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Chapter 11: "The Date"

Summer 20...

"I really don't think farming's my thing. I like babysitting better." Lumina commented while chewing a mouthful of her breakfast, which consisted of fresh scrambled eggs and toast. "I mean with being a farmer, there's just so much to do! And you get all sweaty and stinky, too! Plus, your back gets sore!"

Standing nearby at the kitchen counter, Celia chuckled in amusement as she continued to stir the batter of corn bread mixture. "Well, what did you expect? Some magical fairy to do all the hard, laborious work while you just stand there and smile?" She inquired with a grin.

The teenager frowned. "No…" She mumbled with a pout. "But when I asked you about what working on a farm was like, you made it sound like it was fun and easy! But it's not!"

"Well, to me it's enjoyable," Celia replied honestly. "And although it's not easy, it's very rewarding at the end of a long, hard day."

"I guess I can see your point…" Lumina trailed off, thinking for a moment. "No offense, but I don't understand how you can do it all! Especially all by yourself, too!"

Celia just shrugged and chuckled as she glanced over at the wall clock. It was almost eight. "You'd better get going awhile or else you'll be late with meeting Pastor Carter and the kids over at the church." She remarked in all seriousness, hearing the sudden sound of the dining chair scrape against the floor as the teenager scurried to get ready. "And don't forget to take along those cookies you made! Knowing Stu and May, they'll be expecting their treats in hand the second they see you!" Hearing a mumbled response coming from what sounded like in the bathroom, she just quietly chuckled as she poured the batter into a loaf pan.

Suddenly, there was a knock upon the front door.

Having just emerged from the bathroom, wearing a clean pair of shorts and tank top, Lumina rushed to the door. "I'll get it!" She declared loudly, then peeked outside to see who it was. Giggling quietly to herself, she quickly faced her friend and then whispered in a teasing tone, "It's your boyfriend!"

Celia's face instantly went aflame as she turned back to the counter, feeling slightly embarrassed. A few days ago, she finally spilled her secret about liking the Blacksmith to the teenager, Ann and Karen. Despite the three woman promising not to say anything to anyone else, they still teased her from time to time about it.

Upon hearing the door open, she busied herself with placing the loaf pan within the oven, overhearing the two exchange a few words. 'I wonder why he's here?' She curiously thought while quickly dumping the dirtied bowl and wooden spoon into the sink.

"I'll see you later, all right?" Lumina suddenly replied while retrieving the wrapped plate of cookies from inside the fridge. She then whispered, "Have fun!" before grinning and skipping out of the house.

Turning around, Celia found Gray standing awkwardly near the door, holding a worn-looking rucksack over his shoulder as he glanced around at all of the knickknacks and furniture. As she started walking towards him, his eyes immediately fell upon hers. "Hey stranger," She joked with a smile, still blushing slightly. "What brings you all the way up here to the mountains?"

Gray smiled. "I just got done digging down in the spring mine for ores and gems, and I decided to um… drop by and visit." He hesitantly replied, blushing slightly as he awkwardly shifted his hat. "Also, I wanted to ask you if I could clean up your basement so I can use that old faceting machine?"

She grinned. "Sure!" She happily exclaimed. "Lumina already tidied up everything down there a few days ago, so you don't have to worry about it!" Seeing the surprised look on his face, she giggled. "I told her that if she cleaned up the basement for me, that she would never again have to clean out the stalls in the barn and chicken coop."

He grinned. "That seemed like an easy compromise." He sarcastically joked.

An awkward moment of silence passed between the two.

Gray then softly cleared his throat. "Well, I guess I'll uh… get to work now?" He announced, reaching for the door handle.

"Yeah, me too. I need to water my crops before the sun hits its peak for today." Celia agreed, following him out the door.

A few hours later…

Feeling her stomach rumble with hunger, Celia quickly finished up placing the animal fodder in all of the stall's bins before briskly making her way to the house. 'I wonder if Gray's hungry, too?' She absentmindedly wondered, hesitating a moment at the top of the basement's steps before making her way down, all the while hearing the soft grinding sound of the faceting machine currently grinding a gemstone. Once she made it downstairs, she just stood and silently watched him work for a moment. His back was facing her slightly, but she could still see the side of his face, which was scrunched in determination and concentration as he worked. A swirl of emotions welled within her, but one really stood out from the rest at that moment: pride. She already knew that he was a good, hard worker and admired his ongoing ambition. His grandfather was wrong to accuse him of being lazy and unskilled. He was anything but those things. Saibara was either blind or else trying to make his grandson go on an anger rampage.

"Are you all right?" Gray's voice suddenly questioned in concern.

Jumping in surprise, her cheeks reddened in embarrassment. She'd been so spaced out with her thoughts that she hadn't noticed or even heard that he'd shut off the machine a few seconds ago, having already sensed her presence. "Yeah, sorry about that! I didn't mean to bother you or anything, but I was just wondering if you'd like to have lunch with me? I'm super hungry and thought maybe you'd be too?" She quickly inquired in a rushed tone, nervously folding her hands in front of her work dress's apron as she shyly stared down at the concrete floor.

He grinned, looking rather happy and grateful. "Sure." He plainly replied. "I'll be up in a few minutes. Is that okay?"

She nodded, smiling. "Yeah." She answered, heading for the stairs. "I'll just whip up something really quick then!"

About a half an hour later…

Having just finished a half a loaf of corn bread, wild green herb salad and roasted corn-which Celia found out was Gray's absolute favorite thing in the world, the two were comfortably lounging at the table still. They had talked about many different things over lunch, but were now mutually quiet, just listening to the ticking of the wall clock and the birds chirping outside as their stomachs continued to settle.

Gray suddenly stretched before slowly getting up out of his chair. "Thanks for everything, Celia. You're a really good cook, too." He complimented with a genuine smile, heading for the door.

She blushed. "I'm not as skilled as Ann, but thank you." She humbly replied, blushing as she also got up out of her chair and followed him outside. "Well, I guess I'll see you next weekend, right? Same day, same time?"

He silently nodded, while tugging down his hat a bit and glancing away from her. He then hesitated for a moment before quickly clearing his throat. "Um, I was uh wondering…" He trailed off in a nervous mumble, then blurted out, "…Would you like to go to the Fireworks Festival with me?"

Celia blinked in surprise upon hearing the unexpected question as her heartbeat suddenly sped up. "S-Sure, I'd love to go with you." She quietly stuttered, shyly smiling as her cheeks turned even redder.

Gray smiled as well, looking quite happy and also a little relieved. "Cool." He quietly stated, looking just as red in the face as the farmer. "Do you want to meet at the square around six then?" He then asked.

She nodded. "Okay." She quietly replied, still smiling. "Well, I guess I'll see you later then…?"

He nodded back, smiling still as well. "Later…" He replied as he started walking back towards town.

A few days later…

It was finally Summer 24, the night of the Fireworks Festival, and Celia had been feeling nothing but a nervous wreck all day. All she kept thinking about was her date with Gray tonight. 'It is an official date, right?' She mentally questioned herself for the hundredth time that day as Lumina continued to apply a little bit of mascara to her eyelashes. 'I mean, it is a romantic tradition here in the village to watch the fireworks with someone of the opposite sex…So does that mean he likes me just as much as I like him then?'

Lumina exaggerated a sigh. "If you don't stop fidgeting, I'm going to accidentally smear mascara all over your cheek!" She remarked in annoyance. "Now stay still!"

Celia sighed, trying to desperately calm her nerves down. "Sorry…" She mumbled. "I just can't help it though! I'm so nervous about tonight! I mean, am I even dressed properly for the occasion?" She then hesitantly glanced down at her attire, which consisted of an eggshell colored short-sleeved summer blouse, an emerald green knee-length gypsy skirt and white flip flops. She also wore emerald earrings to match her dress and left her hair down for the evening.

"Of course you are!" The teenager protested with a frown. "Now stop worrying or else you're gonna throw up on Gray when he tries to kiss you later!"

"Lumina!" The farmer whined in embarrassment, feeling her cheeks slowly warm at the thought of Gray kissing her. Shaking the mental picture aside for now, she stubbornly crossed her arms in front of her chest and pouted. "Besides, how do you know he's even going to kiss me in the first place? Maybe he only thinks of me as a friend!"

Lumina rolled her eyes. "Oh please!" She exclaimed with a mischievous grin plastered upon her face. "The way he's always looking at you and the fact that he turns red whenever you smile at him is enough evidence to prove my point!" She giggled for a second, then continued. "I may not know much about dating and stuff like that yet, but trust me when I say that Gray totally wants you!"

"Okay, are you done with the whole make-up thing now because we've got to get going." Celia quickly mumbled in annoyance, purposely changing the topic as the teenager laughed in delight.

Doing a last-minute clothing and make-up check, the two women exited the house and started heading into town.

The evening sky was slightly dark by the time the two women approached the empty square.

"Do you want me to wait with you until he gets here?" Lumina questioned in concern as she kept glancing around the vacant area.

Celia shook her head. "No, I'll be fine. You go on ahead and have fun with the kids." She remarked with a smile, watching as the teenager skipped off down the short flight of steps that led down to the beach. Letting out a sigh to relax her jittery nerves, she leaned forward up against the stone wall that bordered the beach and stared out at the now darkish-looking water. She then gazed up at the clear night sky, admiring all of the twinkling stars that shone that evening.

Several minutes passed.

'Did he forget about tonight?' She thought in worry, forcing a smile upon her face as she waved to a few passing villagers that were heading down to the beach. 'Maybe he changed his mind…?' Her stomach felt like it was twisted into knots upon thinking that last thought as the church bells started ringing, signaling that it was now exactly six o'clock.

Another couple of minutes passed. By now, most of the villagers had arrived at the beach, waiting for the upcoming fireworks to start, and yet still no sign of Gray. Feeling mostly anxious and slightly disappointed on the inside, she softly sighed in a depressing manner. 'What should I do?' She mentally debated, wondering if she should just attend the festival all by herself or just go back home awhile. She could feel tears starting to prick at her eyes, but quickly shook her head and sighed again, trying to calm herself down. She didn't want to embarrass herself if someone happened to walk by and see her in such a distressed state.

"Sorry I'm late…" A familiar voice suddenly apologetically spoke from behind the farmer, causing her to jump and turn around in surprise. "Gray…?" She softly questioned in confusion, staring at the Blacksmith with wide, surprised eyes. He was dressed in a dark plaid button-up short-sleeved shirt, jeans and black boots. And for once, wasn't wearing his hat. "I-I didn't think you were coming…" She meekly commented, looking away and softly biting her lower lip.

He ran a hand through his wavy hair and sighed, looking ashamed. "I really didn't mean to be late. I was working all afternoon and lost track of time. I'm so sorry, Celia." He apologized in a sincere tone, looking away in guilt. "I'll understand if you want to call things off for tonight…" He then quietly added.

She shook her head, then offered a small smile. "No, it's okay." She politely reassured. "But don't let it happen again, Mister!" She then quickly joked, trying to lighten the awkward mood between them.

He chuckled and smiled, looking relieved. "I promise." He replied as he stuffed his hands into his jeans' pockets and then looked towards the beach. "Ready to go watch some fireworks?" He then asked, offering his left arm out to her.

"Sure!" She enthusiastically replied with a grin as she looped her right arm with his and started walking along with him. All of her earlier feelings were now suddenly replaced with a fluttery mixture of nervousness and excitement.

As the couple made their way along the beach, several of the villagers greeted them with either warm smiles or baffled expressions, wondering what the two of them were doing there together. But neither of the two secretly cared what anybody thought, for the fact that both of them were too preoccupied with their own nervous thoughts and feelings at the current moment.

"Look, there's a spot over there we can sit at?" Celia suggested as she pointed towards the end of the dock, which was surprisingly vacant. The two of them then wordlessly made their way over and plopped down at the end of the wooden dock, letting their feet dangle over the edge. In the distance behind them, they could faintly hear the sounds of Lumina and the kids laughing as they chased fireflies while some of the villagers talked with each other.

"You look really beautiful tonight." Gray suddenly softly commented, fidgeting nervously as he purposely avoided looking anywhere but the sky, but then quickly added, "Not that you don't look beautiful any other time, because you do! It's just…" Letting the words awkwardly trail off, he just scratched the back of his neck in embarrassment.

She smiled, blushing in the process. "Thank you." She shyly replied as she nervously fiddled with her hands upon her lap. "You look really handsome as well. Not just tonight, but always…" She then looked over and noticed that he had suddenly looked over at her as well with a surprised look upon his face. But it quickly vanished into a shy smile instead. Just as he was about to say something, the sudden loud 'boom!' of a firework exploding high up in they sky caused both of them to jump.

Laughing at each other in embarrassment, they both then continued to watch as more colorful fireworks lit up the sky.

About a half an hour later, Mayor Thomas officially deemed the summer Fireworks Festival over. As the villagers bade their goodbyes to each other for the night, Gray helped Celia up from off of the dock before they started heading back towards the square.

"Isn't Lumina gonna wait for you?" Gray curiously inquired, watching as the teenager, along with Stu and May, walked alongside Lillia, Rick and Popuri, heading to their home.

"No," Celia replied, waving back to the little group as they yelled 'goodnight!' to them. "She and the kids are staying over at Barley's tonight."

"Oh…" He quietly trailed off as the back of his hand lightly brushed against hers by accident. "Do you… mind if I walk you home, then?" He then hesitantly asked as he nervously clasped their hands together.

She blushed, feeling as if her stomach was doing giddy flip-flops inside. "Okay…" She quietly trailed off, bravely entwining her fingers through his, feeling his warm hand grip hers a little more confidently as they continued to walk.

After what seemed like only a few short minutes, the couple finally reached Celia's house, having made small talk along the walk there.

"I had a really good time with you tonight, Gray." Celia shyly admitted with a smile, turning to face him as they still held hands.

He smiled as well. "Me too." He shyly admitted as his expression suddenly became determined and nervous.

Gazing up into his now half-lidded eyes, Celia couldn't help the rush of emotions that swept through her as he slowly tilted his head down towards hers as she slowly, instinctively tilted her head up towards his. It was as if they mentally knew what each other was thinking and wanted. Their lips softly met for a short, sweet kiss, quickly followed by another. Her head was delightfully spinning as their lips met yet again for a more loving, lingering kiss. His warm tongue then lightly traced her bottom lip, as if silently asking for permission, to which she complied too. He held her firmly against his rugged body as she instinctively pulled him down closer to her, deepening the kiss as she unconsciously ran her fingertips tenderly through his hair. She almost sighed in delight from smelling his addictive, manly scent of fresh pine and something else that she couldn't quite think of at the moment. Even the way he tasted was highly addicting! They broke apart for a split-second before his lips came crashing down against hers again, going into yet another deep and passionate kiss, letting their tongues continuing to dance against one another.

After what felt like infinity, but in reality only a few short minutes, the panting couple slowly pulled only slightly apart from one another, just so they could get air back into their lungs. They both shyly smiled as they lovingly stared into each other's eyes, both heavily flushed in the face as they held each other closely.

"Celia…" Gray softly murmured, still looking somewhat dazed as he continued to gaze into her eyes. "Will you be with me?"

She smiled, feeling so happy inside that she felt like she was going to burst. "Yes…!" She quietly proclaimed, quickly wrapping her arms up around his neck and pulling him down for a passionate kiss, to which he happily complied to. There was so much that she wanted to tell him at that moment, but decided to live in the moment for now and just continued to happily kiss him instead.

After a few more minutes of their little make-out celebration, the two then bade each other good-night, promising to see each other again on Saturday. Once Celia was safely inside her home, Gray started heading back into town.

What the couple never noticed however was that Marlin had been secretly watching them the whole time, hiding nearby within the shadowy, darkened forest. His expression was contorted with a mixture of jealously, hurt, and mostly hatred. 'That no-good bastard!' He mentally seethed as his fists shook with rage. 'Celia's mine! He doesn't deserve her!'

An idea suddenly popped into his mind, causing him to smile wickedly. 'This isn't over yet!' He mentally proclaimed, slipping out of the shadows and then calmly making his way back towards town, all the while humming a happy, eerie tune.