Country Star Chap. 3 Notes of Melody

    “So… what do you want to do first, Libby? Do you like art…or fashion…perhaps a nice treat?” Katie was showing the shops by foot, while Libby rode her bike at a slow pace.

    “Um… I am getting kind of hungry… do you know any good places to eat?”

    “I know this small café that has some nice salads… I mean, you’re vegan, right? Do you eat other things at all?”

    “Yeah, I just enjoy trying new things!”

Katie’s red eyes get a soft glitter as she notices a nearby mongonlian grill. 

    "Well, you're gonna have fun at this place! Just follow me!" Katie runs ahead of Libby to the restaurant's door and waves her arms wildly. Libby was unsure what she was heading to, but she would rather trust a new friend than a total stranger.

Upon heading inside, the scents of noodles, vegetables, seafood, and various seasonings wafted around in the air. Libby looks around curiously, for that she doesn't know what to do in a bizarre resturant. Her facial expression changes from excitement to confusion as Katie orders a table for two.

    "Um... Katie, I'm not familiar to things like this..." Libby's voice was quivering a little bit, and she looks like she was ready to turn tail and head home, where she can continue planting apple trees.

    "Come on! This is fun! All you have to do is place different ingredents into these bowls, and hand it over to the chefs. They will cook all the meals, and once they're done, the results are amazing!" Katie starts loading her bowls with yakisoba, shrimp, squid, bell peppers, carrots, a small pinch of garlic, and a squirt of soy sause; upon finishing, she hands her bowls to one of the five cooks and she waits for her meal. 

Libby was still in her chair, noticing her legs were trembling. She's only accustomed fresh, local crops and meats, and at this rate, she's feeling uncomfortable. 

    "Um, Katie, hee... um, can we eat somewhere else?" Libby asks, getting up from her chair.

    "What in the blazes is wrong with you, girl?! You have to grow out of your country mindset of yours! We are in the city, not in a lousy countryside! Will you ever grow out of that?!"

That drew the line between Libby and Katie. Libby grabs her shoulder bag and rushes out of the place, tears running down her blue eyes. Katie doesn't even go after her friend, knowing how different Libby is from her. Shrugging off the situation, Katie recieves her meal and starts eating. 

Back at Libby's house, Libby's mother pulls up at the driveway to see Libby up in a tree that is roughly 6 feet off the ground. Libby was playing a melcholic melody on her guitar, her eyes shut and her hands running free.

    "Libby...? Is everything okay, dear?" her mother asks, looking up the tree Libby scaled. "You do know getting down is harder than climbing up, right?"

    "Don't remind me that rule; I know... Katie's just... she's not..." Libby stops playing as she looks down. "She's not a very nice person. While you were gone, she was judging me on how I look, how I talk, even my opinion on different food... To say the least, I think she doesn't like me..." Libby starts to scale down the tree, carefully placing one foot on a branch and slowly getting closer to the ground.

    "Libby... I understand how you feel... that's what happened to me and your father. He didn't like who I am, so I called a divorce, but you don't remember that... you were still an infant at the time."

Libby laughs slightly and says, "Perhaps that's why I don't have a father." Her mother softly brushes Libby's hair with her fingers. 

    "Don't pay attention to what things others say about you. No matter what happens, you are who you are, and that shall never change. And remember, there will be people who will respect you for who you are as well, like me." Libby smiles as she wipes the tears away from her eyes.

    "HEY LIBBY!!! YOU LEFT YOUR BIKE!!!" someone shouts out to the family. Katie was in her car with Libby's bike tied to the roof of the car. 

    

    "The owner said you ran off and left your bike in front of the store. Thought I should return it before someone steals it." Libby's mother helps Katie untie the bike while Libby gains a suprised look on her face. Previously, Katie hated her, but now she pratically did a favor...

    "Thank you, Katie, for returning my bike." Libby sheeplishly says, rubbing her left arm.

    "Nah, it's no problem, friend. Say, want to go to the beach tomorrow instead? We can pack our own lunches if you like... Just, consider this as an apology." Libby looks a lot more surprised as Katie gets in her car. "Oh, the owner of that grill said the meal's free for the trouble... Want to have some lunch for the second time?" 

    "............Okay! Wait for me!" Libby gets into the car as her mother waves bye.