Eight Years

Eight years ago

The town's annual carnival is here for the weekend, but only for tonight, it's open also through the night. And that's exactly why half the school decided to come tonight, to enjoy the rides when it's dark and scary.

Amy throws her arm over my shoulders with her pink cotton candy in her other hand. "Where to next?" she asks the group, even though we all already know where we're going next, because we've been to almost all of the rides, only one left.

"No, not the ferris wheel," Erika whines.

Hunter nudges her with his shoulder. "Scared, huh?" Like he wouldn't piss his pants if the ride got stuck and he was at the top.

Erika rolls her eyes and nudges her brother back before turning to Amy. "I'm not going, period."

Amy takes a bite from the candy in her hand. "Come on. You can only conquer your fears by facing them. Besides, it's not even that high."

Wren wraps his arm around Erika's waist and pulls her to him. "You can do it, baby. I'll be there to save you if anything happens." He kisses her temple, but she doesn't look anywhere convinced, only even more annoyed.

"Let's goooo!" the guys shout and start moving toward the ferris wheel.

But Erika stays rooted in the ground, her arms crossed and her chin held high. Wren sighs and leans down to throw her over his shoulder and carry her.

I laugh with everyone else as he takes her to the guy in the booth and then into the cart. He puts her down on the seat and places small kisses on her cheeks and forehead while telling her that she'll be okay and he's just helping her overcome her fears.

Their cart starts moving and her face is the mere image of panic. The next cart stops and a few of the guys get in. Four more carts fill until there's only a few of us left.

Taylor, Liv, Brandy, Hunter and Isabella get in and the door closes, the maximum being reached. And I'm left alone. Great.

"Seriously? You're leaving me to go alone?"

I hate heights. I'm terrified of them. And I'm going onto a ferris wheel alone.

But then someone moves to stand next to me as the next cart stops at the bottom. "Forgetting about me?" Jaxon asks, moving to the cart to hold the small "door" open for me.

I shake my head and cross my arms. "Not happening." I don't want to be alone with him. And I most certainly don't want to be alone with him on that thing, where I can't get off and escape whenever I want to.

Through half-lidded eyes, he watches me and tilts his head. "Do I have to carry you in, too?"

I shake my head again. Hell no. I take a step away when he takes one closer to me. "Don't you dare." Wide-eyed, I stare at the hand he's expanded towards me.

"Then get in or I will. You have to face your fears some day, darling." I don't miss the double meaning behind his words. He knows I'm afraid of being alone with him, of feeling something towards him.

Guys and school don't mix. My mother taught me it a while ago, but just last year I finally understood.

"Barry, I will carry you myself if I have to."

I look at the worker in the booth for some help, to tell him that Jaxon's a psycho who's trying to kidnap me, but he's watching something on his phone, paying no interest or attention to his surroundings.

Finally, I give in, and get into the cart. My hands shake and nausea rises up my throat, but I plant my ass onto the seat and suck it up.

Jaxon sits on the opposite side of the round cart, leaning back and looking at me with too much enjoyment written all over his face.