In Bloom - Felix Volturi

26. Fun & Games

I wasn't expecting Felix to agree to go to the fair with me - it definitely wasn't his scene - but, I had a feeling that he could sense that something was up and felt bad for me, or something, because he agreed to go without protest.

Screams of amusement and the roar of questionably constructed rides surrounded us as we wove through the crowd on fairgrounds, and I quickly put my woes behind me as I took in the bright lights of the rides and the smell of greasy, fried food.

Fried pickles, fried Oreos, fried taffy - everything was fried!

As we walked past a line of booths, hand in hand, I tugged on Felix's arm as we passed a booth where a couple of guys were crowded around. It looked like they were trying to knock over a stack of miniature milk cans by throwing baseballs at them. Their efforts were in vain, and they walked away from the booth grumbling about how rigged the game was.

"Do you have what it takes?" I asked Felix giddily. I already knew the answer, but I couldn't resist an opportunity to challenge him.

"Don't you know it," he replied, grinning down at me.

"Prove it," I said as I dragged him over to the booth.

The carnie manning the booth talked Felix up, egging him on, although he cockily expected him to lose.

His mistake. Felix knocked down all of the cans with one throw.

I laughed loudly at the carney as Felix surveyed the array of prizes behind the counter.

"Awww, thank you, babe," I crooned when he handed me the largest prize available - a massive Pikachu plush that was over half my size.

Our next stop was the teacup ride, where passengers sat in oversized teacups, which spun as the whole ride spun, as well, much like a carousel. The carnie wouldn't let me take my Pikachu on the ride, so Felix offered to stay on the sidelines and hold it for me while I went on the ride.

The sketchy-ass ride didn't have seatbelts, and the paint was faded and worn; who knew when the last time it had been tested for safety. But, that was part of the fun of riding shitty carnival rides, never knowing if it was going to go off the rails mid-ride or burst into flames.

The ride was shaky, and its gears ground in a very loud, concerning way, but I survived, stumbling off of the ride and into Felix's arms after being whipped around in circles for three minutes straight.

"Let's get you something to eat," he said, kissing the top of my head as I struggled with a fit of giggles.

"Okay, good idea," I wheezed.

All of the food options were trash, and I happily forked over two dollars for a funnel cake that was doused in an ungodly amount of powdered sugar. Felix and I found a vacant picnic table and sat down; Felix and Pikachu sat across from me as I shoveled food into my mouth.

"I cannot imagine that tastes good," Felix said.

"To you," I retorted before leaning forward and puckering my lips.

Felix leaned over the table and kissed me, and I laughed when he pulled away and had powdered sugar on his face. I'd made such a mess!

The night had been going so smoothly, and we were having such a good time; but, after I'd dusted off Felix's face and wiped mine clean, Tom - of all people - appeared from the crowd.

"Whoa! Lucy? What are the odds?" Tom asked with his usual effortlessly charming smile.

"What are you doing here?" I blurted out without thinking.

"Um. Enjoying the carnival?" he laughed. "Hey, Felix. How are you, man?"

"Fine," Felix replied with a cool smile. There was a dark, menacing undertone to Felix's response, but Tom didn't pay any attention to it.