The cold can't win against the enthusiasm of people. The air is charged with the atmosphere of joy, anticipation, and spending. The last point, I think, is important. If not for the echoes in my mind being only what they are, simple echoes of something far away, I would have been more inclined to feel nothing about the holidays, because after so long, they have been distorted up a new pedestal for only one purpose, money.
I shake those thoughts out of my head. They are not important. I'm happy, Liz is happy, and I have a date. Those are important.
A slight smile makes my lips curl up, and I take the bus after walking a little. When I arrive at the meeting point, I have to look around to find Emmie. And even then, I almost fail.
The crowd is too much. I take out my phone with a frown, about to call her, when I finally see her. I would have missed her if I didn't follow the gaze of some boys my age toward a claw machine placed a little to the side, maybe for people like her who are waiting for someone.
I involuntarily smile, and she grins, because she has also spotted me, a bright grin.
Festive atmosphere
People moving on the road, fast for those going somewhere or going home, and slowly for those strolling and enjoying the afternoon, letting the time pass while waiting for the evening.
"Max!! You wore the sweater I gave you!"
I roll my eyes, but with a smile.
"Have you been waiting for long?"
"No."
She shakes her head, about to say something, but I cut her off and put my hands in my pockets again.
"Let's go."
She pauses, then hooks her arm with mine.
"Alright, let's go."
The joy radiating from her makes my smile deepen. I unconsciously focus on that wave coming from her, causing the cacophony of thoughts flying around to become muffled, and relieve me.
I can't help but look at her from the corner of my eye. She has her hair tied high in a ponytail to the side, leaving the collar of her jacket to cover her neck. Her zipper is not closed all the way. She has left her zipper stop above her chest, but low enough below her neck to make it seem like a cleavage can appear at any moment, attracting the attention when looking at her.
Her jacket itself is somewhat baggy, dark, with dark red lines that only make it obvious that she is curvy, but leaves it up to anyone's guess as for just how curvy she is.
In short, her style is the same as her personality, open and teasing while never actually taking a loss, or making herself slutty kind of open. Refreshing instead of seductive. If anything is to blame, it is her body not her personality.
Below, her tight pants cling to her legs, while unlike my short boots, she has white sneakers with blue accents at her feet that seem to add a bit of spring to her steps.
The joy radiating from her seeps deeper in my chest, and I stop thinking too much.
Looking around, the amusement park is full. But despite that, everyone is too busy seeking enjoyment to bother seeking trouble, at least for the most part.
Emmie jumps, her chest bouncing and rubbing against my arm, and points in front with excitement.
"Max, let's ride a rollercoaster first!"
That makes me pause, shaking my mind out of my musings. Because who starts hardcore before even enjoying anything else?
I'm not given the time to retort as she pulls me along and runs to the lines. We wait for some time, and soon it is our turn. In spite of the cold, she shouts at the top of her lungs during the ride, laughing so much and so brightly that I stop restraining my smile, and let it split my face in two.
When we return to the ground, my legs shake a little, but Emmie is able to jump, and she pulls me for another ride, this time on the carousel, before we go for the bumper cars.
Gradually, I loosen up in a way I have not since getting myself unexpectedly burdened whether by sadness and loss, or shock, fear, and apprehension, on top of the thoughts that humans can't control and let fly around.
Her laughter is infectious, and her provocation too disrespectful. I laugh as I bump into her to the point of crushing her against the edge of the enclosure.
From then on, I don't even think hard anymore. Even the bright waves of thoughts seemed to disappear as we run around and try different rides, games and entertainments.
The sun keeps moving as we have fun running all over the place hand in hand. After getting tired, we go for some fastfood, before we calm down. At least Emmie calm down, with a bit of sweat on her forehead.
I froze while sucking on my juice, and look at Emmie. Her smile wide, she push strands of my hair that have rebelled while we have been playing, and tuck them behind my ear.
My face doesn't warm up, before my brain takes a while to process the gesture that has not been part of our friendship before. However, the warmth from all the running around flares up softly inside me, and spread all over my body.
Emmie's fingers linger on my ear, our gazes locked like magnets whose magnetic fields have hooked up with each other. My heartbeat feels more alive under the light of her smile.
*Brrr*
The sound I make when I suck my juice through the straw breaks the spell, making Emmie laugh. At the same time, the world seems to just come back into my perception, making me aware of the crowd I seem to have forgotten.
My heart loses control. It beats faster, stronger, and maybe, panicked. On the bench, Emmie's hand moves to come to rest over my own. I swallow the cold mouthful of juice that bring my temperature a bit toward the temperature outside.
I shift my hand, and interlink my fingers with hers, this time, without the excitement when pulling each other to new rides and games, without the purpose of not losing each other in the crowd, without friendship as the reason, the sole reason.