It didn't take long to cross the increasingly-crowded room and make my way into the arcade room. Sam, who was playing pool with the guy I had met at the pier, looked up as I walked in. "Careful," he said as I made my way over to the sofa Abigail was sitting in, "She'll bite your head off when she's like this."

"Go and stuff that pool cue where the sun don't shine," she snapped back. Sam held his hands up in a placating gesture, then looked at me with raised eyebrows as if to say 'See what I mean?'

I walked over and clapped a hand on Sam's shoulder. "Much to learn, you still have, young padawan," I whispered, then sat down next to Abigail.

To the obvious surprise of the other occupants in the room, rather than bite my head off, she tucked her legs underneath herself, then curled up into my side. I put my arm around her and rubbed circles into her back, sending a wink to Sam.

"So, is it something you want to talk about?" I asked her after a minute. I couldn't see her face as it was tucked into my neck, while she drew patterns on my shirt.

"It's just my parents being stupid," she replied, quietly, after several long seconds. "They cornered me to talk about us and how happy I've been and how they're so glad I finally found someone, I swear they're already planning our wedding. They don't listen to me either, I tried to tell them, but they seriously just don't listen."

"Yikes," I said. Now that I knew what Abigail wanted, or more specifically, what she didn't want, I could understand how frustrating it would be to have your parents focusing on that. "Do you want me to talk to them? Your dad and I are on pretty good terms, and if I can do something to help, I want to."

She thought for a moment, still drawing circles on my chest, then her arm slid around me to wrap me in a hug. "I don't know. Maybe? They just think that all my problems will be solved when I find Mr. Right, get married, and have babies. And all 'my problems' are just things about me that they don't like, things that I'm perfectly happy with. Whenever I try to explain to them, they just take whatever I say as excuses or just not knowing any better."

"I'm sorry you're struggling with that," I said, giving her a squeeze which was returned.

At that moment, Leah poked around the corner of the doorframe. Her eyebrows were raised in surprise, and it looked like she had been about to say something and then forgot. Recovering after a moment, she walked up to us and put a hand on Abigail's shoulder. "Hey, is everything okay?"

Abigail looked up with a faint smile and nodded. "Yeah, just more of the same old. Chris is really good at calming me down."

"I can see that," Leah said with a grin. "You two look pretty comfortable with each other. Didn't you only meet less than a week ago?"

"We were actually something of childhood friends," I answered. "We were able to pick back up where we had left off." Abigail hummed happily and squirmed back into the crook of my neck, which put a smile on my face as well.

"Well that's good, you two are cute together. I was just doing my duty of making sure the new guy hadn't hurt my good friend somehow. No offense, Chris."

"None taken," I replied. "I would have done the same."

"Well, I've done my duty and I've drawn some sketches. I think I'll be heading back home," she finally said, already stepping away.

Abigail's head popped up. "What? Noooo. Stay with us for a while!" Leah hesitated, and that was all Abigail needed. She lunged for Leah's arm and yanked her down toward the sofa. Leah and I both yelped in surprise but gave in as Abigail got to work rearranging limbs. Leah ended up reclining in Abigail's arms with her legs lying across my own. I had my hands in the air, unsure of where to put them, and ended up rubbing the back of my neck awkwardly while I looked sideways at Abigail.

"I haven't seen you all week, and now you want to leave already? I bet you're lonely and just didn't want to make a fuss. You needed cuddles, didn't you?" Abigail's hands found their ways to Leah's sides, and she began to ruthlessly tickle her friend. Leah, it appeared, was extremely ticklish, and I was sure I was going to have several bruises with the way her legs were flying about.

"No! Please! Stop, please! No!" She continued to protest whenever she could fit something in between laughs, but Abigail kept up her onslaught for the better part of a minute. When she finally stopped, Leah let out a long sigh and practically melted on the spot.

"Feeling better?" asked Abigail.

"Mmmm. Much, thank you. I just didn't want to intrude on the two of you," Leah said, looking guilty.

"Nonsense," replied Abigail. "You're always welcome with us. Right, Chris?"

I chuckled, "She's right, and you should know not to try and argue with her. You'll never win."

Abigail nodded her head with a look of supreme satisfaction on her face, then snuggled deeper into her cuddles with Leah. "You smell like the forest," she said as she buried her face in Leah's hair. For her part, Leah just mumbled something and started playing absentmindedly with her braid.

"I wasn't sure how well you two know each other, but it appears to be better than I expected," I noted.

"Abigail was very helpful when I move into the cabin," replied Leah. "She was my first friend in town, helped with some projects, and we usually hang out quite a bit."

"We haven't done that enough recently," added Abigail. "How about the three of us have a picnic as soon as the salmonberries start growing? We could have something from Chris' farm, and fish with a berry sauce. It would be delicious."

"Sounds great. Can you cook all that?" I asked.

"Yeah," replied Abigail, but a frown appeared on her face. "My mom can cook anything, and she has taught me a lot. I enjoy cooking, I really do, I just hate how it's always been 'Learn to cook this dear, one day your husband will love you for it' or some bs like that."

"I'm sorry she hasn't given up on that yet," said Leah, reaching up to rub Abigail's shoulder. "They'll figure it out soon, I can feel it. They'll understand what you want and what makes you happy."

"Yeah," I added, reaching over to rub her ankle. "And in the meantime, we'll just focus on the good stuff. Life's too short to spend it worrying."

Abigail looked back and forth between us with tears building in her eyes. "Man, you two are so sweet, I'm glad I have both of you in my life."

"So am I," we both said.

Pizza came, slices were shared, TV was watched, and games of pool were played. For the most part, we stuck to our little group of three for the night, but occasionally Sam or Sebastian would join us to talk about something. I showed my hi-score on the game to Abigail and she swatted my arm as Leah watched and chuckled at us. "Jerk! I've been trying to get up there for months and you manage it your first try?"

"Well, technically it was my second try," I defended. "Wait, is that why you got it for your home system, so you can practice and get better, all to get your name on this machine?"

Leah burst into laughter, and Abigail crossed her arms across her chest. "So what if I did?" she challenged, a dangerous look in her eye.

"No, that's perfectly fine, nothing wrong with that at all," I backpedaled. I looked at Leah for some help, but she had fallen off the sofa from laughing too hard. "Uh, how about we have a weekly practice session, and we'll get you all the way up to first place?"

I could tell she was trying to hold 'the look' she was giving me, but the idea of being in first place was too strong, so finally she broke into a smile and held out her hand. "Deal," she said, and we shook on it.

"You guys… are such… dorks…" Leah panted out from the floor.

I walked over and offered to help her up, which she took advantage of. "Yes, we are. You'd better run before you get infected."

Leah chuckled and shoved my shoulder. "It's probably too late for me, and you two are worth the risk anyway."

We heard Gus call out that he would be closing up soon, and I looked at the clock, surprised. It was nearly midnight. "Surely this is a prank, right? I mean, it was like seven-thirty just an hour ago, I'm pretty sure."

The girls both laughed and Abigail grabbed my arm. "You didn't have enough fun in the city, we're going to change that."

I smiled and pulled her into a hug. "Thanks for everything."

"No problem, farmer boy," she replied.

After that, we made our way outside, and just stood there enjoying the cool evening weather for a while. Finally, Leah spoke up. "Well, I should be heading back. Thanks again for tonight."

"Want me to walk you?" I asked, practically without thinking. I knew the valley was safer than the city, but it was ingrained into me that women didn't walk home in the dark by themselves. "Only if you want, no pressure."

Leah smiled, then looked at Abigail. They seemed to have a silent conversation that only lasted a few seconds. "Yeah, sure," she said.

"Great," I replied. I might not have the same connection with Leah as I did with Abigail, but she was still easy to get along with and fun to be around. I was glad I had met such wonderful girls to be friends with. "Let me just talk to Abigail for a minute, then we'll go."

I took Abigail's hands and pulled her off to the side so we could talk without being overheard. "I had a great time tonight, Abby. Think about what you might want to have me say to your parents, or if you want, I can just wing it. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know you're always welcome at the farm if you feel like you need some space from them. I never lock the door, so even if I'm not there, make yourself at home, okay?"

She gave me a hug when I finished. "Thanks, Chris, that means a lot to me. I might take you up on that offer. You should get going though, never keep a lady waiting. Oh, and remember what I said earlier? If you see any more daffodils, I'm sure Leah would love one," she said with a wink.

"Abby," I sighed. "I'm okay with what happened between us this afternoon. You don't need to try and set me up with someone else."

"It's not that," she said. "I just think you two would be cute together. And don't tell her I said this, but I can tell she likes you. Then again, what girl wouldn't?" she added with a smirk.

"Whatever," I finally said, "I'm not in a rush." That much was true. I wasn't particularly going out of my way to find someone, but I wasn't opposed to the idea either. "I'll see you soon, okay?"

"Yeah. Goodnight farmer boy," she said before leaning up to give me a kiss on the cheek. "Had to get that in before you're off the market," she added with a laugh.

"Goodnight," I said, laughing with her. I watched her head toward her home for a few seconds, then turned back toward Leah, shaking my head in amusement. Abigail was something else, that was for sure. "My apologies, I was just reprimanded for leaving a lady standing by herself. Are you ready to go, madam?" I asked, adding a bow for good measure.

"Why certainly sir," she replied with a curtsey.

I held out my arm as any good gentleman should, and she daintily put her hand on top. "Have you met Sir Elliot, by chance?" she asked me as we started walking.

"Uh… no?" I said stupidly. "I mean, I have not yet had the pleasure, it would seem."

Leah laughed at my slip-up. "What a shame! Sir Elliot is one of the finest writers of our time, and he just so happens to reside in a wonderful home just off the beach."

"Aah, so that's who lives there," I said, honestly too tired to keep up the charade and starting to feel a little stupid. "Are there any other creative types around town?"

"To some extent there are. Sam and Sebastian are trying to start a band, and Abigail plays the flute. Nobody else that's made a career out of it though," she explained. Abigail playing the flute was news to me, I'd have to get her to play for me some time.

"So Elliot's a writer, and you thought of him because we were acting like storybook characters? Think he would be inspired by it?" I asked.

Leah giggled. "Something like that. His dialogue would certainly be more flowery than yours was. Better than mine too, to be fair."

I hadn't planned on arguing the point, it had just been a spur of the moment thing anyway. "Yeah, sorry about that. I'm not usually so weird. I think Abby has been rubbing off on me."

"Don't apologize," responded Leah. "It's refreshing. One of the reasons I moved here was because I was so tired of how fake everyone was in the city. It felt like everyone was competing to see who could be the best robot, even in the art scene."

"Yeah, I get that," I answered. "Things are a lot nicer here. Everything's more colorful, the air is fresher, and most of the people here are really nice."

Leah hummed. "Let me guess, Shane and Sebastian?"

"I met Sebastian briefly before tonight. He doesn't seem too bad, I think I just interrupted his alone time at the pier."

"Yeah, that's just who he is", she replied. "He and Sam are best friends, but did you notice how little they talk? Well, Sam talks, but Sebastian just listens."

"I don't think there's anything wrong with that," I defended. "Not everyone has to be as energetic as Abby all the time. Or half the time. Who's Shane though?"

"I saw you trying to talk to him. Tall, scruffy, and never without a beer in his hand?" came the reply.

"Ahh, him. Yeah, I don't know what his problem is," I said, not realizing the tone in my voice. "Such a killjoy."

Leah tugged at my arm, spinning me to face her when I said that. We were far enough from town that there was only the moonlight to see by, but I could tell she wasn't happy with me. "Hey, everybody has their demons, some just live closer to the surface than others. For all his faults, I've never seen him say anything bad about someone else, and definitely not behind their back."

I sighed and deflated. "You're right, I shouldn't judge." I stuffed my hands in my pockets and started walking down the road again. Where did that come from? I asked myself, feeling a pit in my stomach. I considered myself a pretty good guy, but most people probably thought that way about themselves.

I heard Leah following behind me, but the friendly mood seemed to be ruined. "That was a pretty ugly thing to say, wasn't it?" I asked, simply getting a grunt of acknowledgment from her. "A pretty ugly thing to think too," I continued, working out my thoughts out loud. "I don't know, I guess he just reminded me of what I came here to get away from, but that's not fair to project my problems onto him."

The footsteps behind me quickened until Leah was walking next to me, looking up at my face. "Well, I guess you're not a total jerk, after all."

"Hey!" I protested, looking over and seeing her smirk.

"What?" she asked innocently. "At least I said it to your face."

I opened my mouth to retort, then shut it quickly. "I deserved that," I finally said. Leah laughed and picked up her pace, leaving me behind. I spotted a daffodil growing by a fence post and almost stopped to pick it, but decided against it. Too soon, I thought, before hurrying to catch up with the fiery artist.

Author's Note: As always, most of my plans have failed to survive the first contact with the enemy. I'm pleased with how this chapter turned out though. We got more Abigail, which is always good, and more Leah too, which is also always good. I hope you enjoyed the chapter, I'm really happy to see so many views on this story, and I hope I live up to your expectations.