Chapter Text

Chapter 1 - The Farm is Let at Last

It seems inevitable that, at least once in every person’s life, they find themselves searching for the key decision that brought their world tumbling down around them; that one defining moment in a sea of daily choices that set them on the road to perceived ruin. This, at least, was true for Adelaide Morgan as she first laid eyes on the farmhouse that her grandfather had left her. It was a small, crumbling structure surrounded by thickets of weeds and brambles that looked as if they were trying to find their way into the house by any means necessary. It seemed impossible that nature should have attempted to reclaim the building so quickly; then again, she reminded herself, it had been two years since her grandfather had passed away, and she doubted anyone had been asked to take care of it in that time.
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Well, anyone besides her.
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She cringed at the thought, disappointed by her own inaction, but once again asked herself why she was even standing here now. By all accounts, she had a good life back in Zuzu City—she had a stable job with an ever-growing company, a decent apartment with a good commute, and a couple of close friends whom she already missed. Why on earth would she want to leave all of that to move to her grandfather’s old farm in a town where she knew no one and had no guaranteed income or safety net?
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But she wasn’t one to fool herself—she knew exactly why she came to the valley. It hadn’t been one big, defining moment that had made her decision, but a series of small offenses that added up to a situation that was impossible to ignore; the man not-so-subtly pressing his hips into her back on the crowded subway; her boss texting her on her days off with requests that easily could have waited until Monday; her ex commenting on how she really should order a salad, since they both could afford to lose ten pounds. It got to the point where Adelaide realized she was spending her days just listening to the ticking of the clock above her cubicle, wishing for time to move faster and release her from her purgatory. But if she did that every day, how long would it be before she found herself old, lying in a sickbed somewhere, wishing for time back?
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So, she needed a change. Hence, farm.
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“What’s the matter?”
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Adelaide was startled out of her reverie by Robin’s question. The local carpenter had been kind enough to pick her up from the bus stop and show her to her new home. She was a pretty woman, older than Adelaide, with copper hair that was just starting to sparkle with solitary white strands. She gave Adelaide a gentle smile.
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“Nothing!” Adelaide said, trying to arrange her face into a mask of optimism. From the look in Robin’s eyes, she knew she was failing. “It’s just… well, it’s a little…”
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Adelaide sighed. “It’s a mess.”
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Robin laughed wholeheartedly and without a hint of malice. “Oh, honey, it’s ok. Sure, it’s a bit overgrown, but there’s some good soil underneath that mess!” She put her hand on Adelaide’s shoulder. “With a little dedication, you’ll have it cleaned up in no time.”
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She gave Adelaide’s shoulder a small squeeze, and Adelaide felt herself warming to the woman. Robin was the kind of person Adelaide had always wished her mother could be, rather than the neurotic mess she had grown up with. She found herself wondering (with a surprising level of jealousy) if Robin had kids. She must, right? Lucky fucks.
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“Come on,” Robin said with a smile, “let me show you the house.”
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The two women walked up to the uneven wooden steps, but before Adelaide could begin to climb them, the door to the house swung open, its hinges squealing in protest. An old man with a brown newsboy cap and a meticulously quaffed mustache strode out of the house, grinning from ear to ear. Almost like he owns the place, Adelaide thought, a little amused.
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“Ah! The new farmer!” he cried, extending his hand to Adelaide. Adelaide took the proffered hand, and he clasped his other around hers, beaming.
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“Welcome! I’m Lewis, Mayor of Pelican town.” He looked her up and down appraisingly. “You know, everyone’s been asking about you. It’s not every day that someone moves in. It’s quite a big deal!”
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He took a step back from her and turned to look at the farmhouse, sighing.
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“So,” he said, “you’re moving into your grandfather’s old cottage. It’s a good house! Very…ah….” he looked to the sky for a second, searching for the word, “rustic.”
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Adelaide heard a snort from Robin behind her.
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“Rustic? That’s one way to put it,” Robin giggled. “Crusty might be a little more apt, though.”
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Adelaide couldn’t help but laugh as Mayor Lewis’ face turned bright purple.
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“Rude!” he cried. “Rudeness itself! My dear, you mustn’t listen to her. She’s just trying to make you dissatisfied so that you buy one of her house upgrades.”
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Robin scowled, taking Adelaide by surprise.
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“Anyway,” Mayor Lewis continued, “you must be tired from the long journey. You should get some rest.” He began to walk towards the wooden fence at the entrance of the farm, stopping and turning after a few feet. “Tomorrow, you ought to explore the town a bit and introduce yourself! The townspeople would appreciate that. In fact…” he looked up at the clouds, pinching the end of his mustache absentmindedly, “Yes, I think we should! Come by the Stardrop Saloon tomorrow evening at five o’clock. We’ll have a little welcome celebration for you there.”
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“Oh, Mayor Lewis, you’re so kind, but there’s really no need to do that for me!” Adelaide realized it was the first time she had spoken since Lewis had appeared.
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“Nonsense! This town is a little place, but we do take every opportunity to enjoy ourselves. Everyone will just be happy to have a reason to get together. Ta ta, now!”
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Adelaide watched the mayor retreat, whistling a warbling tune that sounded more like a bird call than a real song.
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“He is right about that, at least,” said Robin. Adelaide turned to face her. “We do love a party here. You’ll see.”
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Robin let out a puff of breath and dusted off her knees. “Well, I should be getting back to the shop. Don’t hesitate to reach out to me if you need anything! There should be a town directory next to your phone inside.” She pulled Adelaide into a hug, which was unexpected but by no means unpleasant. “You’ve got this, honey. I know you do.”
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And then Adelaide was alone.
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She took a deep breath. “Well,” she said to no one in particular, “here goes nothing.”
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*****

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The boulders would be the death of her.
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Adelaide pushed her sweaty blonde bangs back from her forehead, her chest heaving. She had certainly not been sedentary when she lived in Zuzu City, but she had never really gone out of her way to work out regularly. She walked everywhere, and she would go to spin classes with her friends or coworkers occasionally; in her hubris, she had always thought that would be enough. She cursed herself for it now, throwing her pickaxe to the ground and squatting down in a huff. Her arms shook and her back ached, and she wondered briefly how the hell her grandfather had managed this place on his own.
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She stood again and stretched her arms above her head, swaying back and forth until she felt the tension in her back release a bit. She pulled back her oversized brown work glove and checked her watch. A quarter to four. She would need to start getting ready now if she wanted to make a half-decent impression at the gathering tonight.

Damn, she thought wryly, and just when I was having so much fun hacking away at stupid, never-ending rocks.

She heaved her pickaxe off the ground and trudged back to the house. The stairs creaked and groaned as she climbed them, and she wondered absentmindedly if that was something Robin could fix for her. She would need to see about these “house upgrades” Mayor Lewis mentioned.
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She set her pickaxe against the exterior wall and opened the front door, the shrieking of the hinges setting her hair on end. She would have to add oil to the list of things to buy. The cottage was sparse, with just one main living space and a small bathroom attached to her right. It seemed the bathroom was a later addition, and she shuddered to think of what her life might have been if she had been forced to use an outhouse consistently. She unhooked the top of her overalls and let them fall to the ground, stripping off her sweaty shirt and bra. She threw everything into her laundry basket—oh god, she thought, is there a laundromat in town?—and headed into the bathroom.
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The single bulb above the mirror sparked to life. Adelaide knuckled her lower back as she leaned into the shower, quickly turning the hot and cold taps and ducking out of the way as the pipes sputtered and banged, a heavy spray of water springing out of the shower head. When the water was warm, she stepped into the clawfoot tub with a sigh—the whole place may have been old and run down, but the water pressure was amazing. She let the scalding water beat on her back, the knots and aches starting to melt away. She wished she could stay there forever—no worries, no obligations, just her and the water. But she needed to get ready in time to find the Stardrop Saloon.
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After an inadvisedly long shower, Adelaide blow-dried her hair as quickly as she could. She decided on a minimal makeup look, applying some mascara, clear brow gel, and a soft pink lip stain. She threw on a yellow sundress, a light blue jean jacket, and her white tennis shoes. She looked at her watch—it was already a quarter to five—and ran out the door, keys jingling merrily. She had to admit, she was excited to meet everyone. She used to have a busy social life back in Zuzu city—maybe she could recover some of that here.
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*****

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The Stardrop Saloon was easy enough to find—Adelaide could hear the laughter and hum of voices as soon as she entered the town square. It was a cheerful, rustic building situated in the middle of town. As Adelaide approached it, a familiar, comforting smell drifted towards her on the cool breeze. She stopped for a moment and inhaled deeply. She hadn’t had a cigarette since she’d arrived in Pelican Town, and she was starting to crave one. Still, she probably shouldn’t before meeting new people; after all, she didn’t know who would find the smell offensive.
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As she approached the door to the saloon, she peeked around for the source of the smoke. Intermittent plumes drifted lazily from around the corner of the building. She paused for a moment, contemplating going to introduce herself, before shaking her head and pushing open the door. It was best not to disturb whoever it was—they probably wanted to be alone.
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A bell above the door jingled, signaling her arrival to everyone inside. The interior of the saloon was warm, its wood-paneled walls covered in pictures of happy people and beautiful nature scenes. A jukebox on the far wall was playing a song she had heard her grandfather play many times before. Above the bar hung a banner, the words “Welcome, Adelaide!” emblazoned across it. The lettering was neat and measured, but was surrounded by splashes of color that looked like a child’s attempt at drawing flowers and balloons.
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A dozen heads turned towards her, and a hush fell over the crowd. Adelaide suddenly felt exposed, naked under a spotlight. She tugged at the hem of her dress nervously. After what felt like an eternity, Mayor Lewis trotted up to Adelaide, breaking the silence.
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“Ah, Ms. Adelaide! Everyone, this is Adelaide Morgan, our new farmer. Adelaide, meet the people of Pelican Town. Now everyone, don’t be shy—unlike her grandfather, she doesn’t bite!”
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And just like that, the tension was broken. The crowd erupted into cheers and warm words of welcome as Lewis ushered Adelaide forward. Robin rushed up to her, drink in hand.
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“Adelaide, sweetheart! Here, I grabbed you a glass of wine. I hope that’s ok!”
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Adelaide puffed out a sigh of relief and grinned. “That’s perfect, thank you so much.”
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Robin grabbed Adelaide’s arm, leading her deeper into the saloon. She started introducing her to everyone in sight. Demetrius, a tall, handsome man whom Robin introduced as her husband, shook her hand warmly. Leah and Elliot, whom she gathered were both artists, offered to buy her another drink. Gus and Emily, who worked behind the bar, offered her a slice of pizza on the house. Adelaide was overwhelmed—this experience was so different from the cold indifference that greeted her on her first night in Zuzu City.
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Of course, some introductions were less friendly. The older woman at the bar (Adelaide thought she said her name was Pam, but she was slurring so heavily that it was hard to tell) was focused on drinking as much as she could in as little time as possible. Similarly, a surly man named Shane seemed much more interested in what was at the bottom of his glass than talking to anyone new. That was fine with Adelaide, though. She appreciated the warm welcome, but she didn’t need to be friends with everyone off the bat.
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“And this is Sam,” said Robin, beckoning over a tall boy with spiky blond hair. He bounded over to them, face beaming, stopping about a foot away with a loud stomp. His drink sloshed dangerously, and a few drops sprayed back towards his face. He laughed, wiping his cheek with a lightly bemused but no less excited expression. He thrust his hand towards Adelaide.
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“Heyo! Name’s Sam, but Robin said that already. It’s so great to meet you!”
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Adelaide grinned. Aww…he’s a golden retriever.
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“Likewise!” she said, taking his hand. His grip was firm, but not offensively so. His presence was warm and easygoing, and Adelaide hoped she’d found a new friend.
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“I really like what you’ve done with your hair,” Adelaide said, gesturing towards his head.
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“Really??” He grinned, twisting one of the spikes. “I think I’ve finally got the right combination of gel and mousse. It’s an art form, y’know? Well, I mean, girls would know.”
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Robin giggled. “Sam is always so creative with his hair. I wish you could influence Sebastian to get his hair out of his face. I always tell him, ‘You have two perfectly nice eyes, it would be great to see both of them’”.
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Adelaide looked to Robin, whose eyes widened in realization.
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“Oh! Of course, you haven’t met yet! Sebastian is my son. He should be here somewhere…have you seen him, Sam?”
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Sam shook his head. “Nah, not yet, but I’m sure he’s—oh, scratch that, there he is! Seb!”
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He waved wildly to someone behind Adelaide, his drink threatening to spill again. Adelaide turned.
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Striding towards them was a pale, lanky boy with hair so black it almost looked purple. He wore a faded black hoodie and ripped jeans. His asymmetrical hair did fall in front of one eye, although Adelaide suspected that if he carried himself more upright, it wouldn’t do so as much. As he approached, Adelaide could smell smoke and cold, spring air clinging to his clothes. She found herself breathing a little deeper, trying to fill her lungs with the comforting scent.
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“There you are!” said Robin, holding her arm out to pull the boy in for a one-armed hug. “Sebby, this is Adelaide. She recently moved onto Artie’s old farm. Adelaide, this is my son, Sebastian!”
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Sebastian stepped into his mother’s embrace, looking down at Adelaide without much interest.
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“Oh, you just moved in, right?”
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Adelaide nodded. Sebastian gave a single nod in return as he glanced towards the pool table at the back of the room. “Cool,” he said, with a tone edging towards boredom.
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Adelaide had to admit, she was a little taken aback. Sam and Robin were both so warm and welcoming, their presences so easy-going and natural, that Adelaide had assumed Sebastian would be similar. His indifference took her by surprise, and she wondered absentmindedly if he and Sam had been switched at birth. She felt as if she were somehow intruding on his night, even though the whole gathering was in celebration of her. She decided to try to carry out the conversation anyway.
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“Yeah! Big change of pace from Zuzu, that’s for sure,” she laughed, her fingers fidgeting nervously at the bottom of her wine glass. Sebastian’s eyebrows raised.
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“Zuzu? You lived in the city before this?”
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“Yeah!” she said, hoping maybe they could find some common ground. “I was a project manager at Joja for about five years. I just realized that I couldn’t deal with the rat race anymore and I needed a change of pace, so…here I am.” She shrugged, smiling in a way she hoped looked genuine.

Sam grinned at her. “Hell yeah! Good on you for getting out. It can be hard to give up a gig like that, but it’s like…if you’re not happy, what’s the point, man?”

Robin nodded in affirmation, but Sebastian snorted softly. The three of them turned to look at him. He looked at each of them, the smile sliding from his face.
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“Oh, no, it’s just…well…” A small, derisive smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. “Out of all the places you could live, you chose Pelican Town? You realize we don’t even do delivery here, right?”
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Adelaide felt her face go red. Somehow, within mere minutes of meeting her, Sebastian had pinpointed her greatest insecurity. She felt her doubts creeping in again; what made her expect that she could do this? Was it pure hubris to think that she could make it out here on her own? Homesickness and insecurity twisted her insides, making her feel a little ill.
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Robin smacked Sebastian on the arm, and he winced.
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“Sebastian! What exactly is that supposed to mean?” she demanded. “There is nothing wrong with Pelican town, and I’m sure Adelaide will manage just fine!”
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Sebastian held up his hands in mock surrender. “What? I’m just saying, why would anyone leave the city if they had the choice to stay? And to come here, of all places? That’s so stup—”
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Sam grabbed Sebastian around the neck, dragging his head down about a foot. “Alright, buddy, that’s enough outta you. Abby’s waiting for us to play pool, anyway.” He peered over Sebastian’s head at Adelaide. “Don’t mind him, he’s the dumbest smart person you’ll ever meet. It was great to meet you! I’ll see you around, yeah?”
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He turned on his heel, dragging a glowering Sebastian with him. Robin sighed.
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“I’m sorry about that, Adelaide. I’m sure he doesn’t mean anything by it, but Sebastian can be…abrasive, sometimes. Even when he doesn’t mean to be.”
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Adelaide forced a smile. “It’s fine, really,” she laughed, trying to sound natural. “It’s a fair question. One that I’ve asked myself more than once today, if I’m being honest.”
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Robin pulled Adelaide close to her, stroking the top of her hair lightly.
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“No, no,” she sighed, “you have nothing to worry about. It’s going to be a lot of work, but you’re not alone here. I’m happy to help however I can, and I know I’m not alone in that. We all look out for each other as best we can. So don’t you worry, ok?”
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Adelaide felt tears threatening to spring to her eyes. She gave Robin a tight smile.
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“Thanks, Robin. Hopefully I won’t need to ask too much of you, though.”
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“Honey, don’t even worry about it,” Robin smiled. “I’m sure I’ll have plenty of favors to ask you, too.”
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The rest of the party passed by in an uneasy blur. Adelaide tried to enjoy it as best she could, but Sebastian’s question echoed in her ears. Why did she think she could do this on her own? Had she gone too far this time? What if she changed her mind and couldn’t find a job again? She tried to push the doubts from her mind, a task that proved more difficult when she realized she had never had doubts like this before. She couldn’t say that she regretted her decision just yet; she knew she wouldn’t miss Joja, but in this moment, she missed the certainty of her old life.
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Well, she could be certain of one thing now, though: she may find friends here, but Sebastian would not be one of them.

Chapter Text

Chapter 2 - An Overwhelming Impression

To be Sam’s friend, one occasionally had to suffer certain indignities. Often, it was the things he said—his gregarious nature made him speak too openly for Sebastian’s liking—or the things he would believe without question, leaving Sebastian to act as a sort of caretaker to ensure he wasn’t taken advantage of.

Today, it was being dragged by the neck through a bar full of almost everyone Sebastian knew.

He had given up on the idea of protesting immediately; he knew it would be of no use. He scowled as he allowed his friend to lead him through the bar, watching their feet shuffle across the worn wooden floorboards. What had he done to deserve this treatment? He hadn’t said anything untrue.

After what felt like a lifetime of humiliation, Sam deposited Sebastian onto the faded blue couch facing the pool table.

“Well, that was rude,” said Sebastian, rubbing his neck.

“Oh, that was rude?” Sam laughed incredulously. “What about everything you said to Adelaide? What was that all about, man? You met her for, like, two seconds, and you already stuck your foot in it.”

Sebastian heard a giggle to his left. He had barely registered Abigail’s presence when he was so unceremoniously plopped down next to her. Now, he turned to see her tittering behind her hand, her eyes gleaming in a way that he knew meant she would never let him forget this. He scowled again.

“What exactly was so rude about what I said?” he demanded.

“Bro, are you kidding me?” Sam leaned forward, hands on his hips, taking on an exaggerated and mocking tone. “You’re from the city? Why would you move here, idiot? We don’t even do delivery here–”

“I never called her an idiot!” Sebastian interjected.

“You said she was dumb for moving here! Why, ‘big city girl’ can’t handle living in Pelican Town? What kind of Hallmark bullshit is that?”

“That’s not…” Sebastian trailed off. That wasn’t what he meant. It hadn’t been a slight on her ability to live in a small town, or to take care of a farm (whatever that entailed). He had only meant…

“She probably can’t, though. Right?”

He turned his head towards Abigail. She stared past him, her eyes narrowed slightly, smirking.

“I mean,” she continued, “even if the dirt and hard work aren’t enough to scare her off, which they likely will, what about the monsters? I bet she takes one look at a slime and runs back to the city.”

“Come on, Abby,” Sam sighed, “that’s so rude.”

Abigail gave Sam a sweet smile that did not reach her eyes. “What? I’m just being realistic.”

“No,” said Sebastian, “you’re just mad that now if you visit the farm at night, it’s trespassing.”

Abigail smacked him playfully on the arm and laughed. He wasn’t joking.

“Did you even meet her?” Sam demanded. “She’s so nice!”

Abigail scoffed. “I don’t need to meet her. She just looks like another Hayley to me. Girls like that are all the same.”

“Oh my god, Abs, this isn’t high school anymore,” Sam said, throwing his hands into the air.

Sebastian felt his mind begin to drift. He had witnessed Abigail and Sam’s bickering enough to know that he needn’t be involved in the conversation for a little while. He glanced back at the main room of the bar, his eyes landing on the new girl immediately. She seemed to be deep in conversation with Leah and Elliott, although her eyes darted around the room every so often. Sebastian frowned. What is she looking for?

Sebastian realized that he had been so preoccupied with his own incredulity at her situation that he hadn’t taken a moment to really look at her. He could see why Abigail would be so immediately put off—from afar, she did look a bit like Hayley. Her golden hair fell in similar waves, although they were much more relaxed than Hayley’s pressed ringlets. She had a similar softness to her face, unmarred by the sneers Hayley had long been known for. There was a similar rosy undertone to her cheeks that he had seen flare into a fiery red during their conversation earlier.

He sighed. Maybe she, like Sam, had interpreted his comments as a slight on her ability to make her own way here.

He watched as she shed her blue denim jacket and slung it over the back of a chair, revealing a thin yellow dress that stopped a few inches above the knee. Leah leaned towards her, gesticulating towards the dress, and she laughed sheepishly. Leah seemed to be trying to convince her of something, but Sebastian couldn’t hear them from across the room. Then, with a much more hearty laugh, the new girl—Adelaide, he reminded himself—gave a little twirl. The skirt of her dress floated outwards, and her hair lifted slightly, shining like gold in the light. She stood out brightly against the muted tones of the wood that filled the bar, a solitary sunflower in an empty field.

Sebastian shook his head. A sunflower?

He turned back to his companions. They were still arguing, seemingly unaware of his presence. He stood, brushing off his jeans and turning his back to the girl in yellow.

“Are we going to play some pool or what?”

*****

The road to the vista overlooking Zuzu City was blessedly free of cars, allowing Sebastian to get there in record time. He popped the kickstand on his motorcycle and removed his helmet, taking a moment to appreciate the rush of cool air over his face. He pulled his pack of cigarettes out of his jacket, tapping the bottom of the pack against his hand to push one to the forefront. The glow of the flame blinded him momentarily as he lit the cigarette, leaving a small blue aftermark on the backs of his eyelids. He inhaled deeply and let out a breath that seemed to release all of the tension in his body.

He had been coming here ever since the first day he got his motorcycle license. Demetrius had not approved of his riding a motorcycle instead of driving a car, and they got into a bitter fight about it. Sebastian was angry about it for a long time, but a part of him now was grateful that they had fought that night; otherwise, he might never have found this place. The quiet, cold glow of the distant city filled him with a melancholy sort of calm; he was alone, but in his loneliness, he could be entirely himself without concern for the judgment of others. Sometimes, he felt like this was the only place he could think clearly.

He allowed his mind to drift and found himself reflecting on the events of the evening. Now that he was alone, with all his defensiveness stripped away, he could understand how everyone could have easily misconstrued what he said. After all, they all loved the valley. They loved living in Pelican Town. Naturally, they couldn’t comprehend that his scorn was directed at the town and not at the girl.

No, he thought, be honest. Some of it was directed at her.

In her case, it wasn’t scorn per se: it was utter confusion. He had been working long, odd hours for years, trying to save up enough money to move to the city. All of his time was dedicated to leaving Pelican Town behind him for good. He dreamed of living somewhere where he was anonymous—just a stranger on the street, unbothered and bothering no one. He would miss his friends, and maybe he would make more, but above all else, he wanted some space to himself in a city that constantly moved around him. And the girl—Adelaide—had thrown away his dream life without a second thought.

He let himself drop to the ground with a huff. Crossing his legs, he looked out over the city. What could be so bad there that you wanted to leave? He understood not wanting to get caught up in the rat race—after all, that’s part of why he hadn’t become a programmer for a bigger company yet, but how bad could it have been that she would want to run away from her life? That she would end up here?

An image of Adelaide’s blushing face flashed before his eyes. He groaned. Maybe I should apologize to her when I see her next. Or maybe I should explain where I was really coming from.

He shook his head at the thought. He didn’t have the best track record with talking to people besides Sam and Abigail. If he was honest with himself, maybe just Sam. Abigail was more interested in putting her own meaning over what he said to her than actually listening to him.

The image returned to his mind again, and he sighed. Talking to her about what happened would mean opening himself up to potential humiliation, which he tended to shy away from. On the other hand, perhaps it was the right thing to do. He could practically hear his mother telling him he shouldn’t let his pride get in the way of doing what was right. She was right, of course. As if that made it any easier.

Sebastian crushed the butt of his cigarette into the ground and pulled out another. He would deal with it later. After all, it was a small town; it wouldn’t be long before he saw her again.