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Chapter One
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The wind is harsh in Pelican town the day you arrive, something you tell yourself you will grow accustomed to. The cool spring breeze tousles your hair, swirls around you before passing on by, and for a moment, you send a prayer that it takes your heartache with it.
If there was ever a good place to hide, Pelican town, in the heart of Stardew Valley was it. Robin, the local carpenter as you had learned, was kind enough to help you carry your minimal luggage, kind enough not to ask questions. Afterall, who only has two tote bags of belongings to their name?
Plus a farm you suppose; a small, overgrown, messy farm. You had never done a lick of manual labor in your life, though waking up early for your awful corporate job would come in handy.
You wondered briefly if he would find you here, even think to look in the middle of nowhere for you. Would he even continue to look? You shook that thought away, of course he would, but he would be looking for a long time, maybe forever before he found you.
You had done your best, changed your hair drastically, changed your style, left almost everything behind in that cramped hellhole of an apartment. And you had fled. Fled with the shirt off your back and a few spare outfits, some cash, changed your last name and had taken several different buses to arrive in the middle of absolutely nowhere.
You shook that thought from your head, pushing open the door of Pierre’s small shop. Mayor Lewis and Robin had kindly told you where to receive your first armful of groceries, and you were thankful for the kind words.
“So you’re the new farmer I’ve heard about huh? I’m Pierre.” He smiles kindly at you, gesturing to the name tag on his neatly ironed flannel.
You offer a shy smile, picking at your nails. “That’s me…I was wondering if you had any books on agriculture? This is all sort of new to me and while I’m grateful for the mayor's parsnip seeds…I’m a little worried I might ruin them before I even start. I’m y/n, also.”
Pierre chuckles softly, maneuvering his way from behind the counter over to a shelf. “I’m afraid I’ve only got some simple magazines, you’re welcome to pick a few but you might have more luck in our town's library.”
You nodded along slowly, looking over the magazine in your hand. “Farm and ranch living.” You glance over at Pierre who gives you a goofy smile and you match his amusement. And you buy it, for no other reason other than feeling bad for leaving empty handed. “I’ll be back once I know what I’m doing.” You offer and he nods giving you a jovial wave.
“I look forward to it. I’ll also buy any of your crops at a decent price.” He adds. You open your mouth to babble some kind of acknowledgment before the side door all but slams open, shaking the walls.
“If I wanted to attend your stupid beach yoga sessions I would ask!” Your eyes widen as a young woman, probably around your age stomps through.
“Abigail! You need to do something other than sit in your bedroom playing video games!”
“It’s not like there’s anything else to do!” She yells back and Pierre gives you a tight lipped smile.
“That’s why I’m offering our yoga sessions!”
“As if I’d want to do yoga with all of the old women in this stupid town! Just leave me alone.” She gives you a side glance, her cheeks turning slightly pink when it finally dawns on her that she’s not alone. But she doesn’t stop, she breezes past and the only sign that she was ever there was the soft jingle of the store's bell.
“And that’s my daughter Abigail.”
“Oh you must be the new farmer!” The woman adds, stepping closer. “I'm Caroline, I apologize for that. I promise it’s not always like this here.”
“Y/n. No need to apologize, I don’t mind.” You awkwardly stand there for a moment, clutching the magazine in your hand before offering an embarrassed goodbye, slipping out the door, the bell jingling behind you.
Mayor Lewis had suggested you introduce yourself to everyone, but god was small talk awful. You paced slowly along the pathway, cursing yourself for not asking where the library was.
Nearly everyone you passed was excited to meet you, offering different variations of the same exclamation. It’s not everyday someone new moves to our small town.
Sam, another boy your age, was the one kind enough to invite you to the Saloon, mentioning how everyone liked to gather there on fridays. And low and behold, it was Friday. He was kind, reminding you of a golden retriever the way his golden hair bounced as he spoke animatedly.
You were nervous, having only actually spoken to enough people to count on one hand. Sam, Penny, Alex, Harvey and Leah. You mentally counted them as you walked towards the illuminated sign of the bar. 8:00 on the nose struck as you pushed open the door slowly, suddenly feeling very aware of the distressed jeans and thin sweater you wore. It was like you were some kind of new gadget, and everyone was excited to check you out. The few you had spoken to offered you kind waves and you awkwardly saddled yourself at the bar stool.
“Names Gus, can I get you anything?” He asks, sliding a plastic menu your way.
“Just…a beer?” You asked slowly, eyes not truly reading the suddenly alien letters on the paper.
He gives a nod, making a gruff noise and busying himself behind the counter. You sneak glances in both directions. To your right, a man nurses a beer looking disinterested in the world around him. You wonder what he’s thinking about, his mind is definitely not in this plane of existence.
To your left a woman talks animatedly to no one in particular. She’s drunk, babbling about the craft beers and her words are so slurred you can’t properly process them. You notice Leah speaking to another man, someone you haven’t met but he seems loud and talkative by the way he speaks and you think twice about walking over there.
The mayor speaks behind you and you briefly debate going over to his table but you weren’t invited and how awkward would it be to shove yourself into the conversation.
A woman hands you your beer rather than Gus. She introduces herself as Emily and tries to make small talk. “Harvested anything good yet?”
“Ah, no. I’m not even sure I know how to plant a seed right..” You offer, taking a small sip of your beer. You cringe at the taste wishing you had just ordered a cola. “How much do I owe you?” You ask, hand moving to your back pocket. She waves you off.
“First ones on the house. Enjoy.” You watch her flitter over to the woman from before and you drag your eyes back down to the cup in your hand. You wish you had chosen somewhere busier, somewhere where no one would know your name where you could go through your everyday life unnoticed and unaccounted for. But that costs money, and all you had was this damned farm from your grandfather and you were lucky to have that because it was free.
“You play pool?” You jump, looking over your shoulder and Sam raises his hands in defense. “Sorry didn’t mean to scare you!”
“No, no not your fault. I was just lost in thought. I’ve uh, never played.”
“Wanna learn? Sebastian’s a god.” You look over his shoulder to the two others in the adjoining room and for a moment you hesitate. More people to meet, more people to leave, but you fight your inner battle and slide off of the stool.
“Sure.” You make sure to grab your beer even though you know you won’t drink it.
“Abigail, Sebastian, this is Y/n.” You wave minutely and they both wave back.
“Calling for reinforcements huh Sam?” Abigail teases, crossing her right leg over her left. You watch her lean back, recalling her brief episode hours prior.
“Nah, Y/n’s never even played before.”
“So just looking for someone on your level then huh?” Sebastian teases, and you balk at the small smirk he gives Sam. For some reason it makes your stomach flutter and your cheeks warm.
“No! I just thought we could teach her! Let her join in is all!”
“Nice to meet you officially. Sorry about that whole thing this morning.” Abigail waves her hand, dismissing the event. “My folks have been breathing down my neck about getting out of the house. She says I’m getting too pale.”
“That’s ok. I know the feeling.” You give her a smile and she returns it.
“Well maybe you should go outside more Abby.” Sam suggests, scratching the back of his neck. “The sun’s good for ya!”
“Ok dad.” You sneak a glance at Sebastian while Abigail and Sam argue, only to find him already looking your way. Your eyes dart towards the pool table, studying the small 8 ball as though it were the most interesting thing in the world.
His look his searing, eyes burning their path along your skin and for the first time, someone’s gaze doesn’t make you want to hide. You want to bathe in its warmth.
“So, out of all the places you can pick to live, you chose Pelican Town?” You look up, locking eyes.
“Well…the farm was my grandfathers and he left it for me so when I decided I needed a change from living in the City I well…I decided to try out the small town life.”
He hums in acknowledgment. “And?”
“And what?” You tug at your fingers, wishing you had something else to say.
“And how are you liking it?”
“It’s different. Quieter. I visited my grandfather a handful of times when I was younger so I know what the place looked like in its better days. I’m hoping to get it back to that level.”
Sebastian nods slowly, like he’s analyzing your answer. “I can’t imagine myself living on a farm.” He says finally.
“Neither could I.” You admit, shrugging. “But it was really my only option.” You bite your lip, hoping he doesn’t read too much into your words.
He looks like he’s about to ask a question but Abigail wraps her arms around his middle and sighs deeply. “Sebby, tell Sam to stop bullying me.”
“I’m not bullying her!” Sam balks, looking between the two of them and then at you. “I wasn’t! I was just offering friendly advice.”
“Friendly advice my ass! You called me whiter than paper!”
You can’t help the chuckle that escapes your lips and you cover your mouth trying to muffle the sound. You don’t notice Sebastian’s warm gaze at you, as you giggle behind your hands. He playfully shoves Abigail away, but not without adding fuel to the fire. It makes you laugh harder.
You tuck into bed that night feeling a tad more light hearted. Sure, the farm is overgrown, and the town is small, and the people are strange but maybe that’s what you need. Maybe this is the escape you had dreamt of.
Turning onto your side, ignoring the loud creaks of your springy mattress, you chastise yourself. You can’t get too comfortable here, because he’ll find you. He always does.