Not So Sweet Candyland

LXXIX: August

The next day, Chase woke up. He woke up in such a shock. He didn't know why, but something about today seemed a little bit different.

He freshened up and that's when he found Berry, in the hallway, looking at her nails.

"Good morning. Do you know what day it is?"

"No?"

"We're in August."

"August? Already?"

"I'm guessing you never thought July would end. Me too, I can get like that."

She looked at Chase and then wrapped her arm around him casually.

"But you know...."

Berry started to get a little anxious.

"That means that well..... the reason why you are here at least."

"Are you ok? You sound like a drunk sailor."

"Drunk? No no no no. It's not that. Look, let's hang out in the library."

"No, you're hiding something." Chase grabbed her arm.

That's when Berry looked him straight in the eye and then dragged him by the shirt into her room.

"Ow! What was that for?"

"Look, are you sure that you really want to know the reason why we're really here? You really want to know?"

Chase nodded.

"Fuck, it's so fucking dumb and pathetic to say this, but hear me out. You know how much I hate this place, right?"

"Yeah."

"Well, around this time of year and within the next few days, there is a festival that I always come back to. Think of it as my favorite holiday here. It's called the Balloon Festival and well, I always had a connection with it."

Chase just tilted his head in confusion.

"Wait wait wait wait. What even is the balloon festival? And judging by you, it's good in your book."

Berry chuckled.

"Well, I'm glad that you think that it's good. But, compared to every other holiday, it's a very tame holiday. The balloon festival is a mix of cultures and a day that it's always nice to go outside and bask in the sun. There's music, dancing, and a little bit of that Candyland flair, but not a lot. Which I like. Of course, you have the weird fashion with balloons, but the balloon festival is a celebration of the summer and of the arts."

"Did your mother like the festival?"

Berry's smile faded.

"There was never one thing that she liked about Candyland. She hated the festivals, and when the festival was happening, I would sneak away from her and attend. I never spoke with my dad there, but I used to play with the other children. On the days of the festival, my mom would be in the library, reading a book."

"Really?"

"Yep. But, I don't see the point in hating a time like that. Sure, you can hate the other festivals and holidays because people can get festive and they can get extravagant, because they can get BAD. I mean, we even have seasonal changing festivals, which those are the worst especially in fashion."

Chase just said nothing.

"So, that's why I brought you here. Just to celebrate this festival one last time. Please don't be mad at me. I'm sorry for dragging you everywhere just to come here for a little just to attend a stupid party. It's ok, you know."

That's when Chase grabbed Berry and gently pulled her into his chest. That's when she started to cry and then when she retracted off of Chase's chest, there was mascara all on his shirt. Berry's mascara ran down her cheeks.

That's when Berry picked up a mirror out of nowhere and then looked at her reflection.

"Oh no, my eyeliner. Fuck! They never have the waterproof one here."

She used an unknown spell to get rid of her mascara.

"I was never one for excess makeup, just a little bit of eyeliner, and that's it."

"It makes you look like an edgy emo kid."

"Says you, who wears all black."

"Says you, who's hair is almost black."

"You little." She pulled Chase down on her bed and she didn't get shy.

"Guess who's the edgy one now." She smirked and then started to giggle a little.

"What's so funny?"

"Oh, it's nothing. You just seem like this guy that tries to be edgy, but you're honestly not."

"You can say skateboarding is edgy."

"I can take that. But come on, if I were a human, what do you think I would be like?"

They both got up for a moment and then Chase thought for a second.

"You would be the kind of girl that listens to screamo, and probably you would be a mix of punk and emo, not so much goth. You definitely have the punk attitude, and you are very powerful."

"If I do say so myself." She flipped her hair.

Chase laughed.

"But, the question is... do you like edgy people?"

"Personally, I never really met one yet, but hopefully, I hope one of them doesn't come for my neck after they asked me to name a Pierce the Veil song or something like that. Really, it's nothing. I'm a little scared of what's to happen, but...."

"But what?"

"I don't know."

"Well, you know, when we get to the human world, I'll admit, I'm going to be scared. I know what it's like but I've never been there before so I Don't know what it's like at all. So, when we get there? Can you teach me how to be a human or something like that?" She scratched her head.

"Oh believe me, being a human is easy. You just breathe air and stuff. And uh.... you should watch you mouth while you are in the human world. You might confuse some people."

Berry dramatically rolled her eyes.

"Ok, and?"

"You sound like a human."

"They actually say that?"

"They do. The ones with sass and attitude."

"Well, they might have sass and attitude, but do they have the ability to fight in multiple ways?"

"I think I should sign you up for karate."

"And why is that?"

"Because you would be good at it."

"Oh, you."