Chapter 10

Learning a Lesson

For a couple weeks, Althea turned out to be a town hero of sorts, for some reason. An unexpected winner, they said, a respectable victory. She didn't mind, of course. Well, sort of. Even if the event atoned for her slight jealously of Claire's popularity, Althea still felt slightly empty, like her victory wasn't satisfactory enough. That alone poked her heart with guilt. She couldn't ignore that fact, but did her best not to become bitter.

August swung around, and she found herself standing on the beach, alone, in her navy one-piece. Sure, it could've been far better with someone else, but her tolerance level for people maxed out a while ago.

She thumbed the right strap further up her freckled, sunscreened shoulder.

The afternoon sun wrapped its scorching rays about her, kissing her pale skin, hoping to leave a sizzling red tinge.

She vaguely wondered if the SPF 50 she slathered on an hour ago would do its job. Casting the thought aside, she dipped her toes in the meekly lapping waves. It's cool touch sent a pleasant shiver up her spine. Cautiously, one step at a time, Althea waded into the bright turquoise ocean, sighing with a calm relief. Though it was tapering into the end of the month, it was still pleasurably warm.

An icy splash triggered her reflexes and she leapt back from it. "Hey!" she squealed, opening her eyes.

"Hey! Happy Hump Day!" Karen sang back, ceasing her splash attack.

"Oh, hi Karen. It's just you," Althea greeted. She and Karen had become good friends after one night at the Inn - Karen collapsed from too much alcohol intake, and everyone else except Doug was too drunk to drag her home. Doug refused, saying it happened every night. Somehow, Althea dragged her butt back home. When Karen heard what she had done for her, she took her out for lunch at Kai's and they talked for hours.

"Just me?" she barked, swinging a hand to her hip, "Oh, okay. I get it." She formed a thin line with her lips and her eyebrows shot up.

Althea twittered at the comment and shrugged. "At least we're both on the same page, here," she confessed.

Karen rolled her eyes, smirking and volleying back, "Oh, girl, I'm a page ahead of you." She snapped her fingers sassily.

"Are you, now? I thought you didn't like to read."

"Oh, things just got personal."

"It seems they did."

"Come at me, bro, see what happens."

Kai sauntered in, laughing and holding his hands up. "Ladies, ladies! Fear not, I am here to calm things down," he assured them.

Karen stuck her tongue out at him and crossed her arms. "You only screw things up, Kai. Shut it," she teased.

"Hm. Very mature," Althea remarked.

Karen shrugged.

"She's right, you know," he muttered, tossing his head in Althea's direction.

She laughed, "Who's right? Karen saying you screw things up or me saying she's mature?"

"Both." He nodded to himself.

"Well, okay," Althea shrugged.

Karen simply frowned at them. "Hey, what's up with your swimsuit, anyway?" she questioned.

"Who, me?" Althea raised an eyebrow.

Karen rolled her eyes, planting a hand on a sassily jutted out hip. "No, not you, since you're the only other person with a swimsuit on," she drawled.

"Well, excuse me, princess," she sniped back, putting her hands up in mock offense.

"I don't think this could get any sassier, guys. This... This is sassy," Kai observed, stuffing his hands into his pockets.

"Seriously," Karen continued, ignoring his remark, "what's with the one-piece? You aren't in middle school anymore." She eyed her sharply, like a hawk targeting prey.

Althea suddenly felt uncomfortable under Karen's gaze. Although, she buried that sensation and looked her in the eye when she answered good-naturedly, "Er, I just feel weird showing all that skin. And I really don't like getting sunburnt - I don't tan at all." She twittered anxiously.

"Oh, okay. You could just use sunscreen," she suggested.

"Sunscreen... Doesn't work." She bit her lower lip, sighing through her nose.

Karen slapped her thighs with her palms, rolling her eyes and sighing loudly. "Girl, you have got to loosen up! What's wrong with a little burn? Wearing a bikini is like, a symbol of adulthood!" she protested.

She refused to have that fight. "You're right. I need to loosen up. I just don't like unnecessary pain, sorry, and... I don't see a big point to wearing bikinis."

Karen stared blankly at her for a moment. "Seriously?"

Kai backed up a few feet, muttering, "Uh, gotta get back to work." He scampered away, toward his shack.

The two girls looked at each other.

"What's his deal?" Althea huffed.

Karen shrugged. "Dunno. He couldn't handle our sexiness, I bet," she stated.

"Probably," Althea agreed.

Karen's gaze snapped forward. "So about that frumpy swimsuit-"

"It is not frumpy!"

"-that suit of yours, we need to get you something more age appropriate, granny," Karen declared, staring distastefully.

Althea frowned, crossing her arms over her chest. "Why should I get something more 'age appropriate'?" she inquired bitingly.

"Have you ever had a boyfriend?"

Althea had to think for a second. "Wait, this whole thing is about-"

"No, just answer the question." The brunette fixated a serious stare on her.

She bit back a retort and glared at Karen, but huffed and averted her gaze. The question overstepped several boundaries. However, she knew Karen wouldn't have known that, but that didn't mean she hadn't touched forbidden territory. "High school. I thought I liked the boy, but I only liked his outward personality. He turned out to be a real psychopath. Haven't liked anyone since," she clipped, hoping, praying, silently begging Karen wouldn't press the topic.

"Oh. That explains a lot," Karen declared, lifting her eyebrows as if she'd gotten a correct answer on Jeopardy.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Althea asked, inwardly sighing at the fact she probably knew the answer.

Karen's lips pressed together, then parted warily. "Well, I sorta get these vibes from you that you've... Given up on trying to impress people," she shrugged.

Truth be told, that answer surprised her. She recollected her thoughts to form an intelligible answer. "It's not because of him," she dismissed, "but I guess he was part of it. People always let me down, and I never saw a point in making a big deal of performing for them if they'd just clap and keep walking." Was that too much? Curse her, for spilling like that. Nobody cared what her thoughts like that were.

Karen looked at her with a huge snigger tugging her face. "I liked you before, but... I like you even more, now," she grinned.

"What?"

Karen laughed. "I thought you were kinda childish at first, but you're pretty mature."

Ouch. "Ch-childish?!" That was the first time she'd heard that one. Althea always loomed over her friends in maturity. Was she really... Immature?

Karen threw her head back and belted out laughter. "Yeah! Nothing wrong with it, just who you are! Embrace yourself!"

For a moment, Althea jokingly experimented with actually hugging herself and found no comfort. "That doesn't help, dummy," she sighed.

"That's what I mean. You take things so literally, like a kid," Karen pointed out.

Althea shrugged indifferently, looking at the ground. So, that was it, then. She acted like a child when she joked around; no one knew it was sarcasm. Maybe being around different people brought out different things in one's personality. Maybe being childish was a good thing. No no, that's... Absurd. She wasn't actually immature.

"Hey, cheer up. I'm not saying you act like a four-year-old. You're childish in the most mature way possible," she chortled.

That sounded exactly like what she needed to hear. Besides, she didn't feel like telling Karen it was just a joke. "Okay," she sighed, smile long gone. "I need to go," she mumbled, "see you later." Couldn't she tell Karen what was going on? She wouldn't understand, though. It'd just end up in a messy pitfall of a conversation.

"Oh. Okay. Where you headed?"

"Places."

"Hey, what's up now? You're so... Sullen," Karen frowned, following Althea as she made her way to the changing rooms.

"Don't worry. I'm fine, I just need to go. See you later," she replied as cheerfully as she could muster.

Karen stopped, studying Althea for a moment. She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Pff. 'Kay. Bye!" She gave a curt wave and headed off.

Althea watched her saunter away. Peace, at last. Although... Karen was right, in a way. She gave up on pleasing people. Not only that, but she'd given up on people in general. What she needed was someone who wouldn't let her down, someone she'd always say good morning and good night to. Someone to listen to everything she had to say without a second thought and tell her in the nicest way possible to get over it.

But she couldn't have those things. At the end of the day, when all was said and done, only Althea could still be there for herself. She wished herself good night and good morning, she embraced the feelings of loneliness, if only to keep herself sane. She hadn't turned out to be exactly sane, though. At the very least, her parents raised her right.

No, she didn't give up on people...

She was just tired of being let down.

She needed someone- something, to show her that maybe it was worth the letdown. Maybe someone could be different, and only let her down for little things, things that could be mended over a cup of tea and a civil chat.

Just something.

Once again, she found herself lying on her Inn bed, but this time, her eyes felt completely dry.

She was crying on the inside. Because that's what a strong woman does: cries behind closed doors, and when those doors are easily opened, she cries inside. All for what, though?

A knock sounded at the door.

"Just come in," Althea commanded the knocker, knowing who would walk through the door.

Just as expected, Claire poked her head in. "What's up? You look sad, again. I hate it when you get sad," the farmer frowned, eyes big with worry.

Claire was the one who always acted like a child. Well... After all, no one really grows up. People only find ways to act mature. "Karen said I was childish."

Claire looked thoroughly astonished. "What? That's not true!" she gasped, flinging the door shut and rushing to the bedside.

Althea knew better than to believe her. "You don't have to lie to make me feel better." She shrugged, pushing herself up into a sitting position and warily looking Claire in the eye.

The blonde looked to the floor, sighing, "I know. I'm just not good at comforting people," she frowned, sitting next to Althea.

Yeah, I know. You suck at it. "At least you try."

Claire smiled gently at her. "Thanks."

They remained silent for a heavy second. For the first time, there sat an uncomfortable silence between the two girls.

Claire crossed her legs, then uncrossed them. She frowned at her thighs.

"Am I really childish?" Althea asked softly.

Claire shook her head. "That's not how I'd describe you. You're childish sometimes. But... I dunno. I dunno why Karen thought that. Maybe you're childish around Karen? I just... Dunno," she sighed, shoulders heaving forward.

"Okay." The word was all she could muster. She just couldn't bring herself to say all the things she wanted, for some reason. It had never been like that for her and Claire. What happened to their friendship? It was fine a few weeks ago, when she came to Mineral Town. Maybe she was overthinking things. Maybe-

"You haven't talked to me for a while. Did I do something to you?" Claire spoke up, lifting her head to face Althea.

"No. Sorry. I've been busy getting to know people," she defended quietly. Her eyes stung with unformed tears; she dreaded the conversation that might've been coming.

Claire raised an eyebrow. "But everyone in Mineral Town is within a couple miles of each other. You could've just come and found me," she justified, looking like a wounded animal.

Althea forced herself to look away. "I'm sorry, okay? I'm just..." Jealous. Bitter. Undeserving. Fickle. "I just got caught up in things. My violin's at the shop, I'm meeting new people... Sorry. I'm... Really sorry."

Claire wrapped her arms around Althea, giving her a squeeze. "I forgive you," she whispered.

That's why everyone loves you. Because you can forgive, you can let go. "Thanks," she murmurmed back.

The setting sun cast a fiery glow upon her as she kneeled before the Goddess Pond, hands clasped in prayer. She required a place of rest and serenity. Before she knew it, her thoughts streamed out of her mouth to a goddess she wasn't even sure would hear her.

"I missed Claire so much, but now that I'm here, it hurts. She's so popular and she's like family to everyone," she whispered, "and I miss my family, too. Claire writes letters to hers.

"I don't know what's wrong with me. Whenever I see her talking to someone, I just get... So, so, upset. Angry, sad... Everything. And she can't comfort me at all. Not like she ever could... I mean, I can't even tell her about this. It'll crush her, I know it. She doesn't deserve that. Now, I, on the other hand..." she stopped.

"On the other hand, what?"

"I... I deserve to be crushed. Because of all- wah!" Althea looked up at the pond, realizing something spoke back to her. She was going crazy?

"I'll say! You can't expect things to get better if you don't talk about it with Claire, darling." A woman with crystalline blue eyes, a sweep of braided sea green hair and clothes soft as mist stood before her, perching on the water in the middle of the pond.

She had definitely gone crazy. "What?" she gaped. "What's... Going on?"

The woman's eyebrows shot up. "Oh, right, you're the newcomer," she realized, giving a polite curtsey. "I am the Harvest Goddess, the goddess who dwells in this pond. I am pleased to make your aquaintance, Althea," she greeted softly.

The Harvest Goddess? For real? It had to be a dream. A really, really, realistic dream.

"I assure you, I'm real," the goddess replied to her thoughts audibly.

"Hey! I wouldn't know, but isn't reading minds impolite?" she protested to the apparition. For now, she'd play along.

The Harvest Goddess put her hands on her hips. "Oh, silly, it was written all over your face! I don't need to read minds to understand that look! Besides, I've been getting that look from people like you for thousands of years," she dismissed, removing a hand from her hip to wave nonchalantly.

"O-Oh. I see," Althea nodded. It had to be a dream. There was no other explanation.

The goddess chewed her perfect lip thoughtfully, looking to the side as if contemplating whether or not to pulverize Althea on the spot. "So, you seem distraught, so I'm taking out my pity on you and helping you," she declared, her tone almost haughty.

But I don't want pity. "I just want help," she replied, her voice sounding surprisingly sullen.

For a moment, something like amusement flashed in the woman's eyes. "Aha, a feisty one," she observed.

"Beg pardon, but I'm not an animal, Miss Goddess."

"Very feisty! Ah, no no, please just call me Goddess or Harvest Goddess. No need for such formalities," she giggled melodiously.

Gosh, everything about the woman was beautiful. "Okay. Can you tell me what to do to fix things? I don't know anymore," she huffed. If it was a dream, she might as well try to glean information from the vision in order to patch things up.

The Harvest Goddess's face melted into a solemn expression. "But you haven't tried yet!"

"I'm tired of trying. Why can't Claire try? Why? Why can't the girl who can do anything do it?"

"You realize you have to put effort in, too?"

"I am! And I always end up..." she looked down, huffing with frustration, "My problem is, I'm always the one who tries harder, the one who has to take charge of things. I'm so. Darn. Sick of it!" She panted from yelling, feeling hot tears spilling down her cheeks.

"Calm yourself, child. Did you not say Claire can do anything?"

"She can do everything but be a friend." She immediately regretted the words for two reasons. Firstly, they weren't true. Claire was always there for her whenever they were together. Secondly, the goddess's face suddenly flashed with a silent anger.

"You know the words aren't true," she murmured, her voice clear, but barely above a whisper.

She wiped her sweating palms against her skirt, her heart feeling like it plummeted into her stomach. "I know," she whispered.

"Then why do you say them? I do not understand this about humans. You can never bring yourselves to be honest. Lying to a goddess is..." her gentle voice trailed off, her gorgeous features wistful and melancholy.

"I'm sorry, I-"

She held up a hand. "I forgive you, but you must learn a lesson. You've forgotten how to really love people. You're bitter and resentful towards others; you hold yourself back from loving."

Althea's body felt paralyzed. What was she getting at? "Learn a lesson"? She couldn't argue with the other things that'd been said, but... Her heart thumped so obnoxiously loud, she could almost hear it. "What...? Lesson?" she finally breathed, slowly standing.

"I apologize, but it's for the best. You have until New Year's to learn," she commanded vaguely.

New Year's? "What happens at New Year's?" she quivered, body trembling with fear.

"Oh, you won't die. You'll... Well, you'll figure it out. Good luck." She raised a dainty hand in Althea's direction.

"No, wait! What are you doing?"

A flash of green light, a rush of wind smelling of mint and pine, energy crashing over her rushed around her body, engulfing her in its power.

She wearily blinked her eyes open. They lifted with a great effort, a definite bad sign. All she could recall was the Harvest Goddess's agonized yet firm expression before she... Zapped her.

What a rude Goddess. Sheesh.

She surveyed her surroundings. The sky looked as if no time passed at all, and she lay on a soft, sweet-smelling... Er, something. Handkerchief? Wait, a handkerchief?! She forced herself up and found she was, indeed, resting on someone's personal cloth. What?! Did the Harvest Goddess shrink her? The cloth sat a little ways from the lake with the island in the middle, the lake that ate her violin.

"You're awake," a soft voice rumbled.

She whipped around to see an alarmingly large face looming above her. "H-Huh?" she squeaked. Her voice sounded unusually high-pitched and mouse-like. She brought her hands up to her face... They looked miniscule. When she peered back up, she realized the face was someone she recognized - Trent.

Gosh, why did that boy keep popping up everywhere?

He sighed, "You know, I must apologize. I never believed in the Harvest Sprites, and at first, I thought it was some prank." He frowned in that serious, brooding manner of his.

"Harvest Sprites?" she echoed.

"Yes, I- I'm terribly sorry, Miss... Erm, sprite."

So that explained it. Harvest Goddess turned her into... A Harvest Sprite. A freaking Harvest Sprite. Of all things.

"Call me, um," she stopped and pursed her lips, brow furrowed. She couldn't tell anyone. Such a shame it wasn't a dream. Or was it? "Call me Alto," she sighed, "and I'm very pleased to meet you, sir."

Such shocking

So drama

XD Well, I hope this doesn't expell half my readers. I wanted to put a Fantasy spin on things... So this is where I ended up. My gratitude to AdoniaAlma for being my brainstorm buddy.

It's all Skye's fault blame him if you're mad

Skye: I ain't never mad ;)

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Red: Shut up Skye I wasn't talking to you ō-ō