"A date?" I repeated.
Jordan smiled. "Yup, a date."
"A date?" Bennett said.
"Uh-huh."
"A date?" Declan asked.
"Is there an echo in here?"
"If it's for the password, are there any other choices?"
It was as if I grabbed a sword and just stabbed him. The guys were no help when they were trying to hold back their laughter.
"Now there isn't," he said.
"But doesn't a date contradict with article 15, section five of the contract?" I asked him.
Jordan thought about it for a second then his eyes widened in surprise.
"Naomi!"
I blinked. "What? What did I do?"
He came over and gave me a big hug, practically crushing me.
"I'm so sorry!"
"Sorry for what?"
"I'm so sorry for getting your hopes up. It's not that kind of a date."
"Thank you," I whispered gratefully to myself.
He looked at me. "Did you say something?"
"Me? No, of course not."
"I didn't mean to lead you on or anything," Jordan assured me. "But you know study dates right? It's just friends out to study, and it just seems like a date. It's the same thing here."
I knew from the look Declan and Bennett were wearing, they were thinking the same thing: That makes no sense.
"We're just friends going to the fair out of boredom. We can call it a date, or an outing, or whatever you want, but it's not a date-date. You get me?"
"Yeah, sure."
Jordan looked at the others and winked. "Don't worry you guys."
"Why did you wink? What is that suppose mean?" Declan asked.
"I don't get you at all," Bennett grumbled.
"Would the others go at least?" I asked.
"If we all went, then it wouldn't be a date," Jordan said. "Besides, they have stuff to do. And what? You don't want to hang out with me?"
Avoiding the question, I said, "I know I should have said this sooner, but we don't have to go on a date."
He raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? How come?"
"I already know the password," I said. "I just wanted to ask your permission to have the website. I thought it was better to just ask you the password entirely."
"Even if I gave you permission to have it, I still don't believe you know the-"
"It's wallace_rocks314."
Jordan froze in place at the sound of it.
Declan burst out laughing. "Are you kidding me? Like the school password?"
"I got lazy and couldn't think of anything else!" Jordan retorted before taking out his phone and started typing away.
"You're coming up with a new password, aren't you?" Bennett asked him.
"No," Jordan said, stretching the word. "Alright fine, I am." He then pressed a final button and crossed his arms. "There, I dare you to know the password now."
From the months I've known Jordan, you could see a pattern on how his brains works. It's small, it seems at random, and sometimes I get it and sometimes I don't, but when it's obvious, it's there.
"It's jordan_rocks413."
Declan fell off the couch laughing. "You didn't even bother changing it at all!"
Jordan grumbled something under his breath and then typed in a new password.
"How about now?" He demanded.
Probably learning from his mistake, I doubt it would still be related to the previous password. And with Jordan, the possibilities are endless.
I sighed. "I admit defeat."
"What a shame."
"Then why are you smiling?" I asked him.
His smile only widened. "It's only a shame for you. I never said it's a shame for me."
-
The doorbell rang.
"I'll get it!" My mom said eagerly.
"Oh no you don't," I challenged, trying to beat her to the door, but she got there first.
I let out a sigh. "You're fast for your age," I commented.
She put her hands on her hips and gave me a look of disbelief. "And what does that suppose to mean?"
I blinked. "N-nothing. I-It's a compliment," I assured her before adding, "Did I mention that you look lovely today?"
"Kiss-up," she muttered. "And if you must know, my age doesn't happen to be the same time dinosaurs roamed the Earth."
I rolled my eyes. "I know."
"It was before that."
I knew it.
When I told her that I was going to the fair, she instantly thought I was going with Parker. But the look on my face must have reminded her that we were long over. I remember when I first told them when we broke up. My mom was sad for me, and my dad tried to look for his gun. Okay, not really the last part, he was actually going out to buy one. But I told them it's because he left the school and we thought long distance wouldn't work. I know it's a pretty excuse, but it evens out since its half-truth and half-lie. Better than telling them the real truth that Parker only went out with me for a date, fooling not only me but my mom as well for liking him for me. It's better to leave things as it is right now.
So I told her that actually I was going with Jordan, as friends I added quickly. But she probably ignored the last part and was doing the excited part for me, having me watch her run all over the house panicking for me. I just sat on the couch and watched TV with dad. Jordan seems to be more likable out of the three guys with my parents. I mean, no offense to Bennett and Declan, but Jordan seems more open and easy going rather than the two who are distant and quiet.
But back to the door. Before I could ask her what it was like "back in the day" she opened the door.
"Jordan!" She greeted brightly.
"Hello Marisa, I haven't seen you in a while," Jordan said just as brightly.
"Yes, we have to catch up," my mom urged. "Come inside, you can-"
"Another time, I'm afraid."
Her face dropped. "Oh?"
He looked pained to tell her the news. "We're going to the fair which only comes once a year. But we both know we can always catch up another time."
She nodded. "Yes, of course.
Suddenly Jordan took her hands and then said dramatically. "But know this, once we do meet up again, it will be like all that time apart has vanished."
"I will, I will always wait for you," she promised.
You can actually see the sparkles in their eyes and the flower background behind them. I don't know how I or much less anyone else can explain this.
"C-can you guys stop, you're freaking me out."
Jordan snapped his head back to me. "Yeah, we should go then anyway."
"Goodbye Jordan!" My mom called out as she waved a handkerchief which I have no idea where she got from. "Until we meet again!"
Jordan wiped a fake tear in his eye and waved back. "We will, I promise!" Then he jumped on his horse and rode off into the sunset.
Or what might as well happen. Instead the both of us walked out of the porch.
He sighed. "Man, your mom's awesome. Not as awesome as mine, but just as awesome."
"This is the first I've heard of this," I said, since he never really talked about his mom, much less any of the guys and their parents.
"Be patient Naomi, you don't meet the parents until after a couple of dates."
I rolled my eyes. "So where's the fair again? It's in different places every year."
He looked as if he was trying to rack the information in his head, which might usually take a while.
"Careful there," I warned him. "Take it one word at a time."
"Oh ha ha," he said in a deadpanned voice but then he told me. "It's in downtown at that big park."
"So will we take a car?" I asked, not really wanting to walk all the way to downtown.
He grinned. "Nope. We're gonna walk."
At first it seemed alright. But that was only the first couple of blocks.
I stumbled as I walked, my legs felt weak under me. I rasped for water, for shade. I squinted at the miles ahead of me, the very thought of having to walk it all made me feel dizzy. I grabbed my fellow traveler's shoulder, wanting to beg him for us to stop while we still have the chance, that this is a suicide mission. He must be feeling the same way as I was, that he was about to drop dead any minute. Then he looked back at me and said:
"You're being a big baby."
"I'm not!" I whined. "If you knew that the fair was going to be downtown, I don't know why you couldn't borrow Bennett's car."
He snorted. "You think he'll trust me with his car?"
He had a point there.
"I mean, we could take the bus," Jordan offered.
I sighed. "We have to take three buses to get there. I want to save money for the fair," I muttered.
"But really, since I invited you, I should provide the transportation?"
I thought about it for a moment. "Yes."
"Well I'm sorry but I don't have my license."
I stopped short. "You don't?"
"No," he admitted quietly before covering it up with a big smile. "I kinda suck at racing games, so I doubt anyone could trust me behind the wheel." Even if, that still can't be a good reason.
"Oh, alright," I said. "I mean, I have one, but I don't have a car and don't plan to any time soon."
"How come?" He asked me.
We began to walk again, and I don't seem to be as dramatic as much.
I shrugged. "Getting a car means by the time I come back to it at the end of school, it'll be covered with eggs, graffiti and probably stolen. I don't really see the point of it since I usually take the bus- Well I mean run to school until you guys came, then Bennett just drove all of us."
"Bennett is always the driver," Jordan explained. "Declan has a license, but doesn't have a car. And I don't have a license, period. We all don't really mind. And out of the three of us, Bennett is the best in Mario Kart."
"But wouldn't you want one later on?" I asked. "I want to get one maybe during or after college."
He shrugged. "I don't know."
And that was the end of that conversation.
"So the fair..." I said, changing the subject.
He smiled. "Yeah, the guys never want to go. Bennett thinks he's too good for it and Declan makes it no fun."
I could actually feel their glares on Jordan.
"So you got the tickets right?"
Jordan nodded. "Yup, just got them over the internet."
"How much was mine? I'll pay for it."
"No, you don't have to."
"I want to. Now c'mon, how much was it?"
He scratched the back of his neck, chuckling nervously. "Yeah, that's the thing..."
It was then, he finally told me.
"You used me."
"No, I didn't."
"I feel as if this whole friendship was a lie."
"Oh c'mon Naomi, don't be like that."
"A lie!"
"Alright, I know you're a bit mad," Jordan said, trying to calm me down. "But you can't blame me. I couldn't let the deal just slip away."
"You get a discount on your ticket if you have a plus one," I grumbled. "The only reason they made that stupid deal just so they know that more people will buy more stuff at the fair."
"It's not a stupid deal. I save a couple bucks, alright?"
I stopped walking and crossed my arms. "Why didn't you go with the other guys?"
"I already told you, Bennett would be a bore and Declan is out of the question," he said. "And besides, they're busy, they got stuff to do."
"So I'm your last option."
"No you're not," Jordan assured me.
I didn't reply back, I just moved my head, refusing to look at him. He rolled his eyes and grabbed my hand, trying to tug me forward but I stood my ground.
"Why wouldn't I want to go to the fair with anyone else other than my favorite person in the world?"
"Then go by yourself."
He thought about it for a moment, until I realized he was actually considering it! With a scoff I turned my heel and started to walk away.
"Wait! It was a joke!" He called out to me.
"Lies!"
"It's not!"
"Lies!"
Jordan grabbed my hand, making me stop.
"You already came this far, we're already a few blocks away from the fair. Can't you put up with me for a couple of hours of paid food and games won by me?"
I hesitated then sighed. "You got me at food."
His face lit up. "Alright then, let's go."
The city holds a fair once a year, with a petting zoo, games, shows, a Ferris wheel and a fireworks show at the end of the night. Obviously I didn't go, because I wouldn't enjoy the fair as much as my bullies did. And if I ever went with my parents –which I did one time, it was a whole mess but they didn't find out anything –it would be bad, really bad. But thanks to that one incident that left me covered in cotton candy (I wasn't complaining that much, but I rather eat it than be in it) I didn't go to the fair ever again. But I knew that if I was with Jordan, I think I'll be alright.
It was nearly six at night since Jordan insisted that the fair is more fun at night, which turns out, he was right. But the both of us didn't know a surprise that came with the yearly fair.
"There's a circus too!" Jordan said in excitement after reading a flyer which was posted on a pole a couple of blocks away from the fair.
I got my phone to turn on the flashlight, but to make it work, I had to hit it against the pole making Jordan jump in surprise.
"What did you do that for?" He asked me. "You can't just do that to your phone."
"It got wet," I explained to him. "Now it sometimes glitches at me and I have to hit it to work."
"It got wet? What, you dropped it in the toilet?"
"Ew, no!"
He took my phone and sniffed it. "Uh huh. I'll take a better look at it later," he said as he studied it. "I can fix it for you cheaper than the store at the friend discount. And I can make it better too."
"With spy gear?" I said to excitedly before coughing and saying calmly, "I mean, if it's with spy gear it'll probably be lame."
Jordan rolled his eyes. "Sorry no-" cue my disappointed sigh "-just make it better quality, faster, more battery life, more space, that sort of stuff."
I got my phone back and then hit it against the pole once more, getting a yell from Jordan before using the flashlight to read the poster. "It says that the city's annual fair blah, blah, blah will be introducing a rising circus called, The Masked Circus."
Jordan took out his phone and began to look up on it. "Here's the bio of it. It used to be some small, rundown circus, but after a successful play in Tulsa, Oklahoma, they got this dealership to be promoted more. They got a bunch of stuff, animals, acts, clowns, and even trapeze."
"That's pretty cool," I said. "And hey, they're going to be a big fireworks act, probably a combination with the end of the fair fireworks with the circus. It's going to be around nine."
"Well if we're going to see it, which obviously we will. What are we going to do in three hours in a fair/circus?"
"Is that some sort of trick question?"
"Are you changing your answer to a question to buy time to give me an answer?"
"Are you doing the same thing?"
"Are we going to keep on doing this or are we going to go?"
I paused. "Yeah you're right, let's go."
He was right though, the fair is more fun at night, just as it is beautiful. We saw the fair blocks away, like a huge light bulb in the city. We walked towards the light, gave out tickets and went in. The place was so bright with big colorful lights, illuminating the night. There were food and game stands that were covered in light, attracting people like bugs with a bug zapper along with the tempting games and delicious smells. There were big colorful tents, towering over us with who knows underneath. There were clowns and small acts at the paths we walked to get attention, give away balloon and laughs, or small tips from the upside down hats in front of them.
I haven't gone to a fair since I was in middle school, and this is what I've been missing out. Not that I realize it, it was sad all of the great things I miss only because my fear of bullying is more. But I ignored that small thought the rest of the night, not wanting it to dampen my mood. Jordan and I had loads of fun though.
We visit the petting zoo, bringing animals usually in farms, pet shops, and zoos open to the public to pet and feed. I was able to pick up a baby chick, pet the wool of sheep, and feed hay to a horse out of my hand. Jordan on the other hand learned to milk a cow until it kicked him and got chased around by a big, making a total ass out of himself when trying to impersonate Eddie Murphy as Donkey in Shrek. A llama got pretty interested with Jordan and got frisky enough to want Jordan to move on.
The petting zoo was my choice to go first, now its Jordan's turn for the tilt-a-whirl. And I don't mean the tilt-a-whirl where people spin slowly in a huge cupcake. No, it had to be the hardcore tilt-a-whirl where you're strapped down to your seat so you wouldn't fly out of your seat at the high speeds we were in. We were in seats spinning around as the platform when up and down and spun clockwise at the same time, then abruptly stop to let us catch our breath or throw up in the bucket which is conveniently glued to either side of the seats for each person, before spinning at the opposite direction. When it was finally over, the both of us tumbled out of our seats and walked back on solid ground. But on our ways to the trashcans, we crashed into each other and fell on the ground.
"You know what?" I grumbled as I stood back up. "It was a good idea of not eating first."
"What's the point of eating if you're just going to throw it all up?" Jordan asked, as I helped him up.
I snorted. "Tell that to the citizens of the Capitol, drinking that thing to makes you throw up just so you can eat again."
Jordan shook his head. "It's pretty sick, freaking districts starving and they're hurling mountains of food. But hey, awesome Hunger Games reference."
"Why thank you."
We both gave each other the District 12 sign of a three finger hand salute.
"Speaking of foods..." Jordan began. "How about we go eat?"
And eat we did. Some people save their money for games and clothes. Then there are people like Jordan who save their money for food. Good thing that I do the same thing too. We brought enough money to try practically every food stand in the fair.
"Okay, I think we've eaten almost everything here," Jordan said, patting his stomach proudly as he took a sip of his drink.
"Let's see," I said. "We had chocolate covered bacon, deep fried twinkies, funnel cakes, deep fried burgers, big ribss, candy apples, curly fries, deep fried cereals, chicken kabobs, calzones, pizza, bacon wrapped turkey legs."
"And pretty much anything that's been cheese stuffed, deep fried, bacon wrapped, chocolate covered, sugar sprinkled and makes weight watchers faint has been eaten," Jordan finished.
I stretched. "I feel so proud of myself."
"Wait not yet," Jordan said. "We haven't eaten one more thing." He pointed his straw at a direction. "Cotton candy."
Well I've said it before, cotton candy and I had a history. It was the result of having me not go to a fair ever since middle school with my parents. But I think it's time to face it head on, and eat it.
"I'll pay for this one," I told Jordan, stopping him for taking out his wallet. "So what do you want?"
"Cotton candy," he said absentmindedly as he stared at the vendor spun the cotton candy around with its machine.
I rolled my eyes. "Yes, but what color do you want: blue, purple, or pink?"
He thought about it for a moment then shrugged. "Surprise me."
"Alright, one blue and one pink," I told the guy before turning to Jordan. "Is something wrong Jordan?"
"No, why?"
I shook my head. "Never mind."
I gave the vendor the money as he handed me the cotton candy. I gave Jordan the pink one as I got the blue one, expecting some sort of big deal about it. But nothing with Jordan which I thought a joke would come out of it. I was distracted with my thoughts and mostly my cotton candy when suddenly Jordan yanked me towards him and we went behind the tent.
"I almost dropped my cotton candy," I said in disbelief, holding it close like a baby. "What's wrong-"
"Shh," he told me.
I processed that we were between two tents, which I was backed up against one. And Jordan was leaning really close to me, so close that his cotton candy was practically on my face. He motioned his head to have me look and a bunch of kids from school.
"I don't want to deal with any of them," he muttered. "No way they're going to ruin my night and my cotton candy."
He looked at me, giving me an assuring smile, his bright green eyes telling me it's alright. Soon they moved on to another stand.
"Hey Jordan?"
"Yeah Naomi?"
"They're gone now."
"I know."
"So you can back away now."
He smiled that mischievous smile. "Do you want me to?"
"Do you want me to eat the rest of your cotton candy?" I asked as I stared at the cotton candy right in front of me, which honestly was pretty tempting.
"Whoops, alright," he said as he finally did back off and went back to eating his candy. "Let's walk at the opposite direction they went. We can go play some games before the fireworks show."
We walked away from the tents and headed to the game stands of the fair. We played a couple of games like knocking down bottles, popping balloons, catching fish (though I gave it back because I don't want a pet, though I would've called it Nemo) and spin the wheel which Jordan kept on complaining was rigged.
"You're freakishly good at this," I commented, watching him play the shooting game.
He reloaded the BB gun then fired another round of shots. "Video games have prepared me for this."
"Yeah, virtually, not in real life."
Jordan didn't say anything. In the end of the game, he got a perfect bulls-eye for every mark.
"Seriously, this is what I get?" Jordan asked in disbelief as he stared down at the stuffed animal prize. "What is it anyway? It's like a cheap rip off of an angry bird. Why does it even have legs?"
The guy rolled his eyes. "Yeah, what d'you want me to give you? A thousand bucks?"
"Well yeah, I pretty much got an A+ on my test, teacher," he said mockingly.
"Look, if you want one of those big stuff animal prizes for your girlfriend-"
"She's not my girlfriend," he said as I said at the same time, "I'm not his girlfriend."
"-then I suggest you play that game over there," he said, nodded to the game stand crowded with people. "It's pretty tough, but you get a good prize if you win."
"Alright then," Jordan said, shoving the fake angry bird to the guy.
He smirked. "Good luck."
The both of us were able to move to the front of the crowd. You can all tell that they were either curious or pissed off but can't do anything about it. It was the classic basketball free-throw game. Just shoot the ball into the hoop with three balls, the more shots you make, the bigger the prize. The only thing is, no one can't get a single shot.
People kept on handing the guy money for three balls meaning three chances. Each shot was different, a rebound by the backboard, an almost swirl of the hoop, or an entire miss. Even when the ball looks like it's going to go in, it doesn't. But they either don't know or don't care and keep on giving the guy money for more chances.
"The game's rigged," I told Jordan.
"Yeah, I know," Jordan agreed. "The city's fair isn't only to let people have fun, but to suck their wallets dry with these rigged carnival games."
It's always the same. The hoop's rims are small and sometimes oval shaped, not a perfect circle like the ball. And they would sometimes place in higher than fair. Also, they basketballs will have too much air, making them too bouncy.
"Let's go," I said. "What's the point playing this?"
"Because of that," Jordan said, pointing at the big prize that had huge spotlights shining on it.
It was a huge stuffed bear, almost as big as me with a big red bow on its collar.
"It's so fluffy," I muttered, falling for its hypnotic cuteness that I must hug.
Jordan looked at me, probably seeing that I fell under it's spell. Then he moved in front of the game vendor and handed him some money.
"That bear is mine."
The guy scoffed. "That's what they all say."
Try as he might, though the balls were sure to go in, they didn't. Jordan would hand the guy more money and try the game again, only to lost and give the guy even more money. This kept on going back and forth, having me stop him before he goes to credit cards or something.
"Jordan, stop wasting your time, the game's stupid. Its insanity, doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results," I said, quoting Albert Einstein.
"How about you try little girl?" the guy taunted me.
He irked me at "little girl". "Maybe I will," I retorted, falling for the taunt.
"Naomi, don't give in," he said, conveniently learning from his mistake.
"C'mon, maybe she'll have a better chance than you. I mean, look at those spaghetti arms and how tall she is, she'll need a ladder to touch even the rim."
I glared at him. "Bring it on."
I grabbed one of the basketballs and held it in shooting position.
"Remember," the guy warned. "If you want the big prize, you gotta make all three shots. And people can barely make one, good luck."
I stared at the net. The only way to make is using the high arc, a perfect swish. If I use the backboard for a rebound, the over-inflated ball will bounce off where it shouldn't. I urged myself to put my mathematical brain to use and conjure up some random formulas the TV makes to have the person look smart. I took a deep breath and shot it.
And just like that, a perfect swish. Then another, and another.
The guy, though speechless, handed me the big prize. The crowd's jaws were dropped to the ground, and I could even see some kids from school were amongst them. I had the bear wave bye to the rigged basketball game guy and walked off.
I handed Jordan the bear. "Here you go."
"I was hoping to win you the prize instead."
I laughed. "Well you can keep on hoping while you hug that bear at night."
"It's almost nine," he said, checking his phone as the bear was hung over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. "I know a great place to get a good view of the show."
"Really? Where?"
He looked up, making me look up.
"Oh."
-
"It's pretty cool, don't you think?" Jordan asked.
"What do you mean?"
"Just that they're able to build up all of these rides like a rollercoaster this one time in only a day and people can ride it later," he said. "It's crazy, the safety is questionable, but still, little to no accidents."
"How do you know the last part?"
He pointed at a sign. "It's a guarantee, the ride had little to no accidents. It's conveniently next to some contract ensuring that the fair isn't responsible for any injuries or... deaths," Jordan said as he signed his name and gave it to the Ferris wheel worker. "Here's a pen."
Reluctantly, I signed my name at the copy of the contract and gave it to the guy. It was like signing my soul off to the- Well I kind of did that with the guys already...
"Hey, how does this thing work?" Jordan asked the guy, peering at the control panel of the Ferris wheel, about to press a button.
"Don't touch that!" The guy exclaimed, having him back off. "Just get into your cart already."
"Geez," Jordan muttered then climbed the steps into the cart.
I sat in the same dusty cart with faded paint on top of torn leather seats. There was only one bar to act like seatbelts and we're good to go. Soon, the Ferris wheel started and we began to go around the wheel, up and down a couple of times. At first it seemed alright until Jordan started to rock the cart like a rocking chair to freak me out.
"Jordan stop it!" I exclaimed, holding on end of the cart for dear life.
"Stop what? Stop this?" He asked innocently before rocking the cart again.
I started to do the math how much more the cart can take of Jordan's stupidity before we plunge to our deaths in, who knows how many feet, back to the ground.
"You're a sadist!" I cried. "We're going to die!"
"You're being melodramatic," Jordan said with an eyeroll. "It's not like anything is going to-"
The Ferris wheel halted to a stop, having us almost fly forward with the sudden stop. The lights died and the music faded away. I sat there for a few seconds and slowly looked down to have the floor swirl at me in a dizzying effect. Now it's really time to freak out.
I started to punch him on the shoulder, and then used the bear to hit him with him telling me that it hurts less now. "It's all your fault! Now we really are going to die! My life is flashing before my eyes!" I paused and muttered, "It's kinda sad..."
"Aw, how would it be sad?"
I punched him in the shoulder. "It's sad because you ended it you-"
An intercom crackled to life. "I'm sorry you love sick couples-"
"Lovesick? More like seasick," I grumbled, glaring at Jordan.
"-but we're experiencing some technical difficulties. As we figure it out, you guys can at least have a great view of the nine o'clock fireworks show. So at least there's some good out of this. Once again, sorry for the mess, but we hope you can enjoy the show."
I let out a sigh. "Well, he's right about that. There's a nice view of the fireworks, I can see them setting up the-"
I heard a small creak making me stop. Then the cart began to rock back and forth.
I glared at him. "Really? You're doing this again?"
"Oh c'mon, you have to trust the mechanics of this, who knows how old, Ferris wheel."
"Watch. If this cart falls and I die while you don't, I'm haunting you forever."
"And what if I die and you don't?" Jordan countered.
"Then I'll resurrect you just to kill you again."
He laughed but didn't stop. I held onto the cart's bar until my knuckles turned white.
"That side of the cart doesn't seem so comfy," he noted.
I looked and saw the huge gap between us with him at the near middle while I was at the other end of the cart.
"Yeah, better than you," I muttered.
"Can't you sit a little closer?" He offered.
"Only if you stop wanting me to throw up."
When he did, I managed to scoot closer to him, hugging the big bear I won him.
"What should I name him?" Jordan asked me, referring to the bear.
"TD."
He blinked. "TD?" He smiled. "That's a pretty good name, alright, you're officially named TD," he said as he pets the newly named TD.
I don't know why I said it. I just sort of blurt the name out. TD was the name of Parker's teddy bear back when he was little. When Jordan asked me what the bear should be called, I instantly thought of TD and just said it. I looked down at the bear, feeling sad now and setting it down next to me rather than hugging it.
"Hey Jordan?" I asked.
"Yeah?"
I hesitated for a moment. "The computers thing," I began. "How did it-"
"-all start?" He finished for me before giving a shrug. "I don't know. I had a lot of time to myself as a kid, I only had the choice of books or this old school computer to play with. You can tell what I chose."
"But you're really good at it, scary good."
"There was this computer summer program back when I was in middle school. I took it and got really into computers. I started reading -Don't give me that look, yes I read- computer books, read online articles, and took some computer classes, some free, some not." He sighed. "But just because I got a good skill didn't mean I put it all into good use."
"What do you mean?" I asked.
"You remember when I said that I would try to get the good side of my bullies, make them laugh, like being used as a jester than a punching back."
I nodded.
"Well when they learn that I'm good with computers and locks too, another skill I picked up, they used me. At first I was cool with it, just to have them like me. But at the same time, I didn't want to do it because they were obviously bad, not like my pranking bad, but really bad. Good thing I stopped when I could, they didn't like it, but whatever," he said, shrugging it off.
I looked down at my lap, playing with the hem of my shirt. Before I could say something he stopped me.
"It was a good question, I don't mind. It's nice letting out, y'know?" Jordan looked out in front of him. "Hey, I know I can be pretty weird sometimes, don't give me that look, it's a bit of a defense for myself I made. But... thanks for putting up with me for so long."
I let out a chuckle. "No need to thank me. We still have a lot of years ahead of us, and I still need to get used to you."
"Ha, that's comforting."
"Y'know, Dr. Seuss said," I paused, trying to remember how it went before saying, "We're all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and-" I stopped and smiled at Jordan. "Yeah, that's it."
Jordan nodded. "That's pretty good. Now what is the rest of the quote?"
"It's not really necessary."
"C'mon say it."
I let out a sigh then finished, "...we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness -and call it love- true love."
And that's how you make things awkward, just mentioning the word love. And I don't mean I love food or a favorite song, but love-love, the kind of love everyone is looking for. We didn't say anything for a while until Jordan looked up and said:
"Hey look, its starting."
We looked below to see a big crowd of people surrounding a stage. It began with a firebreathers dancing to the music. They played with fire that seemed to draw the audience closer at the same time have them back away. At the near end of the song, they went behind what looked like rockets. When I realized what they were going to do, I told Jordan to cover his ears as I covered mine. The firebreathers spewed out balls of fire at the fireworks and in unison, they flew into the air and exploded into color. My eyes widened in amazement as my hands still covered my ears, blocking the ear-piercing booms that could turn someone temporarily deaf. The crowd close to the firebreathers was moved to a much safer distance before the show could continue.
As the firebreathers continued releasing the fireworks through their dance, there was a tightroping and trapeze act. The trapeze artists seemed to fly into the air along with the fireworks. The tightropers held onto spark sticks at each hand and were still able to balance on the rope.
But eyes kept on going back to the sky rather to the ground. There were so many colors, explosions, all displayed in a beautiful way that the noise seems to be drowned out by the crowds "ooh's" and "ahh's". The fireworks seemed to brighten the darkness in a whole range of colors. The once blank sky wasn't blank any longer because it was filled with so many fireworks. Some fireworks would explode and turn to smaller fireworks. One set of fireworks' sparks seemed to rain back down to the ground and vanish. People's heads seemed to ache as they craned their necks to watch the fireworks in awe.
"It's beautiful," I muttered to myself, setting my hands down because I didn't seem to mind the noise of the fireworks as much. "There's so many colors."
"Yeah," he said quietly.
We both looked at each other for a moment before I break off contact and looked back at the fireworks. Yet I couldn't shake the feeling his eyes didn't go back to the fireworks. When the firework show ended, the Ferris wheel blinked to life and we were able to go back to solid ground. With the fair ending, Jordan and I walked out of the park. Thankfully, we had enough money for the three buses back home, and we were both too tired to walk all the way back. Just as we were walking to the bus stop, we both got a ring from our phones.
We took out our phones to see that it was an alert from the Trace Ace app. And there was a message from Bennett.
BentOverBckwrds1 Go to the base NOW
Jordan and I looked at each other, about to cue the dramatic music when there was another message.
BentOverBckwrds1 Except for Naomi
"Oh c'mon!" I exclaimed in disbelief. "You've got to be kidding me!"
To all of those readers who commented their bullied stories on my book and told me through private message, thank you. I know it was hard to do that, it was hard for me to, and I just want you to be proud of yourself because it takes guts. Reading so many comments (I know I haven't replied to them, there were too many of them and reading them was my main priority not replying) and stories, it just makes me shake my head how many of us are victims of it. But at the same time, it can only tell me, tell us that we can be stronger.
But enough with the depressing stuff. Cliffhangers, don't you just love them? Well I love them, to torture you guys, but that's my opinion really. Are there any happy Jordomi fans? If there are any unhappy ones because I raised their hopes up with the chapter title, which I did on purpose, sorry had to. I've always imagined that their "date" will be in a fair, more specifically on top of the Ferris wheel. I don't know why, I just do. And how about those who read my other book "Missed My Stop" did you like the second crossing of another book here? At first, I wanted Rebecca or Jay to bump into the two, but then I remembered that the show they're supposed to perform (I didn't write that chapter yet, sorry) is in Tulsa, Oklahoma. So it took place when they already preformed in Tulsa and by then, Jay and Rebecca had already left. I mean, I'd love to have the two meet life that other chapter, but the setting of the book will clash with the real life setting. If you probably forgot or didn't notice, the setting of the book is just "the city".
Pretty mysterious right? The city. It's not like I want to choose a real place, or I'm lazy to come up my own city like Gotham, but the setting is just perfect. If I chose a real place like my lovely city of- Ha, as if I'll tell you where X marks the spot, then I'm pretty much saying this city is bully infested, don't go. But I love my city, so I won't do it. The reason, yes there's a reason, behind the vague setting is to tell you that bullying is everywhere, there is no specific place bullying exists. The city, could be your city, no, it doesn't even have to be a city. Whether it's in your own country, state, city, or school. I read comments that say you don't have bullying, maybe you really don't, or you just don't notice it. My school doesn't have bullying, that I know of, there might be some that I just don't see since I'm not everywhere. So if you really do think that your school doesn't have bullying, good for you, but what I really care about is the schools that do. That's all I have to say.
Oh and happy new year, it's new years where I am, probably the next day for most of you guys. But thank you for putting up with me and my weirdness and this awesome journey this whole year... I've done the math –which I hate, ugh, math- and I realized that I might be able to finish the book by March 1, Justin Beaver's (did I really make a mistake on his name, beavers are just adorable though, don't you think) birthday. Oh yeah, I can actually ruin his birthday for you. Okay, I don't really care about him, March 1 is actually my birthday too. The irony in that. But... to think I'll finish the book by then...
Scary, huh?
Now that's a cliffhanger.
RubixCube89201