Too Sweet. | Haley x F. Farmer

x. splitting headache

Athena's POV

I woke up groggily, my head pounding with the remnants of last night's indulgence. As I slowly opened my eyes, the unfamiliar room came into focus, and I couldn't help but notice Emily's exquisite taste. Oh yeah, she's into tailoring; her room is scattered with her creations. I sat up and noticed the ache in my whole body; damn, it hurts like hell. It felt like I had hit the gym, but on another level altogether. I groaned, realizing I was alone in the room. Rummaging through my pockets, I found my pocket watch, showing six in the morning. Are they outside? I wondered, as I could hear chatter just beyond the room. Getting up, I glanced at the full-length mirror, freshening up my face by slightly fixing my hair and erasing signs of a restless night from my face.

I turned the knob and stepped outside, finding Leah lying on the couch where I left her last night and Emily in the kitchen, apparently preparing beverages.

"You're awake, good. How's your head?" Emily asked, walking over to me and handing me a glass of something, probably for a hangover.

"Eh, it's alright. How's Leah?" I inquired as we headed towards the living room. "She missed the damn Friday bus," Emily chuckled as she sat down next to Leah, who was now groaning and slowly sitting up.

"Ugh..." Leah groaned, "I feel like throwing up," she muttered weakly, rubbing her face with her palm.

"That's what happens when you drink too much, especially when you're bad at handling alcohol," Emily remarked, earning a chuckle from me. I was glad I had the opposite tolerance compared to Leah.

"Damn, I missed the job interview," Leah sighed as she took a sip from Emily's beverage.

I raised an eyebrow at her. "You had a job interview and you got drunk?" I questioned, feeling a bit incredulous. That was unfortunate timing.

"Quite foolish of me, I must admit. But I have another job interview coming up, and that company's reputation was pretty bad anyway. So, no need to worry too much about it," she replied, still visibly frustrated, now partly due to the hangover.

"Head pats for you, buddy." Emily chuckled.

The door of Emily's sister room swung open, revealing Haley. Now that I'm fully sober, I just now noticed how her hair, a shimmering cascade of golden blonde, lay in disarray around her face, framing features that spoke of a delicate yet captivating allure. Her eyes were a striking sky blue, bright yet gloomy, not to mention, with a hint of a piercing gaze. What caught my attention most were her lips, pouty and tinted in a natural shade of pinkish coral. She was dressed in an oversized pastel blue shirt, the fabric draping over her frame in a casual yet alluring way. Despite the shirt's relaxed fit, it seemed to accentuate rather than hide her feminine curves, adding to the overall charm of her appearance. There was an undeniable sense of grace and charm about her, a combination of effortless beauty and a relaxed demeanor that made her presence magnetic.

"What are you looking at?" she grumbled in an irritated tone, squinting her eyes as if attempting to glare at me. Was I the first person she noticed?

"Good morning, little sister," Emily chuckled at her. "It's too early to be grumpy. Go eat the scrambled eggs I made." Emily teased, clearly enjoying the playful banter with her sister, while Haley simply flicked her blonde hair and disappeared into the kitchen.

Leah chuckled. "Haley's gorgeous, but she's got a demon inside her," she remarked, a sentiment I found quite apt. Ah, the classic mean blonde cheerleader vibe from high school-Haley's aura matched that perfectly.

"Nah, that's just her personality. She can be nice, though," Emily added, finishing her drink.

"Ah, well, Emily, Leah, I've got to head back to the farm; I need to tend to it first," I announced as I stood up from my seat. My animals must be starving by now.

"Oh, grab the food on the dining table first; I cooked breakfast for you," Emily pointed out. "I appreciate your kindness. If it weren't for you, I would've left Leah on the street with a raccoon," she added, earning a playful slap from Leah.

"The plastic bag," Emily continued, prompting me to thank her and comply. I headed to the kitchen, where I saw Haley leaning on the counter with a glass of drink in her hand. My eyes then shifted to the plastic bag, which must have contained the breakfast Emily mentioned. I gently grabbed it, savoring the delightful aroma wafting from within. Perfect for my hangover, I must say.

"You," Haley's voice made me freeze. Despite her seemingly calm tone, the underlying sharpness was unmistakable. My gaze met her indifferent face.

"Fix your clothes," she muttered firmly, eyeing me up and down, clearly judging my fashion choices.

"Huh?" I responded, genuinely confused by her abrupt comment.

time skip.

Right now, I'm by the lake, near Linus's tent and Robin's house, with a fishing rod in my hand, patiently waiting for a tug on the line. Having finished my tasks at the farm, I'm aiming to catch supper for the evening-a meal featuring lake fish. However, after an hour of waiting, I've only caught three fish overall. Luck doesn't seem to be on my side today.

"You definitely need a better bait," Linus remarked, an old man who isn't truly homeless but prefers solitude near the mines and Robin's house. Initially distant, he warmed up after I helped him find his basket near the bus stop. Since then, he's been more open to small conversations.

"I'm afraid I do; the regular bait hasn't been working lately," I replied, sighing with disappointment.

"Hmm," Linus hummed before leaving the area briefly. When he returned, he was holding something. I furrowed my eyebrows as he showed it to me.

"What's that?" I asked.

"A creation of mine-wild bait. It's more effective than your regular baits," he explained, placing the wild bait in my bait bag.

"Thank you, Linus; that's very kind of you," I chuckled as he grumbled and walked away.