How I Met You

Chapter Nineteen

He smirked down at me. “Okay, fine by me. But I’m going to win.”

I walked to the ride with Jake in tow. I can so do this. I will prove Jake wrong, and get twenty dollars!

The ride was bright orange and turquoise. I’m not kidding when I said it looked fun. The thing was massive! It was built for me. I decided to ride in the front row. The scarier the better, right?

When it was our turn to ride, I smiled back at Jake and winked — something that I’d never do on a regular basis.  

A young couple, maybe somewhere in their late twenties, sat in the two vacant seats next to us.

“Hello, I’m Melody,” the woman greeted us with a bright smile. She was sitting to my left, while Jake sat to my right. Melody and I had the two inner seats. Lucky us.

“Hi, I’m Alex. This is Jake,” I replied, also smiling.

“Hey, Chase, remember when we were young like them?” she asked, turning to the man who I’m assuming is her husband.

“Yeah, I remember,” Chase said.

“You two are the cutest couple!” Melody exclaimed as she beamed brightly.

My eyes widened a fraction. “We—”

“Are you guys ready?” A male’s voice asked from above us, cutting me off. He stood about six feet tall. He was very gaunt. A puffy mustache sat above his upper hip, and his shiny bald head looked like it had been waxed. The man was quite awkward looking.

“Yeah, let’s get this show on the road!” Jake said, fist-pumping. He leant in closer and whispered something in my ear, his breath fanning my neck. “Remember the bet, Alex.”

As soon as he pulled back, he secured himself. I followed suit as the butterflies built up in my stomach.

“Are you all ready?” A voice boomed through the speakers. All the riders yelled a “yeah” in reply. The butterflies had children. Then those children had children. “In five, four, thr—”

The ride zoomed forward, not letting the bald man finish. We literally went straight up. Not at an angle, oh no, I mean straight up.

As soon as the ride reached the peak, I heard a loud scream. I know it wasn’t Melody. . . It was Chase? I nearly burst into laughter, but then I remembered the bet. I have to keep a straight face! How can I when there is a twenty something year old guy sitting there, screaming like a five year old girl?

Melody was laughing at her husband, enjoying the ride.

Technically, Jake and I couldn’t laugh — or even smile, for that matter — because neither of us wanted to cave first.