Road Trip

8-A 'Friendly Kiss'

Later that day, the group arrived at the Tennessee State Fair. Roller coasters and the Farris wheel could be seen from the parking lot.

"Oh my gosh, I'm so excited!!!" TJ said, bouncing up and down. They walked down to the ticket booth to pay for admission.

"I'm paying this time." Jessica stated. Niall and Harry shook their heads.

"Sorry, but being the fine gentlemen that we are, we could never allow that." Harry smirked, sliding his credit card towards the employee.

Jessica stamped her foot I frustration. "No fair! Y'all planed this all along!" Niall and Harry just grinned at each other.

"All's fair in love and war." Harry sang. Jessica glared at him.

"Come on," he chuckled. "Let's go have some fun." They walked through the entrance and were bombarded by the sights and sounds of the fair.

They could see clowns on stilts, monkeys juggling pins, and lights from the games. The evening air was filled with screams of delight from little children on rides and the aromatic smell of funnel cakes and buttery popcorn wafted through the air.

"What should we do first?" Niall asked them.

Jessica and TJ shared a look and simultaneously exclaimed, "Roller coasters!"

"Let's ride the biggest one there is!" TJ said excitedly.

"Ooh no let's ride the scariest one!" Jessica added.

"Let's ride them all!" TJ laughed. They looked around, trying to decide which one to ride first when the flashing lights of the Ferris wheel caught TJ's eye.

"Ooh, the Ferris wheel! Let's ride that first!" TJ pointed, in awe at the brilliant lights and the height of the ride.

Niall looked at the ride uncertainly. "Ehh, that one? You sure? I mean, it's so big and, and uh, large." He said uncertainly.

TJ laughed. "Well of course! It's gotta be large or else how are we gonna see the whole fair from there?"

"Oh, yeah, course. That makes sense." Niall gulped.

"Oh Niall," TJ gasped. "Don't tell me you're afraid of Ferris wheels." TJ said, shocked.

"Course not!" Niall scoffed. "I'm just a little uneasy when it comes to heights." He muttered.

TJ smiled sympathetically at him. "Don't worry, they're not that bad. And besides," she added. "I'll be right there beside you, the whole entire time." Niall smiled his thanks.

"Alright," let's do it!" He said,walking towards the line, TJ in tow.

"Are you two coming?" TJ asked Harry and Jessica.

"Nahh, we'll just watch. I wanna ride a roller coaster, not some Ferris wheel anyway." Jessica replied.

TJ shrugged. "Suit yourself." The two joined the line and in no time, they were placed in a little buggy. The wheel restarted and slowly began to turn.

"Oh shit oh shit oh shit oh shit." Niall began to curse under his breath.

TJ looked at him with worry in her eyes. "Hey, it's okay. Just look at me." She grabbed his chin and turned his face towards hers. "Just focus on me." She smiled encouragingly at him. Niall stared into her dark brown eyes. He noticed the little twinkle as the lights reflected in them. He noticed her thick little eyelashes that framed those beautiful eyes.

"Are you okay?" TJ asked him.

"Yeah. I am now." He smiled gratefully at her.

Just then, the Ferris wheel came to a slow stop. They were situated at the precipice of the ride, the entire fair spread out before them.