Battle For The Heavens

f i v e

As the two continued to roam around the park, Andrew couldn't help but sneak glances at Noelle. He was still stunned by the way she went to help the little boy. Most people would've either ignored him or just walked past him without even noticing, but Noelle actually helped him out. It might have seemed like a small, insignificant good deed to Noelle but he knew that the mother must have been overjoyed and relieved when Noelle brought her son back.

He thought back to the time when his dad had lost him in the same park. The only difference was that no one had been kind enough to help the small, crying boy that time. He had to find a police officer who in the end, very reluctantly, helped him find his dad who was beside himself with worry.

At times like this, he really missed his dad. Oh, who was he kidding? He missed his dad every single day. He knew that he shouldn't have snapped at Noelle earlier about the giant wheel. It was just that the giant wheel was his dad's favourite ride and also the ride that he had never failed to take Andrew on during every single visit.

He was jerked back into the present when he felt Noelle tap his shoulder softly. "Andrew, are you okay? You kind of spaced out for a minute there."

"Oh. Um I'm sorry, I'm fine. I was just thinking about some stuff." Andrew gave Noelle a small smile, trying to reassure her.

"Okay, if you say so," Noelle replied even though her eyes remained worried.

"So, what were you asking me while I was spaced out?" Andrew asked, trying to change the subject.

"Oh yeah, I was just wondering if we could get a hot dog. That's what those are called, right?" Noelle asked, pointing to a nearby hot dog cart.

"Yes, they are and of course we can get some." Andrew smiled at her before buying two hot dogs for both of them.

He watched as Noelle took a small bite of hers and gasped in delight. "This is amazing!" Noelle exclaimed.

Andrew laughed lightly and said, "yeah, hot dogs are the best!"

They continued walking till they reached a part of the amusement park with a bunch of benches. They slowly took a seat and continued eating their hot dogs in a comfortable silence. "Andrew, can I ask you something? But please promise not to get mad at me!"

"What is it?" Andrew asked, looking at her cautiously.

"Well, I know this is probably none of my business but...why didn't you want to ride the giant wheel? Are you scared of heights or something? Though when you think about it, that doesn't really make sense since you came with me on those roller coasters which are actually pretty high but--"

Noelle's rambling suddenly got cut off by Andrew. "Calm down Noelle, I'm not going to get angry with you. I don't mind telling you why." Noelle looked at him expectantly and he took a deep breath before continuing, "it was my dad's favourite ride. Every time we came to this park, we would always make sure to go on the giant wheel at least once. It was sort of like our thing, just like how coming to this specific amusement park was."

"Oh I'm so sorry Andrew! I didn't know, otherwise I wouldn't have asked..." Noelle looked down at her lap and slowly crumpled up the hot dog wrapper that was in her hands.

"That's okay Noelle, and I know what happened to him wasn't your fault despite what I
believed when you first came to our house. It was just way too sudden, your appearance I mean. You wormed your way into our house and into my mom's heart so quickly that I couldn't help but feel suspicious of your intentions. But now I know that my theory was wrong and I'm really sorry for being so rude to you all this time." Andrew slowly rubbed his hand across the back of his neck in embarrassment as he looked at Noelle with an apologetic expression.