hi! i was in the hospital bc of stuff but im back now! pls eat safe foods- food poisoning is no joke TT

the week was filled with joy and laughter as the festival continued in full swing. some city folks even came to visit since the town is currently being popularized due to the fields of flowers that are blossoming. it was a sight to see, really.

and although boothill wasn't keen on mingling with foreigners, he too enjoyed his fair share of fun with his buddies (if you call winning the rodeo four times that week fun because you may have tampered with the other bulls then sure).

it was the evening of sunday, the last day of the week and the closing day for the festival. a lot of foreigners have already gone back to the city, and most locals were resting from the week's worth of celebration. tonight was meant for the youth to enjoy, as games and pubs were open until dawn.

as expected from the cowboy, he and his friends were first in line at the local pub- claiming that this would be the only time they get to drink imported ale without fighting some elders who'd always claim it as theirs to drink. the thought of a certain (h/c) haired girl slipped his mind for the past few days, considering that he rarely crossed paths with her nor does he even notice her presence due to his brooding that one time when a foreigner won the prize he wanted to get for a kid.

it's safe to say that the week was fulfilling and ultimately relaxing, taking his mind off of things and especially work. not like he needed a break anyways since he's the one who declares when he's going to work (which, mind you, is twice a month at most).

the pub was bustling with men and women alike, with gamblers in their little corners constantly cheering or yelling out of frustration when they realize they bet away their savings for the next week. the smell of beer and sweet wine floated around the small place, tempting those who pass by to have a sip of their popular moonshine or wine that's been kept since last year's festival.

it was rowdy- but it's nothing that he isn't used to. matter of fact, he felt happy to see everyone enjoying themselves without a care for the world. he loves seeing the old men lose their game of poker, loves seeing their wives scold them- and most importantly, he's itching for a fight from whoever gets drunk and decides to cause a scene in this quaint establishment.

amidst the chatter and ruckus going on around him, the dual hair-colored male was focused on the current conversation at hand- listening to his friend rant about his now ex-girlfriend who left him for some city boy.

"i'm tellin y'all right now- might as well dig our own graves. ain't no lady would settle for us 'country bumpkins'. stupid, no good shitty boys, thinkin' that they're better than us with them cars and gadgets." his friend, john, ranted- taking a swig from his fourth pint as his speech started to slur by the minute.

"ain't my problem. me and ma girl are boutta have our second anniversary."

"maybe ya just ugly?"

a chuckle escaped his lips as he dodged the flying bottle of rum, tipping his hat to the unfortunate patron behind him who got hit instead.

he'll never grow tired at just how sensitive his friend is- given that he just got replaced, but this was the third girl who chose a different man over him, he should've just given up at this point (his words, not mine).

with a clumsy arm slung around boothill's shoulders, john leaned on him for support while wallowing in his sorrows.

"them beauregards' have a city girl for a granddaughter right? ya folks think she'll give me a chance?" this caught his full attention, setting his pint down as he glanced at his friend with a brow raised.

"trust me, she ain't gonna give you a second of 'er day. she's like 'em, and she prolly even has someone waiting for 'er back in the city."

the thought of y/n being potentially unavailable never crossed his mind the entire month he's spent with her. given that she doesn't act like a taken woman to begin with- but with the circumstances of not having reception anywhere, who knows.

and he doubts that she's single- she's pretty, he's got to admit. she's got the looks, the wit, the charm that any man would fall for. he'd be a fool to not be attracted to her in some way or another, and he'd be a bigger fool to lie about his feelings.

as irritating as she could be, he cherished their moments together, even the ones where they just exchange witty banter at one another.

but, at the end of the day-

he's not someone that she's looking for.

john was right, might as well dig his own grave up since he's most likely dying single. boothill believes that he doesn't have anything to offer in this life that he's living. he's not wealthy to buy her jewelry, not smart enough to get a corporate job that could support her until she's old and wrinkly.

he's nothing but a country bumpkin, nothing more.

the dual hair-colored male believes that she's just spending time with him out of boredom. and if fate would allow her to, she'd be on her phone throughout her whole stay in this shitty town.

if she's everything to him this summer, he's nothing but a fleeting memory to her.

everyone would choose the comfortable life the city has to offer, and she's no exception- to him, at least.

he's seen the way she'd gaze out onto the field with eyes filled with longing, or how she'd strike a conversation with him about the things she loved back at home. it's evident that the city is everything to her the same as how this town means to him.

they're the complete opposites, living in two separate worlds.

if they were immortals, she'd be an angel and he's a demon's spawn. she deserves everything the world has to offer, deserves every bit of penny his wallet could conjure- she deserves everything, and he doesn't deserve her.

"ya mean y/n? met her once while workin' on ol' henry's barn. she doesn't seem like the gal to be picky with 'er men." ricky piped up, turning his attention to boothill who was quiet throughout john's rant about not being enough (raise a glass for boothill).

"trust me. if our folks here are dyin' to live in penacony, what more a gal who grew up there?" there was a forced chuckle that left his lips, mouth turned to a grin that didn't meet his eyes.

what's wrong with him? why did he suddenly feel down at the mere thought of not being chosen by her specifically? he doesn't need her, nor does he need to wallow about dying single.

after all, wasn't he the one who didn't want a partner in the first place?

"yer yappin as if ya know 'er, don't tell us you got rejected by 'er." john snickered, his pint spilling with rum as his uncoordinated actions caused some of it to spill on boothill's shirt.

the twenty-one year old man didn't say anything, downing his share of liquor as he relished on the burning sensation on his throat. the bittersweet rum was his comfort, liking the way it warmed his body up and loosen his mind a bit.

carmine eyes fell on his friends, before chuckling to himself and standing up- there was no way he'd be here when john pukes.

"'m gonna get some fresh air. try and stop 'im from causing too much wreck while 'm gone." he pointed at his already drunk friend that's on the verge of blacking out.

he's amazed that he's still sober enough to talk.

earning a nod from ricky, he exited the pub- pushing past drunkards who aren't aware of their limitations and dodging girls who tried to cling onto him in a drunken haze.

the moment he felt the cool air kiss his skin, he let out a sigh of relief, taking his hat off as he ran his fingers through his hair.

he didn't know what's gotten him so worked up back there, didn't know why the sudden urge to just down an entire barrel of moonshine came when his mind was plagued with the thoughts of her.

she's not special because she's a city girl, no.

she's special to him because she's someone he couldn't have- not like he's thought about that (again, his words not mine).

he's well alright in settling down at his own pace. he's still young and has so much in store for him- so why was he so worked up on her specifically?

his eyes landed on the sky above him, watching the stars twinkle amidst the blanket of darkness- they shone twice as bright that one night under the oak tree.

his thoughts were interrupted by the laughter of a familiar voice, turning his head to the side to see emma and stan, along with-

for a moment, his heart thumped a beat too quick.

y/n was donned in a sun dress, (h/c) hair tied in a bun along with a messily made flower crown that sits on top of her head.

she was even more pretty underneath the pale moonlight, even more graceful now that she's surrounded by a rowdy crowd- even more tempting to keep now that he's aware he doesn't have a chance with her.

(e/c) eyes met with his.

and for a moment, the stars were witnesses to a love between a country bumpkin and a princess.