I'm Scared of Heights | ONC 2023 ✔️

12) A Thing of Nightmares

Winn

Words bounce through my head. My in-progress chorus echoes in a semi-catchy form while my chord progression makes me internally grin.

The baby blue sky sinks into a greener color, pulling the sun down with a more saturated hue. My Chucks tap against the boardwalk, barely audible over the crowd. Passing by white and blue colored canopies advertising ales for nerve pain, I reach ours, a custom bright yellow with an egg and our wonky, exaggerated logo pasted on the sloped top per Kyle's request. The number of inside jokes...

Distant screams fill my ears as I greet the newer Scramble reps, both juniors, with a smile. "If y'all need anything, you've got my number," I say, giving them a double thumbs up as the shorter in the pair reaches for another box of brochures.

Releasing a sigh, I cringe while my brain traces Aaron's previous expression of disgust... and jealousy. Just because I invited Natalie doesn't mean we're dating or involved like that in any way! All I said was, I'm waiting for Natalie. Why would you interpret it like that? Sometimes, you don't seem to have a conscience, Aaron. Natalie didn't miraculously catch the love bug, I'm sure. And no one's got tabs on my love life, not like that's exciting. Unless you count the amount of "girlfriends" elementary school me had or how high school me secretly likes Natalie in a more than friends way, nothing is interesting here.

Who am I kidding? People would lap that last point up like lions to gazelles. Not to mention a push for a public confession, recording the extravaganza for an Instagram, TikTok, or Snapchat reel. Besides, why would I spill my guts now? That'd be selfish. Who wants to hear about death anyways? Who would want anything to do with me? Let's be real. No one knowingly asks someone with cancer to help them with homework.

Aaron's figure waltzes down the boardwalk with Lacey's hand in his. The rest of their friend group, a squad of eight other all-stars, trail behind in clusters of two. Didn't Lacey, I think that's her name, break up with Addy a month ago? God, gossip has been so rich this year.

Skimming the crowd, my eyes finally land on Natalie. Her chestnut hair is pulled back into a loose bun, and her brown eyes keenly survey the grounds. Her gaze drops, she rubs her eyes, and she flips through the magazine of people meandering across the greyish-brown boardwalk.

I shimmy through clans of people and dodge two kids sprinting to the nearest fairground ride. "What's hopping?" My hand rests on her elbow, successfully gaining her attention.

Natalie clears her throat, rolling her peach-colored sleeves up to her elbows. "That child." She motions to a boy about three feet shorter than me, bouncing to reach the height limit for the merry-go-round. "Where's the said group?" she questions, adding, "I saw their cars."

"Doing their own thing." I shrug. "Pretty sure they went to the Ferris wheel at the other end of the walk."

Natalie raises a brow, backing into the railing overlooking the local inland beach. There, people shuffle on hardened sand, avoiding the plentiful invisible jellyfish. "You didn't want to join?" She tucks a strand of hair behind her ear, clicking her tongue to the roof of her mouth.

"You would never catch me dead on one of those things." Unless I'm recreating another one of Mom and I's memories, dropping fear off the lift. I release a strained laugh, shaking my head. "Besides, I was waiting for you." I assume the same position as Natalie, feet planted on the greyed cement, arms folded over the railing, and back inclined at an acute angle.

She sucks in a sharp stream of air. "You shouldn't have waited."

"Of course, I waited!" What kind of person wouldn't? That'd be rude.

"Right... and thanks." Natalie bites her lip and tugs at the roots of her hair. "No Ferris wheels for you?" she inquires after a moment, shifting left to face me.