The Jacket Snatcher

Chapter 11- The Ferris Wheel

By the time we get to the Ferris wheel, the other boys are already halfway through the line.

"Just meet us at the main entrance!" Ashton calls to us, giving me a sly grin and a wink before turning back around to laugh at something Michael says.

"Guess it's just us two," Luke says, smirking down at me. When I look up and meet his eyes though, I can see something different than the cocky air he's trying to put off. I can see it in the way he taps his fingers against his thighs as we stand, and the way he occasionally runs his hand through his hair, and how he is almost always tugging at that lip ring with his teeth.

He's nervous.

I smile a little at the thought, and he notices.

"I think that's the first time you've smiled around me today without it being directed at one of them," he says, nodding his head toward his friends who are now getting in one of the gondolas.

Instead of answering, I watch as the boys rise up into the air, their gondola shaking violently as the next group loads. Gosh, I'm glad I didn't end up inside that swinging death trap with them. Then a thought crosses my mind.

"Luke! Please don't swing the gondola like that when we go up!"

He chuckles and shakes his head. "I won't. Don't worry."

There's a twinkle in his eyes that makes me wonder if I should trust him, but in the end, I don't have much of a choice. I just suck it up and resign myself to pummeling him once we're on solid ground if I have to.

Just as I'm about to voice my threat, he sticks his hand toward me, pinky raised. I grin and hook mine with his in acceptance of his promise.

"So why were you smiling?" he asks after sealing our deal with a little shake.

"I don't know," I lie. "I guess it's just turned out to be a really good day."

"You didn't expect it to?"

"I didn't know what to expect."

Just then, the worker breaks into our conversation and helps us load onto the ride. We are told to sit on opposite sides of the car, and I do so willingly. The gondola has metal bars evenly spaced around the outside, holding up an umbrella top. Otherwise, we are open to the air. As we glide upward, I breathe in deeply, absorbing the salty air and the cool breeze. Tucking a little tighter into Luke's hoodie, I peer out over the dark waters. The last lights of the sun cast a violet red on the horizon and a deep black above us. It's beautiful.

Suddenly, the gondola starts to swing and my gaze snaps back inside the car. Luke shuffles over before plopping down on the bench next to me.

"They said we're supposed to—"

"Nah, they just say that stuff so they can't get sued. Couples never sit on opposite sides."

I swallow at his use of the word couples and look away, back out to where the water meets the sky. The higher we go, the more the breeze picks up. A shiver runs down my spine and I realize something.

"Oh, my gosh. I'm being so rude. You probably want your jacket back." I start to take it off, but he stops me by reaching across and grabbing both of my hands in his. My head snaps up, and I find myself only inches from his face.

"Surely you know that I got it for you," he says, staring straight at me.

I find myself wanting to look away, but I just can't. There's something hypnotic about his eyes right now, and a part of me is sure that, with him looking at me like that, I would do anything he says. I don't respond to his statement, so he presses on.