Chapter Text
I have a routine that I live by. I even has a routine for when my routine is disrupted by weather or Zoe. I like to plan and it helps to keep me sane. I need it to keep sane because living with a fully formed family as the bachelor uncle is not always fun and games, except when Zoe demands that we have fun and play games. I am grateful for Anne and even more so Paul for letting me stay with them but, I would be lying if I said I hadn’t thought about building my own cabin somewhere in the woods.
The point is I like things the way I do so when I arrive at Raj’s coffee stand and see a pink blur standing in my usual spot I am thrown off kilter slightly. The new farmer, Calliope. She’s wearing the outfit she bought at the Cherry Blossom Festival, it’s damn near overwhelming. She’s talking with Raj before they notice me.
“Usual Mark?” They ask as they reach for the kettle. I nod and wait for them to pour it.
“Oh hey Mark,” Calliope says, turning towards me. I nod towards her as well. Being rude to her doesn’t stop her so maybe neutral will. I take my cup from Raj and toss some gold their way and start heading toward B.O.S. to practice. It takes a while before I notice that there is someone walking behind me. I stop and turn around to find Calliope smiling behind me. She waves.
“Can I help you?” I ask. She blinks.
“Oh no. I’m just going to the hideout.” I stare. “Sorry, do I need to make it less suspicious. I have never been in a secret club. Actually I have never been in a regular club. Tried to start a book club in Pokyo but no-”
“It’s fine,” I say, sparing her and myself. “Just not used to a shadow” Calliope really isn’t that bad she’s more of a disruption. I think more on why I keep trying to push her away and I know the reason is simple. She’s beautiful. Her long blonde hair that she ties up when she works on the farm or goes to the beach. Her tattoos of flowers that cover her arms and legs. Her brown eyes look like honey in the sun. Beautiful is a disruption. Calliope hasn’t even been here a season yet and she is already annoyingly everywhere. At first I was a dick to her and it didn’t lessen her presence even Zoe has come home talking about her once. Maybe I shouldn’t be so hard on her.
“Just walk next to me” I say gruffly before turning around. She takes a few strides to match my pace and we continue on our way. If I were Scott or Pablo I would make a move. They have both expressed interest in the farmer and it makes sense. Both have had zero problem with one night stands from the small batch of the tourists that come through Pablo more than Scott but still. They are a part of the minority of people who don’t think that she’s gonna make it through the year.
I can feel her trying to think of something to say as we approach the hideout. I wonder why she talks so much every time I spot her around town. She's always having a conversation with someone. I don’t think I have seen her stop once since arrived. We arrive at the hideout and I hold the door for her while she descends the stairs. I shut the door behind me and walk over to Axel who has his eyebrow raised. Calliope walks up to the errand box and dumps in ten bones and then turns on her heel and waves before leaving.
“Take a nice stroll?” Axel remarks sharpening his blade.
“Axel, for someone who doesn’t live here you sure do know how to bother me.” Axel loves to pick on his friends and does so at every chance he can. He shrugs and keeps working on his blade. The thing about Calliope is that even though she’s gorgeous, she’s a girl from the city who decided one day the life all of us live on this island is quaint enough to escape to. Plenty of people who have come to stay at the inn get it in their heads that they can hack it but then find that there’s a reason our town rank is so low. There is nothing to do about how her smile is adorable because she will not be here in a season.