Play It Again

Wyatt Langston

I am literally holding Hattie's hand like my life depends on it, subconsciously scanning the crowd for those two fuckers. We are standing in line for Beaver Tails, looking like some cheesy couple, and I love it. We get our food and head down to the midway.
"Here we are! Might as well stand in line!" My eyes follow Hattie's finger up about 50 feet in the air to the death trap she is pointing at.
Fuck.
"Haha! You're joking right?" I say like a reflex,
"Nope!" she smiles, "wait you're not scared are you!" She says, placing her hand on my chest to stop me and gives me a taunting look,
"What? Me? Scared? Hattie, have you ever been chased by a roster?"
"No?" she questions,
"Well that is scary shit"

She hit the nail on the head. I hate heights and drops, needless to say I'm terrified.
The line to this ride seems to go fast. Like too fast, because Hattie is now leading me to two empty seats. We sit down and the ride attendant puts down our restraints, and I helplessly clutch her hand breaking a cold sweat. Once everyone is secured the ride begins its climb with an ominous click, click, click. I'm going to die.
"Hattie, I lied. I'm actually shitting bricks right now. I'm terrified. If we dont die of an accident on here I might die of a heart attack. Like actually.
"You're kidding! It will be fun!"
"I believe God hadn't given humankind wings or the gift of flight for a reason. To stay on the ground. No outer space, no planes, and especially no death drops"
"Oh my god you are dramatic!" she laughs,
The ominous clicking stops, I squeeze her hand, and it just slips out as we drop, "Hattie I think I'm falling in love with you!"
The drop took less than 5 seconds but it felt like ages to the bottom, my eyes sealed shut, butterflies swirling around from the drop and the fact that I had confessed to her out of my fear of death. We still sit on the ride waiting for the restraints to release. Hattie has said nothing. My heart is already broken. I knew she only pitied me, and I caught feelings.
The restraints let go and I stand up and take a hold onto the railing, dizzy from my mind racing and my plunge from the sky. I close my eyes trying to catch my breath, when Hatties soft hands take a hold on my face and kisses me like it's the only sure thing in the world.
"I think I'm falling in love with you too." she says, pulling me into a hug.
We walk down those sketchy metal stairs, and I know I have the dumbest grin on my face. I've already forgotten about my near death experience.
"So are you going to ask me, or do I have to do that too?" Hattie asks,
"What?" Ask her what, come on Wyatt! Ask her if she wants food? No. Ask her if she wants to leave? No, judging by her face, big smile, mischievous look in those green eyes, she is loving my confusion. Wait, did I not ask her on the ride? Shit, "Hattie would you possibly- um- like-"
"Yes stupid, I would love to be your girlfriend" she cuts me off, answering before I could ask. And just like I've wanted to all night, I scooped her up and spun her in circles in the middle of the crowd. Her pure laughter grabs the attention of the crowd, some people mind their own business and walk without looking, others laugh with her, but we receive some dirty looks from people who probably think romance is dead. I promise you it's far from it.