Until The End of Time

Chapter One: Happy Times

"Let's go on the Ferris wheel next, Mary!" My little sister, Melissa, tugged on my arm, pulling me out of my daydream.

"Mel, you know I'm afraid of heights."

"But mom promised you'd go with me! She won't let me go on it all alone." I groaned.

"Please, please, please!" She begged, "It'd be so much fun! You can see the whole fair from the top!"

"Alright, fine, I'll go."

"Yay!" She sprinted towards the Ferris wheel as I walked unenthused behind her.

It was a beautiful summer evening. The sun was just setting, causing the horizon to be a blaze of oranges, purples, and pinks. The night was lit up by the fair lights and the atmosphere felt calm and relaxed.

I reluctantly agreed to take my little sister, Melissa, to the fair after fighting with my mom for an hour. I told her she should have taken her, because I really needed to be studying for finals, since the end of the school year was coming up. My mom argued that I wouldn't be seeing Melissa for a while after school ended, because I would be heading to college, so I agreed to take her out.

"Hurry up, slow poke!" Melissa screamed, but was drowned out by the yelling of the other children around us.

"Coming, coming," I mumbled.

Soon I reached the Ferris wheel. It was a burst of color in the sky, a huge contrast to the dark countryside that the fair was located in. I walked up to the ticket handler and handed him 3 tickets for Melissa and I.

The ticket handler led us to our cart and buckled us in. His name tag read "Jasper Simmons: Ferris Wheel Operator : Happy Times Traveling Fair." I had seen him around school a few times, so I knew that he was my age. He had dark brown hair, green eyes, and he seemed really happy. Maybe he was just paid to look happy... after all, the Fair was named "Happy Times".

He locked the cart and smiled.

"Have a great ride!" He said cheerfully, and then pressed a big red button. The cart started to ascend towards the sky and I squeezed my eyes shut.

"Mary? Mary? Are you alright?" Melissa was star struck.

"Mary, look. You can see the whole world from here."

Melissa scooted closer to me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

"Mary, you're safe with me. Open your eyes. See the world."

I slowly opened my eyes and my breath caught in my throat.

You could really see the whole world from here.

"Oh, Mel, it's amazing," I whispered.

I could see the remains of the dazzling sun dip below the horizon, the silhouettes of the trees and the houses in the distance. I bet in the daytime, on a clear day, you could see for miles and miles. As the cart stopped at the top of the Ferris Wheel, I wasn't afraid anymore. I was in love.

When it was our time to get off, I didn't want to leave.

"How about one more time around?" I asked Melissa.

"Sure! You know that this is my favorite ride. I could ride it all night."

"Hey, Jasper?" I called the Ferris wheel attendant over.

"You know my name?" He gave me a funny look, and I blushed.

"Well, it says it right there on your name tag. Plus, we go to the same school. Your locker is the same section as mine."

"Oh, I think I would remember a face a pretty as yours?" I blushed.

"Anyways, you called?"

I snapped back into reality, "Oh, yeah. Could you give us one more ride before you close?"

"I mean... we're supposed to close at sundown," he winked. "But I bet I could squeeze in another ride for you ladies, no charge." He pressed the red button once again, and we were off.

Once the ride ended, Jasper helped Melissa and I off the Ferris wheel. I gave Melissa a dollar and told her to go buy some cotton candy before the stand closed. I wanted to talk to Jasper.

"Haha," he laughed, "usually no one from our school comes to this fair. I wouldn't want to be caught dead working at one of these rides."

"Why do you do it then?"

He shrugged, "I just need the money. My dad said that I needed a summer job before the end of school so I can support myself after I turn of age."

"You mean, you're not eighteen yet?"

"No, I'm not. I will be in a few months, after graduation," he sighed. "I'm not ready to fall in love. My dad wants me to fall in love and get married right out of high school, just like he did with my mother. He wants me to move on with my life, not to be stuck at eighteen. My uncle went to college straight out of high school, and never worried about love until the last possible second." He paused. "He stayed eighteen forever. Never loved anything but his work. My father doesn't want that for me."

I sighed. "Sometimes I feel like I'm going to be eighteen forever."

"With a pretty face like yours? Not a chance," He winked.

"MARY! COME ON! MOM WANTED US HOME BY 9!" Melissa screamed at me, mouth full of bright blue cotton candy.

"Well, I've got to go. Nice talking to you, Jasper."

I started to walk away when I heard him chasing after me,

"WAIT YOU NEVER TOLD ME YOUR NAME!"

"Mary Shannon Bernard."

"Well, Mary Shannon," He took my hand and slid a small piece of paper inside of it and winked, "Call me."

A/N

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR READING!

I have so many ideas for this story, and more stories after this. I am really sorry I haven't updated anything until now, but I will start updating this regularly, as well as some of my fanfictions. Thank you again for your patience, and I would greatly appreciate some feedback!

I dedicated this chapter to my sister, EmilyBell520, because she helped me with some details that will be important for the continuance of this story!

Always remember, if you want a dedication in any of my stories, any chapter that isn't already dedicated to someone, just message me!