Too Sweet. | Haley x F. Farmer

vi. hey, friend

Athena's POV

The Egg Festival was a whirlwind of activity, but as the sun began to set and the festivities wound down, a sense of contentment settled over the town. I found myself strolling through the square, now quiet and bathed in the soft glow of twilight.

Villagers milled about, chatting happily and exchanging stories of the day's events. Some carried baskets filled with colorful eggs from the hunt, while others indulged in leftover treats from the booths. I stopped by the maypole, now adorned with ribbons that fluttered gently in the evening breeze. The music had faded, but the joyful laughter and chatter of the townsfolk filled the air, creating a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

"Hey, Athena, right?" an unfamiliar voice chimed in. I turned around to see a pretty woman with loose cobalt blue hair. Her eyes were a mesmerizing purple-ish color, and her tone of voice matched her outfit perfectly.

"Yeah, Athena Cross, the new owner of the farm," I replied, greeting her warmly. She beamed a genuine smile and offered her hand, which I shook gently.

"I'm Emily, Emily Carter. Oh wow, you look really pretty, I must say!" she exclaimed. I chuckled at her compliment, feeling a bit flattered.

"Nice to meet you, Emily," I said formally, earning a gentle slap on my arm. "Oh, stop being so formal! Come by the saloon later. I want to know your size," she laughed, leaving me momentarily confused. Was that supposed to be a joke?

"Haha! It was a joke, but hey, if you want to be my model, feel free-" Emily's sentence was interrupted as another woman joined the conversation.

"Are you an agency picking up random pretty girls to be your models?" said the new woman, a tall and also pretty lady with braided brown hair draped over her shoulder. Her outfit was quite nice, and she was taller than Emily but shorter than me.

"Leah! Where were you at the festival earlier?" Emily confronted Leah, playfully smacking her arm. They seemed to enjoy that kind of banter.

"Chill, I ran late. I overslept at the cabin, but I made it just in time!" Leah explained, grinning cheekily at Emily.

"Late enough! You missed the egg hunt. Abigail won again, by the way," Emily remarked, crossing her arms in mock annoyance.

Leah laughed at Emily's antics. "That's Abigail for you. Hello, Athena! How's the farm holding up?" She asked, tilting her head slightly with one hand on her waist.

"Exhausting, but I'm managing," I replied with a sigh.

"Ooh, you sound stressed. You might want to visit the saloon later in the evening. Emily will be there too," Leah suggested. "I work part-time there, by the way," Emily chimed in, her smile sweet and inviting.

"I didn't know we had a saloon in town," I replied, scratching the back of my head gently.

"Well, you've been busy with the farm. Did you also know there's a beach in town?" Emily asked. I nodded, remembering Willy's invitations to fish with him there a few times.

"Yeah, it's a beautiful spot," I answered.

"If you've been to the beach, then you must have seen the saloon," Leah pointed out. I realized I hadn't paid much attention.

"Maybe I was too focused on my destination to notice it," I chuckled.

"It's right over there. Stardrop Saloon, owned by a friend of mine. It's a great place to unwind or have some fun," Emily added, giving me a friendly nod. I made a mental note to check it out sometime when I needed a break from the farm.

"You'll enjoy it there, we promise!" Leah assured me, while Emily gave two thumbs up, eliciting a soft laugh from me.

"Alright, when the time comes, I'll definitely pay a visit. Maybe tomorrow evening?" I hummed, remembering that I needed to visit Marlon's guild in the morning to satisfy my curiosity about the creatures in the mines. I also recalled seeing Marlon earlier when the festival was in full swing. That stealthy old man.

"Then I'll get ready for tomorrow evening. We'll see you there, okay? Make sure to wear something nice!" said Emily cheerfully. "Alright, it was nice meeting you, friend. We have to leave now. See you soon!" Leah added, already starting to make her way out. I bid them farewell and watched as they departed.

"What a day, huh," I muttered to myself as I made my way towards the exit of the town square.