At The Edge Of This World

2 - An offer I could definitely refuse

"I'm telling you this is not how it works!"

"So, the right way to eat cereal is first the cereal and then the milk? Sis, you're crazy,"

"I'm not crazy," I paused. "Not now at least. Anyhow, ask anyone. If you put the milk first the ball might end up overflowing." I tried giving some sense to Scarlett, but she can be pretty stubborn sometimes.

By now we were at our coffee place. For the last month, after school ended, we have been hanging out here. When we entered the small, but comfy shop, I took a glance around and spotted the male, brown-haired figure I was looking for. He was sitting alone, writing something on his phone. When he stopped I felt my back pocket buzzing, so I took my phone out. As I suspected he was texting me.

"You're late...

Hurry, I've got a surprise"

I turned to Scarlett and motioned her to follow me.

"Howdy!" I attracted his attention "Sooo, what was that important that you wanted us both here immediately?" In the text he sent both Scarlett and me, it looked like something super important. But from his facial expression, it was probably something stupid.

"Hello to you too, princess." He greeted. I smiled at the 'title' he gave me years ago, referring to my huge house. I watched him moving to the side, making room for me to sit beside him on the booth. Scarlett sat across from us alone.

"Spit it out. What happened?"

"You remember Chris? From second grade?" At the name of our former classmate and friend, Scarlett's eyes lighted up. Years ago they were really close.

He was new in town and he didn't know anyone. One day, the three of us were riding our bikes down the road and we saw him playing alone in the front yard of his house. Scarlett decided to approach him because she thought he might be sad. And that's how we become friends. That day was and still is one of my favourites.

"CHRIS IS HERE?!" She yelled, winning some glances from the tables around us. With that said, a tall, good-looking boy started to approach us with a big grin on his face and two glasses on his hands. When he reached us he sat on the opposite side of Marcus and me, as he looked at Scarlett.

"Someone is happy I'm here." 

∆ ∇ ∆ ∇ ∆ ∇

As I walked back to our spot at the café with 2 strawberry milkshakes on my hands, I studied Chris. He was smiling as he was catching up with my best friends.

There was something different about him. Something changed from the last time we saw each other and it's not just the age difference. He sure got prettier. His brown, wavy hair was hanging on one side of his skinny, charming face. His smile emphasising his expressive blue eyes. He was wearing black skinny jeans, matched with a green and blue Hawaiian shirt. When I sat back to my seat, Marcus asked me something, but I wasn't paying much attention to what they were saying.

"Come again?"

"He asked you if you will come to the fair tonight." Scarlett's eyes were shimmering. I can tell that she's over-excited about this fair.

"I don't know..." I really didn't like the idea of going to the fair. Especially after what happened last year.

"Come on you never go to big events. We'll have so much fun,"

"I'm sure of it. But that doesn't make the fact that there will be a lot of people there vanish. I don't like big crowds. They remind me of family reunions or business parties that my parents are frequently having. I hate them.

"Come on... I promise you it won't be like last year."

"Wait, " and now Chris wants to know about the accident, good job Scarlett "What happened last year?"

All three of them looked at me, waiting to hear the story. I shook my head, signalling that I wouldn't say anything. "If you won't say it, I'll say it" The red-haired spoke.

HELL NO!

Every time she tells a story she always exaggerates and ends up with a completely different one. And by the look on her face, mine won't be any better than it already was.

"Fine, I'll tell you" I took a deep breath and started narrating. Here we go "As you already guessed we were at the fair last year and they had a game like a labyrinth but with mirrors."

"The Mirror Maze," Marcus added.

"Yes, thanks." I looked at him, mentally saying to him if he interrupted me again, I would throw my drink on his face. "Anyhoo, we went there, but we split up. As you know your friend right here," I continued pointing at my face "doesn't like small spaces, and the mirrors made the room seem even smaller. I had something like a small panic attack and of course I lost it. So, someone came to help me get out of there." As I kept telling the story, my pace started to increase so I stopped to take a breath. 

"I can't understand why having a panic attack in the Mirror Maze is embarrassing."

"That's... not the embarrassing part. When we were outside a woman brought me a glass of orange juice, because I was pale and looked like I was about to faint out. The problem is that every time I have a panic attack I am a little hyperactive so I spilt the juice all over her."

"Vie. You didn't just split the juice. You literally throw it at her, like it was a pillow." At that point, Chris was laughing at my most humiliating memory, alongside the other two.

"So, back to the subject. Will you come or not?"

"I'll think about it." The truth is that I am not thrilled with the idea. I was planning to catch up with my TV-shows or even read a book. The second I finished my thought and looked up at the girl across from me, she started mumbling over and over about how much fun we will have.

"Pleeeease..." After a minute of silence on our table and intense eye-contact between the two of us, I gave up.

"Fine. I'll come to the stupid fair. How you always do that?"

"I have no idea what are you talking about."

⧋

The second chapter took off with a new character. There is sth odd with Chris and I can't explain it. There is nothing about him that you will hate, but I don't really like him myself. And I know his past and future. Oh, Chris... Only if you knew...

Btw I forgot to mention in the previous chapter that Scarlett has red hair.
Oops...

Anyway, hope you enjoyed, ly!