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Willie had gone home one friday night and was only just getting back into town after doing the farmer’s market with his family and some of his neighbor’s on springs first weekend, not that they had much. He had to stop at a few stores despite not looking in his in his best state. He’d spent the early morning harvesting and feeding and grooming animals, then had gone straight to the market, now back in the city he had messy hair and a bit of dirt here and there and really everywhere. He was getting strange looks, but he worked very hard in the morning and early afternoon.

His phone buzzed as he walked into the store, so he pulled it out to read the text and respond, this however meant he wasn’t paying very much attention to where he was walking. Not that he wasn’t attentive, he was, but currently his phone held that attention.

Samantha was taking the day to herself. Usually that meant staying at home with a good book or an interesting research topic, but her mom and dad were determined to get her out and about. She knew better than to push them, as that usually meant she ended up roped into doing something that horrified her, like going to camp or joining an outing of some kind. So she tried to appease them by leaving her room and heading out to the shops, promising to pick up some groceries as proof that she did not just go to the library.

They really did know her too well, as they caught her in the middle of her ploy and she had to adjust her plans. No library, at least not for her usual kind of trip. She would have to spend only a short amount of time there if she wanted to get to the shops with time to pick up those groceries.

Being out in public put her ill at ease, especially in crowds. She tried to walk quickly, with her eyes down cast to avoid any unwanted attention or problems, keeping her arms as close to her body as she could as she shuffled along. It was her goal to occupy as little space as she possibly could at any given time, then no one would really notice her.

Not looking while walking, of course, was never really the best idea. She bumped right into a stranger that was looking at his phone. She immediately opened her mouth to say she was sorry, but then she stopped as she saw the state he was in. What a mess! Had he gotten it on her?! Who walked around that dirty?! Was he homeless?

“I… I don’t have any change,” she said, without thinking. Her nerves always got the better of her.

William should have been paying attention because if he had been he would have bumped into the girl that now stood in front of him. He went to apologize but she said something about not having change and he was momentarily confused, but he justed fished a few dollar out of his pocket and handed the out to her.

“I’ve got some extra ones if that will help,” he said thinking maybe she was asking if he had some extra change. He didn’t realize at all the she thought him to be homeless. He put his phone back in his pocket and smiled.

“I’m really sorry I bumped into you. I should have been paying closer attention to where I was going. Guess not only should one not text and drive they probably shouldn't text and walk either, huh?” He gave a chuckle even though it was kinda awkward.

When the other made to hand her change, she realized the misunderstanding that had occurred on both sides and let out an eep of protest and surprise, shaking her head furiously and waving her hands in an effort to erase the previous moment. Maybe they could start over, or just pass by each other without it having to be any more embarrassing for her.

Not only did she need to explain she did not need change, but that she thought he did because of his rather homeless-esque dirtiness. How did one say something like that without sounding rude?

“I’m not… I don’t need any change. S-sorry, I just… got confused. I’m sorry.”

She blushed furiously, her face turning a bright pink as heat flushed her features and she felt like she would do best by both of them if she melted into the floor.

“I… you have a phone? Oh. I mean. I’m sorry. I thought you might be… that you might… uh. I’m sorry, why are your clothes so dirty?” There was nothing for it. She just had to ask, and maybe she could offer him some helpful tips on how to keep his clothes looking clean.

William laughed and put his money back into his pocket, “just a misunderstanding then huh? That’s okay. That what I get right,” he started but then his blinked and looked down. He laughed again, “My family own a farm on the outskirts of the city. Today was our first farmers market. I’m mean spring only started, so we didn’t have much, but I had to harvest a lot of it this morning.”

He attempted to brush himself off a little, “have to make a few stops before I go back to my apartment. Er didn’t get to shower again since this morning, so I’m a little ...um more than a little dirty.”

“Sorry for bumping into you. I’m William. I hope I didn’t get any dirt on you.”

Samantha felt guilty and stupid for assuming he was a vagrant or a vagabond of some sort. Just because he was dirty! How rude was she, asking him before she even had the facts straight? That was a terrible thing for her to do, and she felt a weight of shame settle on her shoulders, as often was the case when she made snap judgments about someone else. Unfortunately, however guilty she felt, she was still human, and still made conclusions before thoroughly researching a situation.

It was one of her least favorite parts of being human, actually, as she wished she could just exist as a nice person without the natural inclination to not be.

“A farm? Oh my. That must be very dusty, then. No wonder you’re so filthy! Do you have animals? They must be covered in dust as well.”

She blushed again, clearing her throat and offering him her hand very timidly, but then she seemed to rethink it and offered him just her fingers, very daintily. Like a lady in period movies.

“I am Samantha. It’s very nice to meet you, William. I’m sure the dirt will come off with a bit of scrubbing and care. I mean. Uhm. I’m… I’m sure you didn’t get much dirt on my clothes…” subtly, she glanced down at herself to double check, just in case. She did not see any stains, but maybe she would wash her clothes, just in case. Dirt was the worst thing in the world, as far as she was concerned.

William nodded when she echoed his words in a questioning way. “Well of course the field is dusty and the barn to a point, but more than anything the bike course is dusty. Well when we are using it, especially if you fall off one of the bikes. And yes we have animals, but they aren’t really dusty unless they take a dust bath. They are generally really clean. We groom them. Actually the animals are probably in a better state than I am now.”

William smiled when she offered her hard, or sort of, he wasn’t really sure if he was suppose to shake her hand or not. His hand was kind of dirty and he could tell she probably wouldn’t like that by her words and actions. The he remembered he had a bandana in his back pocket. He didn’t use it so he bet it was clean. He grabbed it and wiped his hand quickly before taking her hand lightly and giving it a light peck. His face was probably the cleanest thing on him.

“Nice to meet you too. You look pretty clean. I doubt you will need any scrubbing. Dirt’s not so bad you know though. Without dirt where would the flowers and trees grow. I like dirt, it's necessary for a farmer.”

Sam watched him thoughtfully, nodding her head and trying not to look horrified, but her nose wrinkled distastefully despite her best efforts. She could not help it. When dust and dirt was concerned, she was hopeless. It was her greatest weakness, followed closely by social encounters. She was trying not to be rude about it though, as he seemed to like his job, even if it was… mucky.

When he took her hand and gave it a kiss, she turned bright red and shuddered a bit, looking thoroughly confused and overwhelmed all at once.

“I… uhm. It’s… it’s nice to meet… oh I already… uhm…”

She realized she had another weakness, and that was being a romantic. She dreamed about things like this, meeting someone that would sweep her off her feet and be so charming she had no idea what to do. Usually that was played by a prince in her dreams, and not a farmer covered in dirt, but she supposed the chances of meeting a fantasy prince in modern day Destiny City were slim.

“Well… I’m not a farmer, so I do not… interact… with dirt very often. I certainly do not like it… but I… uh… you… you wear it well.”

William gave a bit of a grin when she blushed and became a little flustered. In all honesty it was the first time he’d gotten that reaction, not that he had done that many times. Usually people took him for being a goof and pushed him away playfully, but these were also girls he’d grown up with his whole life.

He gave a laugh when she told him he wore dirt well, “that’s good to know since I wear it quite often, especially being one of 7 boys.”

He looked at a customer who looked annoyed as they edged around them an disdainful look as she exited and Willie flushed realizing he was standing pretty much in front of the door. He stepped to the side, “I should probably shop. It was really nice to meet you Samantha. I could walk you to your car, before I shop, if you're done.”