Be Rude but Love Me | ✔

CHAPTER 21

My eyes roam the fair and I can't help but smile despite my worry over Will. Songs from various stands are drowned out by the loud chatter and laughter of the crowd. Colors from the fair and people's clothes are mingling with one another. It is comparable to a hundred rainbows with different layers of paint blending into one another. A breathtaking sight for my eyes to behold.

As we walk side by side, Lucy still on Will's shoulders, my eyes fall upon a girl who appears to be seven years old. She's holding a woman's hand – who seems to be her mother – and her brown pigtails are floating in the air as she jumps up and down restlessly. She lets out a high-pitched scream as she points towards what she likes and drags her mother behind her. Soon, she's out of my sight. She reminded me of my younger self, at this very place around ten years ago.

While we walk, Yann comes to join us. I don't see him. I only hear as Will asks him, "Where's Ellie?"

"With her boyfriend," Yann replies with spite. He really does not like James and I wonder what the latter said that had him pissed off to the point where he would throw himself at him.

Will doesn't reply and we keep walking, exploring the wonders of the fair and of the night. All around us, our star-spangled banner floats proudly in the sky as the numerous lights bounce of its colors.

During the rest of the night, I don't see much of Ellie. I don't really blame her. If I had any love interest right now, I would probably do the same. I stick to Will and keep quiet for most of the night, silently observing the people around me.

"You've been smiling all night," Will says next to me.

I beam up at him. "Just having happy thoughts."

"About me?" He flirts innocently.

I huff with a roll of my eyes. "I don't think my imaginary boyfriend would appreciate you flirting with me, Will," I joke.

"You have a boyfriend?" Lucy pipes in and her eyes are wide in astonishment. "I'm gonna tell Dad!" She yells.

I roll my eyes at her and ignore the pestering little thing. At that moment, Ellie joins in with James and I can immediately see the frown on James's face as his eyes land on Yann. He turns to me however and a smile soon graces his features.

"Tracy, glad to see you again. Hi, Will," he says, his voice friendly and warm.

"Me, too," I smile back at him. "So I see you've kidnapped Ellie here."

Ellie blushes but glares at me. James seems to finally catch sight of Lucy on top of Will's shoulders. She's looking at him curiously, with interest on her face, the way she does when she meets strangers.

"Hi, I'm Lucy," she introduces herself before James can even utter a syllable.

He laughs at her. "James. I take it you're Tracy's little sister," he says. "You look like a younger version of her."

Lucy scoffs and says, "I do not," just as I scoff myself and say, "she does not." My sister and I lock eyes as we glare at each other. Then, at the same time we both say, "I'm prettier."

Our friends start laughing as my little sister and I just keep exchanging death glares. Then I back away, knowing I'm the elder one here. "Whatever," I say with a roll of my eyes.

My eyes fall back on Ellie and James who are gazing and grinning at each other as if we weren't even there. "Did you guys have fun?" Will asks them.

"Yeah, the rides were great." Seeing Ellie so happy fills me with joy. The couple before me is so happy it's hard not to smile back at them.

"James almost puked." I can tell it's not true by the eye roll James gives Ellie but he doesn't seem to mind otherwise.