Author's note: So I'm back again! I always said I wanted to re-write this one, and after two years of letting it sit there, I finally got around to it! Well I hope you all enjoy! :3

Disclaimer: All characters are property of Natsume ©

Ann let a sigh slip past her lips as she leaned over the previously cleaned counter. "Could this night get any duller?" She questioned taking a quick glance the bar. There were the usual folks at mineral town set up at their usual tables drinking their usual drinks and talking their usual talks. Ann was bored out of her mind and wanted something fun to do. Taking a second glance around the room she noticed that a great deal of the younger adults of the town where there too. With evil thoughts brewing in her mind, she grinned a little.

"What is it Ann?" Cliff questioned upon noticing her sigh and the way she sceptically scanned the room then suddenly smiled.

Ann looked up to meet the innocent hazel eyes that belonged to Cliff, "Well." She began, tapping her finger to her chin, "I was bored a moment ago, but I think I've got a great idea now." She finished as her grin only deepened.

Cliff gulped, whenever Ann got an idea no good could come out of it. "Ann…" Cliff said worriedly.

"Hmm?" She questioned raising her eyebrow in curiosity.

"Maybe you should think this one out first." Cliff said twiddling his thumbs together. "I mean, remember the last few times you had ideas? They turned out…well not the best." Cliff mumbled recalling how at the beginning of the summer Ann wanted to have a swimming competition and Cliff ended up getting leeches in –ahem- inappropriate areas. What was worse for him was suffering through Doctor Trent taking them off one by one in his medical clinic. A shudder ran through the brunette as he remembered the pain and embarrassment he had felt when he had to sit up on the table bottom half completely exposed.

"Cliff." Ann said taking his hands in hers. "I assure you, this one is fun and harmless. We won't even have to leave the Inn really, which will be convenient considering you just live upstairs." She nodded with an innocent smile.

Curious Cliff asked, "Well, okay, but what is it?"

It took her less than a moment to respond with, "a party!" Ann grinned ear to ear ignoring the dread that filled Cliff's features. 'A party, wonderful.' He couldn't help but think to himself as Ann then began rambling off the details. "And it'll really help you to warm up to people our age in the town, I mean-" She stopped midsentence as she looked at Cliff who looked back at her puzzled. A Cheshire grin filled her face and Cliff knew that she was thinking dirty. "I know you're already pretty close with the doctor." She chuckled almost sinisterly as Cliff pouted. Of course she had to bring it up, and still she continued on. "But maybe you'll get to know some of the other guys pretty well too." The red head said suggestively with a slight nudge and wink.

It was Cliff's turn to sigh now as he let his head drop into his hands. Whoever said trusting Ann with a big secret was definitely mistaken. Maybe it was because Ann was the first friend that Cliff had made when he came to Mineral town, or the fact that he had happened upon some very suspicious novels of hers when trying to find her one time. Either way, Cliff had come out to Ann shortly after becoming her friend and since then Ann had tried many things to get Cliff a boyfriend, the beach incident being one of them.

Cliff appreciated the gesture and how much thought and hard work she put into it, but in his opinion it was fruitless. None of the men in Mineral town were gay. It was a fact he had to face. But for some odd reason, he felt compelled to stay in Mineral town anyways. Maybe it was the small town feel, or the friendliness of the people, or the simplicity of it all, or maybe it was because of a certain blonde he just couldn't keep his mind off of.

"God dammit!" An angry voice boomed through the room as the door to the inn swung open in a violent rage. The wind outside began howling like crazy and rain began pelting the welcome mat. The door closed just as fast as it opened.

"Speak of the devil." Cliff muttered under his breath as he did everything to keep from looking at the man who was fast approaching.

"Ugh." A frustrated sigh slipped passed the man's lips who took his seat next to Cliff. "Ann, mind getting me a beer?" He asked gruffly wasting no time at all. Before obliging, Ann cast Cliff a sideways glance then grinned mischievously upon seeing the dark blush that covered the brunette's cheeks. So this was Cliff's type, oh man, her party plan was going to be a blast!

"Sure thing Gray." Ann nodded as she moved down the counter to busy herself with the task at hand and leave poor Cliff to his own devices.

Gray let out another sigh, this one seemingly less frustrated and a bit more tired. He removed his wet hat and ran a hand through his blonde locks; Cliff observed this out of his peripherals as he sat on his stool awkwardly. "This sucks." Gray muttered to no one in particular, although he hoped that Cliff would take note of his obvious bad mood. To his satisfaction, the younger man did as he turned on his stool to sit face to face with him.

"Rough day at work?" He questioned, looking at Gray with a welcoming smile, casually leaning his elbow on the counter. The smallest offer of warmth caused Gray to smile in return as he simply nodded. At least someone cared about him and was willing to hear him out. "I assume it's your grandfather again…" Cliff mumbled lowly.

"Ya." Gray grunted in response, propping his elbows up on the counter to the bar as well. "I just wish that I could do something to keep my mind off of it, you know?" He asked turning to look at Cliff who simply sat up straighter in his stool.

"W, well." Cliff stammered shyly rubbing the back of his neck. Why was his heart beating so fast every time Gray looked at him with those sharp sapphire eyes of his? It was getting harder to breath every time he was around. Cliff coughed, trying to regain some composure; after all he couldn't have Gray thinking that he was a stammering idiot. "Ann was thinking about having a party."

"A party?" The blonde asked seeming almost unimpressed. He sighed with a lopsided grin on his face. "And I assume you didn't disagree with it, Cliff?" Dear Goddess, just hearing his name come out of Gray's lips caused Cliff's heart to melt; he felt his legs turning to jelly as he scrambled to remember what Gray had said before addressing him directly for once.

"Actually." Ann said as she came back with a bear bottle in hand interrupting their conversation. "He didn't disagree or agree." She noted, sliding the bottle down to Gray who suddenly became very quiet again. She looked at the two and crossed her arms. "So, it's been decided, we're having a drinking party to lift everyone's spirits." The sound of Ann's hands clapping together happily caused Gray and Cliff to both sit up straight and look at each other. They both weren't big fans of parties, but a drinking party? Well, it could be interesting. Cliff gulped and Gray shrugged.

As Ann began walking over to the phone happy that the two didn't protest a single drop she stopped dead in her tracks and turned around to look at the two baffled men sitting at the bar. "And I hope you guys like spin the bottle." She winked rushing off to the phone. She was absolutely giddy with excitement, this time one of her plans might actually work!

Cliff's cheeks turned crimson. Spin the bottle…that meant that there was always a chance of… He paused mid thought as he turned shyly to look back at Gray. To his mortification the blonde was also blushing slightly. It couldn't be that he was thinking the same thing, could it? No, Gray was probably thinking about Mary, about how soft her lips would feel on his. After all, Gray wasn't gay, so why would he ever fantasize about kissing Cliff.

Well, one could always hope. Cliff thought optimistically for once as he shrugged to himself with a small smile. 'Bring on the party.'

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