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Haley was hot. Obviously, she knew she was physically attractive, but that’s not the kind of hot she means. No, Haley was literally hot. As in, $80-foundation-ruining, frizzy-hair-inducing, sweating-like-a-pig hot.
It was late-July, the height of summer, and the hottest day of the year in Stardew Valley. And her stupid AC was broken. Haley wanted to scream.
She had called Robin to come fix it, but the carpenter had other jobs going on that needed her attention first. As if stopping Haley from melting into a puddle shouldn't be her top priority.
Luckily, Haley knew another person who would definitely drop everything to come and fix her air conditioner.
That new farmer.
That strangely persistent girl who had taken over the old farm near Cindersap Forest. The one who brought Haley flowers—sunflowers—Haley’s favorite, after Haley only mentioning it once.
The one who told her to help her sister with chores, even when Haley had whined about it. But Lena hadn’t given in. Told Haley she was being a brat.
A brat?! Haley?! As if!
The nerve of her! Calling Haley out like that. Making her cheeks heat up, and her heart race, and her breath catch.
Lena, with her warm brown eyes that always seemed to see right through Haley, and her crooked smile that made everything feel brighter somehow.
Because Lena, for the first time in Haley’s life, didn’t give Haley what she wanted. Haley always got what she wanted. She always got her way.
When her parents bothered to be around, they always gave Haley whatever treat or toy she asked for. For every missed ballet recital, or absent graduation, or forgotten birthday she got an apology gift without the words “I’m sorry” actually having to leave their mouths. She got a puppy after the dance recital, a new car for the graduation, and a shopping spree to make up for every missed birthday.
Her parents always gave Haley anything she asked for. It was easier than giving her what she didn’t.
Easier than actually being a part of Haley’s life.
Haley’s parents were probably off on a tropical vacation right now, sipping margaritas and going to luaus, while Haley was stuck in Pelican Town, currently suffering from heatstroke. Life was truly unfair.
Haley groaned, and smacked her AC unit, hoping that a little physical abuse would make the machine work again. It didn’t.
Instead, the fan sputtered pathetically before finally gasping its last breath. Haley cursed.
Emily was already at work in the Saloon, and wouldn't be back until past midnight. Which left Haley with two options; sit in her room and slowly melt to death, or go find someone to fix her AC.
Haley sighed dramatically. Finding someone to help her meant getting up, which meant putting on actual clothes. Haley huffed.
Finally, she threw open her wardrobe and found a flowy pink sundress, made of a gauzy cotton material that would hopefully let Haley breathe a bit.
Throwing her hair into a high ponytail, Haley checked herself in the mirror. She looked hot. She looked sweaty. Haley grimaced, and dabbed on some face powder to combat some of the shine on her forehead.
A bit better.
Putting on some sandals and an extra layer of sunscreen on her arms (no thank you, skin cancer), Haley headed out the door towards Cindersap Forest.
Lena would probably be working in the fields. Even on the hottest day of the year, that woman didn't know how to take a break. Haley almost admired her for it.
As Haley traipsed through the meadow near Marnie’s Ranch, she wondered if Lena would even agree to help her. Haley quickly shook this thought away. Of course the farmer would help her. She always did. When Haley needed help opening that jar of strawberry jam, Lena had shown up at just the right time to pop open the lid. Her tan arms had flexed as she opened the lid with ease, and their fingers had brushed as Lena handed Haley the jar.
Her hands had felt calloused, worn from farmwork. Haley wondered if she moisturized. Probably not.
Haley indeed found Lena working in the fields, picking blueberries. The woman didn’t notice Haley at first, too absorbed in plucking the berries from their stems. As Haley approached her, she saw that Lena was wearing a pair of faded denim overalls and a white cotton shirt speckled with dirt. Her large straw sunhat covered half of her tan face, and her short black hair was tied back into a low ponytail at the nape of her neck. The July sun beat down unrelentingly, with no shade offered out in the fields.
When she finally glanced up and saw Haley, Lena immediately smiled.
“Afternoon, sweetheart.” Lena flashed Haley a cheeky grin, and Haley felt heat rise to her cheeks. God, it was hot out here.
“What are you doing?” Haley asked, crossing her arms and taking in the landscape. The blueberry patches took up a large swath of the far right field of Lena’s farm. Haley knew she grew other fruit too—strawberries, raspberries, and blackberries. Haley had made the best triple-berry pie with berries from Lena’s farm. Not that Haley would ever tell the farmer that.
“Uh, picking blueberries?” Lena glanced down at where she knelt in the fields, dirt-covered hands still nimbly picking the berries.
“Well, I need you for something.” Haley commanded, and Lena glanced up at her, dark eyes questioning.
“Oh? How can I be of service?” Lena teased, which Haley ignored in favour of fanning herself dramatically.
“Can we talk in your farmhouse? It’s so hot out here, I’m gonna pass out.” Haley whined, and Lena raised an eyebrow.
“Well, we wouldn’t want that.” Lena said dryly, but made to stand up anyways. Except, she didn’t head towards the farmhouse as Haley had requested. Instead, she bent over and grabbed another white bucket and plopped it upside down in front of Haley.
“But I’m working right now.” Lena said, then patted the overturned bucket, “Here, help me pick some berries and I’ll listen to your request.” Lena told her.
Haley sat before she could even register that she was sitting.
“Humph.” Haley grumbled, “I’m not your free manual labour, you know.”
“You said you wanted something from me, you didn't think I’d give my own help for free, did you?” Lena prodded, and Haley crossed her arms.
“Well, that’s different…” Haley tried to reason, but found that she couldn't. She picked at her manicure.
“Whatever. Just give me a container to put the berries in.” Haley snapped, and Lena followed, handing Haley a basket.
“If these berries stain my dress blue, I’m charging you for the dry-cleaning.” Haley muttered.
Lena just went back to picking berries.
“So, what did you need me for?” Lena asked her, and suddenly Haley remembered why she’d come this far out of town.
“My AC is broken. I need you to fix it.” Haley instructed Lena, who didn’t even bat an eye.
“Isn’t that more of a job for Robin?” Lena asked, making Haley scowl.
“Robin’s busy.” Haley pouted, and Lena glanced at her.
“You can’t wait until she’s not busy?” Lena prompted, and Haley humphed again.
“Well, I want my AC fixed now.” Haley explained, like it was obvious. Lena smirked down at the berry bush.
“What a brat.” Lena muttered, almost to herself. Haley frowned.
“I am not!” Haley felt the need to defend herself. Lena glanced up, and her expression was fond.
“I didn’t mean it in a bad way, y’know.” Lena soothed her, tone kind. Haley felt herself relax slightly.
“Well, whatever.” Haley muttered, “Can you fix my AC or not?” She asked, wanting to suddenly get out of the blueberry field, away from the scorching heat and Lena’s stare.
Lena smiled wryly.
“Once I’m done picking these berries, I can take a crack at it.” Lena said, then nodded her head towards Haley’s basket, which only had three measly blueberries in it, “And as payment you can fill that basket up first.”
Haley pursed her lips.
“That’s gonna take forever!” Haley groused, and Lena didn’t even blink.
“Well, it’s gonna take longer the more you whine about it, sweetheart.” Lena told her simply. Haley pouted some more.
“But I can’t go as fast as you!” Haley pointed out, watching as Lena’s skilled fingers deftly stripped a bushel of its berries in one go.
“Well, the more you do it, the quicker you’ll get.” Lena said, still clearing the bushes with lightning speed.
Haley sighed, and reached out to daintily pluck a single blueberry from the bush. She twisted it between her fingers, and then placed it gingerly into the basket.
One down.
Haley glanced up to find Lena watching her, laughter in her eyes.
“They’re not gonna bite you, y’know.” Lena teased, as Haley flushed with embarrassment.
“Well, I don’t wanna ruin any!” Haley explained, and Lena just smiled reassuringly at her.
“Don’t worry, sweetheart, they’re not as delicate as they look.” Lena said, and Haley furrowed her brow.
“Fine.” Haley said, bending down to pick three berries in a row. One ended up getting squished, the juices running down Haley’s finger and staining her skin.
“Ugh!” Haley groaned, holding her hand out to Lena for inspection, “Now look what happened."
Haley felt frustration bubble up inside of her.
“Relax, sweetheart.” Lena said calmly, “The best part of berry picking is doing a bit of snacking in between.”
Haley glanced down at her hand, the dark-purple blueberry juice dribbling down her french manicure.
“But they aren’t even washed!” Haley argued, prompting Lena to roll her eyes fondly.
“I don’t use any harmful pesticides, they’re safe to eat.” Lena explained, and Haley eyed the berry suspiciously.
“Prove it.” Haley demanded, and Lena laughed, light and airy.
“Alright, alright. If it’ll make you feel better.” Lena said, then reached over and plucked the blueberry from Haley’s fingers, popping it into her mouth.
“Mmmmm—” Lena moaned exaggeratedly, “Juicy.” She grinned, and Haley watched as her tongue darted out to catch a stray drop of juice.
Haley swallowed.
“Hey, that one was mine!” Haley frowned, and Lena laughed lightly.
“I thought you didn't even want any?” Lena teased, and Haley crossed her arms.
“Well, now I do.” Haley countered, and Lena shot her a wry grin.
“Alright, catch!” Lena said, then threw a blueberry at Haley’s face. It bounced off her bottom lip and rolled into the top of her dress.
“Hey!” Haley exclaimed, fishing the berry out of her cleavage, “What was that for?”
Lena just laughed.
“You were supposed to catch it!” Lena explained, still smiling. Haley huffed.
“Well, I wasn’t ready!” Haley said, “Throw me another!” Haley demanded, wanting a second chance. Lena raised an eyebrow.
“I wouldn’t want to waste any more berries.” Lena smirked, “So here.”
With that, Lena leaned over and placed a blueberry between Haley's lips. Her fingers brushed against Haley’s sticky watermelon lipgloss. Haley bit down on the berry, and enjoyed the tart sweetness that danced on her tongue.
“Humph. It’s alright.” Haley sniffed, and Lena’s dark eyes danced with amusement.
“Glad it meets your approval, sweetheart.” Lena smirked.
Haley just turned back towards the berry bushes. The two of them picked blueberries in comfortable silence, the berry juices staining Haley’s manicure a light purple.
Sitting with Lena was nice, Haley thought. Even if she was being forced into manual labour, Lena had made a chore seem almost fun.
Haley pushed this thought away.
“There!” She said, showing off her now full basket of blueberries. Lena smiled at her, something like pride on her face.
“Well done, sweetheart.” She praised Haley, who felt herself blush under Lena’s open smile.
“Will you fix my AC now?” Haley asked, suddenly remembering why she’d come all the way out here. She wasn't sure how much time had passed, just that the sun was definitely lower in the sky by now.
Lena offered her a grin, as well as a hand to stand up. As Haley took it, she noticed the rough callouses on Lena’s tan skin.
“Well, a deal’s a deal.” Lena said, still holding Haley’s hand. Haley quickly snatched it back, cheeks on fire. Haley wanted to cross her arms again, just to be contrary. Just to see what Lena would do.
Instead, she shoved the basket of berries into Lena’s hands.
“Well, good then.” Haley said quickly, “About time.” she added, just to be… okay not a brat, but just… to be difficult. Haley wanted to be difficult right now.
Lena just shot her a wry smile, full of amusement.
“You’re the one who took so long picking the berries.” Lena pointed out, even as she started gathering her supplies; the overturned bucket, and the blueberry baskets.
Haley had the uncomfortable feeling like she should offer to help. She squashed that down.
“Let’s just go already.” Haley snapped, wanting to get out of the sun, to get away from the way Lena looked standing so at ease in the fields, a bright smile on her face.
“Whatever you say, sweetheart.” Was Lena’s reply.
As the two made their way back toward the main farmhouse, the sun setting over the hills and casting a warm, orange glow over Lena's back, Haley let herself almost be glad that her AC had broken today. Almost.