Chapter Text
Your first encounter with Leah is rather embarrassing to say the least.
You've ventured out into the woods for the first time since you moved to the valley. You haven't had time to explore it until now; starting out on the farm has been extremely hectic keeping you busy from dawn until dusk.
But you've finally cleared enough land to sow your first batch of seeds so you're giving yourself a little - but still productive - break to go foraging.
You haven't foraged in years since you were a kid and your grandpa walked with you through the very same woods, showing you all the various shrubs and shrooms that grew amongst the trees and undergrowth.
So you're a… little rusty and that's why you've been staring at the same mushroom for Yoba knows how long trying to decide whether it could possibly kill you if you ate it. You hunker down and poke it with the tip of your index finger and it springs back with vigour. It vaguely looks like the mushrooms your grandpa used to pick. Well, you think it does anyway.
"I wouldn't pick that if I were you," says a voice from behind, startling you. You jolt, spinning around in the direction of the sound but your foot catches in something - probably a root - and you yelp as you lose your balance and collapse in a heap on the forest floor.
"Oh Joba - Are you okay?! I didn't mean to scare you!"
You quickly scramble to your feet, cheeks burning with shame as you brush off any dirt and leaves that had stuck to your clothes.
"I-I'm okay," you stammer after a moment, finally smothering your mortification enough to look at the woman who scared the living daylights out of you. When your eyes meet you feel an odd twist in your gut that travels upwards and sets your heart pounding in your chest. It's hard to describe, but you swear that time slows for a moment; that the forest holds its breath and all is still until you blink and everything is normal again.
She's young - perhaps around your age - and has striking red hair in a single thick plait that trails down her shoulder. Bright amethyst eyes are wide with concern and what you think could be surprise - did she feel it too, you wonder - and you're kind of touched that this stranger is so worried about you.
You squint at her, trying to solve the puzzle and that's when you notice the little splotches of paint on her clothes. "Aha! You're the reclusive artist, right? Uh…" you wrack your brains for a name. You know Louis told you about her. "Leah!"
Leah blinks at you in confusion before she splutters, a blush creeping up her cheeks. "I-I guess my reputation precedes me?"
You laugh sheepishly, rubbing the back of your neck. You and your big mouth. You scramble for a way to explain away the fact that Louis had sat you down and given you a brief overview on everyone who lived in the valley.
"I'm so sorry, I... um-"
With an amused shake of her head, Leah grins, "Whoever said that about me isn't exactly wrong! I am a lot more comfortable when I'm surrounded by nature."
A sigh of relief escapes your lips. Thank Joba she wasn't offended by your bluntness.
"So you must be the new farmer?" She asks then and you nod. "Yeah, I moved down to the Valley a few days ago. I'm taking over my Grandpa's old farm."
Amethyst eyes shimmer with curiosity. "So, why farming?"
You consider Leah for a moment, debating how much you want to share. But something about her sets you at ease even though you just met her.
"I wanted to get away from the city. I needed a fresh start. And… Grandpa's farm was the best way to get that start."
Leah's eyes widen for a brief moment, but then she beams at you. "That's pretty much the reason I came here, too!"
You're immediately curious as to what drove such a free spirited person like Leah to the countryside, but you feel as though you shouldn't ask. So you don't.
You chat for a little while longer until Leah realises that she's missing her chance to paint by the lake in the morning. You're startled as she suddenly takes off through the trees, throwing an apology over her shoulder.
"Sorry, I need to get to the lake before the sun rises too high! If you ever want some foraging tips, come find me! My cabin is down by the river!"
You stand alone in the middle of the woods, rather flabbergasted at Leah's hasty exit. What an interesting woman you decide.
"And what an embarrassing introduction," you groan, dragging your hand down your face. "I… I'd like to see her again though."
You do eventually end up taking her up on her offer, and quite a bit of your free time during the Spring is spent foraging with Leah. Ever since that wizard gave you that weird forest magic potion you've had this almost inherent awareness of what's going on in the forest, of what to pick and what to leave alone so the forest can thrive, so you could do it yourself, but you prefer to go with Leah. You really enjoy her company.
Towards the end of Spring you feel like you've made a good friend, although a strange feeling bubbles in your chest when you see her dance with Elliott at the Spring Dance. You feel as though you should be the one dancing with Leah, twirling her around and bringing out that brilliant smile on her face. But that's ridiculous - Elliott is her closest friend so why would she dance with you over him?
The question unsettles you, and it takes a long time until you find the answer.