Shane never came home to the ranch house in time to take her to the farmhouse. Which was an obvious relief to Georgie but the realization seemed to have worried Jas and Marnie, sharing looks of dismay that threw a cold blanket over their dinner. As a change of subject, Georgie offered a story about junimos. The mythical concept intrigued them, drawn them into immediate speculation. Junimos were the biggest myth and superstition Stardew valley was best known for. The existence of forest spirits was a mystery that has long been plaguing them ever since the first settlement landed on their valley. Soon their dinner went by swimmingly in no time with Jas and Marnie indulging her story with theatrical curiosity. They obviously didn’t believe a word she said but it was nice to distract them from whatever ball of tension they got from Shane not arriving home at this time of night.

Though for the first time ever that night, she got invited to a slumber party. Jas lived in a pink frilly room complete with dollhouses and tons of bookshelves overstocked with books. They made a forthouse using pillows plus blankets and told strange stories about ghosts. Teacup slumbered in her satchel hard with Georgie attempting to discreetly check inside her satchel every so often without raising suspicion from Jas.

The rest of their slumber party was spent telling stories and town gossip inside their forthouse. Few times Jas looked at her funny for not getting and understanding several landmarks in her stories. Georgie had no idea what France was or what a pet store in the city looked like. Good thing she didn’t get called out on it. But it definitely came across as strange.

Morning finally came without Georgie getting a wink of sleep. Her tummy burned with intense pressure from dinner. She had to keep her pain under wraps, she didn’t need Jas knowing how even stranger she was for not being used to the food they eat. Thankfully the burning pressure singing her stomach linings passed over time before breakfast.

“Are we going to go get chickens now?” she asked Jas who was getting ready in front of her ornate crystal mirror.

Her smile turned upside down, “No. I have got to attend my classes at the library this morning.”

“Oh.”

She waved her arms helplessly in defeat, “What do you need chickens for, anyway?”

“I need them to make a delivery for me. A chicken delivery.” She said proudly. They would have packages strapped to their backs. Nothing like it has ever been seen before.

“Why can’t you just use a postal delivery?”

“What’s a pose wall delivery?”

She leaned in, slowly enunciating “Post- tal. What’s the matter with you?”

“I.. uhh” her cheeks heated in embarrassment, trying to cop out with a lie. It was hard. She never had to lie before in hundreds of years. “I was raised in a farm. Don’t know much about townie stuff or city living.”

A blanket of understanding fell on Jas, eyes widening. “I see. You’re not stupid, you’re ignorant.” she turned back to her mirror, “Would have thought the farmer had taught you better. You should come to classes at our library with Miss Penny. All I know about geography and culture I get from her. I’m sure she could tell you about loads of things.”

“I shouldn’t.”

“You should.”

Georgie fiddled with the straps of her satchel. She never took it off the entire time. “Jas, I really had a great time.”

“Me too. I don’t get slumber parties with girls my age. Miss Penny is fine but I prefer someone like you, you know? You get it. Oh you know what we should do? We should go to the haunted community center. For fun!”

“I just want to make my delivery, Jas.”

Pouting, “Fine. I’m on my way to the library, anyways. I can get some stamps on the way.”

“I don’t how stamps will help me but..” She pulled a tray of eggs from her satchel, “Will you still take eggs as compensation?”

Jas shook her head, “This one’s on me. I’m happy, really happy for you being a good sport. I never hang out girls my age. Never. I don’t know how to act or do. I’m just really happy that you’re not weirded out by me.”

“Are you kidding? I thought you were weirded out by me.”

She tilted her head, pausing “You and I are different. But that don’t mean we can’t be friends.” Extending her hand for Georgie to shake on, Jas encouraged her “Go on. Let’s shake on it.”

Her own hands tightened to fists holding on to the satchel straps. Humans remember other humans very well, Georgie thought. But the likes of her? They tend to remember as myths and superstition. She peered down her starry skirt and hated what she saw. She was no longer human. She was a cross between beast and a human girl. An abomination a human like Jas would never able to wrap her mind around, or even remember. To Jas, she will be like the characters from her fairytale books. A fantasy, a faint intuition, a familiar echo of a girl that never was. Finally she caved in and shook her hand when Jas stepped even closer. “Fine. Friends. We’re friends.” Her pulse was going miles upon miles per hour, cannon fire booming in her ears.

Lying feels like shit, she thought. Why anyone would do it went beyond her scope of understanding. And she never will. Chances were big that the emerald witch would have found out about her blunder by now. Punishment would be harsh, restricting. She might never be able to see Stardew valley again.

Marnie paused by the bedroom door, “Breakfast time! Georgie I got a complete breakfast just for you and then right after maybe Jas can take you on your way back home. Do your prefer apple juice or orange juice?”

Georgie’s stomach gurgled in defiance. What’s wrong with eating it fresh off a tree? She forced to tug her lips upward in a smile, “The last one you said.”

Marnie slapped a dismissive palm off the doorframe, “Orange juice it is.” Then she left, puttering off to the kitchen.

Jas hugged her from behind, “I’m so glad we’re friends.”