Seven: Three Words To Conclude

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Cinder sighs as they strap themselves into the rollercoaster.

She wouldn't have come to the theme park in the first place if Kai hadn't begged her over and over again as well as making the puppy-dog eyes he knows she can never resist.

"Hey, Cinder, you okay?" Kai asks softly.

She would have replied, she really would have, but they jolt forwards and suddenly speed up. She bites her tongue and grabs Kai's hand, lacing their fingers and squeezing as hard as she can.

He makes a slightly pained sound but cheers with everyone else as they descend into the loop, almost equally matching her grip.

She keeps her eyes shut for most of the ride, opening them only when they slow down for a bit.

"Why did we slow down?" she whispers.

The wild, excited look in Kai's eyes and his crazily cute smile is worth the funny feeling in her stomach.

She's seen it many times before, since he's such an easily excited person, but there's something about being on the top of a roller-coaster that really heightens excitement.

"We're about to go down again. You can close your eyes if you want." Kai has to shout, his voice rougher than it usually is because of all the cheering.

"It's okay." Cinder takes a breath and keeps her eyes locked onto Kai as they rush downwards, both of them grinning in exhilaration.

She keeps her eyes open for the rest of it, a small making its way onto her face by the time they slow to a complete stop. As they stumble past everyone else and Kai buys a couple of photos she doesn't get a chance to see, she links her arm with Kai's, not caring about who else can see them.

"See? I told you it'd be fun," Kai says smugly, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

"Alright, alright." Cinder rolls her eyes but the smile on her face gives her agreement away.

"Would you like to go again?" Kai asks.

"Are you mad?"

He looks so dejectedly confused that she shoves him lightly. "We have so many more to try!"

His mirthful laugh is the most pleasing sound she's heard all week as he kisses her cheek softly. "Thank you for coming."

"I had nothing better to do," she shrugs, pausing for a few seconds. "And I may have just really wanted to come."

Kai smiles at her. "You're the best."

"If you say so."

So they go and find more rides to try out, each one better than the last, Cinder's nerves diminishing as she spends more time with Kai.

She can't put her finger on it but there's something about Kai that makes her brain go haywire. There's just something about the fact that Kai chooses to spend time with her instead of all the other girls who would probably literally kill to take her place.

The two of them grin as they see an artist making caricatures and Kai catches the mournful look on Cinder's face, knowing she doesn't have any money to spend but will never ask for him to pay.

"Come on, let's get one done!" he suggests, already pulling her over.

She hesitates, "Kai, I-"

"Oh hush, I don't mind. This is what my birthday money is for anyway."

Cinder goes to interrupt him again but Kai just pulls her along with him, and their linked arms makes it hard for her to stop.

"She's available, come on." Kai smiles.

So Cinder just smiles back and the two of them sit relatively still as the artist draws them. They keep glancing at each other and smiling but the artist doesn't seem to mind, fondly shaking her head at them as if she's used to people doing this, which she probably is.

"Did you want two copies?" She asks as Kai pays her.

Cinder starts to shake her head but the artist smiles and adds, "I can photocopy it if you want. It won't cost you as much as the original."

Kai beams. "Yes please."

Cinder gives him an incredulous look but the sketch is already being photocopied so they can both have their own copy of it as a souvenir - a souvenir that's much more meaningful than a water bottle or a hat.

They end up with a large art folder that the artist gives to them as a bonus because she thinks they're too cute to be real, Cinder insisting she has to carry it round to pay him back. And she does, taking it all around the park and placing it beside her when they crash at the end of the day.

The two of them end up sitting under the largest tree they can find to avoid the sun's glare and cool down after running all over the place. Kai stays as upright as possible but Cinder just slumps, too tired to care about her posture - not that she ever does anyway.

Kai smiles as he stretches his legs. "Do you want to see the rollercoaster photos?"

"Sure," Cinder agrees, leaning her head on his collarbone and feeling the steady rhythm of his heartbeat.

They flick through all the photos, laughing at some and fondly grinning at others. But there's one that she simply adores: the first roller-coaster's photo.

The two of them have one hand clasped together and the other in the air. They're both grinning and her hair is a wild mess, similar to Kai's, but that's not what Cinder loves about it. She loves that they're gazing at each other with pure joy in their eyes, a picture of love and perfection.

She looks up to find Kai staring at her with the same affectionate look in his eyes, and can't help the blood rushing to her face.

"I..." Cinder stops, unsure of herself.

Kai laced their fingers together and kisses her cheek softly. "I love you."

And, although a picture is supposed to say a thousand words, she's more than content with three.

The three words that send the butterflies on the flowers beside them straight to her stomach. The three words that cause the smile on her face to widen beyond what should be biologically possible. The three words that she'd never had directed towards her until now.

Just like that, all the pain she'd ever felt from watching other people exchange those words disappears, replaced by a soft explosion of warmth inside her heart.

Cinder shuts her eyes and wraps her arms around Kai, pure happiness running through her blood.

I like the number seven so i figured it was a good time to add a significant event! Thanks for anoyone who read and voted, see you tomorrow! :)

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