Although it's the First Time

Chapter Eighteen: Peach Cove Spring Carnival

I was so busy playing with Brownie that before I knew it, we had already arrived at the animal shelter.

Vincent returned Brownie as I waited in the car for him.

Everything by Michael Bublé began playing on the radio and I turned it up. At first, I was only humming, but when I noticed that Vincent was taking his time, I began singing along.

"Boo!" Vincent shouted as he pulled his door open.

I shouted, clutching my chest, nearly having a heart attack. Vincent laughed hysterically, easing into the drivers seat.

"I wish you could've seen your face," he gasped. I huffed, pretending to be angry. Turning my head, I looked out the window to hide my embarrassment. After crying out in laughter for many more long agonizing minutes, Vincent eased into a giggle.

"Hey, don't be angry. I'm sorry," he apologized, still chuckling. "I'm really sorry. It won't happen again."

I glared at him once more before he drove away from the animal shelter.

~•~•~•~•~•~

After a long 45 minutes, we arrived at a glowing carnival on the west side of town.

"Wow," I marveled at the seemingly authentic vintage amusement park as I slowly opened my door to step out. However, I was snatched away from the fantasy land I front of my eyes as the seatbelt around me pulled me back into the car.

Vincent tried to cough back his laugh, but failed miserably. He reached over and unbuckled me then proceeded to do so for himself. I chuckled at my own stupidity and stepped out of the vehicle.

We walked toward the gates of the park as I continued to stare at the art in front of me. It was felt so surreal. Like a scene from Wicked.
It was truly amazing. I was too busy gawking to notice that Vincent had already bought us admission passes.

"Here," he handed me a paper bracelet that read P.C. Spring Carnival printed onto its front. I gratefully accepted it and fastened it around my wrist. Vincent grinned then took my hand, he pulling me along into the buzzing amusement park.

Suddenly, a group of clowns walked by and I felt Vincent's hand stiffen. He balked and waited for them to pass.

"Hey, are you scared of clowns?" I asked, poking his cheek.

"No. I just don't like them."

A dark smirk fell upon my lips when I spotted a stand filled with masks and one particular mask that caught my attention.

"Vincent, let's go look at those!" I pointed to the stand with all the masks. He hesitantly nodded as I sprinted off before him.

I snatched the particular mask from the stand before Vincent had reached me. It was a scary clown face with meticulous blood details. I tugged it on, over my face and waited, with my back turned, for Vincent to approach me.

"You're pretty excited to be h—AHHH!!" He screamed in fear when I turned to face him. Stumbling on his own feet he fell the to ground with a hard, THUMP! I laughed hard, holding the sides of my stomach.

"Oh my god! Take that off, now!" He demanded, backing away from me as he stood up, brushing off the dirt on his pants. I giggled as I slid the mask off and returned it back to its place on the table.

I cleared my throat to stop myself from laughing even more. "Payback," I stated, ruffling Vincent's hair. "And you lied to me."

"What?" He asked angrily confused.