A Perfect Mistake

Chapter 13

The first day of summer vacation begins with lots of sunshine, warmth (72 degrees fahrenheit!), and not a single cloud spotted in the sky. It's unusual weather for Colorado, that's for sure.

For the first time ever, I have to dig up my spring and summer clothes. It takes me a long time to decide what to wear, but finally I settle on a bright orange silk tank top, white denim shorts that reach just below fingertip length, and white criss-cross sandals. 

I style my hair differently today. Instead of curling it and letting it loose or lazily throwing it up in a messy bun, I straighten it with a flat iron and accessorize it with an orange headband. 

As for my makeup, I apply orange blush and a bright pink lipstick, which contrasts my orange-and-white outfit in a good way.

"You look gorgeous!" Eva compliments me.

"Thanks, girl!" I say, elated. "But, come on, look at you! You're the one who's a hot smoking babe."

I'm not even joking. Eva is so beautiful today just like every other day. Her blonde hair is styled in 2 French braids with black bows tied at the ends. Her makeup is very dark with black eyebrow pencil, black eyeliner, black mascara, and a very bold black lipstick. She is dressed in a black T-shirt dress and black flat shoes. 

"You borrowed my mom's outfit and makeup, right?" I guess, smiling knowingly.

"Yes." Sheepishly admits Eva.

"Oh, well, she will never know." I wink.

"Good." She winks back.

We quickly eat breakfast, which consists of toast and apple slices and glasses of apple juice, then we ride our bikes to the carnival. The bike ride to the carnival isn't very long at all; only about 15 minutes. 

Once we arrive at the carnival, it's 7:58. We park our bikes in the parking lot and chain our bikes to the nearby tree.

We head to the entrance and at exactly 8:00, the carnival is open.

We're the very ones to arrive.

After we pay for our tickets, we rush right in and the fun officially begins.

"What should we do first?" I ask.

"The morning parade!" Eva says immediately.

"Okay, it starts at, like, 8:15, I think."

"Yep. You're right. Well, let's go to the bathroom first, okay?"

"Okay."

We go to the bathroom. After doing our business, I unexpectedly puke in the toilet. Luckily, Eva doesn't know that. If she does, she'd be so worried and she'd make us go home. There's no way I'm going home. I want to stay at the carnival and have fun.

The parade starts promptly at 8:15. By then, a lot of people start showing up.

Eva and I sit on the benches and watch the parade in awe.

There's a marching band, a choir, a magician performing tricks, a mini circus show, and the parade ends at 10:15 with an elephant marching down the road with a man dressed in a suit.

"THANKS, EVERYONE FOR WATCHING!" The man shouts into a bullhorn.

Everyone, including Eva and I, applaud loudly.

We spend the rest of the morning shopping around. I buy a T-shirt that reads: "Dover, Colorado: The Best Place to Live In" and there's a picture of a dove, which is our town mascot. Eva buys both of us friendship bracelets.

"Here's one for you and one for me," Eva says to me with a soft smile.

I secure the bracelet around my wrist. She secures the bracelet around her wrist.

"Thanks, Eva," I whisper with gratitude.

"No problem, Cassie." Eva whispers happily.

Eva is the most amazing best friend in the whole wide world. That's just simply a fact.

The afternoon flies by quickly with lunch (hot dogs, ice cream cones, and Coke to drink), rides (the swings, the spinning teacups, the bumper cars, the carousels, etc.), and a fun play to watch on the stage.

Before we know it, it's nighttime.

At 9:00, we ride the ferris wheel.

"I love the ferris wheel," I say with twinkly eyes as we sit in the seats on the ferris wheel.

"Me too," Eva says. "It's my favorite ride at the carnival."

We always end the long, fun, exciting day at the carnival with a ride on the ferris wheel at night. Usually, when we're at the very top, the fireworks appear and start popping.

It's so magical!

Just as I predicted, when we're at the very top, the sky is filled with bright, loud, explosive colors.

Boom. Pop. Boom. Pop.

Even though I can't stand the noise fireworks make, I love how pretty fireworks are.

At exactly 10:00, we leave the carnival and ride our bikes back home. (However, we're not supposed to be riding bikes in the dark.)

"Whoo, I'm pooped," I comment as Eva and I collapse on my bed.

"Same," Eva says breathlessly.

"But it was fun."

"Agreed."

"The carnival took my mind off from the pregnancy and HPV and Mitchell and all that."

"That's good."

"Yeah."

"Cassie?"

"Yeah, Eva?"

"Do you really truly like my brother? For real?"

I think for a moment. "Yes." 

Eva sighs. "Wow. Just wow."

"I can't help it, Eva. Feelings are feelings."

"Yeah, but you can control your feelings."

"I can't this time. Your brother is so cute and nice and sexy and smart and considerate. I like him a lot."

"Cassie!"

"I'm sorry. That's just how I feel."

"Fine. I get it."

"Don't be mad at me. Please don't be mad at me."

"Cassie, look at me."

I turn my head around and face Eva.

"I'm. Not. Mad. At. You." Eva tells me slowly and fiercely.

"Good." I say. "Good."

"Love ya."

"Love ya too, Eva. Love ya, too."

We fall asleep at 10:50 still wearing our clothes and not showered. We're so tired that we can't bother changing into pajamas or taking showers.

I went to sleep sobbing silently. The last thought before falling asleep is: Why do I have to be pregnant? Why do I have to have a HPV? Why can't I be a normal, happy, carefree teen girl without those problems?