of a bar. But if I say I'm here for a drink... I quickly nod my consent and Muffy smiles again.

'The bar...empty tonight. We're...a visitor so we told people it's closed. It...couldn't hurt...you a drink.' she said quickly, and once I'd figured out what she meant, I nodded. We silently walked into the bar and were met by the bartender, Griffin. As soon as he saw me, he raised his eyebrows.

'Evenin',' he said, and I lifted my hand up to him. Muffy faced him and started speaking at an angle I couldn't see. Griffin nodded and kept glancing at me, before he finally smiled. 'Welcome to the Blue Bar.' he said, slowly. Unlike most people, his slow lip movements seemed natural, as if he always talked that way. My muscles relaxed a little bit and I smiled, feeling at ease. 'What'll it be?' Griffin asks as I sit down. I look over the menu and decide on a glass of milk. 'Can't get enough of the stuff, huh?' Griffin asks, and I smile again, bigger this time. Muffy was standing close by, smiling as well, and for the first time in forever I didn't see a trace of pity in someone's face. We continued being in each others company, and I was about halfway through my second glass of milk, when a delicious smell filled the bar.

'What is that?' Muffy asked.

'It sure smells good.' Griffin responded, and he stood up from his place behind the bar. 'Maybe we should check it out.' The two headed for the door and before they walked out, Muffy turned and looked at me.

'We'll be right back Jill.' she said before walking out the bar. I sat quietly, wondering about where the smell was coming from.

'That's weird.' I think to myself as I finished my milk. I was just about to stand up when I felt a tap on my shoulder. I spun around, expecting to see Griffin or Muffy, when I came face to face with Skye.

'Good evening beautiful.' he said grinning, ' I see you've found me.' He winked at me. I smirked at him before writing a note.

'Where are my seeds?' it said. Skye feigned being hurt.

'Don't tell me that's the only reason you came beautiful.' I nodded and stuck out my hands. Skye laughed. 'Hehe, aren't you a cold one.' He winked at me again. 'Cold, but beautiful.' He chuckled at his own words then walked behind the counter. I scribbled another note.

'What are you stealing?' it asked.

'Tsk, Tsk. Nothing that concerns you beautiful. After all, you're only here for the seeds.' I got a bad feeling in the pit of my stomach. I actually liked Muffy and Griffin, and the fact that Skye was stealing from them made me upset. Skye must have noticed, because he said, 'Don't make that face. I'll tell you what, I'll take less than I intended to.' He grabbed a bottle from behind the counter. 'There, is that better?' I rolled my eyes at him. He smirked at me. 'Good, I wouldn't want anything to steal your beauty away. And since you've been such angel tonight, here is a bag of seeds.' Skye handed a bag of Daikon, a winter crop that was both cheap and fast growing. My heart filled with delight.

'Thank you.' I scribbled out on a note, and I hug the bag to my chest. Skye's smile softens.

'You're welcome beautiful.' he said, and I smile back at him. 'Oh, and before they come back...' his mouths forms some words I can't quite catch. Something about a beam, I think? 'Sorry beautiful it's for your own good. Don't worry, you'll be able to move in a few minutes.' I look around nervously, unsure of what he meant. I tried to lift my hand, only to find I couldn't move it. I look at Skye, terrified, and he smiles. 'Goodnight beautiful. Oh, and if you wanna know where I'll hit next, come find me again. And I know you will. It's in the stars.' Skye winks at me one last time before he walks out the bar and into the darkness of the night.

A few minutes later, Muffy and Griffin come back in.

'Jill?' Muffy asks. 'What's wrong?' I try moving again to find that I now had control of my bodily functions. I quickly scribbled out a note.

'Phantom Skye was here. He froze me and then stole a bottle from you.' The pair of bartenders looked shocked.
'What!' Muffy said, then ran behind the counter. She looked at Griffin. 'She's right. The... gone.' Griffin sighed and shook his head.

'I'm so sorry Jill. We knew he was coming tonight ,and when he hadn't shown up, we figured it would be safe for you to be here. We never meant any harm.' I nodded my head then smiled slowly at his kinds words.

'No worries,' I wrote out, and Muffy and Griffin smiled again.

'It's getting late, you...get home.' I nodded again and lifted a hand up to them. Before I could register what was happening, Muffy came and gave me a hug. I stood there, shocked. She stepped back, looking embarrassed.

'I hope you come by more often Jill.' she said, and this time I caught every word. I smiled shyly at her before I quickly left the bar, not wanting them to see I was embarrassed too. As I walked along the path to my farmhouse, I thought about the bag of seeds in my backpack, the hope in my heart, and the blush that still remained on my face. A smile spread across my features once again, and I laughed a little about how good a little embarrassment could be.

A.N. Hey guys! Hope you enjoyed this one. I know it took a while to get up, but hey it was longer this time. The purple heart event was a bit different, which is to be expected considering the circumstances. Hope you liked it, and thank you for reading! If you wanna review, I'd appreciate it so much!

-Goldengirl