Stranger

ch23-part2

This place is a fucking chaos.

I have never been to a carnival before, I have only heard of it, but if this is how things go down here, I am never fucking coming again.

People are pushing and shoving each other, food is falling from their hands, children are running all over the place and I am convinced that zoos are better organized than this. But, the giddy excited girl next to me somehow makes this all worth it.

Evie has been grinning ever since we stepped off the bus, her wide and excited eyes scanning the grounds with happiness and I can tell that this place is something dear to her heart. This is mainly the reason why I hold back all the comments I had.

Shocking, I know, I am turning into a fucking softy again. Fuck it, I can't control it.

"So,"-I say turning towards her, "what now? Or are we just going to stand here?"

Her head slowly turns towards me and she looks up, her grin wider than before, if that was possible. 

"I'm thinking of a new tradition."-she says as she turns and looks around.

"What?"-I ask confused, making her turn again towards me with a sigh. 

"Me and Trish, the best friend,"-she reminds me, "have a tradition with this place. The first thing we do is eat and then go on the rides."-she explains smiling. "But, I'm thinking of switching it up."

"Different tradition with each best friend?"-I tease with a raised eyebrow and she gapes at me. 

"Are you jealous right now?"-she asks surprised and I force a chuckle. 

I wasn't going to fucking admit it, no way in hell, but I had been mad a little. Ever since she mentioned this Trish girl and pointed out that she's her best friend, I have been a little fucking mad about it.

I don't know what the fuck Evie is doing to me, but I seriously didn't want to share that position with anyone else. Was I becoming too attached now? 

Gulping hard, I focus my brain on the now. I can't start going down that rabbit hole again because I never find a way out of that problem. She is really playing with my fucking mind and I don't want that, but I still find myself enjoying it. Fucking paradox right here.

"No, I'm not."-I say with a roll of my eyes. "I was just pointing out the obvious."

"Mhm."-Evie squints her eyes at me, scanning my face, but I know she won't find anything since my walls are way fucking high. "If you say so."-she says still in disbelief, but doesn't push the subject further. "Okay, then, let's go."

Evie grabs my hand without a warning and gives it all her force to pull me behind her. I resist for a second before allowing myself to get guided by her since she seems to know the place like her own palm.

She whizzes past people, successfully and impressively avoiding any collision until we reach a food court. 

"I thought you were switching it up."-I say as I stop right behind her and she turns around.

"I am."-she grins. "I usually start at the sweets food court, but this time, we are starting with the salty ones."-she says, gesturing behind her.

And she is right. On the display are many different pastries, from bacon rolls, to loafs, croissants, cheese strudels and many others that are too many to choose from. 

Looking back at her, I can't help but smile at her change of tradition. I know how much she likes sweets, so for her to sacrifice that for me is really touching and I don't think she has any idea how much it means to me. I don't think I know either.