Andy's Apple Farm: Dolce's Game

SIDE CHAPTER #4: GIRLS' DAY OUT - HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY DOLCE~!

PREMISE: After hearing about Dolce's deprived childhood and adult-life, Margret, Melody, (and Felix) decide to take Dolce into town for a "Girls' Day Out" while Andy plans something special for Valentine's Day.

(*Following events takes place ???)

Enjoy~!

"WHAAAT?!" Melody abruptly cried out, startling Dolce. "You've never celebrated Valentine's Day before?!"

Dolce rubbed her poor dog ears to ease them from Melody's outburst. It was Valentine's Day and the gang had decided to start the day off with a picnic of homemade sweets before preparing for the big celebration at the end of it all.

"Urgh...I didn't say, 'I never celebrated it.' Frankly I'm surprised you guys even celebrate such a holiday here." Her expression fell as she played with a cookie on the picnic table.

"So what did you mean when you said, 'you never had time for it?'" Margret asked.

"It's exactly what it sounds like. I never really had time for festivities like that."

"You've never been out on a date before or even been asked out?" Andy was surprised.

"Not really..." Dolce flipped the cookie down with her finger. "For the most part I was occupied with schoolwork when I was younger before being taken from my family and placed into foster care. When that went nowhere and I was of proper age, I left the foster house and drifted between places as a vagrant for a long time--living on the streets and shelters run by poorly funded social service programs where my life kinda stalled. After I got over that rough period of my life, I devoted a chunk of my time studying to obtain my college degree while working to pay the bills." She broke the cookie in half. "So yeah, I never had time for that 'lovey-dovey, mushy' stuff." She casually said, biting down on one half of the pink-chocolate chip cookie.

Dolce continued to nonchalantly chew away loudly at the other half while everyone started at her with a mixture of shock and pity.

"So...Was there ever a time you actually had fun?" Felix chipped in.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Dolce shot back a bit sharper than she intended.

He flinched slightly at her tone. "I-I don't know, like a time you were actually, happy?" Felix questioned in a uncharacteristically timid voice.

Dolce BANGED her fist hard against the table, shocking them all. "Of course there were times when I was happy!" she snapped. "I'm sorry I'm not as 'privileged' as you guys being able to enjoy clear, peaceful days everyday, never worrying about paying off student-loans, mortgages, getting your work done to meet a deadline, or wondering if you have enough to eat at home. Or better yet, never having to let past traumas brutalize your 'happy-go-lucky-' lives!"

Dolce got up and stormed off from the table, heading off towards the direction of the nearby lake.

After several seconds of tense, awkward silence, the rest all turned to glare at Felix.

"I know what you guys are thinking, but I swear I didn't mean anything bad by it." He held his hands up innocently.

Melody's voice broke past the heavy tension. "Um...What are 'Social Service Programs?'"

"I believe she means places or services that are provided on part of an organized effort to aid those who are in a less fortunate position than others because they lack the means to provide those necessities for themselves due to unfortunate circumstances." Claus explained.