Farmboy

Chapter 1

The day I met Andrew was the day my life took a turn - but for better or worse, I didn't know. I was taking an afternoon stroll through the woods by my house. I walked up by the top, near the rusty metal wire gate. Beyond it was a well cut field and a barn, perhaps five hundred yards away. I had always wanted to visit the farm, but it wasn't the open-to-public type, so I'd never been. I began to hum a tune, but soon my lips opened, and I was singing. Out here, no one could hear me. Or so I thought. While I poured my heart out into my voice, I thought I heard something, like a footstep, but dismissed it, assuming it was a squirrel. There were an awful lot of squirrels, here in New Jersey.

"You have a lovely voice." said a voice behind me. I quieted instantly and spun around. I found the source of the voice immediately. It was a boy, my age, or maybe a bit older.

“Um.” My face went red.

“Sorry to interrupt, but your voice was so lovely I simply had to tell you.” He smiled.

“Well…thanks?” I said. I was not accustomed to beautiful boys complimenting me.

“What’s your name?” He asked.

“Oh, me? Oh, uh, I’m Abigail. But, uh, you can call me Abby.” I stammered. My mind spun. Why did I tell him to call me Abigail? I hated my name. Everyone called me Gail. Not Abigail. And certainly not Abby.

“Okay, Abby.” He said with a wink.

Was he flirting? He wasn’t flirting, right?
“Well, I have to go tend to the chickens, but I’ll see you around.”

“The chickens?” I asked.

“Well, I live on the farm.” He said, gesturing to his home.
“Right…” I said.

“So…”

“Um, bye. Uh...bye, Farmboy.” I said.

“Farmboy?” He sounded offended.
I shrugged.

“My name is Andrew.” He said.

“Right...bye, Farm- bye, Andrew.”
“Bye, Abby.” He smiled, with his eyes and his mouth, and then he left.

Shaking, I sat down and buried my head in my hands.

What had I been doing? Flirting with a strange boy? Calling him ‘Farmboy’? I was perfectly happy being single. And I hardly knew him! Eventually, I got up, and headed home.

⚘⚘⚘

When I got home, I headed upstairs and texted Saige. I told her all about meeting Andrew. She thought it was fate. I told her it wasn’t. She insisted it was. I told her I wasn’t even slightly attracted. She told me I was a liar. I sent her a stuck-out tongue emoji. She sent one back. Then we both laughed and I gave her the full lay-out of my conversation with Andrew. She thought it was sweet. I reminded her I already liked someone back at school. She gave a shrug and then said she had to go. I said bye and tossed my phone on my bed. I couldn’t get the conversation I had had out of my head. It was definitely getting put up on the most embarrassing moments list.

Trying to get the thoughts of embarrassment out of my head, I started pacing. Then I listened to music. Then I turned the music up and tried to dance. And then I ended up on the floor in desperate need of an ice pack for my knees. As I hobbled downstairs, whispers of my conversation with Andrew floated back to me. Once I’d gotten the ice pack and hobbled back upstairs, I went to my room and collapsed on my bed. I decided sleep was in my best interest.

So then I slept.