Chapter 22 – The Carnival
Driving with Damien was pleasant. He’d always been a magnificent driver, and he didn’t put them in danger by trying to be cool. He was just him—pleasant and friendly.
It surprised Gabby that things weren’t awkward between them. She feared that the whole pretending to be together would be weird.
Yet, Damien still cracked jokes, told her about something stupid along the way, and never failed to make her laugh. When they finally arrived at the Carnival, her stomach muscles hurt.
“We’re here,” Damien said.
Gabby looked outside the window and gawked. In front of her was the most astonishing rollercoaster she’d ever laid her eyes on. With loops of the dangerous kind, and a steep hill for that extra rush in the stomach—it was beautiful.
Damien laughed. “Come on, it gets better on the inside.”
She nodded and stepped out of the car. Damien locked up and came around and took her hand in hers.
“You know…” Gabby said and stared at their intertwined hands. “We don’t have to pretend to be dating out here.”
“Rumors travel fast—you know that.” Damien gave her hand a squeeze. “Besides, it doesn’t mean anything, right?”
“Right…” Gabby gave him a smile. She wasn’t entirely sure about this, but like he said: it didn’t mean anything.
The Carnival was gigantic. As far as she understood, it was only in town for a few nights, yet it looked as solid as any amusement park. The rides were in different colors, with fantastic art on it. There were the stomach-rumbles, the wheel of fortune, and a large Ferris wheel
However, the best part was the lack of people. This early there wasn’t a bundle of people standing in line, and neither would they have to.
“You up for the rollercoaster?” Damien teased. He changed direction, and as they neared the massive ride, Gabby’s eyes widened.
“Damien, I’m not so sure about this…” she muttered. The loops looked deadly, and she couldn’t see if there were a safety belt at all. It didn’t look like it.
“Chicken…” Damien winked. “Come on—it’ll be fun.” He dragged her to a seat and sat down beside her. A worker came and secured the iron bar that would be their only security.
“You’ve got to be kidding me…” Gabby stared at the unorthodox safety precaution. “This is the only thing that’s gonna prevent me from falling? I can basically stand up in this. It’s not—“
She shrieked when the ride started, and clung to the bar with both her hands.
Closing her eyes, she whispered, “Please don’t let me die. Please. Don’t let me die.”
Damien laughed. “Gabby…” He placed his hand on top of hers. “Relax… Nothing is going to happen.”
Gabby nodded, trying to take a deep breath. They were going upwards, and the ticking of the rollercoaster reminded her of a bomb waiting to explode. It was so bad now. They stopped at the top, and she could feel the wind in her hair. Strands of dark blonde hair blew in front of her face, and she stared out over the whole area. It was a stunning sight.
“Are you ready?” Damien asked.
She was about to ask for what, when the cart jerked and started to move. She screamed of all her might as they went around and around in loops. The whooshing in her ears made it impossible for her to hear anything, yet she could recognize Damien’s laughter. The cart was at yet another top, when Damien took her hand and raised it in the air.
She clutched the iron bar with the other hand, but squealed in delight as they got to the photo part. Not long after, the cart stopped, and she stepped out on wobbly legs.
“That was amazing!” she said.
Damien simply chuckled and followed her over to the small boutique. He bought her the photograph as a memory, and took her hand as they stepped away from the area.
“This is going to be framed,” Gabby said and showed him the picture. “I especially like the green color on your face.”
Damien narrowed his eyes, and Gabby laughed. He grabbed for her, but she avoided his hand. Running, she tried to get away from him, protecting her picture from him. To no avail, he caught up and held her in his arms.
“I’m sorry,” Gabby said and tried to sound sincere—that was hard since she was laughing.
Damien rolled his eyes. “No, you’re not.” He let go of her and gestured with his head to a food cart. “Want a hot dog?”
It was around lunchtime, so naturally Gabby was hungry. She agreed, and they walked over to get food.
When they received their food, they sat down at a bench not far away. Gabby was chewing on her food when she frowned. “How come you wanted to take me here?”
He shrugged. “I couldn’t stand being there… With all the rumors and such.”
“Yeah…” Gabby swallowed. “Speaking of that. What happened at the party this Saturday?”
“I walked into a doorframe—I told you.”
Gabby wasn’t convinced. She didn’t bother him with it—she’d find out later, anyway.
“So…” She finished her lunch. “What do you want to do now?”
“How about the Ferris Wheel?” he said before dragging her along.
Apart from the fact there was no iron bar to secure them, it wasn’t much different as the first part of the rollercoaster. Gabby’s nerves were on high alert as she waited for it to spin fast. When it stopped at the top, her jaw dropped. “That… is amazing.”
“I know,” Damien said. “Look over there. That’s our school.” He pointed.
“That’s so far away!” Gabby stared over the Carnival and gasped. “This would be so beautiful at night. You know, with all the lights and music.”
Damien smiled. “I’ll be sure to take you out here sometime at night then.”
Gabby didn’t answer. She was busy staring at the people on the ground—they looked like ants. Eventually, she got bored, leaned back, and sent a glance to Damien. “So… What’s the deal between you and Peter? You fighting or something?”
“Ah.” Damien scratched his head. “Ehm. It’s a guy thing.”
“Oh…” Gabby couldn’t help but feel disappointed. Damien claimed she was his best friend, yet he couldn’t confide in her? Bullshit!
“Crap…” Damien rubbed his pants leg. “Look. Peter and I were really good friend when we kids.”
“Yeah?”
“Well. Basically, a girl came between us back then. And all this hanging out has sort of brought up some old memories and such…” He averted his eyes.
Gabby didn’t know how to respond. Instead, she gestured to the two of them. “I really enjoy us hanging out like this.”
“Yeah. Me too.”
“How come we’ve done this before?” Gabby frowned.
“I don’t know.” He shrugged. “But better late than never, right?”
“Right.”
The wheel moved again, and it didn’t take long before they reached the ground again. They’d barely stepped away from the cart before Devon came over.
With a mean look on his face, he walked over to Damien and pushed him hard. “So now you’re with her sister. You dick.”
Gabby didn’t have time to register anything before she stepped. “Devon, get lost.”
A gasp escaped her lips when she saw the major black eye he sported. “Stay out of this, Gabriella. I have something to discuss with your … boyfriend.” He spat on the ground.
“It’s Gabrielle, you idiot!” She punched his arm with as much strength as she could muster. It didn’t help, though—Devon didn’t move.
“Go away,” he said and stepped around her.
Gabby stumbled on her legs, and out of the corner of her eyes, she saw Alyssa shooting daggers at Devon. She charged at Devon again, slapping his face. “First of all, the only dick here is you—and I must say…” her eyes went over his body, “I am not impressed. Second of all. You shouldn’t badmouth other couple when your own girlfriend is as used as the public bathroom at the Groove. Third. Damien is third the man you’ll ever be, and a much better boyfriend too—at least he’s not a two-timer like you. Fourth. Get the fuck away from me, or I’m gonna slap you silly.”
Devon started to laugh. “Better boyfriend? Really?” He held his stomach. “You must have forgotten your precious sister at the party last weekend.”
“Devon,” Damien interfered. “Whatever beef you have with me—get it over with. Don’t pull Gabby into this.”
Devon smirked. “She doesn’t know. Does she?”
“Stop it…” Damien warned him.
“What don’t I know?” Gabby asked.
Devon shrugged and sent a wink back to Allyssa. “Oh. Simply the fact that your perfect boyfriend here has the hots for your sister. Now tell me again how much better a boyfriend he truly is,” he said and finished with a loud laugh.
A/N: Here you go. Gabby is finally let in on some of the secrets of Saturday's party. What do you think? Don't forget to vote if you like it <3
Also, I made a friend. Check out DoNotMicrowave if you don't know her already, she's very nice.