Tiger Eye - Sam (Stardew Valley)

34

Spring 24

Sam's hands shook.

He tried to act natural, tried to keep his face neutral and calm, but as he and Seb walked into the flower dance, he felt nothing but anxiety and adrenaline coursing through him, clutching the contents of his pocket for dear life.

A year ago to this day, he'd watched Wren dance with Elliott. He'd tried to tell her he loved her. She'd rejected him, leaving him on the beach. He made the stupidest decision of his life, and almost lost her for good.

He swallowed hard. Here's to hoping the day itself isn't cursed.

 "You good, man?" Seb asked as they made their way towards the coolers in search of beer.

"I'm fine. Why wouldn't I be fine? I'm good." He said quickly, his breaths feeling shaky.

Seb looked at him, his eyes narrow.

"You're sweating like a pig."

"Dude-" Sam scoffed, glaring at him, "It's hot, okay? Is it always this hot in spring?" He said, avoiding the urge to run his hand through his hair. He'd put far too much gel to make it manageable. While he liked his hair long, it was becoming overgrown, which he hadn't fully realized with all the baseball caps he'd been wearing for work.

"Scared it'll be a disaster again?" Seb asked as they reached their usual corner of the field.

"Ha ha. No. I... It's just a stressful day, okay?" Sam sighed, scratching the back of his neck.

"You'll be fine. Just don't sleep with-" Seb stopped talking as Sam snapped his head over to him, a pissy glare in his eyes.

"Sorry." Seb said, stifling his laugh as he took a long swig of his beer.

Sam tried to calm his nerves, and the beer definitely helped. He kept glancing to the front of the field, hoping to catch her as she walked in. He at least didn't have the added stress of competition this year, she was all his.

"I'm gonna go have a smoke. You want one?" Seb asked, but Sam shook his head, his eyes landing on his father, who followed into the field behind his mom and brother.

"No, uh, I'll find you later." He said, moving towards his family.

He waited until his mom and Vincent were out of ear shot, he didn't want it to be a family ordeal.

"Looking sharp." His dad said as he approached, Sam handing him a beer.

"Thanks." Sam said, a small smile on his lips.

Of the entire population of the town, two people knew why Sam was so nervous. Willy, and his father, who he'd run to in a panic the night before, doubting everything about himself and his ability to do it.

"Nervous?" His dad asked. Sam swallowed hard, chuckling softly.

"I don't know if I can do it." He said quietly, his eyes glued to the grass.

"You probably can't, not how you're planning to." 

Sam glared over at him, a frown on his lips, "Thanks, dad. Really good pep talk."

"I don't mean it like that," Kent chuckled, "I mean, don't expect it to be perfect. I know you've got it all planned out, but you're going to be too worked up to do it how you're imagining. I mean, I was blind. Deaf. Couldn't see anything or hear what I said, but, here we are."

Sam nodded, a small smirk as he glanced over at him, "Did you cry?"

His father looked ahead, drinking his beer, "Yeah. Like a wimp. You will too."