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Minnie had lived in Oak Tree Town for a month and a half now, and her farm had grown tremendously. Fritz still remembers that early spring evening that he stopped by Granny’s to drop something off, and found a new face. This new face was very pretty, Fritz thought.
“Fritz, dear, this is Minnie, the new farmer; she just moved here from the city and will be taking the plot of land next door,” Granny Eda said. “I hope you two become good friends.”
“Oh, for sure! Minnie, from now on, we’re gonna be the best of buds!” Fritz said, grinning and shaking her hand. She looked a little relieved.
“Thank you, I look forward to it,” she replied and gently smiled back.
But Fritz hadn’t known Minnie would adjust to farm life as quickly as she did. Heck, he had been living it for much longer than she has, and she was already two steps ahead of him. He was trying his best, really. Fritz was easily the most laid-back farmer in Oak Tree Town---between the gaudy Giorgio, experienced Eda, and financially powerful Elise, he felt small. As much as he told himself it didn’t matter, that he just wanted to enjoy the farming life, living in such a competitive town bugged him at times. It didn’t help that Veronica, the Guildmaster, pushed them against each other in order to lift up the economy.
Fritz didn’t like competition in general. So when Minnie---his new friend, business rival, and secret crush---told him about her feelings for the restaurant owner, it put him in a tricky situation. What was he supposed to do? Sit idly by and watch her flirt with the guy? Listen to her talk about him constantly? Look away when he invites her to the restaurant after closing? No, the thought of any of that stuff made Fritz want to cry. He always finishes last. He doesn’t want to lose this time.
“Fritz?” The clear voice brought Fritz back to reality. Minnie’s voice.
“Huh? Oh, yeah, sorry. I must have spaced out, hah!” he laughed. Minnie chuckled, a hand brought to her mouth. The moonlight dappled her skin in such a way that reminded Fritz of the pale butterflies she would give him every day. Look what I caught, Fritz! she would say, excitedly. Fritz felt those butterflies in his stomach right then. “I’m happy for you,” he lied.
“Well, it’s not like I know he likes me back,” she replied, turning away. “He… probably doesn’t.” Her face fell. “I’m just a farm girl, and Raeger probably likes fancy girls.” Hearing this made Fritz angry.
“Come on, that’s not true. Any guy would be lucky to have you,” Fritz blurted. He saw her blush at his response. Butterflies.
“Thank you,” she said softly. “But I doubt it. I’ve never even had a boyfriend or a girlfriend. Heck, I’ve never even kissed anyone!” Fritz couldn’t handle this painful conversation anymore. He inhaled deeply and let it out in one, big sigh.
“Hey, neither have I,” he said, grinning through his self pity. “We’re in the same boat, you and me!” Minnie looked at him and her face lightened a little bit.
“Thank you for always being my friend, Fritz,” she half-whispered. Right, friend. That’s all I am to her.
Fritz felt weak, but he kept a brave face. For his friend. “No problemo!” he chirped.
They sat in silence for a moment, the sound of the frogs’ and crickets’ chorus surrounding them. Fireflies danced across the river, illuminating the darkness. Fritz cleared his throat.
“You know,” he started, his heart racing. “I-if you want, I could be your practice dummy.” What the heck?! What am I doing?
“My… what?” she replied. Fritz was immediately regretting this. But he would rather make a fool of himself than let himself stay quiet.
“Y’know, like, if Raeger is too fancy and stuff, because he… uhm…” Fritz flushed bright red. “I mean that, you could practice on me.”
The young farmer girl’s eyes went wide. “You mean…”
“Yeah, I-I mean, only if you want, it was just an idea. Y’don’t hafta of course.” Fritz laughed nervously. She seemed deep in thought. He just sat, waiting for her to say something, every one of his muscles tense in his body.
“Heck, why not,” she said after what felt like an hour, but was probably more like a few seconds. “I’m an adult, I mean, it’s about time I’ve had my first kiss already, right?”
Fritz’ face flushed. That was not the answer he was expecting. Like, at all. “O-okay,” he stuttered, shifting to face her where they were sitting in the grass.
“Okay, how do we start,” she said, tapping her thumb on her clasped hands. “Uhm, close your eyes.” Anxious yet terribly excited, Fritz obeyed. The vulnerability of not seeing her made his hands even more clammy than they were before.
He felt one of her hands on his cheek. He gulped, but kept his eyes closed. She placed the other on his shoulder. Her hands were small and dainty, but weathered from the hard labor of farm life. He didn’t know what to do with his own hands, so he just left them awkwardly in his lap. The crickets and frogs seemed to grow louder, as if cheering him on from the riverbank.
“You can tell me to stop whenever,” she said, her voice slightly shaky. Was she nervous too? If she was, he didn’t know why, because he was just a practice dummy to her right now. He wasn’t the one she actually had feelings for. But it was a selfish request that he let himself indulge in.
“Okay,” Fritz huffed, trying not to hold his breath. Her lips brushed his, and he flinched, but leaned forward a bit to meet her. The kiss was… well, it was a kiss, alright. He thought. Minnie pulled back after about ten seconds, the warmth of her mouth leaving him.
“How was that,” she asked, her brows furrowed in determination. Breaking from his trance, Fritz laughed.
“Heck if I know, that was my first one too, ‘member?” he replied. The mood was light. Fun. Platonic. As it should be, with practice kissing between friends.
“Here, let me try again,” Minnie said, taking his face in both of her small, calloused hands this time. He wasn’t ready for it, and he felt her lips pushing against his more forcefully than before. It was like a dream. In fact, Fritz forgot that they were pretending, and reached up to Minnie’s soft hair, and let himself run his fingers through it. Is this what winning feels like?
He found himself rising on his knees, leaning further into her, feeling her begin to lean back on the plush grass. He found himself on top of her, their lips still locked in place. Fritz had to pull away, or he’d turn blue from his lack of breath. When he opened his eyes again---he didn’t even remember closing them this time---he found Minnie, his secret crush, smiling up at him, the moonlight dappling her skin like the soft wings of a butterfly.
“That was a little better, I think,” she chuckled.