Author Note: Thank you to those who reviewed! It really does mean a lot to me and it makes my day! Honestly, I don't even have this story planned out, I'm just typing as I go. I'll update the next chapter when I can and please review. Oh yeah, Clair will have a lot of love interests in this story, just saying. Who will she end up with is the question? ;) Okay, onwards with the story!
Chapter 2: Introductory Day
Clair's Pov (Point of view)
As soon as Gray left the building, so did I. I certainly did not want to spend my time with his pissed off boss, especially since he compared me to a Barbie doll. Gosh, I hate those things. Anyways, I was now standing outside the Blacksmith and was trying to decide if I should try to find Gray or not. Sure, I could find him, but what am I going to say exactly? I mean, I'm a total stranger, and wouldn't it be kind of weird to try to comfort him? Besides, he looks super scary when he's pissed. Okay, I think I should just introduce myself to everyone first before I try to find this guy that I barley know.
I then started hearing tiny voices. However, they didn't sound human.
I remained standing in the same spot while looking straight ahead, waiting for something to appear. And something did. Two chickens in fact and both charging right at me. I winced as I saw the chickens coming towards me and I stepped back in fear.
"Get those chickens!" someone yelled, drawing my attention away from the chickens, and I moved my head slightly up to see a young man with glasses running behind the chickens.
He looked about the same age as me and had sandy brown hair. A white band was covering his forehead, pushing his bangs upward so they wouldn't be in his face. From under his glasses, it seemed he had blue eyes but had a tint of green in them too, I think. He was also wearing this dark-blue apron and a long-sleeved green shirt under it.
My attention then went back to the chickens and I simply picked one up. Surprisingly, it didn't attempt to peck at me or anything. The chicken just stared into my eyes and I blinked innocently in confusion.
The guy then picked up the other chicken who was now trying to peck at him. However, he calmed the chicken down though by petting it.
A huge sigh of relief escaped from his mouth. "Phew. That was close! Sorry about that! These chickens are new and they don't seem that used to me yet," he apologized bashfully and then muttered, "Although, they did eat all of my chicken feed..."
I shook my head, trying to hide a giggle, and flashed him a smile as I started to pet the chicken that was in my grasp.
"So, are you new here or something?" he asked me puzzled and raised an eyebrow.
I nodded. "You guessed it. I'm Clair. The new farmer."
"Farmer? You mean you're taking care of that old farm? Strange, I never thought anyone would take over it ever again..." he mumbled slightly amazed and then extended his hand while saying politely, "I'm Rick. I live at Poultry Farm and we sell chickens."
I nodded with a smile and we shook hands.
Oddly, I don't think I've ever shook hands with anybody before or maybe I'm just saying that since it's kind of hard to shake hands with him since I'm holding a chicken at the moment. Sigh. Such an eventful day today...
"Anyways, I think it's great that you're taking over the farm. I also think you'll be really good with animals since it seems that the chicken your holding has really taken a liking to you already," he told me grinning and we stopped shaking hands.
I looked down to the chicken I was holding and smiled.
"Gee thanks..." I replied shyly, avoiding eye-contact as I continued to look down at the chicken, and I was trying my best not to smile.
For once, someone was actually being kind of nice to me. I'm actually smiling for once, which is kind of rare for me. I better not get my hopes up though, I'm pretty sure everyone in this town isn't this nice. Besides, most people grow to dislike me for some reason.
"If you want, you can have that chicken. I'll deliver it to you by tomorrow if you want," Rick offered and my head shot up in surprise.
Whoa, a free chicken? Is this guy for real or am I just dreaming? I wonder if this Rick guy is this kind to everyone all of them time. I hope so...
"Thanks so much," I thanked him bashfully and flashed him a tiny smile.
"It's no problem. So, are you lost or something?" he asked awkwardly.
I started to laugh nervously while my right eye twitched and I blushed of embarrassment.
"Honestly, I'm just walking around this town introducing myself to everybody," I informed him and continued to laugh nervously.
"Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to let you meet my mom and sister. Follow me," Rick told me, gesturing me to follow him.
He started walking ahead and I followed behind him.
A few minutes later, we came across this fence full of chickens, and he put the chicken he was holding inside the fence. Rick then turned to me and took the chicken I was holding out of my grasp and stated, "I'll put this chicken in one of the special fences since I'm giving this one to you tomorrow."
I nodded in response and watched him put the chicken away into a different fence. He then walked back to me smiling and gestured for me to follow him again, which I did. He guided me into this house and when we entered, I saw two ladies in the room with long wavy pink hair sitting at a table. One of them looked about my age while the other one looked older.
"Mom, I'm going to visit Kai!" the younger pink haired girl announced in a bubbly tone and stood up.
"OH NO YOUR NOT!" Rick roared infuriated and I winced.
I guess it was too good to be true to think that Rick was nice to everyone...
A scowl formed on the girl's face and she clenched her fists in anger.
"You can't tell me what to do! I'm old enough to make my own decisions, Rick!" she yelled back in a pouting tone.
"I'm your brother and I REFUSE to let you see that jerk! He is just going to hurt you Popuri!"
"Okay, that's enough fighting you two. Please just stop..." the older woman sighed and it grew silent.
"Sorry mom..." Rick apologized and sighed himself.
"So Rick, who is the pretty girl next to you?" the older woman questioned calmly, her voice so soothing and uplifting.
I blushed at the complement and scratched my head. Complements are something I rarely get from people at all. Most people tell me I'm very unattractive when I think otherwise. I mean, I have straight long blonde hair, blue eyes, I'm skinny, and just pretty average looking, I guess. My grandma used to say I have the looks to be a popular girl at a high school or something, but I doubt that.
"Oh, this is Clair. She is the new farmer around here," Rick stated and the woman smiled.
"That is so nice to here. I'm Lillia, Rick's mother and the young lady over there is my daughter, Popuri. It's so nice to meet you, Clair," Lillia told me in a heart-warming tone while smiling and her smile just made my heart want to melt.
I returned the smile and nodded.
Popuri then walked up to me, her eyes sparkling, and she told me in a bubbly voice, "Oh cool! Another girl in town! Hope we can be great friends!"
I laughed nervously and nodded.
"Well mom, I'm off! Bye!" Popuri exclaimed and sprinted out the door.
"HEY POPURI GET BACK HERE!" Rick yelled and chased her out the door.
I sighed and turned to Lillia. "Well, it was nice to meet you, Lillia, but I think I should go introduce myself to everybody else now. Goodbye."
"Alright, have a good day Clair," Lillia told me smiling.
"You too," I replied politely while nodding and walked out the door.
A few hours later, I had introduced myself to pretty much almost all of the residents in town and everyone seemed pretty nice. However, most people didn't really seem that interested in me. I pretty much just said my name, they said their names, and I pretty much left. That was the cycle of it all. I kind of hated it.
I was still roaming around town when I suddenly came across a beach. As I entered the beach, I saw that Rick was yelling at this guy I've never seen before. A purple bandanna was wrapped around his head and he seemed pretty tan.
Who could he be? I might as well find out...
I started walking towards them and Rick immediately stopped yelling once I stood in front of them. The guy with the bandanna looked at me in astonishment for a second.
"Clair, this is Kai! STAY AWAY FROM HIM!" Rick warned and glared at Kai.
"Dude, will you chill out for one second? I'm just living my life and hey, I'm Kai. What's up?" Kai greeted me casually while chuckling and walked up to me.
"I'm Clair-"
"SHE IS CLAIR THE NEW FARMER, NOW GO AWAY KAI!" Rick shouted into Kai's ear.
Kai held his ear in pain and moved away from Rick.
"Dude, let the lady speak or take a chill pill! Like seriously..." Kai muttered to Rick annoyed, and then looked at me with a grin, and continued, "Anyways... A cute girl like you is running the farm, eh? Well, that sounds pretty cool! If you ever get tired, you can come to my lodge to get a snack. Just don't work too hard, okay?"
I nodded while smiling and Rick growled at Kai.
"You better not try anything with Clair or else!" Rick threatened and walked away from us.
"Sorry, that dude has some serious anger issues," Kai laughed.
"Tell me about it..." I muttered.
"Well, I've got to go for now. I'll see you around though, okay? Later."
I nodded and he walked out of the beach.
Well, I guess this place isn't so bad. I've been feeling way better ever since I arrived here. People are way nicer here than in the city. Although, something doesn't feel right and I'm not sure why… I still feel depressed. Sure, I've been smiling a lot today, but I'm still hurting on the inside. I still feel so unhappy.
Just when a frown was starting to form on my lips, I felt someone collide into me, and I fell to the ground. Sand went into my eyes and onto my clothes. I coughed a couple times and closed my eyes as I lied there on the ground.
"Sorry..." I heard a familiar voice mutter and I opened my eyes to see that it was Gray.
"You're that guy from today..." I mumbled locking eyes with him and I stood up quickly.
He avoided eye contact with me and adjusted his hands into his pockets. "Uh, yeah. Well, bye..."
"Wait, are you okay? I mean, your boss was saying a lot of cruel things..."
"He's always like that and it's none of your business!" Gray snapped.
I winced. "Well, I had a boss who was rough on me too... But I quit that job and came here, hoping that things would get better for me," I explained bashfully and bit my lip.
"Okay... And your point is?"
I gulped. "Uh... That we...have...something in common?"
Gray sighed. "You're pathetic..."
Okay, that comment ticked me off. "At least I know how to cope with things and not take it out on other people!" I countered angrily.
"Whatever..." he muttered and avoided eye contact.
Great. Just great. Another person who hates me. But this time, they aren't afraid to show it. Oh, why does this always happen to me? Why...?
I felt my sapphire eyes grow watery and I looked down.
"Maybe I am really pathetic..." I whispered, trying to fight back tears.
He winced at seeing my eyes starting to fill up with tears. "W-Wait! D-Don't cry! Uh...I didn't mean that! I was just-"
I sprinted passed him before he could finish his last sentence and I ran off into the town.
I paused as I entered my farm and panted. My head remained looking down towards the ground and I tried to fight off the tears. However, my eyes widened once I heard someone approaching me from behind.
"Hey! YOU! I wasn't done talking yet!"