Fairytale

Chapter 3

I stared into Claire's eyes, I never knew how blue they were and how they're always shining. There was a silence while I was looking into her eyes and she was staring right back. "So Gray, how was work?" she asked with a laugh. At that moment I snapped back into reality, "Huh? Oh, nothing happened, same as every day," I said, backing away from her and looking towards the water. Her hair turned like a puppy, with her long blonde braids following her. "How was today, did anything happen?" I turned my head to face her, her eyes weren't shining anymore, they seemed so dull. "Nothing happened."

"Liar,"

My brow rose as a cold chill entered my body, "What do you mean?" Claire stared at me, "Never mind," she said playfully. When she blinked, her eyes began to glisten again. She stood up from the grass and wiped grass off of her dress. "Let's go to the library together," she said as she helped me up from the earth.

Together we strolled down the road, we didn't talk at all. The only thing you could hear is Claire's flats clacking on the rocky pavement. Why is she so weird today, I keep expecting her to burst out of laughter or talk about her chickens. "Are you okay Claire?" I asked while looking straight ahead. "Nothing, I'm just tired today," she said while stretching her arms and yawning. When I stepped into the library, my stomach flipped. Is Mary around? Before I could think twice Claire began to run inside the library, "Claire! Don't run" She simply ignored me and kept running. I sighed and began to follow with my hands in my pockets.

Claire ran towards the stairs, I silently followed. "Mary, thanks for letting me read that book," I stopped on the last step of the stairs, "it was really fun." I continued walking, trying to be as natural as I could. "Hey Mary, what's up," Mary became red, "Nothing, helping Claire with a book." I grinned, "Clair you can't even read." She pouted, "Of course I can! She's just helping me find books about chickens." My face froze; she came to the library for a chicken book?

"Why don't you go to Popurri's for chicken books?" the words came out of my mouth without even thinking. Did a light bulb just pop out of Claire's head? She smiled and nodded, "Bye Mary, bye Gray!" she called to us as she began to walk down the stairs. In no time, we were alone. I was expecting Mary to be her quiet self but she was quite lively today. "What book do you want to read today, Gray?"

Soon after, we were both reading. I was reading my usually books, adventure books and occasionally books about blacksmiths. Mary on the other hand was reading romance novels. As I was standing against the warm windows with my nose in the book, I heard faint footsteps. I looked up and saw the Saibara standing at the top of the stair case. "Gray, you have to come with me. We got a huge order from Forget-Me-Not-Valley, she ordered a mystic hammer." I sighed as I placed the book back into the shelf, "You heard the man, bye Mary." She waved back, with her eyes glued to the pages of the book. I grunted and walked down the stairs behind gramps.

When we walked in, I saw Claire standing where Saibara usually stands to greet customers. My finger moved and pointed to her, "Why is Claire here?" Saibara paced towards the counter, patted her shoulder, and then looked at me.

"Gray, say your thanks to Claire, she watched the store for us," he said with a gruff. I said thanks and began to walk outside. "I'll get the hammer from the mail man," Claire hopped over to me, "I'll go too!" Gramps just nodded and began to organize the register. Claire was skipping around on the stones in the path, trying not to get on the cracks, while I was leaning back on the wall. My eyes fixed their gaze to Claire's blue dress.

"Why do you dress like that?" Claire turned her head, "it's what my mom used to dress me in all the time." I tucked my hat in and looked at the sky, how could I forget? Claire's been an orphan ever since she was 7 and she's still an orphan. Claire's mothers name was Lucine, she had beautiful long blonde hair and always had a welcoming smile. She was very kind, especially to my family, she's the one who gave me the hat I wear every day. Luckily Mineral Town is small and her mother was well known. When her mother suddenly died over night and her funeral was held during a rainy night. Her tomb is the one in the back of the church. But ever since that day, she's always been cheerful, as if Lucine never left.

"Gray"

I turned and looked at Claire, "What?"

"Why do you always wear the hat my mom gave you?" She asked, pointing at my hat. I simply shrugged, "I don't really know. I just do."

"Did you know that hat belonged to my dad?" I stared at her, she never mentioned her dad, I never even saw him. Claire sighed and looked away, "Never mind, look the mail man is coming." There was a tense silence as I got the hammer and walked back inside with Claire. While I heated up the oven, I saw Claire looking at me with a blank face. Why does she look so sad?