After ✔

21

"Do you still think of me like that?"

"What, decent?" I'm tempted to laugh. "God, no."

He simply smiles.

Then his lips come crashing down on mine.

At first, it's so overwhelming that I literally forget about everything around me.

Dani, you don't know how long I've waited for this.

And the most amazing thing about it, is that I feel exactly the same way I did whenever he used to kiss me, long before the hospital visits and the tiring flights. 

It's just us again - Dani and Valencia. Two senior high school students that fell in love a long time ago.

With a jolt, I remember he doesn't feel the same way.

And apparently, he does too.

He breaks away just as quickly, and his eyes lower to the ground slightly before flickering to me.

"It was a... spur of the moment." He says quietly.

I want to ask him so badly if he felt anything. Anything. But I don't. 

To him, I'm just some girl that his messed up brain doesn't remember.

And I don't want to make him feel like he owes me - for anything, because he doesn't. 

Our cart gradually descends to the ground.

"Valencia." He says my name in his accent, and like every time, I can't help melt a little.

"What?" I ask softly. 

I'm glad the wind isnt blowing - it gives my hair an excuse to hide half of my face.

He nudges me with his shoulder. "Thank you." He says. His hand finds mine and he gives it a small squeeze. "Thank you for not pushing me to be someone I'm not, for trying to understand."

I look up at him, and he's staring into my eyes.

You really didn't feel anything?

"You don't have to--"

"But I do." He cuts me off. Our cart comes to a halt, and then I fund myself getting up and following him out.

The pathway is made out of plankboards and lit all the way by fairy lights that wind around all the stalls. 

I'm glad he isn't making it awkward - that's the last thing I need. 

But even now, I can't help my mind wandering off to all those times with Dani still the old version of himself.

We're all those times a lie?

If he hadn't got sick, then we probably wouldn't even be here right now. And if we were, then we wouldn't be walking like we were friends - Dani would probably have his arm around me and lean in every now and then to kiss my cheek.

I hate myself for all the what-ifs that go through my brain, because I should be glad Dani's here at all.

I'm so lost in my thoughts, I don't hear him call my name.

Then he does it again, and I find him by a food stall, buying cotton candy and a cup of coffee 

"Here." He smiles, handing me the stick of cotton candy. "Want anything else?"

"How did you know I--"

"You like sweet stuff, don't you?" He winks. 

The man behind the stall hands him a huge cup of coffee.

"Don't you want dinner?" I ask.

He tilts his head. "It's too early for dinner."

I check the time on my phone. He's right.

"Well, we could drive around the city for a bit, perhaps..."

He looks around. "But first..." he points to the gaming area. "I'm going to try and win that."

He points to a ring-toss game.

I groan in response. "You know they're rigged right?"

"Would you rather go to the haunted house?"

No way.

"Teddy bear game it is then." I say, referring to the huge bears on display.

"Okay, and after that, we go to the haunted house."

"How about we don't go there at all?"

He narrows his eyes. "You're such a girl."

Gee, thanks for noticing.

The man at the ring toss greets us with a goofy smile.

Dani hands him the money and gets the rings in return.

He takes a step back, holds out his arm, and throws the first ring. 

It clinks and falls, nowhere near the bottle.

He tries again, and this time at least the ring touches the bottle.

"All you have to do is loop it through." I say. "How hard can it be?"

"Harder than it looks." He grumbles.

He pushes up his sleeves and tries one last time.

Needless to say, he fails.

"Right." I say, going to the man behind the booth and asking him for three more rings. "Watch and learn." I tell Dani.

I throw the first ring, and it's almost in.

I take a deep breath, and throw the second one.

It lands directly where I want it to.

And so does the last one.

"Whose the girl now?" I snicker.

"Good job, lady." The guy laughs and hands me the huge white bear.

"Thanks."

Dani crosses his arms. "You just got lucky."

"Aw, don't be a sore loser." I reach up and pinch his cheek mockingly.

He pulls back. "I bet I could beat you at the next game."

I tuck the bear under my arm, or try to atleast. "Oh, you're so on."