Fall For You (EDITING + UPDATING)

(28)

After Alex gave me his perspective on hurt, the car fell into a peaceful silence. The words Alex said keep circling around in my head.

He's right. More than right. He has summed up a fact of life.

I wish I didn't feel the way I do. I wish I could be happy and have solid friendships and relationships with the right kind people and maybe one day I will be able to.

My head turns slightly to peer over at Alex. How can one person hold so much good? That's what Alex is. He's the light in my dark, miserable world. Maybe if I'd met him sooner, I wouldn't have lost my way.

I make one last turn before pulling into the carpark of our destination.

"The beach?" Alex asks. "You brought me to the beach?"

A wave of worry crashes over me. If Alex doesn't like the beach and this is where I decided to bring him, then I've just taken a massive step backwards in the bet.

"Do you not like the beach?" I ask as I switch off the car.

"No, I do. Beaches are nice." He says quickly, not wanting to offend me, I'm sure. "I just don't particularly like the fact that sand always manages to get itself everywhere."

I let out a laugh. "It's a good thing that we're not going to the beach then."

"We're not?" Alex asks. "I don't want to ruin what you've got planned. If the beach is apart of that then I--"

"Alex," I say, cutting off his rambling. "We're not going to the beach. It's not what I had planned. Don't worry."

"Oh," Alex breathes out a sigh of relief. "So, where are we going?"

"We're going to the pier," I tell him. "More specifically, because I know you need specifics, we're going to Pacific Park."

"No way!" Alex exclaims but I can't tell if excitement or horror at going to an amusement park. "Gem, I haven't been to Pacific Park since I was a kid. I love that place."

"What are you waiting for then?" I ask. "Let's go."

I believe I just scored another point. One step closer to winning this thing.

Alex and I climb out of the car and I lock in behind us, not that there's anything valuable in there but I still don't want anyone to steal it. You never know with some of the people in California.

"Have you ever been here?" Alex asks as we walk towards the entrance of theme park.

"Actually, no." I reply. "I've seen this place in movies and thought it looked decent though."

"You'll love it." Alex assures me. "Do you like rollercoasters?"

I haven't been on a rollercoaster since I was a kid. The last time was when my mum took me to the local showgrounds. They set up a temporary amusement park there over the Summer. I remember that it was one of the best days of my life. At least I thought it was. The memories of my mother have been destroyed by the fact that a couple of years after that day, my mother left my father and I. It's hard to have any good memories of my mother when they're overshadowed by one really bad one. 

From what I can remember, I do like rollercoasters. I love the adrenaline rush you get when the rollercoaster track curves or goes downwards. 

"Gemma?" Alex questions, clearly I was wrapped up in my own thoughts to realise that there was moment too long of silence. 

"Yeah. I love them." I reply. 

Since it's a weekday, not many people are at the park. This means that it doesn't take long for us to get our tickets.

The park is overwhelming with plenty of entertainment and I don't even know where to start.

"Do you mind if we start with the rides first?" Alex asks. "We can play the games with prizes later, that way we don't have to carry too much around with us."

"How do you know that you'll win something?" I ask, cheekily. 

"I'm a professional at all of these games," Alex responds confidently. "Besides they can't be that hard, can they?"

"Maybe. Let's see," I challenge him. "But after we go on some rollercoasters."