Tiger Eye - Sam (Stardew Valley)

19

Fall 5

Wren chewed on her thumbnail, her other arm crossed her body. The door to the Saloon was 10 feet away, and had beef for the last 5 minutes as she debated whether or not she'd go in.

She was already running late, as she won't admit it, but she took special care picking out an outfit. Abby told her it would be salt in the wound for him.

Her black tights helped with the lowering temperature, but it was one of the last acceptable days to wear a skirt. It was a dark wash jean skirt, and the green sweater above fit her nicely.

She was happy it was cool enough for her to bust out her boots, however.

the wind pushed her hair around as she felt paralyzed by the decision in front if her.

Wren let out a deep sigh. This would happen eventually, so why not get it out of the way.

She held her head up high as she walked in, finding him tucked into the back, sat at a booth with a cola in front of him.

Yoba, was he a sight for sore eyes.

Sure, the green toque that flattened his hair against his forehead may be the hottest thing she'd ever seen. But his eyes...

Tired. Exhausted. Worst of it, sad. The usual light behind them extinguished.

He snapped his eyes up when the door opened, tucking his lips in a tight smile as he sat up.

Wren crossed towards him, her eyes glued to the ground.

She slunk into the seat across from him, her face stone.

They stared silently at each other for a few moments, Sam's eyebrows slowly drawing together.

"Hi..?" He said quietly, clearly testing the water.

"Hi." She responded sharply. She wanted to be civil, hear him out. But she couldn't stifle the attitude in her voice.

"Uh... what's new?" A smirk tugged at the corner of his lip, which he quickly contained. It made her slightly relieved the small note of humour alive in him, but she didn't let on.

"Farming. First of the season, it's busy..." She said, smiling at Gus as he placed glass of water in front of her. "You?"

Sam shrugged, looking down. "A whole lot of nothing. Work, I guess."

Silence returned over then, an awkward and uncomfortable tension lingering between them.

"Um. To be honest, I didn't think you'd show up so... I really don't know how to start this conversation..." he said after a few moments, playing with his can of soda.

"Start with why you wanted me to meet you here?" Wren responded, her face still flat.

"Right, right, um..." Sam cleared his voice, rubbing his eyes slightly to snap himself out of his slump.

"I um... I want to explain more, if you wanna hear it. I wanna talk things through, I want to be able to be in the same room as you" he sounded nervous and insecure.

"I don't need the details." Wren said quickly, slumping back in her seat. "I don't want the details of that night. there's no amount of explaining or talking that changes what you did and where we are. there's nothing you can say to justify this or that will make me understand. I don't understand."

He took a deep breath, glancing away from her.

"I know. I just... I want to know what I need to do to make it better. Just tell me what you want from me and I'll do it." His voice was slightly desperate, which did bring a twinge of sympathy. But she wasn't going to show him that.