nyctophilia | dreamwastaken

'fair' enough

SATURDAY:

5:10 pm...

"C'mon! We're gonna be late!" Niki exclaims as I hurriedly throw on my shoes. I spent the entire day in my room, avoiding Dream and everyone else, trying to prepare myself for this eventful night. I finally pull on my shoes, smoothing myself quickly before grabbing my small backpack.

I stuff my phone, wallet, keychains, and some emergency make-up products. I hurry downstairs and I watch as Wilbur and Dream laugh loudly at something. Niki glances at me and smiles. "You ready?" She asks and I nod, feeling the ball of nervousness in my stomach grow.

We decided- actually, everyone but me decided- to take Dream's car, since the small car that Niki and I share wouldn't be able to fit everyone. I pile into the back, watching as Niki climbs into the front next to Dream. Wilbur has to duck as he enters the car, smiling at me. 

I smile back and we all buckle up, watching as Dream turns on the engine. He glances at the back, eyes lingering on me a bit longer than they should before he turns back around. "Okay, we're ready, let's go."

The car ride there is filled with everyone's excited chatter. I remain quiet, staring out the window and watching the world blur as we speed past. It doesn't take long before we reach the plain open field filled with rides and attractions.

We pay for parking, and when we get out, the immediate smell of food and sugar fills our noses as we enter the fair, looking around. We pay for our fees and then we're off, getting tickets and pointing at a bunch of different stands.

I let the three wander as I wait near the entrance, furiously typing for Elias to hurry up. After a few minutes, he shows up, breathless and wheezing. "What happened? Run a mile or something?" I tease and I pat his back, which makes his breathing worse.

"Yeah, 3 miles actually. There weren't any more parking spots so-," he pauses to inhale another loud breath, "the only option left was to run and you said that there was an emergency and-." Then he doesn't continue as he straightens himself up. "Wait, where's the emergency?" I smile at him. "There wasn't an emergency."

Elias's jaw drops at me in disbelief and I push his jaw back up. "Stop staring at me. C'mon, we have to catch up with everyone else." As I drag him through the crowd, I hear him mutter at me. "I can't believe that I let you trick me like that. I could have died of an asthma attack." I roll my eyes and glance behind me.

"You don't have asthma." "Yeah, I do." Then, he magically whips out an inhaler from one of his pockets and I purse my lips. "Oh, sorry. I didn't know." Now it's Elias's turn to roll his eyes. "If I'm at the hospital, do you suppose they'll ask, 'Sir, how did this happen?' and I'll have to respond with, 'My friend tricked me and almost killed me doctor'?"

I slap his arm. "Okay, now you're just joking at this point." We manage to find the three waiting in line at a rollercoaster and I plop Elias next to them. Niki turns around and smiles at me. "The ride is 2 to a seat so..." She trails off, unsure how to phrase her next words.

I understand completely what she meant, and I freeze, shaking my head. "No, I'm not sitting with Dream. I'm sitting with Elias!" I glance at him, and he raises his hands in mock surrender. "Sorry captain, but I'm still not fully recovered from my near-to-death incident. Gonna have to sit this one out." With that, he salutes me and leaves the line.

"Wait, he almost died?" Wilbur asks, confusion written all over his face. "No, he didn't almost die, he's exaggerating... okay, maybe. He just had an asthma attack from running for 3 miles straight." I respond and Dream offers a small smile to me. "It's okay, we don't have to ride together if you want."