What Am I?

Chapter 16

The entrance of the carnival could be seen from a distance. The balloons floating around the place, among the red and white tents sent everyone back to their childhood. It was night enough for everyone to be in bed, but they were all dressing up for the carnival. It was a small annual event organised by the residents of the neighbourhood to raise money for charity. Every year surprised them with a creative theme, and the theme for that year was Superheroes.

The entire place was rolling in the smell of cinnamon buns and freshly baked cupcakes. The white of the tulips stood out in the black night and their smell mixed with the cinnamon buns. Fairy lights adorned the trees, every single tree, making them look like a part of the happy night.

Superhero couples entered one after the other, posing for a picture to take home with them.

"It's not an S. On my world, it means hope" said Superman as he 'flew in', rather tried to fly in with superwoman.

"Trust me she is my world" he said as kissed his Wonder Woman.

"How doesn't all this romance make you throw up?" asked Mason as he continued to sip his drink. "All this love around me is making me queasy!"

"Mason will you just zip your mouth?" said Mia.

"Love is the most beautiful thing. It's just so pure and satisfying. I mean the feeling that there is somebody who loves you more than anything in the world is..." she sighed. "When will I get someone like that?"

"Never" giggled Mason. "What do you say Alex? Alex?"

Alex was busy texting someone and had not even heard a quarter of the conversation. He smiled a little reading the messages.

"Who's the one that got you pink huh Alex?" asked Mia with a cheeky smile.

"Alex! Bro we made a pact that we won't fall in love!"

Alex quickly kept his phone inside his pocket.

"It was nobody...it was just a joke. Oh look Reece and Susanna are here."

They entered hand in hand dressed as Batman and Catwoman.

"Woah woah woah! When did this happen?"

"He asked me out last night and..." Susanna turned red and wasn't able to say more.

"What is that thing on your shoulders? A tomato?" asked Mason looking at Reece's blushing face.

"Well Mason, if you ran as fast as your mouth, you would be in good shape. Hot choice Reece" laughed Mia.

Reece laughed and looked into Susanna's eyes. He smiled. "She's worth it"

Dylan walked in with Max when the rest were still taking in the new relationship.

Dylan was looking as handsome as ever in his Mr.Incredible suite. That was the first time he realised that red and black actually suited him. Every possible muscle in his body stood out in that body suite. The black eyes mask he wore made it impossible to miss the hazel of his eyes. So smooth, so arresting, yet so restless. Dylan looked over at Max and smiled.

Max had decided to dress like his idol, Reed Richards aka Mister. Fantastic. The blue of the suite complimented his eyes. The properly gelled hair and the tight fitting suit made all every jaw drop. In a nutshell, the boys had all eyes on them.

"Oooo someone's smokin it!" exclaimed Mia as they hugged the boys.

"Where are the better halves?" asked Alex.

"We messaged them, but I don't think they'll come. So much has happened lately...I understand if it's difficult for them to take it in, and-"

"Boy, you're gonna have difficulty taking that in" remarked Alex as he looked at something behind Dylan and Max.

The boys turned around to a sight, seeing which they couldn't ask for more.

Andrea had dressed up as Dylan's Elastic Girl. The red suit with the black mask just bewitched Dylan. Her costume made him feel like she was his, forever. He didn't even want to blink and waste a second which he could spend looking at her.

Emma was no less. It was obvious that he wasn't going to come dressed as Susan Storm, but she took the look to another level. She looked no less than Scarlett Johansson in the black outfit, dressed as Black Widow. The costume took the shape of her body just like water takes of a container. The black complemented her red lipstick and properly defined eyes

They were looking gorgeous, as if picked out by Disney and Stan Lee.

"Hey guys! What are are you all doing?" asked Emma.

"Nothing, except processing a new relationship and your new looks."

"New relationship?! Who is- Oh my God! Reece and Su!" Emma was so excited about it that she scarcely paid attention to Max.

However, Andrea was only looking at Dylan, and he was too, straight in the eyes.

"Hey..um thanks for coming...and looking like my date" muttered a nervous Dylan.

"You don't need to thank me Dylan," she held his hand, "Very few people have the ability to not completely shatter after going through what you are. You don't ever need to thank me for being there for you."

Saying this, Andrea kissed his warm, pink lips.

Everyone then ran into the carnival to have the time of their lives. Max walked alone as Emma walked with Alex.

Throughout the night Emma was behaving completely ignorant to what had happened between Max and her. She was busy enjoying with Alex. The sight of Emma with Alex, even though he was a friend, vexed him.

As they were about to enter the haunted house, Alex received a message.

A slight smile appeared on his face as he read it.

"Emma, I'm sorry but I really need to go. I'll be back soon."

Before Emma could say anything, Alex ran away. Max saw this as his only chance. He covered his face with a mask, ran to Emma, grabbed her phone and ran away. He ran behind the haunted house and out through the broken fence, making sure that Emma was right behind him.

He led her to an open field, above which the stars shined like polished diamonds set in the sky. The silver linings embellished the clouds looking like they have been scrubbed with silver. Some of the diaphanous clouds gave a glimpse of the moon, floating behind them.

The pleasant breeze blew on Emma's face and into her hair, making her brown locks gently dance in the wind. She looked around for the thief, but he was nowhere to be seen.

Suddenly, some yellow lights came on. They were fairy lights that decorated a small wooden shack. As she walked closer to it, she saw that her favorite flowers ,tulips, were kept there. It also had her favourite food, a laptop, her favourite movies, her phone. Basically, it had everything that could make her happy.

As she started pondering as to who was behind it, Max emerged from behind a tree.

"Emma, before you say anything, I want to say that I love you. I really, really love you. You don't know how difficult it has been without you. You're the only thing on my mind and I can't stay without you. Can you please come back to me? I'm so sorry."

Saying this, he walked up to her. Her eyes were wet with tears.

"Difficult? Difficult for you, huh? Do you have any idea how difficult it was for me to live every moment without you around, worrying that you were sleeping around with some other girl? That fear of losing you, that insecurity, those thoughts as to what the other girls have that I don't. "

Max stared at the ground for he didn't have the courage to look her in the eye.

"You made me feel so worthless, so used. After the first incident, I thought you would change, but I was wrong."

Emma wiped her tears and cleared her throat.

"You thought that by doing all this you could win me back, extenuate my pain? Well, let me tell you that you're wrong Max. I've spent enough time chasing you, I'm not going to do it any longer."

After speaking her mind out, Emma took her phone and walked away. A feeling of penitence overcame Max. He just sat there, alone, as he wind blew into his face.