Writer's Games: Carnival

Task Three [Male Entries]

ZACH FORRESTER

The carnival seemed miles away from anything else that could be happening at that moment. Zach knew that he had homework due on Monday, and that he would have to work much of the day tomorrow. Even Ritchie's grandmother, who's fear of heights overcame her homophobia, could have been on the moon for all it mattered. Ritchie and Zach could hardly make out the figure of the old woman below them.

"I like the view from up here," Ritchie said, melting further into Zach. He was beginning to doze off, tired after a full day of the carnival probably. Zach could hardly imagine doing everything they had done today, and worrying about his grandmother the whole time. He couldn't let Ritchie sleep though, Grannie Lore would never approve of it.

"I think I can make out the school," Zach said, lazily scrawling something on the top of Ritchie's hand. They had made a habit of it, tracing the words 'I love you' on each other whenever they found the opportunity. Most of the time it was like this, and the writing left no marks. Other times, Zach recalled, Sharpie was involved.

"Yeah, over there," Ritchie pointed. His hand drifted just to the left, the south, of the city's main business district. It was slight despite, or maybe because of, the late hour. Red, white, yellow, and the occasional blue shone from the west, dimly illuminating the rest of the city.

The two diverted their gazes away from the city in the distance. Let the city be all the way over there, Zach thought, and let the two of us be here. Alone. Together. 'I love you,' he wrote out again.

"I'm sorry about my grandma," Ritchie sighed, resting his head on Zach's shoulder. He began tracing the three words on Zach's bicep, uncovered in the night air. Gooseflesh ran down his arm, like it always did when Ritchie did that. No matter how hard he tried, he could never get it under control. "You know how people her age can be..."

"Don't worry about it," Zach said, brushing a stray strand of hair out of Ritchie's face. The carnival's harsh, artificial light bounced off of Ritchie's hair, almost giving him a soft halo. "As long as I'm spending time with you..."

Zach didn't finish his sentence. It didn't matter, Ritchie already knew what he would say. The kiss was truly more important, if only because they hadn't been able to kiss all day. Ritchie relaxed, butter-like in Zach's grip. Their lips no longer crashed together, their tongues didn't clash in the other's mouth. Neither had ever enjoyed kissing like that, and there was no real reason anyway. Their kiss was serene, like they had all the time in the world. If only they did.

*

"I think this is the seat Ritchie and I were in last night..." Zach said, trailing off more from habit than anything else.

Either Mrs. Lore didn't hear, or she simply ignored Zach. She seemed incredibly focused on getting her water gun down, so Zach decided to go with the first one. It was, after all, the more pleasant option.

She stowed the walking stick inside the car they were riding in, certainly the one Zach and Ritchie has been in the night before. Then, using both hands, she was finally able to grab the water gun and get it down. It would take two hands to shoot, Zach noted, so it was a good thing they would be sitting down.

Reaching out, he steadied the stubborn woman as the two made their way to the cart. If only so he could be in the same spot he was the night before, Zach helped Mrs. Lore into the small cart. She immediately scooted to the far edge, glaring disdainfully at the main man working the ride. He seemed too drugged to notice much else going on, but sent the ride off the second Zach sat down.

Reaching up, Zach noticed that the safety bar was entirely missing from the ride. Safety, he supposed, wasn't anything they were too focused on at the moment. Evangeline spritzed the man working the booth in the face, effectively taking care of him. He seemed to be the only employee for the Ferris wheel, so they should have been done.