novelraw Chapter 12: The Old Community Center
Chapter 12: The Old Community Center
Leon felt an overwhelming pressure under Lewis’s gaze. He quickly nodded in agreement, hastening his eating pace. As soon as he finished, he made a suggestion.
“I think we should go check out the old Community Center.”
“Alright.” Lewis didn’t seem very hungry. He put down the half-eaten sandwich in his hand, stood up, and led Leon outside.
This time, they didn’t drive. Lewis walked north with Leon, crossing Pelican Town’s square. After about twenty minutes on foot, they arrived at a building half-covered in creeping vines, its exterior looking worn and shabby.
“Here it is. This used to be the Community Center. I haven’t been here in a long time. Every time I see it abandoned and in disrepair, I feel ashamed,” Lewis said awkwardly as they stood at the entrance.
Leon said nothing, just stepped closer to the tightly locked door. “Can we see inside?”
“Of course.” Lewis quickly pulled out a key, unlocking the rusted padlock and tossing it aside. “I’m not planning to lock it anymore. If you ever want to impress a lady from town with an adventurous date, you could use this place. The mice in here will definitely bring you two closer together.”
Leon gave a helpless look at the offhand but oddly reasonable joke, then stepped in first.
The moment he entered, the pungent scent of damp wood hit him. Sunlight streamed in through the open door, catching the floating dust in the air, forming a bright path—textbook Tyndall effect.
Lewis followed him inside, glancing around the hall before sighing again.“It’s really fallen apart this badly?”
Leon was about to reply when, on the rotten floorboards behind Lewis, he spotted something strange—a small, apple-sized creature with a perfectly round body. Four thin limbs stuck out from its sides, and crude facial features sat on its surface. At first glance, it looked cute, but on closer inspection, there was something unsettling about it.
Leon forced himself to remain calm. He had already prepared for the possibility of seeing such a thing before coming here, so now that it had appeared, he wasn’t caught off guard.
“What are you looking at?” Lewis asked curiously, turning to look behind him. But the moment he spoke, the little creature vanished, leaving only the decayed wooden floor in sight.
“Nothing. I saw a mouse,” Leon said casually. But as soon as the words left his mouth, he felt something kick the top of his foot. Looking down, he saw the same little creature reappear behind his heel. Clearly, it wasn’t happy about being called a mouse and had delivered a tiny act of revenge.
Leon ignored it, and sure enough, when Lewis turned back, the creature was gone again.
“It’s perfectly normal to have mice here. This place has been abandoned for years. It’s dark, damp—exactly the kind of place mice love.” Lewis moved to the center of the hall, surveying the surroundings before speaking again.
“Leon, do you think this Community Center is even worth keeping? It’s already in such a state.”
“Yes.” Leon’s interest in the place had grown now that he’d confirmed he could see those strange creatures. “Pelican Town should have a Community Center. It’d feel odd to replace it with a warehouse in such a scenic spot.”
“I don’t know… Restoring this place would cost a fortune.” Lewis looked bitter. “And right now, Stardew Valley’s finances aren’t looking good.”
“We’ll cross that bridge when we come to it. Besides, I’m really interested in this place,” Leon said.
“You’re thinking of restoring it?” Lewis perked up at the idea.
But Leon didn’t give a direct answer. Lewis’s tone made it obvious he was trying to push responsibility onto him, and Leon wasn’t about to let himself be so easily played.
“No. I just think your earlier suggestion about dates was pretty good.”
Lewis gave a dry chuckle, unsure how to respond.
Leon’s gaze shifted to a bare patch of dirt beside the fireplace, where an arch-shaped little hut made of wood and vines stood. It looked like an igloo, only crafted from plants.
The hut sat quietly, and when Lewis followed Leon’s gaze, he noticed it too.
“Probably something Jas and Vincent made when they snuck in here. They’re kids from town—good kids,” Lewis explained.
“It’s fine. I just think it looks interesting. Anyway, we’ve seen the place. Let’s go,” Leon said.
“Alright. Like I said, I won’t lock it again. We’ll just leave the Community Center open.” Lewis nodded, and the two left, one after the other.
“Heading back to your farm now?” Lewis asked once they were outside.
“I’m going to walk around town and meet more people,” Leon replied.
“That’s good. You’ve moved into the farm, so you’re part of the town now. Knowing people will make festivals less awkward—you won’t be the guy standing around without a single familiar face. I’ll head back. Still have financial reports to sort out,” Lewis said before heading off without suspicion.
Leon didn’t return to the Community Center right away. Instead, he wandered nearby, eventually spotting a small park not far from it. Unlike the Community Center, it was well-maintained, with a sandbox, swings, and slides for children. At the center stood a fountain, where a blonde girl leaned lazily against the edge, basking in the sunlight.
She noticed Leon as he noticed her. But before she could ask about the unfamiliar face, Leon turned away and walked off.
“Weird guy,” the blonde muttered, watching his back. “Still… pretty handsome.”