Chapter 15: Chapter 15

If another girl stuck their whole mouth into a pound of cotton candy in front of Jesse one more time, I was going to grab the hammer on the whack-a-mole machine and go maniac on all of them.

No kidding.

Some had whipped their head in the wind rapidly also, but it seemed as if their hair was falling out – since a few strands flew past me, which went to show that they were trying harder than they should. Another item that had flown past me was a ring from a bottle game – considering that the game was nowhere near where Jesse and I were, I guessed it was on purpose.

I debated on grabbing the hammer again, but let it go since I wouldn't want any assault charges before the age of eighteen.

But after I was eighteen...now that was a different story.

I also noticed the girls around me were growing inconspicuous as the time passed, and only threw Jesse winks when I wasn't looking. I caught one of those girls doing it, and when she had looked back at me, she cowered away and made it a point to look down.

In the bathroom, I took a deep breath, willing myself to gather any courage and walk back out. I knew Jesse was waiting out there – and only God knew how many girls have approached him while he was by himself.

I flinched.

But if he tried this hard to get me out of the house, then I was sure he wouldn't get me pissed off by swapping saliva with someone behind my back – especially while I was hiding out in the girl's bathroom.

Don't be a coward; if you stay he'll assume he makes you nervous.

I swallowed the lump in my throat, repeating in my head that this wasn't a date – and I shouldn't be worried about anything. A girl tossed her purse in the sink beside me, and leaned over to the mirror to clear up her eyes. There was nothing even wrong with her eyes, so I knew a conversation was boiling up as soon as she glanced at me in the reflection of the mirror.

"You're here with Jesse, aren't you?"

I looked down – feeling like an utter idiot at how she said it. "Yeah."

She clicked her tongue, shaking her head slightly. "You know he's only using you for one thing, right?" I had to look at her directly after that. "He's going to act like you're important today, but all he's planning is to get you back to your house."

Don't even think about it Carson – no criminal charges until eighteen...

"And hey, maybe if you're lucky he'll make you give it up at his house." My temper sparked.

I turned fully, sending her my most pristine lady-like look. "Just because you gave it up, doesn't mean I am."

She froze in front of the mirror, looking at me as if she saw a ghost.

I smiled, which was scary as to how I wasn't glaring at all, and turned off the sink in front of me and walked out.

Wow, you handled that well. Short-tempered, maniac-thinking Carson would have drowned her in the toilet by now.

My eyes widened at that, but when I reached Jesse, I eased up – but couldn't stop wondering if what the girl said was true.

What was he planning, really?

I lounged against the short fence beside him – overlooking a humongous ride that was going back and forth, with the words 'The Hammer' engraved on the side.

He glanced at me long enough to make me look away. "What happened to you?"

I shot him a look. "Nothing, just got harassed by your ex in the bathroom. Nothing too big, I mean it's not your fault that she's probably still in love with you." I laughed once, sarcasm lacing around my voice. "Oh wait, it is!"

He sighed, standing upright. "Here we go with the migraines again."

"It's really their fault anyway," I walked ahead of him, turning so that I was walking backwards. "They're the one's who agreed to stay at your place."

He leaned his head back, shutting his eyes, and held the temples of his head, obviously annoyed.

A building encased mostly of pink and red hearts with a cupid and an arrow on top came into view. Unthinkingly, I glanced back a Jesse.

He released his head and gave the building one look over, and then smiled to himself in self-thought. Almost immediately – incredibly worried about what he was thinking – I backed up, going the opposite direction of the 'Tunnel of Love'. Going in there with Jesse would be extremely worse than if he pulled me into a closet – and besides, the name of the ride implied that the couples going in there were in love.

Which was far from what kind of relationship Jesse and I had, which was the 'I'll stalk you until you go out with me' kind. The stalking bit was an understatement though; I don't know what Jesse was classified as anymore when he snuck into my room earlier, either just a level up from a normal stalker or just a crazed boy who was becoming more and more delusional.

As well as being more and more desperate...

I hadn't realized where I was going, just that I had paused in front of the ever so fabulous Ferris wheel. It was so tall, in fact, I was scarcely able to stare up at the top – only to gulp at how it stopped constantly, and how the people at the very tip had to wait until it moved again.

Darren and I had been stuck up there with one of his wacky friends, and he never let me live it down. After the ride started working again – an hour or so later – he couldn't stop laughing about how I had been deathly pale and ready to pass out.

And his stupid friend was taking pictures.

I wouldn't be surprised if he made money off of the shots.

In my peripheral vision, I saw that Jesse had turned to me – waving a hand to the ride. "You want to go?"

I shook my head, more vigorously than intended. "No."

He smiled – a smile that worried me to no end. "Why not?"

"Because I don't want to," I muttered, throwing him glances, making it obvious that I really didn't. Sighing, I turned around, accessing my surroundings.

Most were girls, but they were staring past me – at the supposed 'God' behind me.

So much for being the Devil – he was far more cherished for his ability to inhabit and toy with emotions.

I avoided the girls' eyes – for fear I was being stared down from head to toe. Although I had no reason to be nervous, but annoyed at the fact that they were jumping to conclusions.

But I couldn't blame them, I mean, one day I'm planning murder schemes and the next I'm forced to attend a carnival with the one boy I hated – all because he was being beyond over-ambitious.

And scary to say the least...

What boy goes through all of this just for a girl – especially a girl like me?

Step up your game, Carson. Obviously your drawings aren't repulsive enough.

It was when I thought about telling my dad about Jesse – begging that he would do all my dirty work for me – that I remembered I had snuck out.

And being here longer and longer was getting to me, enough to say that the pit of my stomach was burning.

For almost the millionth time tonight, I glanced at Jesse. He was staring at something past the games – something hidden but clearly noticeable at the same time.

A gazebo, almost stealth in comparison to the rest of the lights around the area.

I admit, I have been enchanted by the idea of my own 'gazebo moment'. But the fascination only went as far as the guy I would share it with – and Jesse wasn't him. As harsh as I knew it sounded, I wouldn't want any kind of moment with him, because I already knew there were other girls he's had the same thing with.

I wanted to have conversations with him – not something he's said before, as if he was reading from scripts.

That thought made my simple gaze toward him turn into a glare. His eyes flashed to mine, and he gawked – not knowing of my sudden mood swing.

"Now what?"

I shook my head, relaxing in an instant. It was an honest wonder as to how I've made it this far in my life with a temper as short as mine. At times...I felt as vulnerable to anger as The Hulk.

"I have to get home." My voice was cool – but at the same time pleading, since the look in Jesse's eyes made it very clear that he wasn't taking me anywhere.

"I haven't even won you a bear yet." He frowned, feigning disappointment.

I sighed, growing impatient. "You can win me one next time."

When I turned around, I heard him establish something. "Next time?" His voice had his ever so famous signature smile in it, almost as if he were very excited by the idea.

Why had I said that though? You moron!

Great. Give him hope, it's not as if he's hard enough to get away from.

Instead of answering, I just kept on trudging to his truck, wishing I could cover my face in my hands and wake up – wishing to go anywhere in the world where Jesse wasn't there.

By the time I reached his truck, I saw he had glanced back at the gazebo once more – only to roll his eyes and open the doors.

When we reached the street where my house was, I was more than a little worried when he turned off the car and got out with me. There wasn't conversation while we walked down the block – it was when we rounded the house that sparked something.

With one of my hands on the trellis fence, he had sighed. I turned to the sound. "Not even a goodnight kiss? I mean...if you're going to be my girlfriend, you might as well act like it."

Girlfriend?

Oh. That's right. If you enjoyed the night, then you're in the pit, Carson.

I suddenly remembered all of the girls at the carnival.

I released the fence, staring only at him. "And how is that? Give you puppy dog eyes when I want something?" I took a step toward him, taking another every time I spoke. "Take everything you say seriously? Never get jealous when you look at someone else?"

I took another step, bringing myself in front of him. "Stand as close to you as I want to?" His eyes lit up. And then widened a bit when I dipped my head to his shoulder. "Touch your neck when you're mad?"

I felt him shiver when my lips brushed over his collarbone – and it was strange to know that I was enjoying every second of this. I backed up, slightly, so that his face was almost centimeters away from mine. "Let you kiss me whenever you want to?"

His lips grazed mine, and at the touch, I felt my pulse quicken. It was when I felt his hand cornering in around my waist that I started to think again.

He leaned forward, but my voice broke the tension in a snap. "But it's too bad I'm not your girlfriend."

I felt him freeze, and a flinch followed soon after. He leaned away from me, staring at me as if he barely acknowledged I was there in the first place.

"I didn't like the date." I pulled away. "So call it off before I do."

Liar.

I climbed the fence, not looking down even once, and snuck into my room in one piece. When I glanced back out, Jesse wasn't there anymore.

You're going to regret that. There's going to be Hell tomorrow.

____

Yes. The next chapter is going to be longer than most, and more tense than others. I've planned it out a long time ago...<3 I was also going to add a cute Ferris wheel moment, but all I got out of it was Carson having a meltdown - so I avoided it. XD