Too Sweet. | Haley x F. Farmer

viii. stardrop saloon

Athena's POV

As I sauntered along the tranquil streets of Pelican Town, the evening breeze delicately caressed my skin, carrying the invigorating scent of freshly cut grass and blooming flowers. The sun dipped below the horizon, casting a vibrant palette of pink and orange across the sky, setting the stage for my twilight journey. My ultimate destination? The renowned Stardrop Saloon. Despite the persistent ache in my body from the rigorous mine sessions earlier, I had made a commitment, and a promise is a promise.

Standing before the saloon door, I could already discern the lively music and the chatter of patrons emanating from within. This wasn't exactly my preferred scene, but Leah and Emily had urged me to join them. I didn't want to seem rude by backing out, especially since I had unknowingly set the schedule myself.

I sighed softly and turned the knob, stepping cautiously into the bustling saloon. The lively scene greeted me with a cacophony of voices and laughter, a mix of townspeople mingling about. As I scanned the entrance area, my eyes caught sight of a room on the right where a pool table was set up, a group of people around my age engaged in a game. On the side where I stood, older folks were gathered, chatting and enjoying their drinks.

"Oh, look who's here! It's our new farmer, Athena!" The voice came from behind the counter, where I assumed the owner was. Emily had mentioned there were only two workers here—herself and the owner. Quite a handful for a place as busy as this.

"Yo." I greeted him back, forcing a cringe-worthy smile. Why did that feel so awkward?

"Emily! Your friend's here!" The owner yelled toward the back, prompting Emily's response of, "I'll be out in a minute!" I could hear the clatter of dishes as she hurried to join us, kicking the back door open with her arms full of food. Despite the sweat, she looked surprisingly clean and cheerful, smiling widely at me.

"Athena! So glad you made it!" Emily exclaimed, setting the food on the counter and giving me a once-over. I raised an eyebrow at her scrutiny. "What?" I asked, curious about her pointed observation.

"What happened to you? Why the bandages?" Her voice carried a note of concern. I chuckled at her reaction, looking down at my arms and hands wrapped in bandages. They weren't expertly done, but they did the job.

"Visited the mines, had a bit of an adventure," I replied with a small smile. Emily laughed, "You're full of surprises, Athena! I've heard the mines are crawling with monsters. You're awesome!" She said, her smile infectious.

"Here, drinks on me. Just enjoy, and let's wait for Leah to show up," Emily added, handing me a glass of beer. I gratefully accepted it, wasting no time and gulping down half of it in one go.

"I'm Gus, by the way. I didn't have the chance to personally greet you at the egg festival," Gus introduced himself as he wiped a glass with a cloth. "I'm glad you've decided to give this saloon a try," he added with a smile. That smile meant business, but he seemed like a genuinely good guy.

I checked the time; ten minutes later, the door swung open, revealing Leah all dolled up. Her eyes met ours, and she immediately waved, then hurriedly jogged over to where Emily and I were sitting. She pulled out a stool and sat down without hesitation.

"Took you long enough," Emily teased, and Leah laughed in response. "Sorry, I was in the middle of painting and almost forgot about this," she explained, grabbing Emily's glass of beer and taking a sip.

"Gus! Another round!" Emily called out, and Gus promptly brought us more beers without hesitation. As he placed the new glasses in front of us, Leah exclaimed, "Cheers!" We all raised our glasses and clinked them together, creating a tinkling noise that echoed in the lively saloon.