Elliott x Reader One Shots - Stardew Valley

11. Flower Dance

  Leah and I had said our goodbyes a handful of times, though neither of us were quite ready to end our conversations. We continued even as Leah opened the front door to head home. The smell of fresh bread which we had spent the afternoon baking wafted out behind us as we slowly drifted down the front steps. 

  As I listened to the tail end of a story Leah was telling, I opened my mailbox and retrieved the small stack of letters which waited for me inside. Flipping through the envelopes, I noticed the typical correspondence I had come to expect. Near the bottom of the pile was an announcement from Lewis; a reminder of the upcoming flower festival. Leah peaked over my shoulder at the note. 

"Ah, the flower dance. Wait, that's only a few days from now," she said. "This season sure flew by fast." 

"I guess, unless it's a typo," I shrugged.

"Do you think you'll participate in the dance this year?" I took a moment to consider.

"Well, I'm not much of a dancer," I admitted.  

"I can teach you," Leah offered. "It's not that hard." She circled around to face me.

"You kind of just sway, like this," she demonstrated. "And your partner will walk toward you to the music." I mirrored her movements to the best of my ability. 

"Doesn't seem like much of a dance," I commented. Leah giggled.

"I agree, but at least it's simple, so you don't have to worry too much about getting it wrong. Sometimes people pair off and actually dance together afterward, but you don't have to," she explained. 

"I'll probably just sit this one out," I said. 

"Ah come on, it's not so bad. With the right person, it can be really fun," she encouraged.

"I don't even have a partner," I argued.

"There must be someone you could ask," she said. Right. Someone. "What about Elliott?" I froze. Was it that obvious?

"There's no guarantee he'll say yes," I excused.

"Why wouldn't he? Aren't you guys really close?" she asked. I wanted nothing more than to change the subject, but I knew she wasn't likely to drop it. 

"I guess so," I said sheepishly. 

"So ask him," she urged. 

"It's not that simple," I shook my head. I was beginning to lose patience.

"What are you so afraid of?"

"I like him, okay? Like, really like him. And asking him to dance with me would be the first big indication of that, and frankly I don't think I have the nerve," I vented. Leah went suddenly quiet, probably in a slight state of shock at my outburst. Truth be told, I was a little shaken as well. I had hardly admitted it to myself, let alone said it out loud. 

"I'm sorry for prying," Leah said softly, placing a gentle hand on my shoulder. "And I know it's really none of my business, but if all of that is true, I really think you should ask him. You might be surprised." 

"I wouldn't even know where to start," I confessed.

"Maybe write him a letter, there will be less pressure that way," she suggested.  

~

  I had put it off until the last possible moment. I knew I was running out of time, but I was having a hard time composing my message. Even with the advantage of writing it all down, the right words never seemed to come. Several crumpled sheets of paper were beginning to accumulate around my desk, evidence of all of my previous attempts at an invitation.