“Come on Chris, hurry up! It's not like you're putting on makeup in there,” Derek called impatiently from the living room.
Reluctant about the outing, Chris preferred the comfort of his usual video games at home. However, his elder brother insisted on dragging him to the city fair, a new experience for both of them. Despite never having gone to a fair before, Chris couldn't muster any excitement for the impending adventure.
“Finally, the queen is out of her castle,” teased Derek as Chris stepped out of his room “Come on, let's conquer this fair before the cotton candy runs out!" Derek throws his arms around Chris in a mock knightly bow.
“Yay, I'm excited,” Chris scoffed, his voice dripping with fake enthusiasm, “I just don't get what the big deal is with fairs, I would rather wrestle a troll in the basement”
“Are you kidding? There are a lot of big deals there, from the food, the rides, the games, plus, prizes you can actually hold, not just stare at…I promise you will enjoy it”
A sigh escaped Chris's lips as he surrendered to the inevitable. But maybe the fair wouldn't be a total nightmare, it could offer some amusement. Besides, those tickets weren't going to use themselves, he wouldn't want to end up getting another series of Derek's wrathful lectures on fiscal responsibility
They both arrived at the fair 30 minutes later in Derek's car. Chris peeked out the car window, his nose twitching as the sugary aroma of corn dogs and caramel apples washed over him, sending his stomach into a happy rumble. In the distance, a cacophony of screams, both thrilled and terrified, painted the air with the promise of adventure.
"Do you think they have dragon-themed rides, Derek?" he asked. Derek snorted, already halfway out the door. "Of course, they also sell chicken wings in fire-breathing buckets!”
"Let's start with the scariest rides!" Derek yelled, already planning his adrenaline-fueled conquest. "Don't back out, Chris, or I will tell everyone you cried when watching Frozen.”
Chris let out a groan, burying his face in his hands for a moment before meeting his brother's eager eyes. “I just knew you would say that, you adrenaline junkie.”
Chris's sneakers scraped against the pavement, his steps hesitant as he inched closer to the heart of the fair. The laughter and screams swirled around him like a tornado, every shriek seemed to echo his own apprehension.
“Hear that, Chris? Pure adrenaline in audio form,” Derek's voice vibrated with excitement.
"Why," Chris mumbled, more to himself than Derek, "why would anyone willingly subject themselves to that?”
“Ta-da!” Derek said excitedly as he gestured to a monstrous tower, its name "Cosmic Vomit" painted in fluorescent green.
“Seriously Derek? That thing looks like it will launch us straight into orbit… is this ride even legal?”
“Chill out bro, it's perfectly safe, just look at all those people going on it and coming back in one piece. Sure, some look like they have been to hell, at least they are alive,” Derek reassured.
Chris stared at the looming tower, his throat dry. “I don't know… I don't think I can handle it, I will just wait for you here,” he finally mumbled.
“Alright, suit yourself.”
Chris walked away from the queue, the rumble of the "Cosmic Vomit" echoing his nervousness. He sat down on a bench far from the shrieking riders but after some time, he decided to go check out the game booths. On his way, he bought some corn dogs, relishing their delicious flavour with each satisfying bite.
Upon reaching the games section, he decided to observe others engaged in play since he didn't know how some of the games worked. After a brief period of observation, he decided to play, effortlessly winning several games and accumulating a bounty of prizes.
Returning to the rides, Chris carried his newfound treasures, eager to show Derek his loot. However, Derek wasn’t back yet. With a sigh, Chris slumped onto the now familiar bench, patiently waiting for his brother’s return.
Then, his eyes caught a splash of vibrant pink; Ashley, the most beautiful girl in his class stood a few feet away from him. His heart stuttered like a malfunctioning car.
“Isn't that Ashley?”, A voice from behind asked.
“Jesus! Derek! You startled me!”
“Staring with your whole being, huh Romeo?” Derek chuckled, a mischievous glint in his eyes
“Let's just go, this time I'm picking the ride,” Chris pushed himself off the bench
“Come let's say hi to Ashley… hey Ashley!” Derek yelled
Before Chris could even contemplate a response, his wrist was caught in a vice-like grip and he was hurtling towards Ashley
“Ashley, fancy meeting you! Is your brother here as well?” Derek asked. Chris, meanwhile, stood behind him like a self-conscious shadow, wishing the ground would swallow him whole.
“Not really, I'm here with someone else. Hi Chris,” Ashley greeted, offering a subtle wave
“Hi Ashley,” Chris replied, his cheeks flushing red as he averted his gaze.
“You guys wait here, I will go grab us some cotton candy,” Derek announced, darting away before Chris could protest.
The silence that descended after Derek's exit felt like a tangible entity, settling between Chris and Ashley like a thick curtain. Ashley seemed unfazed by the sudden quiet. She tilted her head, her smile warm and genuine.
"He's… enthusiastic, isn't he?" she chuckled.
Chris managed a shaky nod, his voice still trapped somewhere between his throat and his knees.
Ashley's gaze landed on the prize pile “You won all that from the games?” She asked, “ I'm impressed.”
“Uh, yeah,” he mumbled, unable to meet her eyes.
Ashley chuckled, the sound like a melodic tinkling of bells. "You must be a pro at those games then," she teased.
Chris felt a warmth bloom in his chest, a welcome antidote to the chill of his fear. "I guess so" he stammered, "I’m very good at games”
Chris's mind buzzed with sudden electricity. Here was his chance! Spending time with Ashley, doing something he genuinely loved, and maybe even… impressing her? A mischievous glint lit in his eyes, replacing the awkwardness.
“You know, I could show you tricks to help you win those games easily, that's if you're interested.”
“Sure,” Ashley replied with a smile, showing genuine interest in Chris’s offer.
Chris's elation melted like cotton candy in the rain with the chime of Ashley's phone. He watched, heart sinking a little as she spoke to someone on her phone. He tried to decipher her words, piecing together the fragments of her conversation: “near the Ferris wheel,” “be right there.”
After a few minutes, she began excitedly waving at someone in the distance. Eyes following Ashley's gesture, Chris turned his head to spot the person she was waving at; it was a boy unfamiliar to him. Jealousy coiled around his heart, a viper slithering out from the shadows of his fear. He watched, paralyzed by a mix of disappointment and desperate hope.
“Hey Chris, I have to go now, maybe we will play those games next time?” Said Ashley.
Chris forced a smile, “Yeah, of course, next time,” his voice betrayed the ache in his heart.
Ashley walked toward the strange boy, their embrace suggesting a connection that left Chris staring at them, his heart shattering into a million pieces.
“Wow, that sucks” A voice, wry and unexpected, sliced through the air from behind him
Chris whirled around, a gasp caught in his throat “Dude you seriously need to stop doing that.” He rubbed his arm, where the phantom sting of the surprise lingered.
“looks like your crush has a mystery guy,” Derek nudged Chris playfully as they watched Ashley walking away, arm in arm with the new arrival.
Chris took a deep breath, the lights reflecting in his eyes. "Guess that means she's off-limits,” he said, a touch of humour in his voice. “At least I know she's happy, and that's pretty cool.”
“Look at you acting all mature, you seem to be handling this better than I thought,” Derek said, placing a hand on Chris’s shoulder. “At least look at the bright side”
Chris arched an eyebrow, “bright side?”
“Yeah, you've finally broken the ice with her and gotten one foot in the door,” Derek smirked. “When she breaks up with her boyfriend in a few months, you would be the next candidate.”
“That's a sick thing to say, Derek”
Derek chuckled, ” Come on bro, I will let you choose the next activities, maybe the dunk tank clown? The spinning teacup? Let's heal that broken heart of yours.”
Chris’s initial disappointment melted away as he found himself swept up in the fair’s infectious energy. He hadn’t conquered the “Ashley quest,” but he conquered his own hesitation. He laughed, screamed, and spun, proving to himself that he wasn’t just a shy shadow lurking on the edges of life.
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