Escape

Chapter VIII - Safe (Then)

It was Thanksgiving break and the group came up with an idea for that Saturday. They all needed to let loose and have some fun. So they went to the theme park together.

"Hannah, inferno is in the title. It doesn't sound good at all." Harry wasn't a fan of roller coasters. And that's why he wasn't too happy about being there. But he went along for the fun of being with his best friends. "And what does inferno mean?"

"It means fire." Niall chuckled. "Lots and lots of fire."

Hannah gave Niall a look but quickly smiled and turned to Harry. "There's not an actual fire on the ride. No need to worry, Harry. I won't make you go on it."

Harry smiled at Hannah in relief. There wasn't a fire and she wouldn't make him go on it. She was a really good best friend.

"Anyone else want to go with me?" Hannah wanted to ride 'Venomous Inferno,' the park's tallest and fastest roller coaster. She loved thrill rides.

"Zayn and I are going to 'Wave the Tide.' We need to work on our tans." Liam couldn't hold back his laughter when he eyed Zayn.

Harry laughed. Zayn didn't need to tan.

Zayn put his hands on his hips. "Speak for yourself, L. I'm going to scope out the girls. H, would you like to go with us?"

"No, thank you." Harry didn't want to go on a ride that had water. He didn't bring a towel and it was a little too cold. He was glad he brought his sweatshirt though. And he didn't want to scope out the girls.

"Okay, fine. You boys have fun. Meet back here at seven." Hannah ruffled Zayn's hair and laughed. "What about you, Daph? Will you go with me?"

"I'm sorry, Hanny, but Lou said he's going to win me a stuffed frog." Daphne linked her arm through Louis' and he winked at her. Louis knew she loved frogs.

"Aw, that's sweet. Oh, duh, where's Niall?" Hannah thought it was weird he didn't ask her if she wanted to go with him to wherever he went.

"He went to the food court." Louis gave Hannah a "sorry" face. He had noticed a change in Niall. He didn't know what it was and he didn't know if he should talk to him about it.

"Not surprised. Okay, you two have fun. We'll meet back here at seven." Hannah was bummed. But then she looked over at Harry. And he looked sad. Her best friend was more important than a silly roller coaster. "I don't have to go on it. Would you like to walk around with me, Harry?"

Harry stood there and thought for a minute. He didn't want to spend the day alone. And he really wanted his best friend to ride the roller coaster and be happy. He let out a breath. "Okay. I'll ride the roller coaster with you, Hannah. But if it sets me on fire, I'm blaming you."

"Deal. Let's go!" Hannah smiled at his humor and started to jog in place to get him going.

Harry laughed. Hannah was funny.

So Harry and Hannah started walking together. And he forgot for the moment that they were on their way to the coaster. But when he saw all the other coasters around the park, he was nervous. But he didn't want Hannah to be alone. He thought really hard and came up with an idea to get Hannah's mind off the big coaster. "Oh, look! Bumper cars. A-and I hear the carrousel is pretty neat."

Hannah laughed fondly at Harry's way of handling his nervousness. She knew if he got too nervous, she wouldn't make him go on the coaster.

So Hannah and Harry made their way through the park, talking and laughing. But the closer they got to the coaster, Harry fidgeted with his hands, combed through his curls, picked at his hem of his sweatshirt or hid them in his pockets. If it weren't for the coaster, he would've been on cloud nine.