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Autumn came sweeping in like any other year, and the annual fair came trotting into the town not long after. Paired with the cool breeze and crunchy orange leaves, it was the perfect fall season. With that in mind, you figured that the best way to celebrate was by attending the fair that came with.
As you walk past the colorful banners and decorations at the entrance, you begin eyeing all the potential rides that you could go on. Notably, there was the rollercoaster, the carousel, the ferris wheel, and an area reserved for the various carnival games. You opted to try the rollercoaster first, seeing as that is where most of the adrenaline and excitement seem to arise.
Yet, something about the way the tracks wobble and screeching, metallic sounds the coaster made had your stomach churning and dropping, even as you stood here from the line. A part of you begins to just slightly regret your choices, but alas, you’ve already paid the price in the form of a ticket that taunts you in your clenched hands.
Not to mention, with the naturally expected long line, the ride operator explained that people riding alone would have to share their seat with another lone person. Something about making the line shorter and the wait less unbearable. You figured that, as awkward as it could potentially be, you wouldn’t let the idea of your seat neighbour witnessing your utter fear and horror be a bother to you. Not at all…
Speaking of, you glance to your side as sneakily as possible. You get a good look at who would be your potential cart-mate: A handsome, brown-haired man in a green hoodie, ear muffles, and scarf, who fiddles with the hoodie’s hem– He doesn't look that scared, but maybe there's always a reasonable amount of nervousness that occurs when you ride these things.
You looked behind you and found that other people were in a much worse state than you: A man with a green overcoat and a purple hoodie clasps his hands over his face, looking green and ill. His neighbouring partner, a man in a blue coat– with voids for eyes, apparently?-- tries to shuffle as further away as possible in the cramped area with a grimace plastered on his face.
“Oh, those are my friends.” The man beside you says. You turn to look at him properly this time– and is it possible for someone to look even cuter than you initial thought?-- and he looks back with a polite smile. “I’m Edd, by the way. The man in green is Matt, and the annoyed looking guy is Tom.”
You introduced yourself, and nodded over to his ginger friend. “Your buddy seems scared to death. Is this a dare?”
“You could say that. We’ve all got our own little challenges to overcome today– Matt has to ride a coaster without puking all over himself.”
A grimace falls onto your lips. “I’m guessing there’s history to that, then?”
Edd laughs, nodding. You follow, tilting your head and eyeing his expression curiously. He mimics you, tilting his head and pointing towards his face. “Are there crumbs on my face?”
You wave your hand, shaking your head. “No, no. It’s just that, earlier, you didn’t look so confident either. Aren’t you scared as well?”
Edd scratches his cheek, his brows furrowed. “No, I do quite well, really. What about you?”
“Not so much, but not to the point that I’d be all green like your friend there.” You admit after a moment’s hesitation. A light flickers in Edd’s eyes– something akin to when a lightbulb lights up when you gain a wonderful idea. He nods slowly, shoving his hands into his pockets and looking away, as if in deep thought.
Not long after, all seats on the ride were boarded and all safety measures were intact. You shift in your seat as soon as the ride operator begins their countdown. Edd seems to take notice apparently, as he finally finds the courage to strike up conversation with you once more.
“Um.” He begins. “This ride can get intense. We were on this one last year, too, so…”
He pauses, his face beginning to redden– could be the cold, or something much meaningful– and averting your gaze. Before you could ask what’s wrong, he resumes. “If it gets too much, you can hold onto me. If you want to, of course.”
You blink, mostly out of shock and feeling a growing sense of bashfulness in you. Edd seems to panic and about to put himself into a tangent of how it’s mostly for your comfort and nothing ulteriorly creepy, before you both realize that the ride had already begun moments ago, and you’ve reached the point before the famous drop.
A collective mix of screams in horror and excitement ring throughout the area, and you find yourself clutching onto Edd as you shut your eyes as tight as you can– It really misses the point of being on a rollercoaster, but you couldn’t be bothered to care.
Edd stiffens, but seems to relax over the course of the ride and moves his hand to give a small, comforting pat on yours. However, at a concerningly sharp turn, you grasped onto it and held tight. Even with Edd letting out a small hiss of pain, he doesn’t budge nor move– He simply stays put as if to help ground you.
The ride, like all things, ends– but, wow, he wasn’t joking! That was intense. You find yourself stumbling out with the help of Edd, letting you lean onto his frame. It’s also no wonder you see others bent over on the sides or puking over the banisters and railings– Both Matt and Tom, namely. How was this ride even approved, you think to yourself.
Well, that doesn’t really matter when you find yourself being soothed on the back by Edd. He rubs calm, reassuring circles on your back and offers to buy you some water. Even until now, your hands are still intertwined.
In your foggy state, you simply nod along to whatever he’s saying, and he gently guides you to the nearest stall to get you a bottle of water. You gratefully accept it, chugging it down like a man dying of thirst. He puts a hand over his mouth, letting out a soft chuckle. “Well, that ride had its ups and downs, didn’t it?”
You groan, rubbing your face. “Don’t.”
He simply snickers.
“Thanks for letting me, uh, cling onto you, by the way.” You start, looking down at your held hands. “It helped, honestly.”
“No worries, I’m just happy to know that it did.” He grins, following your gaze.
You both don’t say much, letting the feeling of your shared closeness settle in– It felt nice, and so very right. You felt that it would really be such a shame if you both had to part, and you have an inkling that Edd feels the exact same way too, judging by his rosy cheeks and the way he fiddles with his clothing every few seconds.
“It’s, uhm, still pretty early out.” You comment.
Edd blinks, glancing at you with raised brows. “Right.”
“And I’d really like to try all the other rides before it gets dark out.”
He catches on, his lips forming into an ‘o’ shape. “Right. So, we can’t waste any time, can’t we?”
“Definitely not.” You say, a grin beginning to form on your lips. He smiles too, and your heart skips a beat as Edd tugs you along to the next ride, feeling lighter than air. Fairs are always filled with their own, special surprises, and you really like this one.
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“Did he really just abandon us here?” Tom grumbles, glaring at Edd and his new-found crush. “For some person he just met?”
Matt groans, leaning over the railings with a heavy sigh. “He didn’t even buy me water…!”
Tom rolls his eyes before feeling the sick, build up of vomit in his stomach once more.
It’s gonna be a long day for the two of them.