An Unexpected Occurrence

The Fireworks

The music was booming around them as they walked around the fayre. They went on a few more rides, including the teacups, much to Darcy's amusement. They talked about all sorts, she found out that Tristan was 19, so he was a year older than she was, and had been doing an apprenticeship this year during a gap year. He was about to start university in September, just like she was. They were going to different ones, but they were relatively close to each other. She also found out that he had a little sister who was currently going through a painting phase where she wanted to be the next Pablo Picasso, hence the paint on his sleeve. They'd migrated away from the fayre again and were sat on another park bench near to where the firework display would be taking place later on that night.

"I can't believe you actually made me go on the catapult of death," Tristan said now, "It's confirmed, you definitely have a death wish!"

"Don't be such a wimp! It was fun. Especially when you squealed next to me," Darcy smirked.

"I didn't squeal, I made a very manly sound of fright!"

"Nope. Squealed. Like a little girl."

"I'm offended," Tristan said turning his head away, "I wouldn't have had to have made such a manly noise if you'd have just listened to the voice of reason. I'm wise beyond my years so I know what's best."

"Oh are you now? And who's told you that then?" Darcy asked.

"My Mum," he responded with a grin.

Darcy rolled her eyes and smirked. "Well my Mum seems to believe that I'm the next Einstein, and we all know that's not happening. So unfortunately, I'll need more confirmation of your wisdom than from just your dear mother."

Tristan laughed, "Ah, where would we be without our mothers?"

Darcy laughed in agreement. She found it so easy to talk to Tristan; it was as if she'd known him for years. They could quite happily sit in a comfortable silence, but also have fun conversations. They were sitting in silence now, watching everyone enjoy the fayre. They were waiting for the fireworks, which were never a fantastic display, but were always enjoyable enough. It had gone dark now and the park lights were on. The park was beautiful at night, the white light from the intermittent lampposts scattered around made it look like it was bathed in moonlight, ready for some mythical creature to come out and play. Of course tonight there were also the oranges and reds shinning from the fayre, but from where Tristan and Darcy were sat, everything was bathed in the white light.

"I love being out at night," Darcy said, "everything always feels different at night".

"Yeah it does. When I was little, I always used to think that magic happened at night" Tristan said while smiling.

"Yeah, like with the tooth fairy and Santa Claus, I did too." Darcy smiled back at him.

They carried on looking at the park and Tristan pointed at a little ring of daisies, "See? That's where all the fairies are hidden".

Darcy pointed at the trees in the distance, "And that's where all the goblins lurk waiting to pounce on unsuspecting victims".

"Oh! I think I just saw a pixie fly past you," Tristan said motioning to the path that the pixie took.

"And I think I just caught a glimpse of the troll under the bridge," Darcy said while pointing to the bridge to their right.

They were both softly laughing while pointing out where all the hidden magical creatures were when people started making their way over to where the firework display was about to take place.

"Well, it looks like the fireworks are about to start. Come on Little Miss Pixie Dust." Tristan said while standing up. Darcy followed him smirking. They made their way over and tried to get a decent place in the crowd. Darcy was thanking herself for putting her military boots on; the ground was like a swamp from where the masses had walked. Oh the joys of living in England, she thought to herself. The fireworks marked the end of the fayre, but Darcy didn't want it to end yet. But the fireworks did inevitably begin.

She and Tristan watched the blues, greens, reds and all the colours of the rainbow explode up into the air. The kids in the crowd were pointing and gawping in appreciation as the entire crowd watched the spectacle. The boom reverberated all around them and that lovely smell of fireworks filled their noses. Darcy turned to look at Tristan and found him watching them intently. She smiled to herself and turned her head back to watch them. They lasted for about ten minutes and then stopped. The crowd began to depart, making their way back to their homes. Soon it was just Darcy, Tristan and a few other people stood standing there.

Tristan looked down at her and smiled, "Come on, let's go and sit down for a minute". She followed him back to their bench and watched the last remnants of the crowd make their way back to their cars. She was glad that he'd said that, she really didn't want to leave yet, she'd had too much fun.

"Just the usual fireworks then, although I think they were a bit better than last year" Tristan said.

"Oh god," Darcy responded, "I don't think they could be much worse than last year! Did you see that guy trying to sell-"

"-pot brownies?" Tristan finished for her while laughing.

"Yeah," she was laughing like mad now, "it was so funny! He tried to sell some to an old couple that live on my street; you should have seen their faces. Me and my sister were in stitches."

"Oh my god," he was laughing, "I saw him being escorted out by the park wardens".

"Yeah, that was pretty funny" Darcy said, "at least they were a bit better then this year. No marauding pot brownie dealer," she laughed.

Tristan laughed. It was getting colder out now and she knew she'd have to get going soon otherwise her parents would be worrying, but she was just enjoying sitting next to Tristan.

Darcy looked at him and said, "I think I'm going to have to-".

He silenced her with a kiss. It shocked her to say the least. He pulled away and looked at her startled face and smirked, "Sorry, I didn't like where that sentence was going". He looked a little sheepish, but she started smiling too. She kissed him and found no resistance. His hands were in her hair and on her back pulling her closer. She wrapped her arms around his neck in a feeble attempt to pull him even closer. She lost all track of time and was completely lost in him. She ignored the screaming voice in her head telling her that she'd only just met this guy and that he could actually be some kind of mad man.

Darcy had no idea how long they'd been there when they pulled apart. She suddenly got really embarrassed while he looked at her. He smiled and she smiled hesitantly back. He gave her a quick peck and then moved to stand up and helped her up. She was in a high and just let him guide her towards the car park. He looked at her, "Fancy a lift home?" She nodded and climbed into his car.

They sat there for a minute on the car park and she looked at him questioningly, "You seem very quiet all of a sudden," he responded to her unsaid question, "are you alright?"

"Um, sorry, I just sort of shocked myself back there. I swear I don't just throw myself onto strangers if that's what you're thinking. And oh god, you're not some kind of mass murderer are you? Luring unsuspecting girls into your car and then murdering them with the hack saw that's hidden under your seat?" Oh marvellous, she thought, now I'm rambling.

Tristan looked at her as if she'd just grown three heads and then smirked, "I swear there isn't a hack saw under my seat, you can check if you want, and I didn't think that you just throw yourself onto strangers, just the handsome ones," he gave her a little coy grin.

She smirked, "Sorry, I'm being weird."

"It's okay" he laughed, "Come on, where do you live? I'll take you home".

That was the first of many car journeys with Tristan. Darcy was so glad that that random guy had made her jump at work, because where would she be now if that hadn't have happened?