A Town Of Secrets

Into the Woods

"So where are you going again?" 

Blake's voice echoed up the stairs as she brushed her hair, trying to make it less frizzy and more presentable.

"To some fair," she called back, placing her brush on the counter top and reviewing her face in the mirror. She had put a light face of makeup on, just foundation, some highlighter, mascara, blush, and a nude lip. She wasn't sure exactly how to dress for the occasion, and settled on black overalls, with a striped turtle neck, and her oversized denim jacket. She felt she looked decent enough to be around other people, nothing to flashy,  and definitely something that would keep her warm in the chilly air. She exited her bathroom and jumped in surprise when she bumped into her father. His dark hair was disheveled, like it always was and his glasses were pushed into his hairline. 

"Oh yeah, I remember that fair. I use to go with my friends, play those corny games, get our palms read by Lady Ezra, stupid stuff," he rambled as Sage stood there looking at him with a half amused smile. Blake shook his head and gave her a smile. "Well, go have some fun, make some memories. Call me if you get into any trouble." Sage shook her head, rolling her eyes as she gave her father a quick hug. 

"When have I ever gotten into trouble?" 

-- 

The fair wasn't what Sage was expecting at all. She was expecting something low budget, cheap, but what she found was something you'd find in the movies. Big rides were set up with nice looking tents that wafted the smells of greasy fair food. She could smell kettle corn, cotton candy, and corn dogs from the parking lot. A feeling began to knot it's way into her stomach, a feeling she hadn't felt in a long time. During her entire life, Sage had experienced this feeling periodically and suddenly. It was like a ball on anxiety and... power, sat in the depths of her gut. Weird things always happened when the feeling came. She shook her head, pulling her phone out to text Ivy. Despite the weird occurrence that happened earlier with her, Sage just chalked it up to her not finding what she needed or she happened to see her in the store and came inside to invite her. Surely a girl like Ivy wouldn't have stalked her... right? 

"Sage!" 

Sage's name was yelled to her and she looked up to see Ivy, changed from her earlier outfit and smiling brightly. Sage couldn't help but smile back as she made her way over to other girl, her shoes crunching over the gravel. Even dressed casually, Ivy somehow made a way to look immaculate.  She wore a burgundy oversized sweater dress, black knee high boots that were just an inch or two shorter to the end of her dress, and a black jean jacket. It was an effortless look, chic and clean. Sage consciously thought about her outfit in comparison as Ivy opened her mouth. 

"Hey you made it! I was beginning to think you'd bail. I mean, no offense if you did, I'd completely understand," she began, letting out a sigh, before turning to gesture at the fair, "Here's the fair. It's mostly overran by the kids which is why us young adults prefer the confines of the forest." Sage looked past the lights and to the treeline where everything seemed to darken up significantly. Black Wolf Creek was surrounded by thick, dense forest, something that Sage took a slight comfort in. She enjoyed the trees, as it was a stark contrast from tall skyscrapers and deserts. Ivy nudged her, pulling her back into the moment. 

"Let's get going, the others are pretty excited to meet you," she announced proudly and began walking into the fair. Sage followed, noting that it was a little weird that her friends would be excited to meet her, a complete stranger. Unless this was Ivy trying to make nice in order to meet her dad and all her friends were in on it too. She cringed internally at the thought but continued. Ivy didn't seem like the type of person that needed to use people, certainly not by the way she dressed.