CONSUME

[14] confrontation

***

"Are you sure you're alright, babe?" Noah asked me as we walked away from the Ferris Wheel and towards the cotton candy stand. 

I limped a little bit just to sell my fake injury. 

"I'm sure," I replied with a weak smile, feeling her hand graze my lower back supportively. 

It was fully dark out now, the only thing allowing us to see where to navigate around the fair grounds being the cafe lights and colorful illuminating rides all around us. I looked at Noah next to me, seeing the red and orange reflection of the LED's glowing onto her face. She expressed her concern for me with her eyes as we fell behind the rest of the group, walking much slower than them. 

"Don't worry," I reassured her some more, "I'm really okay Noah. Thank you, I love you."

She frowned, "Hmph. I love you too," Her lips turned up towards a smile, "Now don't scare me like that. I thought you were dying."

"Still alive." 

"Good, keep it that way," We began catching up to everyone else who were already in line for cotton candy, "You probably just need to eat some sugar, and you'll feel good as new."

"You're probably right," I agreed jokingly, "And by the way, what were you thinking inviting--" I began to scold my best friend for not informing me of the triplets' presence, but I was cut off when we reached where Erica was standing. 

"Oh my gosh, Kameron!" Erica gleefully greeted me, "I feel like we've barely spoken this whole time!" 

"Oh, same!" I matched her energy. I guess I'll have to yell at Noah later. 

"How was the Ferris Wheel?" She nudged me with her shoulders and raised her eyebrows smugly, "I totally saw you and Dylan get stuck up there, together."

I laughed, but I didn't think what she said was funny or entertaining at all. I looked ahead of me to see the tall stature of Axel's broad back and shoulders standing, seemingly not attentive to anything we were talking about behind him. 

"I guess so," I rolled my eyes playfully.

"What do you mean? He's totally a cutie!" Erica chimed, and I saw Jada emerge from in front of us, now joining in the conversation. 

My blood almost immediately started boiling at the sight of her, and I eyed her lips specifically. 

What was so great about them? Did she really look that... kissable?

"Stop it Erica, can't you tell she obviously doesn't like him?" Jada whispered with a kind smile, making sure to keep her voice low since Dylan stood only a few people ahead of us in the line. 

"What? NO!" Erica insisted, "She has to! He's so sweet and also attractive!" 

Jada rolled her eyes before they landed on me. Her cold blue eyes weren't the same as Axel's, but rather more of a deep, electric blue. Her eyelashes were coated heavily with thick black mascara. 

"Well, do you think so?" She asked me. 

I fluttered my eyelids a few times, not liking that she was talking to me at all.