Potential Lovers | ACNL STORY

14 - Pondering

Lily POV
   Peaches, pears, persimmons...
I listed the fruits in my head that I planned to bring. I picked out every fruit from their trees and gathered them in my pockets. But one of the fruits caught my attention.
The perfect oranges...it took my thoughts somewhere else. The boy who had ruffled orange hair. Somehow the orange reminded me of him.
That soon led me to a thought that I had been questioning myself ever since Anna told me something hours ago: Do I like him back?
It was a shocker hearing her stumble in words with a bright pink face. Even more surprising when she told me she kissed Joe last night. She confessed that she had been crushing on Tom ever since he moved in. Right after, Anna told me she started developing feelings for Joe after she kissed him. Those things were the causes of her intense stare while fishing earlier. It explained why she was stressed, Anna was stuck between who she likes: Tom or Joe.
I reassured Anna that Joe likes her a lot and if she shares the same feelings, then they might as well be a thing together and confess to each other. Of course, I felt a bit sad that Joe liked someone else, it wasn't like I wanted him to notice my feelings for him. What I truly wanted for him is to feel loved. Anna gives him that feeling.
She then asked if Tom liked her back. I didn't know the true answer to that, but I told her that I could only sense a friendship between them. Judging by their interactions.
   That's when she felt better, Anna told me that she does have higher chances with Joe and thanked me for the "counseling". I said 'no problem', and asked her what she was going to do with the feelings she had for Tom.
Anna replied saying that I should go after him. She said she even saw signs that he had a crush on me.
I decided to confess that I had been crushing on Joe since he moved but started to have some feelings for Tom since his outing. She smiled and told me that we're on the same boat.

-

It's 7:30 at the moment.
I packed my baskets of fruits and walked home. I, for the first time, felt nervous to go to the outing. My bottled up feelings from the talk with Anna got in my head. For sure Anna and Joe would pretend nothing happened, I predicted. I don't think Tom knows about it yet.
Speaking of Tom, like Anna said, should I go after him? Well maybe I should invite him to dates and see how it goes, I thought, then I'll decide if my feelings are true for him.

~

   I made my way to the Campground. 9:36, I dressed early so I'd arrive in time. I wore my hair in twin tails. With a dollhouse dress and bobby socks. Plus mary-janes and a blue pansy for accessory.
I think I saw Joe around 2, talking to Sally. He probably went there earlier than all four of us, since he's the host.
In fact, he was there first. I was the first to see the set up he planned. He was still preparing it too, even though the outing was going to start soon. Joe had his hair in a curly, messy style, it looked cute on him. He appeared with a blue argyle shirt with chino pants. The white leather shoes gave him a formal touch. While his top and hair gave him a cute, messy look.
There were marshmallows and s'mores laying around, flowers surrounding the fire, and blankets over the log seats. Pillows and sheets were on the grass too. I could tell they were for extra comfort.
The camper's car was there. Harvey was sitting and reading a book with the company of the usual birds that visits the campground. Everything was peaceful, only the sound of the wood and fire cracking.
   It was so thoughtful. I was wonderstruck by his efforts. Of why he chose this for the outing and for his creativity. I stood still, barely moving. Watching him work and stare at his own preparations to check on it for perfection.
Joe didn't notice my presence until I spoke.
"I love it."
   He jolted and turned to face me with a red face that I could detect even with the lighting of the night.
"T-thanks.." he mumbled and broke our gazes.
   I walked closer to the surrounding of the fire. I silently asked if I could sit. He nodded embarrassingly. I chuckled and sat on the long log.
   He gave me a pillow and I took it from his hands gently, with a thankful smile.
   Joe was rooted to his spot, not knowing what to do after my arrival.
"Here, I brought these for all of us," I broke the silence.
I shuffled through my pockets and brought out the fruits I picked.
He stared at them before taking them. "Thank you.."
   I glared at Joe while he placed the fruit baskets near the other snacks.
Watching him work diligently calms me. I enjoyed everything before the actual outing started.
   Before I had the chance to strike up another conversation, the redheaded boy arrived with an excited entrance.
"AYYY WHAt's UP!?"
   My heart nearly skipped a beat when he shouted. I glanced over at Joe and he was also startled.
"Why so gloomy?" Tom dropped his tone lower in disappointment. "Loosen up."
Tom took the seat beside me and pulled out four glow wands. "Here, for you, you, and Anna, when she comes."
Tom had his hair flipped on his usual side with multiple layers. Stylish. He sported the after-school jacket with black denim jeans and steel-toed boots. He gave chill, cool vibes instead of Joe's relaxing, soft vibes.
It was nice that the boys had different senses of style. Anna and I have different styles also.
   Speaking of Anna, she came running into the Campground. "I'm sorry guys!"
   She wore the dazed dress, colorful socks, and brown pumps. Her hair was the same style but with a red ribbon.
   "Hey Anna!" Tom ran up to her and gave her the last glow wand.
   "Phew..am I late?" Anna asked. She nervously took the offered stick from Tom.
"10 o'clock, you're just in time." I came up to Anna to give her an embrace.
"H-have a seat." Joe patted the seat next to him.
Anna let go of my hold and eagerly sat next to the boy. They sure got along since that night, I thought. I bet Tom doesn't know about it. Judging by his surprised face, I inferred he didn't.
"Well.." Tom went to sit next to me, "what are we gonna do?"
The fire crackling was only to be heard. No one said a thing. I looked at Joe, who was spacing out.
"Ahem!" Tom cleared his throat.
"Oh, I-I..um.." Joe stumbled. "We can make s'mores and chat.."
Anna nodded and passed the marshmallows and sticks in replace of the glow wands. The wands lit the night, along with the fire and stars, what aesthetic.
   All of us were roasting our puffy sweets with no one speaking.
I took my marshmallow and stuffed it into my s'mores.
I was going to bite my treat until I saw Tom with a dissatisfied face.
He burnt his marshmallow, he probably didn't pay attention to it.
I gave my s'more to him and took his stick. Tom blinked as if he just noticed his surroundings. The redhead ate the s'more nonetheless.
I took a quick glance at the other two to see Anna feeding Joe marshmallows. They were like a teenage couple in those romance animes.
"You want another one?"
Tom just nodded to my question. Wonder why's he so quiet even though he was pretty hyper when he arrived. He probably has a lot of tabs open in his brain.
I then caught him looking at our two friends on the other side of the fire.
"Hey," I gently stuffed Tom's mouth with another s'more, "don't be jealous."
Tom chewed the sweet. "I'm not," he instantly replied after swallowing the treat.
I wavered my head. His face was apparently showing the opposite.
"Loosen up."
He was gonna reply until I stuffed a peach from the fruit baskets I brought. I used his exact words from earlier back at him.
"We'll get there soon."
His expression was amusing. I unconsciously poked his cheek with a smile on my face. How cute.

~

   The rest of the outing went fine. We chatted here and there about future plans and stuff like that.
I occasionally stuffed more food into Tom. He got used to it. Anna and Joe seemed to be in their own world, all lovey-dovey.
   I gave pep talk to Tom, who had his mind all over the place for some reason. I concluded that he must've been facing some troubles like Anna. Those troubles was his crush on me. I was never oblivious to those things, at least that's what I believed. Even though I was blind to notice his signs because I kept crushing on Joe, who liked someone else.
But I started to notice later when we hung out more. I tried to "move on" from my crush on Joe at the outing. Since he likes Anna and she shares the same feelings.
   I began to ponder too. Why does he think so hard about it? I thought. Do I not look approachable? I mean, it is hard to talk to your crush, I get that.
After the counseling with Anna today, I promised myself to hang out with Tom more. I should, I told myself. It would be interesting to get to know him more. I had a feeling Anna went through that phase. The phase where she got to know Joe more. It must've felt great for her.
All the tabs open in my head kept me up past midnight. How did I let love take over me like this?
I let out a sigh full of mixed emotions. I snuggled into my soft sheets, trying to put myself to sleep.
It had been a long day. A roller coaster ride of feelings. I hope I could conclude these endless thoughts. But I sorta like the feeling, of contemplating til' I reach my goal.
I tossed and turned. My head was still overloaded with thoughts until I decided to play K.K. Lullaby. The sweet song put a pause to my thoughts and a start to my dreams.

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A/N:

Merry Christmas guys
  and a Happy New Year too

I couldn't write a Christmas chapter since the timeline is in July and i can't skip too far to December, or you won't know how they're relationship develop

anyways, I drew some art to
celebrate so I hope you like them and enjoy your holidays!!

i can be found @/cristallsnoww in Animal Crossing Amino

also want to say thank you to the very few people who actually read and enjoy this chicken scratch of a book
hope you keep warm in the
winter ~~

and again Happy Holidays 🥳🌲