New friends, or new flames?
The sun was shining and you had harvested your parsnips. You wiped the sweat from your brow, smearing dirt on your face that you could see at the top of your vision. You giggled wildly at the weight of your first real accomplishment.
You threw the turnips in the shipping bin and stretched your back, thinking about the nice, long shower that awaited you. “Farming sure is making me sore…” You thought, placing your hands on the small of your back and wiggling to try to crack it.
You felt more on top of things than ever. You had finally met everyone in town, and then, you had harvested your first set of crops.
Later, you had stepped out of the shower and decided to blow dry your hair and pick out a cute outfit. You needed to buy more seeds for tomorrow. “I’m not working anymore today, it’s Friday, and I deserve a day off!” You thought.
You picked out your cutest dress, the one that made you feel the most confident.
You walked out your front door humming happily, and you were greeted to the sight of two sheepish looking boys at your steps.
“Um, hey, y/n… I’ve never seen you in anything but farm clothes.” Sam rubbed the back of his neck.
“I’m taking a break today. I harvested all my parsnips this morning.” You said proudly. You glanced over at Sebastian, who was somehow still wearing a thick dark sweater even though today was warm and sunny.
“We came to see if you wanted to play DND today.” Sebastian said, squinting at the sun.
You’d become fast friends with Sam and Sebastian. They often showed up at your farm to ask you to join them in their daily shenanigans, sometimes with Abby included. They had been telling you that you needed to join their DND campaign, but you had never played before.
“Only if you’ll come with me to buy seeds first.” You said.
The boys agreed, and the three of you took a stroll to Pierre’s, passing the bus stop and the doctors on the way.
You liked Pierre’s. The shelves were stacked with colorful goods. There was a rack of seasonings, a rack of produce, a rack of snacks, and the air always smelled fresh inside. The only thing you didn’t care for was the man running the shop.
“Hey, farmer y/n!” Pierre called from the counter.
“Hi, Pierre. Can I have 5 packs of parsnip seeds, 5 potato seeds, and 5 cauliflower?” You asked, reaching for your leather wallet. “Actually, make that 10 potato seeds.”
“Sure thing.” Pierre said, gathering the seed packets from behind him. He turned back around and eyed your company warily. “Hi, boys.”
“Hey.” Sam said.
Sebastian didn’t respond at all.
You gave Pierre money and tucked the seeds into your bag. “Thanks.”
“Pleasure doing business. Hey, Sebastian, hang back a moment.” Pierre said, his expression hardening.
Sebastian and Sam exchanged a glance that lasted a few moments. There was an unspoken intensity in their gaze, one that signified a strong friendship of shared secrets. That knowing glance they exchanged made you miss your friend Cherise. She’d look at you from across the room, and you would know exactly what she was thinking. Usually, it was something that would get you both in trouble, but sometimes it was a glance of sympathy or comfort, like the time you saw your ex-boyfriend dancing with another girl at a party.
Sam grabbed your arm and walked you out of the shop, the bell jingling behind you.
“What was that about?” You asked Sam once the shop door was closed and you two were alone.
“Ah, nothing.” Sam looked at the sky, his eyes reflecting the same color.
“Come on.” You said. You felt a burning desire to be a part of some secret, or some gossip, as proof of your friendship. “Tell me.”
“It’s not really anything… just Pierre’s not happy with Sebastian.”
“But why?” You pried.
The silver bell above the door rang and Sebastian emerged, stomping carelessly. His brow was furrowed, and he wore an even more intense color of sulking than usual.
“You okay?” Sam asked.
“He’s fucking crazy.” Sebastian grumbled, walking ahead of you and Sam.
“Dude, what happened?” Sam rushed to catch up.
“He’s just…” Sebastian started, but then cut himself off with an “Ugh.”
“Are you okay?” I asked.
At my voice, Sebastian stopped walking. He swiveled around to face me. “Yeah.” He said seriously, and you believed him.
The three of you walked to Sebastian’s room, shooting a quick ‘hi’ to Robin at the front desk. She had made one comment a few days ago about how she wished Sebastian had a friend like you, and you were happy to fill that role. She beamed at you as you three walked down the basement steps.
This was your first time in Sebastian’s room. Even though you’d hung out with Sam and Sebastian a few times, they usually wanted to do things outside of their houses, like in the saloon.
His room was dark. Your eyes adjusted to the change in lighting as the cold basement air pricked at your skin. Goosebumps rose up on your forearms, which were left uncovered by your dress. You carefully padded down the steps, careful to not trip.
In the middle of the room was a square table with four seats around it, with a giant rulebook in the middle. You craned your head around nonchalantly, trying to take in the rest of his room. Somehow it was just as you’d imagined. His desk with the computer was in the corner, his black bedding opposite that, with a small couch behind you. “Not much furniture… He’s such a boy” You smirked.
“You cold?” Sam asked, gazing at your arms.
“I’m okay.” You said, arms crossed, as you rubbed your forearms slowly for warmth.
“Don’t be dumb.” Sebastian said. He immediately peeled off his hoodie, his shirt lifting slightly at the bottom. You got a small glance at his waistline which was pale but surprisingly lean. He threw his black hoodie at you, pulling down his equally as black shirt.
“Thanks.” You smiled. You carefully pulled it over your head, becoming enveloped with the scent of Sebastian’s cologne. It smelled minty with a strong overtone of musky pine. It also carried the faint smell of cigarette smoke.
You glanced upward, catching the tail end of Sam rolling his eyes. You looked between the two boys, wondering if there was something you missed.
The three of you played DND for the next couple hours. You fumbled through the rules with their help. Something about the air in the room felt a little more tense than usual, but you chose to ignore it.
Suddenly, it was already 4pm, and you had promised Gus to come to the saloon. He told you you couldn’t miss Friday nights. He even offered to feed you for free if you came around dinner, which he said was a little early for the Friday crowd. He just really wanted you there. You pulled off the sweater and handed it back to Sebastian.
“You can borrow it if you want. You know, for the walk home.” Sebastian offered.
“It’s so hot out today, I’ll be okay.” You insisted. “I have to go meet Gus. You guys will be at the saloon later?”
“Yep.” Sam said flatly, staring at the wall.
“Yeah.” Sebastian agreed.
“Okay. See you guys there.”
You walked up the steps from Sebastian’s room wondering if you had said something wrong. The air was tense and heavy, and Sam was barely looking at Sebastian.
You chose not to worry about it and focused on your upcoming meeting with Gus.
~
Gus was becoming a good friend to you. Almost every night this past week you visited the saloon just to chat with him. He was really excited that it was your first Friday here.
“Make sure to dip them in the marinara.” Gus said, sliding you a basket of zucchini fritters.
“Only you could make zucchini seem this appealing.” You smiled.
“That’s just the appetizer. Get ready for Gus’s special pizza.” Gus smiled.
You drenched the battered slice of zucchini in marinara and took a giant bite. The flavors worked perfectly together. The tangy marinara with the crispy batter. You had never had better batter, it was light and fluffy and perfectly golden brown. “Mmm.” You groaned as you chewed.
“So, tell me about your day. You’re dressed up pretty nice.” Gus said as he shined up a glass goblet.
“Mm. Thanks.” You said between bites. “I harvested my parsnips so I took a little break. I went over to Sebastians.”
“Hm.” Gus said, raising his eyebrows.
“What’s that look for?” You asked.
“Seems like that boy likes you a lot. He doesn’t usually make fast friends with anyone.” Gus smiled.
“No, it’s not like that. I hang out with him and Sam.” You wiped some of the grease on your fingers onto a nearby napkin.
“Sam, too, huh?” Gus said, rolling up the sleeves on his worn yellow sweater.
“Come on, Gus.”
The door jingled, and you and Gus both turned your heads to see someone walk in. Someone who you had seen around in the saloon, drinking by himself in the corner every night. On your second night here you had introduced yourself to him, but he seemed uninterested in talking.
He was wearing his faded blue Joja hoodie, and the same shorts as yesterday. His face was brooding. He saw you, and his brows knitted, and he exhaled loudly.
“Hello, Shane. Usual?” Gus asked, already moving towards the tap.
“Yeah.” Shane said, approaching the bar.
Gus wordlessly poured Shane his beer, and Shane started to head to his familiar corner.
“Hey, wait. You want to sit and chat with us?” Gus offered, gesturing to the seat next to me. “Y/n’s got a pizza coming that I doubt she can finish on her own.”
You swallowed a bite of zucchini, and nodded. Gus seemed to like Shane, or at least care about him, and that was enough for you to make the slightest effort of a head nod.
“Nah.” Shane sighed.
“It’s on the house…” Gus said.
“Ugh. Fine.” Shane took the seat next to you, setting his glass mug down with a clank.
“So… How are you?” You asked, trying your best to make conversation.
“Just peachy.” Shane grumbled, turning his gaze to the floor.
Gus was busy using his long wooden paddle to get the pizza out of the oven. He checked the crust and then scooped it, and set it down onto a pizza tray. He cut it so quickly. It was muscle memory by now. “Pizza’s up.” He said, setting the pizza between the two of you.
Shane took a piece first, a long string of cheese hanging off the end of his slice. You took one, too. The pizza was loaded with pepperoni, bacon, and mushroom. You had never been a huge mushroom person, but they tasted pretty good on this pizza.
“It’s so good.” You said to Gus, covering your mouth as you chewed.
“Glad you think so.” He smirked.
You and Shane ate in silence, with Gus throwing the occasional conversation starter out. None of them were picked up by Shane or by you. You felt an icey energy coming from Shane, so you figured it best not to engage.
Once you were done, Shane took his beer and walked to his spot in the corner again.
You talked with Gus a little more, but the saloon started to fill up. Emily came in for her shift and offered to help you make some new clothes at her sewing machine. You promised you’d take her up on that soon.
You looked around for Sam and Sebastian, but they hadn’t shown up yet.
“Farmer y/n! Come drink with us!” A voice called from behind you.
You turned around to two smiling faces. One, a girl with a rounded face and bright green eyes, and caramel covered hair that she wore braided. The other with flowing dirty blonde locks, wearing a proud expression with his chiseled and angular face.
“Elliott. Leah.” You greeted, taking a seat with them.
“Hey. How are you settling in?” Leah asked curiously.
“Oh, fine.” You said, putting your beer on the table. “I’m still getting used to all the physical labor. I’m getting so sore.” You complained, settling into the hard bar chair.
“Make sure you’re not lifting with your back. Whenever I work with heavier materials I always wear a brace.” Leah said, taking a sip of her amber colored beverage.
“You’ll grow accustomed to the amount of work. Starting is always the hardest.” Elliot offered, leaning his elbows on the table. His jacket was tailored, red, and structured. They made him look like he came from money. You figured he did, since he had moved here on a whim to write his novel. You didn’t trust his advice on hard labor, even though through his jacket you could see the bulging of biceps that put Alex to shame.
“True.” Leah smiled. “So… you’ve been hanging out with Sam and Sebastian a lot. Which is funny, I thought they might be a little young for your company.” She said simply.
“I’m only a year older than Sebastian.” You said.
“So, three years older than Sam.” Leah said.
“Yeah, I guess.” You agreed, taking a sip of the foamy and bitter drink.
“Age doesn’t matter with friendships, Leah. Take it from me, who spends a lot of time with Willy.” Elliot said, raising his hand like he was in court.
“No, I wasn’t saying you shouldn’t be friends with them,” Leah sighed. “It was more like… I was offering you friendship. I know Elliot and I work a lot, but you’re welcome to hang out with us whenever.” She said.
“That’s kind of you. I’ll definitely take you up on that.” You beamed. You had been enjoying the company of Sam and Sebastian, but Leah and Elliot seemed so cool to you. They were like the artsy kids in college you had always been afraid of, except a little older, and more mature. Besides, it wasn’t like you had to choose between the pairs. “The more the merrier”, you thought.
“So, farmer y/n. Tell me why you came here. I never got the full scoop.” Elliot smiled, gazing into your eyes with his own bright amber colored ones.
“I was working in a corporate job that I hated, but my grandfather left me this plot of land in his will. Simple as that.” You said. You had been asked so many times, by literally everyone you met, that you had the story down pat by now.
“That’s hardly simple.” Leah giggled. “But you have my respect. It’s so much more real here, you know?”
You nodded in agreement. “I felt like all my corporate friends were waiting for me to fail.”
“Then they weren’t ‘friends’ at all, were they?” Elliot scoffed.
The three of you talked some more, and somewhere the conversation got so derailed that you all ended up talking about your favorite movies. Leah was shocked to know that you two had never seen The Breakfast Club.
“I mean, it’s not high art or anything, but it’s a classic!” Leah exclaimed. “You’re both coming over right now to watch it.” She said, slamming her hands against the table.
“Is that so?” Elliot smiled.
“Yep. Like, now.” She said, grabbing her brown purse from the back of the chair.
“You guys start walking. I’ll grab the bill.” Elliot said, standing up and brushing his shiny hair out of his eyes.
“No, Elliott, I won’t let you.” You said.
“Let me be chivalrous, please.” He smiled politely.
“Let him do it, y/n. He’s not going to take ‘no’ for an answer, believe me.” She grabbed your arm and started to lead you out of the saloon before you could protest. “I guess I was right, he totally has money” you smirked to yourself.
You and Leah exited the saloon and were greeted with a rush of fresh night air.
“Ah. It smells so good, doesn’t it?” Leah took a deep breath in.
“Y/n?” A voice came from ahead of you.
You both looked up to see Sam standing there, looking sheepish. He was wearing his jean jacket again to counter the chilly air.
“Yeah?” You asked.
“Can I talk to you for a second?” He asked, his ice blue eyes looking to you, then to Leah.
“I can take a hint.” Leah said, letting go of your arm.
The saloon door opened from behind you, and out came Elliot. You turned to glance at him, and saw him sizing up the situation with his eyes.
“Elliot, y/n is going to meet us at my cabin.”
“Oh. Right.” Elliot said. “See you there, then.”
Elliot and Leah started walking off while you and Sam awkwardly stared at each other.
Finally, he broke the silence, looking up directly at you, making heat rush to your cheeks.
“Can we go somewhere quiet?” He asked.
“Yeah.” You smiled.