Saving Me [MxM]

Chapter 18 (Part Three)

Chuckling quietly, Varian found himself smiling. “Alright. Meet me at the back of the barn. And grab a seed bag on your way in.”

"Alright, will do. See you soon."

“Bye.” Varian said, hanging up the phone and heading of the kitchen and outside. Andre was coming over, so he’d actually get to talk to somebody for once. That thought stayed with him as he entered the barn, waving at his horses as he passed them, stopping at the small sweet corn granary at the back of the barn and plucking a seed bag, scooping some into it.

Not too long later Andre walked into the barn and came over to stand by Varian, hands in his pockets. Unable to help himself, Varian smiled fully at him. “Hey,” he greeted.

"Hi. So we're planting today?"

“Yes.” Varian answered, slinging the seed bag over his shoulder. “We’ve got a couple blocks of corn for today.”

"Okay. Oh, I have a question. Well, kind of more like a favor actually." Andre asked, somewhat nervously.

Cocking his head, Varian raised his eyebrows. “Yes?”

He couldn’t care less what Andre wanted, he was just happy that he was in the presence of another person and talking to them. They’d worked together for a couple years now, so it wasn’t like he wouldn’t hear him out.

"Well, I'm doing a small personal project, studying how the concentration of nitrogen in soil affects plant growth rates, and was wondering...well if maybe I could use a small sample from here? If you don't mind, that is. It would be from a secluded section, I won't leave random holes all over. And I promise to fill it back in."

It was quiet for a moment as Varian thought that over, then the sheer hilarity of the situation hit him and he burst out laughing. All Andre wanted was to run a few tests on his soil? Why was that such a big deal?

“No, it’s fine,” he laughed, smiling wider and shaking his head. “I don’t mind. How about we mark a plot for you to study and I promise not to touch it?”

"Really?" Andre looked to Varian with a bewildered expression. "You'd do that for me?" he finished, a small smile of gratitude creeping across his face.

“Of course.” Varian answered without a second thought, striding over to the wall and snatching four small blue wire flags. “We can plant your plot behind the shed, so the plants have shelter from the summer storms, but still get the light they need. Sound okay?”

Andre small smile grew into a full blown grin. "That sounds great. Thank you so much. I'll be sure to thank you again when I get my Organic Farming Innovation Award."

Chuckling quietly, Varian shook his head. “Science Prize then, or are you going for the Grand Prize?”

They both seemed to be in a good mood, Andre chuckling softly as he replied. "Well, since it's my first time, and I don't expect to win, I'm just going for the Science Prize. Maybe if I do well, I'll go for the grand prize next year."