Hate at First Sight

Chapter 27

Alice's P.O.V

I feel sick. I can't handle this. The butterflies in my tummy feel more like elephants, stomping around. Is it too late to back out? But Lea has put so much effort into doing my hair and my make-up. She'd be disappointed but she'd get over it, right?

"So maybe I'll just call him and tell him I can't make"
She interrupts me, putting a finger against my lip. "Shhhh."
I frown, pushing a lock of hair behind my ear.
"Stop it!" Lea giggles. "You're so fidgety. You'll ruin your hair!"
I hit my hands against the table instead, no particular beat to it, just noise.

"Alice!" Lea grins pulling my chin up to look at her.
"Is Miss Confident... dare I say... nervous?"
I smile at her, a small, anxious smile.
"Of course not."
She laughs. "I'd hate to see you when you are nervous then!"
I giggle a little.
"Okay fine I'm petrified. Help me? I can't go. I suck at this. He seems so nice and I'll mess everything up and tarnish my reputation before most people even know me and then I'll be the weirdo who nobody wants anything to do with and"
Lea chuckles. "English please."

She strokes my hair as she fixes it again.
"You are beautiful and fun and you're lovely. He'll adore you! Stop worrying! You're worse than me!"
I bite my lip.
"Oh my God! Your lip gloss! Will you just stop moving!" She groans and I laugh.
"Sorry."

The doorbell rings as she fixes my lip gloss for the millionth time.
"Have fun!" She beams, hugging me.
"I'm going to faint. I am going to faint! I AM GOING T"
She laughs pushing me towards the door. "Breathe!"

I open the door and see Ben standing there looking so adorable with a bouquet of flowers.
He smiles at me.
"You look stunning."
I thank him nervously taking the flowers and placing them in the vase in the hallway. I close the door behind me.

"So what's the plan?" I ask trying to remember to inhale. It's not dark yet and the summer breeze is gentle, tickling my skin.
"You like fun fairs?" He asks grinning.
I beam at him. "Yes!"

We walk for about ten minutes before we arrive at the fun fair. The atmosphere is electric as we walk in.
"So come on then! What are we going on?"
I pull him towards the bumper cars. I know there's a name for them but I can't remember it. I'm trying too hard to keep breathing. We hop into one and he let's me take the lead. He laughs.
"Your driving is appalling!"
I grin at him. "Is not!"
He laughs some more.
"Seriously never get a car!"

When we've exhausted the bumper cars I decide to let Ben choose what's next. He pulls me over to a huge ride where the people are being pulled around the place and turned upside down at high speeds. One man stumbles off and vomits in the corner.
"You know what?" I say. He looks at me curiously. "It says you must be like... This tall." I say holding a hand up above my head. "I think I'm too small. How unfortunate." He grins at me grabbing my waist as I turn to walk away.
"I think it's actually much smaller than that!" He laughs. "That child, who can't be any older than twelve just got on! I think you're good!"

I giggle nervously.
"I'm afraid of heights."
He grins at me maliciously.
"Well now you definitely have to have a go! Let's conquer your fear!"
I feel really sick now. He pulls me on with him and they strap us in, rhyming off safety warnings that terrify me.

I'm not quite sure what's going on the entire time that we are on the ride but I know that I'm screaming. A lot. And when I get off I feel dizzy. Ben laughs in delight.
"Okay I won't make you face any more fears!" He grins at me, taking my hand and walking towards the stalls with the candy-floss and the stuffed animals. He gets me some candy-floss and hands it to me as he plays that 'toss-a-whatever it was' game. He wins me a beautiful stuffed teddy bear but he has to carry it because it's too big.

When we get back to my house I'm still shocked the night is over. I thank him again and he smiles at me.
"When can I see you again?" He asks.
"When are you free?" I smile.
"How about Friday?" He grins.
"Friday it is."
He leans in and kisses me gently and I feel the spark. I don't want him to break away but I'm afraid someone will look out the window.
He grins. "Maybe not Friday. Friday is ages away." I laugh as I open the door.
"Night Ben."
"Night beautiful."