Chapter 22: The Girl he Doesn't Know (Part 4)

Pete trudged along the dirt path leading back to the farm, his hands shoved into his pockets as he followed the bouncing figure of Stu, who skipped ahead with boundless energy. The boy hummed a tuneless song, his thoughts clearly filled with excitement about all the fun he could have on the farm.

Pete watched him, a flicker of nostalgia crossing his face. Back in Flowerbud Village, there had been three children who were practically inseparable—Stu, Kent, and May. They were the heart of the village's youthful mischief, always up to some kind of innocent trouble that usually ended with one of the adults scolding them.

He already knew where May was now, living at Yodel Ranch with Barley. She had been easy enough to find when he arrived in Mineral Town. But Stu… Stu had been a mystery. Pete had assumed he simply didn't exist in this timeline, another thread of his old life that had been unraveled and lost. That assumption, of course, had been shattered the moment he walked into the clinic and saw the boy.

But now, another question nagged at him. If Stu was here, where was Kent? The boy with bright eyes and endless curiosity who had been just as much a part of their little group as anyone else. Pete hesitated, debating whether to ask, but his curiosity got the better of him.

"Hey, Stu," Pete ventured, his voice cautious.

Stu stopped skipping and turned to look at him, tilting his head. "Yeah?"

Pete hesitated, then took the plunge. "Where's Kent?"

"Kent?" Stu repeated, furrowing his brow in confusion. "Who's that?"

Pete froze. The boy's innocent question hit him harder than he expected. He cleared his throat and quickly shook his head, forcing a casual tone into his voice. "Never mind," he said. "It's not important."

Stu shrugged and resumed his skipping, humming once again as if the brief exchange had never happened.

Pete, on the other hand, couldn't let it go so easily. He whispered to himself, his voice barely audible over the rustling of the trees, "It appears Kent doesn't exist in this timeline."

The thought was unsettling. He had already begun to accept that this version of Mineral Town was a patchwork of familiar and unfamiliar people and places. But it was one thing for someone's life to have changed—it was another for them to have been erased entirely.

As Pete watched Stu running ahead on the path to the farm, he couldn't help but reflect on how much the boy had changed. In Flowerbud Village, Stu had been a soft-spoken and humble child. He had always looked up to May and Kent, often trailing behind them with wide eyes and a timid smile. Kent, on the other hand, had been the mischievous one, always concocting some wild plan to sneak into the bakery for cookies or scare Maria with a fake bug. Together, the two boys had made for an odd but endearing pair, balancing each other out with their contrasting personalities.

But here, in this strange, rewritten timeline, it seemed as though their roles had reversed—or, more accurately, shifted entirely. Kent didn't exist, and Stu had taken on the mantle of the troublemaker. Pete thought back to the chaos in the clinic earlier, where Stu had turned the place upside down with his antics. This Stu was bold, mischievous, and completely unrepentant about causing Elli headaches.

It felt strange to think of him this way. In Flowerbud Village, Stu and Kent had lived together under the care of Degas, an elderly man who they called their grandfather, though Pete was fairly certain they weren't biologically related. To Pete's knowledge, both boys had been orphans, taken in by Degas when they were very young. Despite their loss, they'd always seemed happy—part of a larger, makeshift family that had made Flowerbud Village feel so warm and close-knit.

May, too, was different now. In Flowerbud Village, she had been Zack's daughter, full of quiet determination and a love for her father that shone brightly. She wasn't afraid to roll up her sleeves and help him with his work, even as she clung to the innocent dreams of childhood. But in this timeline, May seemed to have grown up faster. Living with Barley at Yodel Ranch, she had taken on a maturity that felt out of place for someone her age. She was humble, hard-working, and far more serious than the playful May he remembered.

As they neared the farm, Stu slowed his skipping pace and turned to Pete, an unusually serious expression crossing his young face. "Hey, Pete," he said, tilting his head, "who are you?"

The question hit Pete like a bolt of lightning, nearly making him trip over his own feet. He barely managed to steady himself before blurting out, "What kind of question is that, Stu? Why would you ask something like that?"

Stu shrugged, but his tone remained matter-of-fact. "Because you're really weird. Like, super weird. It's like you didn't even know you and Elli were dating! You asked her if she was my mom, for crying out loud. How could you not know that? You've been with her forever!"

Pete swallowed hard, forcing a nervous laugh. "I… uh… I guess I've just been distracted lately."

But Stu wasn't buying it. He narrowed his eyes, crossing his arms as he squinted up at Pete. "Are you sure you haven't been taken over by a bug that crawled into your ear and started controlling your brain?"

Pete blinked, caught completely off guard. "A… a what now?"

Stu didn't answer right away. Instead, he broke into a wide grin and launched into a dramatic reenactment of his theory. He clutched his head, pretended to stagger back, and then twisted his body in exaggerated spasms, his voice rising as he cried, "Help me, Elli! The bug is taking over! It's making me forget who I am!"

Pete couldn't help it—he burst into laughter. Watching Stu flail around like a poorly directed actor in a science fiction movie was so absurd, so over-the-top, that Pete's earlier panic melted away.

Stu straightened up, clearly proud of his performance. "See? That's what I think happened to you!" he said, jabbing a finger at Pete's chest. "A mind-controlling bug crawled into your ear, and now you don't know who you are!"

Pete ruffled Stu's hair, still chuckling. "Okay, okay, you got me. The bug story is way more exciting than anything else I can come up with. You should write a book about it."

Stu beamed, clearly pleased with himself, "I shall call it, 'A bug snatched my brain!'" He then started skipping ahead again.

As Pete watched him go, his laughter slowly faded, replaced by a wave of relief. For a moment, he'd thought Stu was onto him, that the boy had somehow pieced together the truth—that Pete wasn't the man everyone believed him to be. But no, Stu was just being a kid, his wild imagination running free.

Still, Pete couldn't help but marvel at how close Stu's innocent question had come to the heart of the matter. Who was Pete, really? A stranger in a familiar face, walking through a world that wasn't his own. And yet, as he followed Stu back to the farm, he found himself smiling. At least someone around here could find joy in the strange and unexpected.

They arrived at the farm soon after. Stu laughed as he tossed a stick across the farmyard, watching Pete's dog bound after it with unbridled energy. The dog barked excitedly, its tail wagging like a blur, before snatching the stick up and racing back to Stu. "Good boy!" Stu cheered, ruffling the dog's fur before hurling the stick again, sending it flying across the field.

Pete sat on the porch steps of his farmhouse, his arms resting on his knees as he watched the scene unfold. A smile tugged at his lips. Despite everything—the confusion, the strangeness of this new world—it was hard not to feel a flicker of warmth watching Stu play. For all of Elli's exasperation, the kid wasn't nearly as much of a handful as she made him out to be. At least, not right now.

"Maybe it was the open space," Pete thought. Without Kent to balance him out, Stu seemed like a ball of unspent energy, always teetering on the edge of chaos. Pete could see how that might overwhelm Elli, especially if she had to deal with it in the confines of the clinic or at home. But out here, in the wide-open expanse of the farm, Stu seemed to have found an outlet. The boy's laughter rang out, and Pete's dog barked along with him, their carefree joy infectious.

Pete leaned back, resting his weight on his hands as he took in the moment. "Maybe all Stu needed was some space," Pete thought. Space to run, to play, to let his emotions settle. The farm had a way of mellowing things out—it always had, for Pete at least. It was part of the reason he loved being at the farm in Flowerbud Village. Even if this version of the farm was different from the one he grew up in, he can tell Stu is having the same feeling he had when Stu was his age.

As the sun began to set, painting the sky in warm hues of gold and pink, Stu sat beside Pete on the porch steps of the farmhouse, munching on a snack Pete had given him. The boy kicked his legs idly, his boundless energy momentarily subdued. Pete glanced at him, curiosity flickering in his eyes.

"So, Stu," Pete began, his tone casual but laced with genuine interest. "Where are your parents?"

Stu didn't stop chewing as he replied, his voice matter-of-fact. "They died when I was a baby. I don't remember them at all."

Pete nodded solemnly, his expression softening. At least that detail matched Elli's family history in Flowerbud Village. "Does that make you feel sad?" he asked gently.

Stu shrugged, swallowing the last bite of his snack. "I was for a while," he admitted. "But May made me feel better about it. She doesn't have parents either." Stu then thinks for a moment and continues, "Actually, that's not true. Her mom is still around."

Pete's eyebrows lifted slightly at the mention of May's mother. "Really?" he asked, leaning forward. In Flowerbud Village, May's mother had died when she was very young, and Zack had been raising her alone. But here, things were clearly different. "You're saying her mom's still alive?"

Stu nodded, taking a moment to think. "Yeah, but she doesn't live here in Mineral Town. She's… somewhere else, I guess."

Pete tilted his head, absorbing this new piece of information. The differences between the two worlds continued to pile up, leaving him feeling as though he were walking through a hazy dream where everything was familiar yet strange. Then, an idea struck him—a mischievous glint sparkled in his eyes.

"You seem to know a whole lot about May," Pete teased, his tone turning playful. "Do you maybe have a… crush on her?"

Stu froze mid-motion, his face flushing a brilliant shade of red. "Shut up!" he exclaimed, his voice cracking with indignation. "It's not like that!"

Pete grinned, leaning closer to the boy. "Oh, come on. You're blushing, Stu. You totally have a crush on her!"

Stu scowled and looked away, his embarrassment evident. "She's just a friend, okay? That's all." His voice was quieter now, and his hands fidgeted nervously.

But Pete wasn't about to let up. He leaned back, crossing his arms with a smirk. "You can't fool me, Stu. I'm dating your sister—I know what it's like to have a crush on someone!"

That was the final straw. Stu shot to his feet, his fists clenched, his face still a deep shade of crimson. "That's it! I'm gonna squash you, bug man!" he shouted, pointing an accusatory finger at Pete.

Pete's grin widened as he jumped to his feet, ready to run. "Oh no, you don't!" he called over his shoulder as Stu gave chase, his little legs pumping furiously as he ran after Pete across the farm. Their laughter echoed through the fields, mingling with the fading chirps of crickets and the occasional bark of Pete's dog.

As they raced through the farm, Pete's mind drifted, memories of his own childhood surfacing like ripples in a pond. He thought about the days he'd spent playing with Popuri, how they'd laughed and teased each other, how carefree they'd been before tragedy struck and changed everything. If that tragedy had never happened, he would have grown up, married Popuri, and started a family. The brief glimpse he'd had of that future—those three perfect days—lingered in his heart like an ache he couldn't shake.

Looking at Stu now, Pete couldn't help but see a younger version of himself. Full of life, bursting with energy, and already forming the kind of bonds that could one day blossom into something deeper. He wondered, in a way that left him oddly comforted, if Stu might find with May what he had found with Popuri—a friendship that could grow into love.

For the first time since waking up in this strange new life, Pete felt a sliver of hope. Maybe not everything was different. Maybe some things, like the joy of a childhood friendship or the possibility of love, were constant no matter where—or when—you were.

The horizon blushed with the last hues of twilight, and the stars began to emerge as Elli arrived at the farm. Pete stood on the porch, his hands tucked into his pockets, watching as Stu darted across the yard toward his sister. The boy's grin stretched wide, his earlier mischief replaced by uncontainable joy.

"Elli!" Stu called out, his voice carrying over the gentle hum of crickets. He skidded to a stop in front of her, his cheeks still rosy from hours of play. "The farm is so cool! Pete's dog is the best, and we played fetch, and he even let me climb the haystack!" Stu's excitement spilled out in a torrent of words. He took a breath and added, "I like this new Pete. You should keep him."

Elli tilted her head, her lips curving into a puzzled smile. "New Pete?" she repeated, glancing at her brother curiously. She didn't linger on the odd comment, brushing it aside as more of Stu's usual silliness. Her gaze shifted to Pete, standing by the porch with a relaxed yet weary expression, as though he'd enjoyed the day but was ready for a quiet evening.

She approached him, her footsteps soft against the dirt. "Thanks for watching Stu today," she said warmly. "I hope he wasn't too much trouble."

Pete smiled, shaking his head. "Not at all. He's welcome to come by anytime. The farm seemed to do him some good."

Elli's expression softened, her eyes glimmering in the faint light. "That means a lot, Pete. Really. He's a handful sometimes, but he's got a good heart."

Pete chuckled. "I could see that. He just needs a place to burn off all that energy—and maybe someone to keep him on his toes."

Elli smiled, a faint blush creeping across her cheeks as she stepped closer. "Well, thank you again." She leaned in and kissed his cheek, a brief but tender gesture that sent a flutter through Pete's chest.

As she turned to take Stu's hand, Pete called after her, his voice easy yet genuine. "Don't be a stranger, Stu. The farm's always open."

Stu grinned back at him. "You're the best, Pete!" he shouted, giving a wave as Elli led him toward the path back to town.

Pete stood on the porch, watching them disappear into the twilight. His hand drifted to his cheek, still warm where Elli had kissed him. For a fleeting moment, the strangeness of the day faded away, leaving only a quiet, bittersweet feeling he couldn't quite name.