Dabbling In Sweetness

Chapter 20

The wind blew past me as I held a silver star balloon in my head. I was wearing a black ruffle skirt that raised up slightly with the wind and a red tank top. My hair was up in two ponytails and I wore silver stiletto heels. My face was painted into the shape of a tiger as I waited for Gina's face painting to be done. Moment's ago, I was in a cool air-conditioned place helping Gina with a film project, and now I stood in the heat. 

The Halloween carnival had fast approached. The smell of butter popcorn wafted in the air, mixed with the smell of cotton candy. The sound of laughter all around us and the screams of joy when people won a prize. The place was so packed, but everyone was clearly enjoying themselves. "Where should we go next?" Gina says as she stands with 3 butterflies painted on the side of her face. They started small next to her eyebrow and went down until the last one reached below her cheekbone.

She hooks our arms together and starts walking to a game stand. "Yours came out really cute," I compliment.

"Yours did too," she says and bops my black-colored nose. I scrunch up my nose and she laughs. "So cute but fierce," she says. We go to the dunk tank where Link sits in the circle. "Classic game," she says with excitement and gives all the tickets she has to the attendant.

"You're going to play this the whole time?"

She looks at me as if there was something wrong with me. "As long as Link is there, I'm here," she tells me and points to the blue line on the floor. A few people come but she quickly shoos them away. "This game stall is taken until further notice," she tells them. She prepares her stance and blows Link a kiss.

Link's eyes are of pure horror as if he was about to get murdered, and knowing Gina, I could see why he felt that way. "No, please, someone-" he begins to plead, "stop this madness." He looks up to the sky, "I didn't do anything to deserve this punishment."

His pleas end as quickly as they start because before he knew it, he was tasting salt water. He resurfaces and holds up his middle finger at Gina who squeals in excitement.

"Come on. I got the whole hour reserved, baby," she tells him. I laugh at their childishness before I spot Abacus. I wave at him and he runs straight to me. My heart leaps in joy at seeing him and his smile that was directed at me.

He embraces me in a hug and looks into my eyes, "have you been well?"

I laugh and hide behind his shoulder, embarrassed at how I was acting. I had never been in a relationship before so all of these cutesy things were new and felt different. "Since we talked last night. I'm fine."

"Gina didn't overwork you right?" He asks as he scans me. I laugh at his actions and he smiles. Abacus had texted me about picking me up to go to the carnival together but I had told him I was already here, working on a film project with Gina. We agreed to meet up whenever he was done training with his dad.

"Relax pretty boy- your girl is in one piece." She aims another hit at the target and scores again.

Abacus puts an arm around my shoulder, "Wow Gina, you're pretty good at that."

Gina gives us a wink, "I've been practicing all my life for this moment."

We laugh and cheer as she makes some more shots. "Gina, please- stop-" Link tells her.

"What will you give me if I do? Keep in mind I just put all my tickets into this."

"I'll reimburse you and give you 50 bucks more," he has his hands in prayer mode as he speaks.

She contemplates, "not good enough-" and there goes another ball. The splash sounds are loud but her scream of pure joy are louder.

"Should we go try our luck at that game?" Abacus says and nods at a football game.

I smile but nod my head. We walk over there and Abacus starts throwing a football. The objective was to aim it at the center and get it through. I try to hold my laughter as he is unable to aim all of the 5 tries he has.

"I'm in our school football team," he tries to reason with the attendant, "I'm normally good at throwing a football. I think you should let me win a prize." He points at me, "for my girlfriend." My eyes widen and I can't help but smile at the word he just used to define me. I was Abacus Kennedy's girlfriend. I internally squeal.

"I managed to get this," he tells me and holds a small teddy bear. I smile and jump into his arms. "Wow, I wasn't expecting that much enthusiasm."

"I love it so much," I tell him.

He laughs, "I'm glad." He grabs my hand and walks us over to the food cart. We both got shakes and sat down on one of the tables they had outside. "Amelia, I want to get to know more about you today."

I sip my strawberry milkshake and nod, "I'd like that Abacus."

"Should we start with simple questions?" I raise my eyebrow and he proceeds, "like what do you like doing in your free time."

The time goes by in a blur as we find out the simple things like his favorite color is blue while mine is green. He drinks water more than anything because he's always in training mode, even when they don't have football season. I found out that as a child, he learned to play the guitar but left it to pursue sports. I even learned he has a photo with his mom on the cover of a magazine that went big in Asia.

Everything I heard about him made me like him more. It was like finally meeting a pen pal you only knew through letters. He reaches for my hand and plays with it as he listens to me go on about how much I've always wanted to be a doctor.

"Let's go to the Ferris wheel," Gina says as she hugs me from the back.

I looked up at her, it had been a couple of hours since I had left her to play. "Did you finally finish all your tickets?"

She pouts, "they kicked me out."

"Why?" Abacus asks.

"I was too good," she shrugs like it's nothing unusual.

"Gina- come back here," Link says as he hobbles all wet. He looks at us, "do you guys know what she did?"

"I didn't do anything, Link."

"She was cheating the whole time." He sighs in exasperation, "Every time I thought she was done, there she was with more. I kept wondering how and realized she would flirt with the attendant and steal back the tickets she had used."

Gina gives us an innocent smile before reproaching Link, "you aren't worth me paying over and over again."

"Then you should have left," he tells her.

"And be punished for being good at the game? No, thank you." She gives us her classic devilish grin. "So, Ferris wheel?"

>>>>> 

This was a long chapter so it had to be split up. The thing is, they will drop on the same day because these are interesting chapters ;) 

Those of you who have gotten this far, well you must know this story wasn't just about teen fic love against the bad boy and the good one. I promise there is more and the next chapter won't leave you in suspense for long. 

So, before you flip the page, please don't forget to vote, comment, and share. 

I really want this story to go far so every little bit helps. Even if it's just one person telling me they loved it. It would make me feel so much better to keep writing. 

Writers always write knowing no one might read so just the simple fact that someone has given it a try, brings so much joy to me. Especially since I still feel like my story is bad. 

Okay. I'll stop now. And say, go ahead and flip the page. 

:) Phoenix