Chapter Text
Shane threw his half open can of cola at the door. It pinged off the glass and splattered over his legs. He swore at the heavens in a futile attempt to contain his anger.
Of course, they would close and not tell anyone. Just stick a big fat yellow closed sign over the door and call it good. If he ever saw Morris again he would punch him in the face.
He contemplated beating the door down out of frustration, but decided against it and turned for the long walk home. He could hear beer calling his name - and a large fire for this shitty uniform under his arm.
Winter air nipped at his calves as he made his way over the bridge, mind switching to Marnie and what she would say.
How in the hell would he afford rent?
It’s not like Marnie would kick him out - he thinks. But she sure would make his life hell until he started producing income again. She needed the money; it was the last reason on a long list why he moved.
He rounded the corner to Pierre’s, intent on looking at the billboard for solutions, but instead he caught sight of bright sunlight yellow hair. It's a color he always thought couldn’t grow naturally from someone’s head. She had it in pigtails today with a straw hat on and some overalls.
Harper, the Zuzu city girl in a straw hat and overalls.
He could feel the smirk form on his face out of habit as a few choice words floated by his thoughts. But they are not fourteen anymore - far from it. He forced his mouth into a scowl before she noticed him.
“What are you looking at?” she glared up at him, fire flickering in her eyes, a gaze he was all too familiar with. He looked back at her with contempt, using his size to try and make her feel small. She didn't falter, arching her back and straitening her shoulders. He sneered, pissed off she no longer feared him - torturing her would have been a nice distraction today.
“I’m just here to look at the billboard,” his rough voice bit back, “now move and leave me alone.”
Instead of moving Harper ignored him, turning back to the board to pin a notice of her own on it.
“Aren’t you supposed to be working?” she said as she stuck some tacks into the paper.
“Got the day off,” Shane muttered, “now move.”
She glanced down at the uniform balled under his arm then tilted her head.
“You’ve always been an asshole," she said and turned.
He watched her retreating form walk off towards her farm, wondering how he had never seen her in Zuzu city with that god-awful hair color.
They never got along, even as kids.
Shane’s parents would ship him off to pelican town for a month every summer. His drunk of a father and drug addict mother didn’t want to deal with him outside of school, sending him off all the way up until he turned fifteen. That's when they figured they could kick him out of the house for most of the day and get away with it.
Some of his most vivid memories were with Harper. Calling Harper names, Pushing Harper down, stealing her toys, and as they got older it progressed into teasing and name calling. You know - the normal shit kids do when they dont fancy each other. The relationship of hate between them went both ways, but being the only two kids in town for those summers they still saw each other every day, whether they wanted to or not.
Some of the other people in Pelican town thought of the continued squabble as childish. Others ignored it, Marnie especially.
He waited until she disappeared over the small hill leading to her farm before stepping up to the board, praying that he would find something to get some cash to give to Marnie, maybe even some for his drink of choice.
He sifted through the notices, only finding odd jobs for a measly 100g. That wouldn’t even buy him a pint at the pub. The only one that offered any real promise of an income made his face flush red in anger.
“Looking for help in the upcoming year on the farm! Pay starts at 5000g a week. Monday – Friday.
-Harper”