Disclaimer: I do not own Harvest Moon or its characters. This story was only written for entertainment purposes.

Save Me From Myself

Chapter Eight

The brunette frowned and plucked at the ugly weeds.

Her beautiful garden was coming under attack, seemingly overnight, and she was desperate to remove all those unsightly weeds from her pride and joy. Growling underneath her breath, she pushed away the loose strands of hair from her face and grimaced at the patches left to be plucked. She sat back on her heels and sighed. What a way to start a festival, could things get any worse?

"Hey, Abigail."

She inwardly cringed. It seemed like the Goddess was against her today. With a short look over her shoulder, she forced a smile on her lips. "H-hey Kurt... you're... um up early."

He shrugged. "No earlier that usual."

She just smiled and quickly stood to her feet. Brushing the dirt of her work clothes, she pushed back her hair and cleared her throat. "... So, what's up?"

He seemed to hesitate with his words, "Well, the festival is tonight and I-"

Someone cleared their throat behind the brunet and the farmer was the first to react, "Jamie!"

Jamie held his composure at the sight before him. His eyes instantly glued themselves to the apprentice and they narrowed in pure annoyance.

Kurt was standing close, too close for his liking, to the pigtailed farmer, who was in turn was smiling brightly at him. The male brunet seemed to shifted uncomfortably and took a step away from hi- er, from Abigail. She took several steps towards the purple haired farmer. He faintly heard her repeat her greeting before turning her attention back to the carpenter. Jamie glared darkly at the apprentice and silently dared him to continue with his invitation.

He noted his rivals tense posture and inside he was smirking in triumph.

Abigail blinked, blissfully unaware of the menacing figure lurking behind her, and smiled at Kurt. "I'm sorry, Kurt, what were you saying?"

Kurt scratched the back of his head. "Oh. Nothing. I... I'll see you at the festival tonight."

Jamie let his smirk show on his face and Kurt threw the purple haired farmer an icy glare before retreating.

Abigail mumbled a soft goodbye as she watched the carpenter leave, confused, but relieved that she wouldn't have to worry about another invitation from Kurt. She turned back to him and continued to smile.

She stared at him, expecting something to be said, and Jamie gave her the smallest smile he could muster. That action alone seemed to have made her even happier than she already was and it made her cock her head to the side in amusement. "You smiled!"

He fought off the blush that was threatening to appear. "Humph. Don't make such a big deal about something so frivolous."

"But I have too! It like never happens!" She giggled. "I'll have to mark this day on my calendar as 'The Day Jamie Smiled' instead of the Firefly Festival." He gave off his usual 'humph' sound and crossed his arms in front of his chest. She sighed and held a soft smile. "I'm sorry, I won't comment on that again. So, why are you here? I mean... not like I don't mind you being here, but... you don't usually come to talk to me this early... or when there are people around. But well, I guess that isn't necessarily true anymore sin-"

But the rest of her statement was lost after Jamie mumbled a few words underneath his breath. Catching only a few bits and pieces, she stared at him and felt her mouth twitch upwards. Had he just –

"I'm sorry, what?"

She noted the dark blush on his cheeks and how he avoided her eyes.

"I... I said... do you... wanttogo tothefestival withme..."

Jamie felt like his face was on fire. He couldn't believe he had actually let those words out of his mouth, let alone for a second time! He expected her to instantly turn him away. Instead, she surprised him by grinning and nodding her head. "I'd love too!"

He blinked and stuttered. "Y-you would...?"

She nodded. "Of course! Where do you want to meet up? At the beach or..."

"The beach." He flushed. "I-I'll meet you there."

She seemed to glow with happiness and a small squeal escaped her lips as she clasped her hands together. "Great! I'll see you then. I'll see you tonight."

He nodded, still flustered, and watched as she gave him one last smile before dashing down the street. His stood there, staring off into the direction she had run off too, and sighed. There was a strange fluttering feeling at the pit of his stomach, but he ignored it. A new presence made itself known to his right.

"What was that about."

Jamie snapped his head towards the cold voice. His eyes narrowed. Kurt was standing a few feet away. The cool carpenter had his arms crossed in front of his chest and he mimicked the icy stare Jamie's icy was throwing at him.

"What game are you playing, Jamie?"

Jamie scowled at the carpenter. "Mind your own business, carpenter."

"She is my business." Jamie scoffed, but Kurt continued. "Don't think I'm giving up on her so easily."

He held his dark stare. "So be it. I am no stranger to rivalries." Kurt was delusional if he thought his silly little confession would have helped him try to keep him from pursuing the brunette farmer. And by the look of astonishment on his face, that seemed to have been the only available card in his hand to play. Jamie turned away. "I hope you know, Kurt, that you are going to regret ever crossing paths with me."

Saying she was shocked would have been an understatement, Abigail was floored by Jamie's invitation. She hadn't expected that, not even in her wildest of dreams, and she hadn't expecting the burst of warmth that had seemed to engulf her entire being. It had felt like her heart and soul had been lifted from the tormented they had fallen victim to for the past week or so.

Her jaw was beginning to hurt from the huge smile on her face, but she couldn't will away the happiness. She was going to a festival with Jamie.

Pulling her hair into their signature ponytails, she eyed the pale purple dress and matching flats her cousin had sent her from Waffle Island. The outfit looked very plain, but still had an adorable appeal to it. She wondered if Jamie would approve of the dress. A blush heated her face as she shook her head.

She pulled the dress on and heard Fax whine from the kitchen. Turning towards the whining animal, only after she had successfully zipped the back of the dress, she sighed at the sight of Fax pawing at the refrigerator. "I know, I know!" She moved to the black fridge and pulled her pet away. "What will it be today, Fax? Some honey?"

The beige canine shook his head.

"No. Then fish?" His floppy ears seemed to perk up and she giggled. "Good choice." She pulled out a small carp. "Enjoy, Fax."

He barked and went on his merry way with the carp firmly grasped in his jaw.

She took one last quick sweep of her home before bidding her pet, who was too preoccupied with the carp, and left.

Jamie glared daggers at every person at the beach, but on the inside he was on edge. Anxious to get this date over with, but also extremely worried of messing up. He had never asked anyone to the festivals before. Not even Nina, which was odd now that he looked back. What had he found so darn intriguing about her in the first place?

He fidgeted when the elderly doctors aide came to his side. She wore a calm smile. "Good evening, Jamie." She paused for a moment, staring at him with curiosity. "Are you alright? You seem a little uneasy."

"I'm fine." He shot back, avoided the womans accusing stare and silently prayed for anything to distract her.

Thankfully, he didn't have to pray for too long. "Hi Martha!"

Jamie stared at the new presence. It was her, in a dress the same shade as his hair. Martha cooed at the brunette. "Oh, Abigail, don't you look lovely."

She flushed and smiled. "Thank you." Martha excused herself, and Jamie half wondered if the older woman was intentionally given them some time to themselves. The soft whisper she and Abigail made caused his suspicion to rise. Her cheeks turned a light pink color as she waved off the doctors aide. She took in a deep breath and smiled at him. "Hi!"

He mumbled his greeting, still self conscious about speaking freely with her in public. It seemed much more easier to speak when it was just the two of them alone, but with other people, possibly listening in, it was almost impossible for him to start or continue any sort of conversation. She didn't give any sign on being bothered by the fact. She simply continued smiling and remained just as quiet as he was.

His nerves caused him to begin questioning his actions. Jamie gave a quick glance around the beach and noted a few couples at the festival. Blue and Ann were idly talking to one another by the shore, and Ellen and Carl seemed oblivious to what was going on around them. He frowned at the sight of both brunet carpenters.

Abigail noted the frown on his face and with a quick look over her shoulder she understood his sudden shift of mood. She turned back towards him and moved to block his view. "Jamie?" His eyes snapped to hers. She smiled and retrained herself from touching the purple haired farmer. "... um, lets go watch the festival."

He nodded, but his eyes returned to the carpenter brothers. Her smile dropped slightly and she stood next to him, watching in silence as the moonstones were lit and sailed off into the ocean. The rest of the night was spent in silence. She shivered and wrapped her arms around herself. She nearly jumped out of her skin when Jamie moved closer towards her and felt a jolt of... something run through her body from a simple, innocent, and brief touch of hand to arm.

He didn't say anything and he didn't pull away. She tried not to stare, but she looked up at him and noted he had a faint rosy color on his cheeks. Her own face felt like it was heating and she quickly whispered her thanks.

All attention was away from the pair, all except a certain brunet carpenter.