Living With The Emerson Girls

Chapter 5

I've never been to Six Flags... But I know they have rides, so I imagined it kind of like the fair, so I hope my description was correct. If it's not, I'm sorry, just use your imagination :/ Enjoy!

~Zachary's Point of View~  

"Here?" Maddie looked at me in disbelief and laughed softly. 

I raked a hand through my hair nervously... "What? You don't like it?" Dammit, I was so bad at this. I thought that she would like Six Flags... 

"No, no, it's not that. It's just that, my mom used to bring me here when I was little." She said.

"Your mom?" I asked. 

 She laughed quietly and responded, obviously seeing the look of confusion on my face. "Claire isn't my mother." 

"She's not?" 

"No. She's Ella, Katelyn, Clove, and Audrey's mom. Me, Riley, Ariel and Athena's mother died when we were younger." 

"I'm- I'm sorry," I said. She looked down and picked at a small scratch on her hand. 

"No, don't be, it's not your fault. She was in a car accident. It was DOA, so I don't think she felt anything. They said she was killed instantly. The pain is kind of numb now. Well, I mean, I still miss her, but it's not like I'm... bitter." 

I opened my mouth to say something, but it was our turn to pay. 

"How many tickets are you purchasing today sir?" The guy in the ticket booth asked. 

"Two tickets." 

"That'll be $73.98, enjoy." He produced two pieces of paper and handed them to us. We went ahead to security, and past the entrance gate. Once inside, Maddie sat down on a nearby bench and brought out a small pink tube of sunscreen.

"Ugh, I burn. And it's so hot today, I can't risk it." She began to apply small portions on her arms and legs. 

"Let me help you with that." I rubbed some on the bare part of her back that wasn't covered by her tank top.

"Oh my God, that's cold! Why?!"

"My pleasure." I rubbed the white blob of sunscreen all over her back. When I finished, I began to wipe my hands on my shirt, but she stopped me. 

"Don't do that, you'll ruin your shirt."

"You remind me of my mother." 

She rolled her eyes and shrugged, sighing as she put away her bottle of sunscreen.

"Let's see, where to first?" She asked, playing with her hair.

"The big ones," I said, smiling like a little kid, sure that my eyes had widened. I gripped her hand and ran in the direction of the biggest roller coaster in view.

*****  

"Oh no. Not this one," Maddie said nervously, and looked at me desperately. 

"Why? I thought you were fearless." It was true. Maddie had ridden every single ride we got in line for. She had put her hands up for every ride, and sat in the front row. 

"Except for this one...." 

"You've never ridden it?" 

She shook her head.

"Aww c'mon... it's not that bad. It'll be fun." 

She shifted her weight and crossed her arms slowly. "I don't know... I don't really want to."