This is my first real fanfiction, so... Please be nice! Tell me how I can improve, and what you liked, please! And REVIEW! Oh well, on with the story!

Disclaimer: I do NOT own Harvest Moon. I wish I did, though.

I opened my eyes and rolled over in my bed. I was wishing I could go back to sleep. I chanced a glance at my alarm clock that failed to wake me up; it was six in the morning. I wasn't surprised. I always seemed to get up that early after I came to my farm here in Mineral Town three seasons ago. Wait…

Today was Winter first!

I remembered the date and shot out of bed, then immediately regretted doing so as I wobbled around, lightheaded. After I regained my balance, I skipped over to the door of my little home. I had been working on expanding it to fit my needs recently, so it now had a kitchen and a bathroom. It also had a fireplace. I loved fires, but I hadn't been able to actually use my new hearth since I'd gotten it in the Summer because it would be far too warm.

I flung the door open and was frozen in my spot for a moment.

Everything was white.

I studied over my now-thriving farm; the barn was covered in a thin blanket of white as well as the chicken coop. My field had been completely cleared by the end of Autumn, so it now looked like I vast white ocean, covered an inch deep in snow.

Snow.

Oh, I loved the snow. It was so cold and soft, but at the same time hard and painful. Like during snowball fights. It was like clay; how you could shape it into just about anything you wanted. And the way it drifted down from the highest points of the sky… It was always so perfect to me. It was one of the reasons Winter was my favorite season.

I took off running towards my field, ready to dive onto the wonderful powdery blanket, but then quickly thought against it.

If I walk all over my field, it'll tear up the layer of snow! I'll wait 'til it actually starts snowing, and then have my fun…

I slowly walked towards my barn to take care of my two cows, Daisy and Betsy, and my sheep, Bob, wishing it would hurry up and start snowing already.

After I had milked and brushed the cows, I walked over to Bob at his feed bin.

"Hey there, Bobby, what's up? Did you know it snowed last night?" I asked as I started brushing his wool. I started stroking his wool with one hand as I sheared him with another. He was so white and fluffy, almost like snow…

"Baaaaa!" Bob cried, snapping me out of my trance as I almost sheared my finger off.

"Whoa, thanks Bobby… You saved my finger!" I chuckled as I patted him on his head, and threw his wool in the shopping bin. I opened the barn door to exit, desperately hoping to see snow.

I didn't.

I sighed and went down to the chicken coop. Inside it was warm and smelled like, well, chicken. But not in a good way. I poured some feed into five of the bins; one for each of my chickens. They were all asleep still, so I just shipped their eggs and left.

No snow.

I sighed once again and ran up to my house. I decided I'd go into town, since all my work was done. I opened my little closet and pulled out a dark blue fleece jacket that matched my eyes perfectly, or so I was told. I brushed my hair and peeked at the calendar.

Today's the first, then Gray's birthday's the sixth… I have to remember to get him something. I wonder if he's having a party?

I was good friends with Gray, but nothing more. Unfortunately… Wait, what? No, no, no, I only liked Gray as a friend. Stupid brain, for thinking that. I sighed, again, and pulled my jacket on, checking out the window to see if it was snowing.

Of course, it wasn't.

It had only been like ten minutes. I grabbed my rucksack and left my house, staring up at the gray sky as I walked. I felt the cold, wet grass beneath me change to frozen stone, and I knew I was on the path headed towards the town. I stopped momentarily, thinking.

Where should I go? I could visit Ann at the Inn… Or I could go see Mary at the Library, but she'd probably shoo me out like she always does with me. Ugh. I could go to the Church. Nah, Carter would bug me about hanging out with Cliff again, even though I already got him that job at the winery. What about-

My thoughts were interrupted when I crashed into something. Or rather, something crashed into me. It felt like I was mauled over by a brick wall. I fell over onto the freezing ground, landing on my butt.

"Owww…" I rubbed my thigh. It would probably be bruised up pretty bad later.

"Sorry, Claire. I didn't see you…"

I looked up to see an embarrassed Gray holding his hand out to help me up, his hat covering most of his face. I gladly took his hand and pulled myself off the icy pathway.

"It's fine, I guess. I was just spacing out…" I said, probably blushing. I couldn't really tell because my face was numb with cold. Gray chuckled.

"You space out a lot, huh?" He said as he shoved his mitten-clad hands into his pockets. I giggled.

"I suppose so. Say, are you going to have a party? I mean, for your birthday? It is on the sixth, right?" I said as we started walking towards the Inn. I suppose I would see Ann, after all.

"Uh, yeah… My birthday is the sixth, but I dunno about a party. I'm only friends with a few people, you being one of them," He said as he lowered the brim of his hat with his left hand, "What about you?"

"What about me?" I asked, confused at his question. He seemed confused at my confusion, which just confused me more.

"I mean, your birthday's the eighth, isn't it? Aren't you having a party?"

My eyes widened in shock. I forgot my own birthday! What the hell is wrong with me? I turned towards Gray and we stopped on the path. I just got the best idea. Ever.

"Why don't we have a party on the seventh, for both our birthdays? I'm turning twenty-one, and you're turning twenty-three, right? Oh! We could have it at the Inn! This is going to be awesome." I beamed, and he just looked baffled.

He looks so cute confused.

Wait… What? Oh, whatever. I'm just too excited right now to think straight. I think.

"Uh… Um… What?" Gray asked as he scratched his head. Or his hat, really.

"You. Me. Big birthday party. Inn. Seventh. Cool?" I said slowly. He glared at me, and I burst into a giggle fit. This cold weather, man. It always gets to me; messes with my head.

Gray hesitated. He didn't seem too crazy about it. "I guess-"

"Great!" I exclaimed, "Meet Ann and me at the Inn at seven, and then we can work out the details. See ya there! Yay!" I squealed, overrun with anticipation. I hugged him around his neck quickly, acting off adrenaline, and then darted off back towards my farm, giggling all the way.

I glanced back at him very hurriedly, and saw him standing there limply, slack-jawed. He was just as caught off guard by my actions as I was. I giggled even more, pleased with the result of my trip to town.

This is going to be fun.