Never fixed a fence before, can't be too complicated just wood and nails. Gralkus calls me over the second I get to Trav's, shoves tools into my chest and pushes me out the door…asshole…didn't even get to see Lyria hardly.
Most of the fences around here don't look too fancy, maybe I just copy that. Told me it's the broken one but half of them are kind of busted up. Gotta get this shit done before the sun comes out.
"Gōki! Over here!"
Ferra's waving at me, at least I get that this morning, she's leaned up against one of the houses on a hill wearing that leather I love seeing her in.
Soon as I get up there she hops off to the back of the house, leaning up against a fence post, bent over just a little god I could just–
"So the broken part is over there, Gralkus said a 'lil' lady' like me should make you fix it, glad you had the…hmmmm enjoying the view?"
She shakes her hips just a little, shit…she wasn't supposed to turn around already.
"Yea it's…a damn good looking…Fence, very…VERY good."
She just laughs and punches me in the arm.
"Oh! You mean that 'broken' fence? Is that the nice one you mean?"
I can feel the heat in my face, but it drains back out when I see this piece of shit fence, it's barely a pile of wood chunks stacked up with rocks and weeds.
Ferra pokes me in the back.
"Don'tcha worry I'll keep you company while you work, just don't get too. Dis-trac-ted"
She gives her little wiggle again, ugh this work is going to be hard enough without her putting up my fence post all day.
Rip up weeds.
Pile up rocks.
Nail on a board.
Look at a girl.
Ferra doesn't talk much while I'm actually working, now and then I catch her posing, trying to get me embarrassed, but hard work has a way of deflating things.
It's kinda nice, she hands me nails sometimes, laughs at my jokes during breaks. Wonder if she'd go out with me…mmm but what about lyria…ugh…but then Lirien…No, Ferra is the right choice.
She heads inside to get something and a brown muscular dog with wide eyes and a flat face shoots out of the house. Ferra falls over as it knocks between her legs and she yells.
"Shammy! You son of a bitch, get back here! Gōki! Grab him!"
I toss the hammer on the ground and sprint after the little monster, managing to grip his leg for a second, but he wiggles and screams like he's being murdered before slipping away.
Between the broken fence posts, snapping the wood in spots, through bushes, back and forth all over the yard. Ferra will try and head him off but he just barrels through her like she's made of paper.
Snorting like a boar, with his big tongue flapping all over like it's a game. He gets a little way from us and starts walking in circles before squatting to drop a shit.
Guess all his energy left him with that dump, right when he finished he hopped over to me happy as can be. Just because he's cute slobbering up my arms when I picked him he thinks he's out of trouble.
Just because he's a tough little man…A roughy little toughy.
"Ain't no bitches tying you down in the house huh. You shit where you want doncha."
I scratch his chin and realize Ferra is staring me down.
"And you listen to Ferra from now on!"
He barks and wiggles around in my grip as I set him inside and close the door.
The damage to the fence pisses me off a little but it is what it is. Ferra is still looking at me all serious.
"When I said that I don't mean I think you're just some–"
She runs toward me and jumps. I just barely caught her, hoisting her up like a bride. She wraps her arm around my neck with a laugh.
"I was right, Shammy looked pretty happy with you carrying him, thought I'd try it myself."
She's so light, but is this ok, my hand is wrapped up her thigh it's so soft, do I move…Should i hold still? My face is hot. Say something stupid. Come on! She's right here! It's your chance! Come on!
Her lips pressed against mine, it was so fast… All the hair on my arms is standing up and I squeeze her a little closer without thinking.
Everything is so quiet…Like it's just us…
That little smooch sound, just like the movies when she moves away, I'll never hear that sound the same way again. I try to follow her lips, I want to stay here a little longer, but she just laughs and taps the back of my head lightly.
"Thank's for helping…Thanks...For everything. Let's finish up the fence so we can get something to eat at Trav's…Your treat."
She winks, is that a date? It was just that easy. I try not to smile like a doofus but god damn it's like christmas.
Hopping out of my arm she skips over to the wood pile and holds up my hammer with a grin.
"Just a little bit left Gōki! Let's get it…Done…?"
Her eyes go wide and she trails off, I turn around and see smoke coming from the forest where the mill is.