City Of Dreams

Eighty-Two

Day Three

I shrieked a little as I was pushed off the side of the bed and onto the floor.

I stared up at Darren's sleepy face with his hair in his eyes.

He snored like a dog.

I giggled a little and put my face close to his ear.

"DARREN GET UP WE'RE GOING TO THE FAIR"

He shoots up, his hair draped over his face.

I stand up and dash to my closet.

I blindly throw on a random shirt, leggings, and my jean jacket full of funny buttons and Disney pins.

By the time I return from the other room, Darren is ready and waiting.

I hum, surprised at how quickly he got ready.

He silently opens the door and motions for me to exit.

I curtsy and walk through the doorway.

The crisp New York air fills my lungs as we exit the building.

I sigh and chuckle when he pokes my side.

__________________________________________

We walk around for hours, just watching the rides operate.

He stops in his tracks when he sees a game.

He runs up to the counter with a huge grin on his face.

The lady hands him a dart and he throws it at a balloon on the back wall.

It pops with a huge noise as the only evidence that there was even a balloon there at all.

He smiles proudly as the lady hands him an alien-looking creature from the rack above her.

His face is bright and excited as he hands me the toy.

I remember a similar scene from when I had a boyfriend freshman year.

I knew it wasn't going to last long.

When you first start dating as a kid you think you'll get married and have a family, but in reality he realizes that he was way too good for a nerdy and socially awkward girl like you.

I didn't want it to happen but I expected it from the beginning.

It lasted longer than expected.

But now I'm an adult with a husband who I know is way too good for me but he stays around anyways.

I snap back into reality when he tightens his grip on my arm.

I stare ahead to see Addis walking with Chris a few yards ahead of us.

He asks if I want to turn the other way.

I mumble something about public places and keep walking.

I know what I did was wrong, but I just can't bring myself to figure out if maybe I was right.

Chris happens to turn around and see us.

He whispers to Addie and she turns around with a smug look on her face.

She gives both of us a once-over and turns back around with a disgusted look on her bitchy face.

Darren gives me a look but I shrug it off and point at the Ferris wheel.

He bites the corner of his lip.

We giggle like children and hand the man our tickets.

He rolls his eyes and opens the gate.

We sit in the rickety seat and buckle the belt over us.

He puts his arm over my shoulder.

I jump a bit but scoot closer and calm down.

The seat moves up and my legs start to shake a bit.

The height causes my body to get shaky.

My body panicked but my mind knew I was ok.

I have Darren.

He's got my back.

My eye catches on a stripe of pink hair.

I smile at my friend but mentally kick myself and look away.

"Hey D?"

He nods.

"What day is it?"

He pulls his phone out and turns it on.

He frowns.

"Saturday."

I nod and look at my shoes.

"Hey. Cheer up, C. We still have two days."

He pats my head.

I smile and look at the alien thing in my lap.

"Yeah. We do."