Call Me a Thief (Harry Styles)

4. Come as You Are

It's been a while. Sorry about that, I was a little stuck on what to write. I've put together an interesting chapter for you guys, though. Let me know what you think! :)

Enjoy!

Chapter 4- Come as You Are

            Beth-

            Rubbing the calloused skin of Ross’ hand, I peered around my shoulder harness and smiled. “What do you do that makes your skin so rough?” I teased.

            He leaned his head back in small laughter. I’d noticed that his past was clouded with mystery, and while I’d always found that impeccably alluring for a guy, I had been attempting to extract some information from him. Anything I could use, really; but these subtle hints hadn’t evoked much of a result before. When he grinned, I realized that they would fail me once again. “I told you already. I work construction.”

            “Right. Construction. Got it.” I paused, letting the air and other conversations change the subject for me. I looked up at the canopied ceiling, out at all the other future roller coaster riders, around me at the tightened harnesses and dozens of dangling feet. “I’m scared,” I groaned at last.

            Ross chuckled again, squeezing my hand tighter. “First roller coaster of the season, I’m guessing?”

            “Actually, first roller coaster in a long, long time,” I corrected, swinging my feet below me. I had slipped off my flip-flops for the ride, and my blue and green toenails were something of an eyesore compared to my scrawny toes. “I remember this one, though. It used to be called something different.”

            The blue and gray masterpiece was one of the older rides at Carowinds; it had always been a crowd favorite, though. From my understanding, it had been renovated and repainted and the name was changed. The last time I’d been to the park, I was only around six or seven; my memory didn’t serve me very well. The ride started and I felt my thighs and arms automatically tense. “You okay?” Ross asked quietly.

            I looked at my knuckles, my hand wrapped tightly around his forearm. “I’m fine,” I lied.

            “You know, to be as beautiful as you are,” Ross remarked, “You’re sure acting like a chicken.”

            I gasped, yanking my hand from his arm and folding it under the harness. “I am fine,” I snarled. Ross laughed.

            We reached the top of the ride and I looked out over the park. The back section of the park held the water rides and the kiddie roller coasters. Maybe I need to be on one of those, I thought. Ross was right, though. I was a tough girl. It was just the feeling of unfamiliarity that was getting at me now. I squealed playfully as we started over the edge, and that was it.