More Than Friends - A Hayes Grier fanfiction

Chapter 7 - Just like old times

“Sophie!!!” Alyssa yells from the top of the Wonder Wheel. She has been spinning round on it for nearly ten minutes and I am beginning to question whether the ride it actually going to stop. We arrived at the funfair an hour ago and she has already been on the wheel four times.

“Sophie. Kaitlyn.” Noah calls to us and we turn to see the boys strolling towards us.

“Hey!” I say cheerily and hug them each one by one. When I get to Hayes I smile up at him and he gives me a proper cosy hug. He smells of aftershave, fireworks and cotton-candy. A scent I could inhale all day.

“Shall we go on the bumper cars?” I ask once Alyssa has got off the wheel. The others agree and, once we are at the ride, we pile into the little cars. Noah and Kaitlyn, Kyle and Alyssa, me and Hayes.

“Quick, we are gonna batter Kyle!” Hayes yells gleefully and grin at his enthusiasm. I hold tight to the side of the car and Hayes sppeds around, chasing Kyle and Alyssa. I wave at Kaitlyn and I see she is tucked snugly into Noah as he drives. Actually, now I think of it, they would make a cute couple. I make a heart shape with my hands and they both laugh.

“Hold tight, imma bash Kyle!” Hayes screams and I cover my head. I feel the car jolt and I look up to see Alyssa screaming with joy. Her face makes me explode with laughter.

All of a sudden a car crashing into us throws me against Hayes. I peer up at him and see he is staring at me as well. I bite my lip and suddenly he begins to lean towards me. I know what is coming next. My lips start to pucker and he is inches away from me...

“Everyone off! Come on hurry up!” The man running the stall is cleaing us all out and I groan; what bad timing. I feel my face turning red as I jump out of the car and run to Alyssa and Kaitlyn.

“Why are you so red?” Kaitlyn says, making me blush harder.

“Don't worry.” I say and put my face against a metal pole to cool it down.

“Sophie look, cotton candy!” Hayes says. When we were younger it was our thing. Every time the fair came to town we would go buy it from a stall and eat it on the Wonder Wheel.

“Just like old times?” He asks holding out his hand. I take it and we run to the stall.

“Two strawberry please!” I smile at the man who cheerfully spins us two fluffy webs out of the sugar. I hand him two dollars and we walk off, munching on our treat.

“Guys we are gonna head to the diner. You want to come?” Kyle says. I look at Hayes who pulls a face.

“Nah we'll stay.”

“See you around then!” I say. I hug Alyssa and Kaitlyn and then we stroll in the direction of the Wonder Wheel.

Once we are seated in a little carriage, the wheel slowly lifts us into the air. I lean over the edge and watch the sun sink beneath the trees in the horizon.

“Look.” Hayes is pointing to two swans flying beside the carriage. They kind of remind me of Hayes and I, not because we are swans, but because they are so close together, like a couple.

“They're like us...” Hayes says, speaking my mind.

“That's what I thought...” I say. I turn round to face him properly and I see him smile shyly at me.

“Come here.” he stretches out his arm and I sit beside him. I feel his eyes on me so I look up and see his face millimetres from mine.

“Let's finish what we started...” He says and puts his arm round my shoulder. I lean my face in and our lips touch, lighter than a butterfly. He presses his face closer and I open my mouth slightly, my breathing ragged. My pulse is rising but suddenly he stops. He pulls away from me and moves to the other side of the seat. We sit in silence until we are on the ground again.

“Hayes? What's wrong?” I ask.

“I'm sorry Sophie. I've got to go. See you at the party?” he says then runs off, leaving me standing by the wheel. I blink back tears, then look for my phone. When I have it I call Molly to come and pick me up.

The car pulls up nearly five minutes later and I run to get in.

“I came quickly. What's wrong?” Molly aks, knowing I am upset.

“Just... don't worry about it.” I say, gulping air like a fish to stop crying.

“It's Hayes isn't it?”

“Molly I don't want to talk about it. Another time.”

“Okay. Shall we go get burgers?” she says and I grin. She knows me too well.