POV: Jay
The sun was already high when I realized Hex wasn't around. My phone buzzed—it was Keifer.
"Hey! Want to hang out?" he asked.
I grinned. "Of course I promised you. Let's do something fun."
Fast forward thirty minutes, and we were standing in front of the amusement park gates. The smell of popcorn, cotton candy, and greasy fries hit me like a sugar bomb. Keifer was already bouncing on his heels, looking way too excited.
"I'm warning you," he said, eyes gleaming. "No chicken-out moments today. We're going on everything."
Oh, boy. If he only knew I had been mentally preparing for every roller coaster since 7 AM.
We hadn't even gone through the gates yet when I spotted Ci-N and David walking toward us.
"Jay! Keifer!" Ci-N waved, running over.
"Hey!" I called back. "Join us. You're not ruining our day!"
Keifer's eyes narrowed at them like they were intruders. "Uh… it was supposed to be just us, but… fine. You can come."
Classic Keifer. Wants me all to himself, but pretends to be generous.
We started small, with the Ferris wheel, just to ease ourselves into the day.
As soon as we got to the top, I could see the entire park sprawled beneath us.
"Woah…" I breathed. "Look at that view!"
Ci-N elbowed me lightly. "You scared yet?"
I laughed. "Not yet. But wait until the drop."
Keifer, on the other hand, was trying to act all cool.
Cool? The guy's knuckles are white, and he's gripping the bar like it's a life raft.
When the wheel creaked and slowly tilted downward, I screamed louder than anyone. Keifer screamed too, but I caught him trying to hide it behind his sleeve. David and Ci-N were laughing hysterically.
By the time we got off, my hair was all over the place, and I was gasping for breath.
"Okay, your turn," Keifer said, pointing at me like I'd betrayed him.
"What?" I asked.
"The next one," he said, grinning devilishly. "The Haunted House."
Haunted House? Why do I feel like this is a trap?
The four of us went in, and it was pure chaos from the start. Shadows, fake ghosts, and chains dangling everywhere.
David jumped at every sound, shrieking like a banshee. Ci-N kept screaming, but laughing at the same time. Keifer? He was… surprisingly calm.
Too calm. This is suspicious.
Then came the spinning room. My stomach did that weird flip thing that always happens on rides like this.
"AHHHHHHH!" I screamed as I grabbed Keifer's arm.
He just laughed. "Relax! You'll survive!"
I glared at him.
Survive? I'd survive better if you weren't laughing at me like I'm a cartoon.
By the time we escaped, I was sweating, hair a mess, and totally exhilarated. Next, we tried the roller coaster.
"Oh no," I muttered.
Keifer grinned like it was a prize he'd been waiting to win. "Trust me. It's fun!"
Trust him? He's laughing while pointing at the drop. Someone should stop him.
We strapped in. Ci-N and David were screaming as soon as the first hill climbed. Keifer and I exchanged a glance. He nodded like we were soldiers going into battle.
Then—the first drop.
I screamed. Keifer screamed. David screamed. Ci-N… well, Ci-N was crying, I think.
We looped, twisted, and spun around until I wasn't even sure which way was up. By the time we got off, my voice was gone, but I couldn't stop laughing.
"Again?" Keifer asked.
I shook my head.
Are you kidding? My voice is gone, my stomach is doing flips, and my hair is a disaster. But… okay, maybe once more.
After that, we wandered through game booths, tried to win stuffed animals, and failed miserably.
I was convinced I would win the giant teddy bear for myself, but Keifer stole it first with his "amazing aim."
Cheater! I'm definitely getting revenge.
Ci-N bought cotton candy, David got a hot dog, and Keifer shoved two of his fries in my face.
"Eat!" he commanded.
I smirked. "Thanks… dictator."
We ended the day on the haunted roller coaster combo ride, which was pure chaos. I screamed, laughed, clung to Keifer, and somehow managed to throw my arms in the air like I was having the time of my life.
By the time we finally left, our hair was messy, our clothes sticky from cotton candy, and our feet sore from running from ride to ride.
As we walked to the car, I looked at Keifer, who was grinning like a kid who had won the world.
"Okay," I said, "I admit it. That was amazing. You owe me a giant soda next time, though."
He grinned. "Deal. But I'm taking that bear next time too."
Ugh… I love him, but he's impossible.
We drove home, laughing about every fall, scream, and scream-laugh combo. My voice was gone, my stomach was sore, but my heart? Completely full.
It had been chaotic, crazy, and utterly unforgettable.
End of Chapter 🎡🎢