The Voyager

Chapter Five

The last time I went to a fair was three years ago. Dylan and I went with mom and the girls. We ended up going off alone. Seems like centuries ago that I last saw my family. It hasn't even been a day. I will miss them so badly during training.

I begin hearing the music of the carousel. I have always loved the carousel, even though I am too big for it. We come to the entrance. We walk right in. No one bothers us for money or anything. There are quite a few people here. Not like back home, but there aren't as many people here.

The lights are on now as we are losing daylight. They twinkle and flash in a way that isn't like back home. They almost seem to have a life of their own. They remind me of large fireflies, seeming as if they are all going their different ways, living different lives. Some twirl, some rotate, some revolve around another, its looks like something magical.

"I see my friend over there. I'm going to ride a couple rides with her. Bye!" Cole runs off, leaving Jordan and I watching after her.

"There isn't anything like the lights here in The Realm, huh? When I do finally go back, this will be one of the things I miss the most, I think." Jordan says after Cole is gone.

"Also not having to pay for anything is nice, too. It is beautiful here, though. I can see why anyone would miss it."

"Well, once you're the Voyager you won't have to miss it. You can just come back and visit. You are lucky. When I leave, I won't be coming back." He looks kind of sad, like he really will miss it. He seems to have forgotten about his family, the people in The Life who love him.

"What about your family? Surly you miss them. I'm sure they miss you."

"No, they don't miss me. I ran away when I was fifteen. I wasn't going back. I ended up making a better life for myself by the time I was eighteen. I got the job that ended me here. I like it better here, I didn't have many friends in The Life. I have more friends here, and you don't need a job to have fun. You just can. It makes me wonder if that can happen there."

"Oh. I want to go back home. I guess it is different for me, though. After I train, I can come and go as I please. I can visit my friends here and in The Life. I miss my mom and my sisters and Dylan."

"How many sisters do you have?"

"Three, Kendall, Kenzie, and Kaylee. They are younger than me."

"Who is Dylan?"

"He is my friend. He was there when I fell off my bike and came here. We are very close."

"Are you sure he doesn't want more than friendship? A lot of guys who are best friends with a girl really want more."

"No, he is just my friend. I'm sure of it."

"I'm glad to hear it."

"Why? What difference does it make?" I ask. Why is it getting so hot? We must be walking near the exhaust of a ride.

"I like you more than I like most people here. Actually, more than anyone I have met so far. I was getting a little jealous when you brought up this Dylan character. Didn't want a lot of competition for the pretty girl." He said with a smirk. Did he just call me pretty? No one but my mom calls me pretty, and that is only because she is my mom.

"Are we talking about the same person here?"

He blushes a little. It is quite charming, actually.

"Well, I was talking about you. You are the pretty girl."

This time, I'm the one who blushes. For being twenty one, he obviously hasn't had much experience with women.

"You want to get on the Ferris wheel?" he asks, still a little red in the face.

"Absolutely. Then, the swings!"

"Sounds good."

We aren't in line very long. We talk about things that didn't matter. We made little guesses on why people were there, or pointed out things of interest. When we got in the car, we were both quiet.

Jordan finally broke the silence. "Have you ever had a boyfriend? I am quite curious on the matter. I asked Nicole the same thing, but that was actually just to offend her. She didn't get offended at all. Quite upsetting." His brows knit together, then his face relaxes and he looks back at me.

Do I tell him that I've only ever kissed a boy once, and I completely regret it? Do I lie?

"No one is interested in me. Everyone pretty much ignores me."

We are about halfway to the top. Jordan slides a little closer to me.

"I'm interested in you. I'd like to get to know you better." He slides even closer.

I am not quite sure how, but he is suddenly kissing me. It is a gentle kiss, like he doesn't want to scare me away. Well, I will show him that I am not scared. I add to the kiss, feeling more pressure on my lips. The wheel stops and he pulls away.

"Not bad, Vicki." he says with a smirk. We are slowly working our way back to the base of the wheel. I missed the top.

"You surprised me at the end there." He didn't know I'd kiss him back. I give him a small smile. "I surprised me, too."

He laughs as we are unloaded. We walk to the swings. It is a boring ride, but my brain is keeping me occupied with questions. Why did he kiss me? Why did I like it so much? Gahh, I feel like such a girl!

When the ride is over, we walk around for a bit. Jordan grabs me around the waist and pulls me closer to him. I look at him, he looks at me and smiles. It is a genuine smile. One I have never really seen on his face. This particular smile lights up his entire face, making him beautiful. I know it isn't a very masculine word, but it describes him at that moment. I am quite happy that I am here with him.

We ride a couple more rides. He doesn't kiss me again, but he smiles at me a lot, and usually has his arm around me. Cole finds us again. When she runs up, Jordan drops his arm. Is he hiding from Nicole?

"I'm getting tired. We should go home and get some sleep. Vicki just got here and I'm sure she's tired. She also has training in the morning."

"Yeah, you are right. I am quite tired." Which is the truth. I am very tired.

"Okay, let's head back, then." Jordan agrees.

The walk back seems to take longer than the walk there. No one says much, except Nicole. I am not paying much attention to what she is saying, though. When she looks at me or something, I nod and look like I'm listening, but really I'm thinking about all that happened today.

I can't believe that this morning I was riding dirt bike with Dylan. I am now in the realm, the voyager and in a very complicated relationship. What is going on between Jordan and me? Does he really think that I'm pretty? He seemed too new at the whole flirting thing for being twenty-one.

We finally arrive at the hut. Jordan waves goodbye. I catch his eye. He looks kind of sad to be leaving.

"See you guys tomorrow." He promises as he walks away into the darkness.

"Jordan didn't behave too badly after I left, did he?" Cole asks once we are in the hut. I think I will tell her about the kiss.

"He called me pretty, we got on the Ferris wheel and he kissed me. When we walked from ride to ride he had his arm around me."

Nicole looks shocked. I said the word kiss and her jaw hit the floor.

"He kissed you? No way! Jordan? The same Jordan who called you a prostitute? What drugs was he on? He never even acted like he was interested in you- in fact, he never acts like he is really interested in anyone. I thought he was gay for the longest time. Was it nice?"

"It was quite nice, yes." I answer with a yawn.

"Well, time for bed, Miss Voyager. Tough training tomorrow." She hands me a night gown out of a dresser that is between the beds. It is so small that I didn't notice it before. We both dress for bed. I climb into the bed she said was mine. It is very comfortable. I am asleep in seconds, but that still left me time to worry about what I will face tomorrow.