"Joey, calm down man. We will get there soon," Jude says, laughing. He pulls past the pedestrians who walk across the street to enter the Carnival.
Joey grins and sits back in his seat.
"Alright, but can you just hurry?" He asks, sighing and looks out the window, anxious. Jude and Owen sit up front, with Joey and I in back. Logan, Aidan, and Ben drive behind us in their beat up car with Quinn.
Jude weaves and maneuvers around dozens of cars to park in the carnival grounds, where people are arriving and milling around. Once we park, Joey rips off his seat belt and jumps out of his booster seat.
"Slow down little man. Remember the rules; no running off and no talking to strangers," Jude warns, talking to Joey before he can get out. Joey nods solemnly and Owen helps him out of the back. I step out of the car just as Logan pulls in beside us.
"Emma," Jude begins, standing beside me with a serious stare. "No boys, like you can't even look at them," He says. Owen and Aidan mutter in agreement.
I roll my eyes. "Sure. Whatever you say," I say, laughing and take Joeys hand, walking away from my brothers.
As Joey and I make our way to the entrance I see Andrea and her sister, Cassie.
"I can smell the food from here," Andrea says dreamily, sniffing the air. Cassie rolls her eyes.
"You always smell food." Andrea sticks out her tongue at her sister. Cassie bends down and gives Joey a fist bump. My brothers come to stand beside me and Logan stands next to Cassie. They don' t speak to each other but stand really close, their arms touching.
"Is this everyone?" Jude asks but before anyone can say anything, Aidan speaks up.
"Yep, here comes Austin and Henry. I think we are good to go." At the mention of Austin, I turn slightly to see him walking up to us wearing tan cargo shorts and a blue polo. Henry is beside of him, waving his hands as he speaks.
Andrea nudges me hard in the ribs and I grimace. She likes Henry, who is exactly like her: loud and outgoing. Except Henry knows when to keep his mouth shut.
"Can we go already!" Joey yells, stomping his foot impatiently. Everyone laughs. Jude picks him up and swings him over his shoulder.
We pay for our bracelets, saying we have full access to the carnival, we split up. Jude and Owen take off with Joey to the circus, which indeed does have clown acts. Quinn takes off on his own, to meet up with his friends. Who knows what trouble he will get in.
Logan and Cassie go off somewhere, of course they had the excuse they are meeting up with friends but Andrea and I give each other a knowing look.
Eventually, all the people that are left is my brothers Aidan and Ben, Austin, Henry, Andrea and I.
"So I guess we're stuck with you losers," Aidan says, pointing to Andrea and I. Andrea hits his shoulder playfully.
Andrea snorts. "Yeah right, like we would ever want to be seen with you fools," Andrea says and grabs my arm, pulling me in the opposite direction.
"Where are we going?" I ask as Andrea drags me through clusters of people. We stop by the canteen where they sell cotton candy and all other junk food.
"Well I need something to eat," My best friend says, sighing dramatically as we stand in line.
I laugh. "You are a bottomless pit." I say, watching the crowd around us. "I swear if I ate like you I'd weigh a billion pounds."
A few feet away, I see Carla and her posse yapping away to each other and laughing.
"What are they doing here?" Andrea wonders once she followed my gaze.
"I don't know, having fun?"
"Yeah right. Their idea of fun is party until they can't walk and see how many guys they can get."
"True. I feel bad for Whitney. She's basically their slave." Andrea and I watch Whitney walk over to Carla with food and hand over a white container to her.
"I know. Carla must have something on her or she is just really screwed in the head."
"Agreed," I say. "Hey want to go the Gravatron?" I ask my best friend as we pass by the large looking ride that looked like a green spaceship.
The Gravatron is a ride in which spins really fast in circles and makes it so you can't walk once it's over because you see double of everything.
"Alright. Race you to it!" Andrea takes off after she gives me a shove. I shake my head but race after her to the line anyway.
"Ha, I win," Andrea teases, flicking her hair and sticking her tongue out like a five year old.
I roll my eyes, scowling. "Yeah because you cheated."
Andrea snickers. "Oh, don't be a sore loser," Andrea says and we walk up to the ride. An attendant at the gate checks out our bracklets before letting us through.
Entering the Gravatron, we move to a spot where not many people are and buckle ourselves in.
"Fuck, I hope I don't throw up all this candy I ate," Andrea says before the doors shut.
"Where have you guys been?" A familiar voice asks. I look to my right and see Aidan, Ben, Henry, and Austin buckle into their seats. Austin and Ben are beside me, and Aiden and Henry beside Andrea.
"We got some food, and played some games," Andrea says. "Where have you guys been up to?"
"Oh not far. We went to the mud rally, saw some really hot girls."
I snort. Typical.
"Everyone ready?" The ride attendant asks everyone and there are hoots and hollers.By the time the ride is halfway through, my brain feels like its in a mixer.
When it stops, I try to get out of the Gravatron but are too dizzy and ends up stumbling. I got to the door but I'm in such a rush and so dizzy that I start to fall down the stairs.
Someone catches me by the jacket from behind and pulls me up straight, keeping me from falling.
"Let me help you before you break your neck," Austin says, laughing from behind me. He helps me down the stairs. Everyone is stumbling around is and I burst into laughter.
"What's so funny?" Austin asks once we finally reached the bottom. He stumbles around me and I catch his arm to steady him.
"Everyone looks like drunken zombies," I chuckle and Austin laughs too as he glances around him.
"Hey! Over here!" Behind us, Aidan and Ben waves their hands at us.
Henry and Andrea are no where to be seen. Where did they wander off to?
"Where did they go?" Aidan looks around him and shrugs.
"I don't know," I say, shrugging. I need to go to the bathroom so I'll catch up with you guys in a few."
"Ok. Don't get lost or kidnapped. Mom and Dad would freak," Aidan says, popping the gum he's chewing. Austin laughs beside me.
"Well jeez thanks for caring, dear brother," I say sarcastically and begin to walk away towards the bathrooms. I look around, watching everyone have fun. I notice the lights are on, brighting up the arena. The day is going by fast and the sun is going to go down soon.
As I walk past the canteen, I hear a familiar laugh and turn to see my brother and Cassie sitting at a table sharing a drink. I hide behind a light street before they can see me and fish out my phone from my pocket. Logan reaches out and take Cassie's hand in his, they both lean forward and kiss.
I snap a few pictures and leave, evidence in hand.
Andrea is going to love this. The bathrooms at the carnival aren't much, out houses lined up, but at least they are there.
Once I finish, I step out and the next person waiting in line went in as my phone buzzes. It's from Owen, saying that everyone is to meet at the entrance in an hour.
"Boo!"
I jump, my phone dropping from my hands. I come face to face with Austin, who is laughing like a maniac.
"You are such a jerk!" I hit his chest in anger and pick up my phone. Austin stops laughing and pouts.
"But you love me any way," He says, grinning. I look down to hide my smile and flushed cheeks.
"What are you doing here anyway? Don't you have anything better to do other than scaring me?"
Austin pretends to think, putting a finger on his chin.
He smiles. "Nope. Not really."
I stare at him, his green eyes sparkling with amusement.
Come on, I want to show you something," Austin says, grabbing my hand. I'm left wondering where we're headed.
"Where are we going?" I ask multiple times but Austin just shakes his head and refuses to answer.
My eyes widen when we come to a stop in front of the Ferris wheel. I halt to a stop, refusing to go any farther.
"No way am I going on that thing!" I try to leave but Austin tightens his grip on my arm and doesn't let go.
"Are you scared?" Austin laughs, and when I look away, he stops.
"You don't need to be scared, I promise. I won't let anything happen to you." I'm scared of heights, or well more scared of falling than anything, because I love the view.
We show the attendant our bracelets and sit down, slamming down the bar that holds us in place.
"Do you know that the biggest Ferris wheel ever made is 100 feet tall and takes almost thirty minutes to go around once?"
"No I didn't know that." I smile and look at the ground as we start to move. Eventually we reach the top and stay there, really high up in the sky. The people on the ground look like ants. It's really far down. I groan, nauseous gripping my stomach.
Austin touches my face gentle, pulling my face towards his. I look in his eyes, where there is no fear and try to calm myself down.
"Don't look at the ground. Look at the up instead," Austin says and I follow Austin's finger to the sun.
My jaw drops.
The sun is just setting, the sky a beautiful pink.
"It's beautiful," I say, in amazement. I look back at Austin, and before I know it, he leans in, and places his lips on mine.
***
What do you think of this chapter? It may seem like their relationships is fast, but please keep in mind they have known each other for years and they aren't strangers!
Thanks for reading! I appreciate all you people who read and comment.