Unfamiliar (Unfamiliar Series #1)

Chapter 27

A scream makes me wince and I resist the urge to cover my ears as Tessa looks back at me, her brow creasing with concern.

"You okay?" she calls over the noise.

I nod as I glare in the direction of a Kamikaze ride, the yellow and red lights flickering and flashing as it twirls, the riders screaming as it spins. Next to me, Astrid is scrolling through her phone, the screen illuminating her eyes as she glances at me for a moment. 

It had been Tessa's idea to come to the fall festival over at the Topsfield fairgrounds the next evening on Sunday. So here we are, dropped off by an Uber along with dozens of other students who had taken Ubers as well.

Do I actually want to be here, though?

"Yeah, I'm fine," I call to Tessa. 

She doesn't seem convinced as her mouth presses into a thin line. But she doesn't pry. For that, I'm grateful.  

I haven't told anyone about the weird glitch with my Bluetooth speaker last night, along with the ominous message. Though being away from the school has helped me feel more at ease, like my problems are out of sight and out of mind as I try to enjoy myself. I was in public, the mortal public so I should be a great deal safer than in my dorm alone. 

The sizzling sound of frying food paired with the overpowering scent snags my attention for the second time and I longingly glance back at the food trucks as we walk.

"How about some pizza?" Tessa suggests helpfully as we stroll past another food truck.

My stomach clenches in yearning, my mouth watering. I haven't eaten much at all today, the message still hovering in my mind and making the thought of eating unappealing. But it's been nearly a whole day and my hands have been shaking since noon. 

"I could go for something to eat," Astrid murmurs as she sidesteps around a man wearing a cowboy hat.

"I'll pay," Luke offers, "does anyone want some cotton candy too?"

"I've got my own order, some cotton candy would be great, though," Astrid relents.

Luke shrugs as he looks to me and offers a tilted smile. Something inside of my chest aches to open up to the others about the message, but I find myself pausing. I didn't want to ruin the evening yet.  

"What do you want to eat, Kara?" Luke asks. 

"I'll just take a couple slices of cheese pizza and split a bag of cotton candy with you," I say and the smile turns into a wide grin.

"Alright, go pick out a table and we'll catch up with you," he urges as he makes a shooing motion.

"I'll come with you," Tessa pipes up as she skips over to my side and we start walking for a covered tent where a few other people are sat.

Tessa chooses a picnic table at the edge of the seating area and I sit across from her. She reaches up and fusses with her hair, which has a light blue bandanna tied around it in a way that is much like a callback to a Rosie the Riveter vintage style. After a moment, she plucks a curl from her hair and twines it around her finger, her eyes narrowing as she touches the tip of her tongue to her top lip thoughtfully. 

"So...," she says in a low voice and I look to her expectantly.

"Astrid?" I inquire.

"No, I mean yeah..., but you too, something is up with you but I'll dig into that later when we're alone," she gnaws on the edge of her lip and shakes her head, "I can't...I can't blame her, you know? It sounded like she was really in love with the guy and didn't know any better."