Thanks SO much to Hailey Gleisner for gifting me the first thing I’ve received in a really long time! I’ve given up on downloading CC, so anything you guys would like to gift me are really appreciated. 🙂
Gift me! 🙂 I have almost nothing since my CC got deleted…I really need new stuffies.
“Just let me do something to your hair,” said Mya.
“No,” I fumed.
“Just let me touch it! We need to do something!” she yelled, holding a comb defensively in her hands.
“You’ll ruin it,” I snarled, picking up a pillow to defend myself.
“Ruin what?” she scoffed. “The most it’s doing for you right now is not falling out.”
I sighed.
“Let me help you…I swear, I won’t mess it up. You’re talking to a girl who’s practiced with the best of the best at New York Fashion Week, honey. Don’t go forgettin’ that I’ve been doing this since I came out of my mom.”
I giggled.
“Just come on over and let me do something to it. Denis will love it, I swear.”
Ah, his name. That was enough to win me over. I casually dropped the pillow, lamely walking over to what felt like my ultimate doom.
“Now,” muttered Mya, picking up my hair and parting it down side. “I’m just gonna mess around with it for a bit…what time is he picking you up again?”
I looked to the clock. It read 3:00 PM. “At four,” I replied.
“Where is he taking you?” she asked, pulling on my hair hard. I whipped my head around, shooting her the death glare. Mya simply chuckled and pushed my head back to forward.
“No clue. He told me, and I quote, ‘It’s a surprise…prepare for the most fun you’ve ever had.’” I let that sink in for a second. “But then right after he said it, he burst into laughter and said it’s still a surprise. So I don’t know if it’ll be super lame or if he’s actually putting thought into it.”
“Oh boy,” laughed Mya. “This should be an interesting date. Mind if I come for the show?”
I laughed, trying to keep still so she didn’t rip out my hair or something. Bald wouldn’t be the best look.
“I wish you could come for tips…I know I’ll be a trainwreck. Any tips?”
Mya picked up her flat iron and starting running it over my hair, stopping every so often to check on how it looks, run a comb through it, and spray some weird thing on it.
“Not many,” she replied absently, clicking her tongue. “I don’t really date guys, per say…I just kinda hook up with them.”
“Mya!” I giggled.
“Sshh, stay quiet,” she laughed. “I don’t know. Just try to be yourself. If you put on a façade from the get go, maybe he’ll never get to know the real you…and that’s the you you want him to know.”
I smiled. She was right.
“So even if the date goes horribly, and I am in the most pissed off mood ever, I should still show it?” I asked, half curious, half joking.
“Pretty much,” she replied, giggling. “How else will he figure out that he jacked up?”
I took what she was saying and tucked it away for further use. I had to be my normal, hormonal self, no matter how much I didn’t want to. I was so nervous, and though Mya was trying her hardest to help, I couldn’t help but wish that I had my old best friend by my side…
Yes, she screwed up. She screamed at me, pushed me in a lake, and nearly ruined my life, but how do I know what happened between her and Denis? And now I was going out on a date with him…oh my god, what if he wasn’t the sweetheart I’d always known him to be? What if I was getting myself trapped into another bad relationship? What if he only wanted me for his own benefit? Oh my god, please say that wasn’t the case…
Lost in thought, I had to be jolted out of my trance by Mya about an hour later.
“Girl, you look fabulous,” she said. “Now put on these clothes. He should be here soon.”
“…I’m not wearing this,” I replied.
“Nope, you are,” said Mya, forcing the clothes into my arms. “At least they’re dark…just go put them on. Oh!” she bent over, grabbing something from the floor that I couldn’t see over the clothes. “These heels!” she plopped them on top and left the room. “Now get changed!”
I was glad she respected my fear of getting changed in front of other people. I sighed, putting on the romper dress and swearing to myself that my life could be so much worse. And hey, when the clothes were finally draped on, they didn’t look half bad…they were just uncomfortable.
“Oh…my…god…” mumbled Mya upon reentering. “You…look…stunning!” She pulled her hands to her mouth, gushing as she looked me over in the mirror. “I picked these colors so well. You look flawless. I can’t wait-”
Suddenly the door bell rung. The dogs went wild, barking and scratching at the door. Denis must’ve thought we were a mad family.
“This is the moment of truth,” smiled Mya, walking over to my door and opening it for me. “Your prince awaits.”
I laughed, insisting that she stop talking like that. I didn’t want to get my hopes up for nothing.
“And hey, don’t trip in those heels,” she laughed as I stumbled over to her. I rolled my eyes, mentally reminding myself to throw my converse in my bag before we left. My mom was going to want to meet the first boy to ever take an interest in me, and my dad was going to be playing 20 questions…but they’d already met him once, fourteen years ago, so hopefully they’d let us go pretty easily. Well, I hoped they would.
“Here goes nothing,” I muttered, leaving the room and walking to the staircase. Through the windowed paneling on our door, I could see the bare outline of Denis’ face, and suddenly my heart skipped a beat. He gave me a slight wave of his hand, beckoning me to come down. I wasn’t worthy of him…I wasn’t…
But then my dad stepped in front of my line of view, unlocking the door and shaking Denis’ hand.
“Denis Levi, sir,” said Denis.
“Mr. Masons…” muttered Dad. “Where are you taking my daughter, and how late will you be out?”
“Not very late, sir. I swear-“
“Stop calling me sir. You make me feel old! I ain’t even fifty yet. But wait, don’t I know you?…”
“Yes! I know Valerie from when we were kids-“
“Oh, then get on in here, son!” Dad pulled Denis into the house, shutting the door behind him. “Hey, Ambs! Guess who decided to show up!”
Suddenly my mom popped up from around the corner, and the entire house was up in arms. I turned around to see Mya rolling her eyes from behind me. She was packing up her things to get going.
“Better get on down there and get your date back before your parents steal him,” she laughed, shooting me a wink.
I smiled and took the first step down the steps…I was ready for this. I had to be.
“So where are we going?” I asked as he led me out of the parking lot and on to the beach.
“I don’t want to tell you yet,” he replied, staring intently forward. “Consider it a surprise.”
I looked warily in his direction, breathing in slowly. “A surprise on the first date? Don’t you think that’s a bit…risky?”
He let out a hearty laugh, leaning backwards slightly into the chuckle. “It would if I haven’t known you since we were babies…but I have. Trust me, you’re going to love it.”
I wasn’t expecting to have such a casual conversation with Denis…in fact, I was expecting it to be kind of extremely awkward. But as our feet laid off of the warm sand and set foot on to the cement pavement right in front of several sets of stairs, I knew that if I was in his hands, somehow everything could be alright.
“Okay, now you’ve got to tell me…those are some pretty hefty stairs to head up. Where are we going?”
“You’re funny,” he chuckled.
“What? How?” I asked, huffing as my hair fell into my face. I pushed it back as I precariously eyed both him and the staircase.
“Because you actually think I would tell you where we’re going after getting this far!” He looked over, smiling. “Besides, how can you not tell? Don’t you smell the smells and hear the music?”
I squinted my eyes at him, nodding my head no.
“Well that’s a shame…I’ll race you to the top!”
I stood in shock as he took off up the stairs, and I immediately regretted letting Mya put me in this outfit. I whipped off my shoes and pushed my hair out of my face so I could get going, but he was already too far ahead of me. I already lost, and the date hadn’t even started.
“You…jerk…” I huffed as I reached the top. I bent my head over my body, fixing my eyes on the dinged up nail of a floorboard in order to ground myself.
His light laugh was thrilling as it danced its way to my ears, fluttering by like butterflies among a field of daisies. It was enough to bring me out of my slump, but once I did I couldn’t keep my own surprised gasp from escaping.
“What the-”
“-So do you now know our destination?”
I stood in awe, inspecting my surroundings. I didn’t even know what to look at first. Should I look at the flashing lights next to the “free” car, or to the children laughing and giggling as their father helped them play the games and reach the telescopes? Or should I look to the band playing on stage, or to the Simskin Robins across the way? Or should I just look at the huge ferris wheel in front of my face? My god, I hated heights…
“A carnival?” I asked mindlessly.
“Yes…you do like carnivals, right?”
I hesitantly pulled myself away from all of the sights to look back at Denis. “W-what?” I asked, shaking my head to get myself back into the moment. I wasn’t too good around lots of beautiful things in my lifetime.
“Do you like carnivals?”
“Me? Oh, yes,” I muttered. “I just haven’t been to one of these since…” I racked my brain. “Since elementary school,” I sighed. “With Freya.”
“Well don’t worry because I can show you a better time at a carnival than anyone else every could…and that’s a promise.”
I looked up at him cautiously.
“What?” he asked, straightening up. “Just because I’m pale doesn’t mean I don’t get out much.” He flicked his head, pushing his hair out of his face.
I took that moment to take a couple notes from the man standing before me. I knew he went through a lot in his lifetime…hell, with his mom, maybe he’d even been through more than me. Was what happened to me nonexistent next to what this smiling man before me had been through? And if he could still stand here, to this day, grinning and living his life, couldn’t I? Maybe he was the shining light I needed…maybe he was what was at the end of the road.
“What’s the name of this carnival?”
“The yearly Delmar carnival…on Delmar Boardwalk. You into it?” he joked.
“I am…” I muttered, looking around again. I couldn’t keep my attention on him, which bothered me.
We stood there for a moment, scanning the area. It was only six, and since it was summer and just days from graduation, the sun was setting far later than the other months. We had a couple hours to go until the night was blossoming before us with people flocking in from every corner.
“So what’ll it be first?” I asked.
“Well…” he mused, looking around with his eyes squinted. “Oh, I got it. Follow me.”
He took off before me, his long legs taking him several strides in front of me. I followed behind as quickly as I could in my high heeled shoes…I was praying that either these shoes would somehow make this date go smoothly, or I would get my chance to switch into my converse at some point.
“What are these?” I asked cautiously as I caught up with him. If he ran off without me one more time, I’d probably get lost…or maybe he wanted to lose me.
“Skeeball,” he said simply. “You ever heard of it?”
I nodded my head no.
“Oh god, then you’re in for a treat! Here, lemme go grab us some tickets to play. You should get a couple practice runs in before I get back.” He winked unsexily and made his way over to the guy working the machines.
“Now, what do I do with you…” I muttered, awkwardly grabbing one of the practice skeeballs as I turned around. “Do I throw you like a basketball?” I questioned silently, turning it over in my hand. “Roll you? Throw you at a child?” I snickered to myself as I tried to figure out what to do…I had no clue. Now I was going to look like any idiot in front of the only person who cared about me.
“Hey, get in some good practice runs?” joked Denis, as he walked back over to me with his smile gleaming and the tickets cascading over his arms. “I got quite a few tickets…I figure this might take a few tries.”
I was glad he got more tickets, but could he tell without even seeing me attempt that I was bad? Or was he watching me while he was getting the tickets? My god, I must’ve looked like such an idiot, he probably-
“So you ready for some skeeballin’?”
He walked over and fed some tickets into the machine. “Okay, so what you wanna do is basically throw the skeeball up the machine and hope it lands in a slot…”
He leaned over the machine, a look of pure determination evenly creasing into his forehead. He pulled his arm back and then forcefully flung it forward, sending the ball flying up to the hole. He hit the 100 his first time.
“Yeah!” he cheered, grinning as the lights flashed, announcing that he’d scored. “So does that make sense?” he asked, turning around.
“Um…yes?” I muttered, stepping forward as he backed away.
Reaching my hand down to pick up one of the dirty skeeballs, I looked around, hiding my face. I must’ve looked terrified. I took as long as I could before it looked like I was trying to seduce one of the skeeballs.
I set my eyes on the 100 marker. Denis made it look easy, so why wouldn’t I be able to do it? It was simple…a skeeball and a hole. I could do this.
Or couldn’t I?
“You…you got this?” asked Denis, chuckling a bit from behind me. “I can help you if you want…”
“Oh, oh no…I got this,” I replied, setting my eyes back on the goal. I had to do this…I would look like a complete idiot if I didn’t.
I counted to three in my head as I tried to ignore Denis’ eyes boring into my back and the sound of machines going off everywhere and the shrills of children.
One…
Two…
Three!
I flicked my wrist and felt the skeeball come flying from it, but what I heard with my eyes squeezed shut wasn’t the least bit good. What I heard was not the sound of the machine going wild because I was the best player ever, oh no, what I heard was the sound of a skeeball falling fifty feet and flailing directly into the water below with a sickening splash.
I turned around, awaiting Denis’ face…
“We can, um, pay for it,” he said, muffling his laughter.
“Oh, I know I’m terrible,” I sighed, backing off.
“No! No!” he replied, laughing as I looked over the railing at the sinking skeeball. “I swear, it’s all good,” he laughed. I could tell he was trying to hold it in from the snorts I heard, but he finally let it out when I turned around, anger written all over my face.
“I suck,” I ranted.
“No you don’t!” roared Denis. “You’re just a bit rusty!”
“…ugh,” I moaned, retreating from the ledge. “Fine. Use the rest of your tickets. Be amazing.”
He fed me a look of pure concern as I stood with my arms crossed.
“No, I’m serious! Let’s get you back over there for another try-”
“No.” I fumed.
“I can get you a prize-”
“No.”
“Then how about the Ferris wheel-”
“No.”
The last thing I wanted to do was jeopardize the date, but something inside me was so infuriated that of all of the places where everything could embarrass me, this had to be the time.
“The Ferris wheel is a good time…” he grinned, looking down at me. “Please?”
“No.”
“Then let’s go to this other cool game…I swear you’ll like it.”
I knew I was being annoying, so when he started walking to the next game, I simply shrugged my shoulders and followed.
“Okay, so in this game, there’s couple things,” said Denis, crossing his arms as he looked the game over. We were second in line, and there were people right in front of us, so we waited kindly. “See what they’re doing?” he asked. “You just have to climb the wall, basically…”
I gagged.
“And whoever gets to the top faster wins! Simple, eh?”
I bowed my head, already expecting defeat. This would be the third time tonight that I lost against him…man, I must’ve looked like a loser.
“Okay, you ready?” asked Denis as the people before us reclined from the rock wall, out of breath and grinning. The little girl who was racing lifted her arms in victory.
“Let’s go get my teddy bear, daddy!” she grinned.
Okay, if a little girl could do this, surely I could. I just needed to think positive thoughts.
“Y-yup…” I choked out. God, I hated heights…
Denis stepped up to the wall, flexing his arms. “Yeah! I love this one!” he cheered.
The attendants started strapping us in right away, and within just a few short moments, we were all ready to go.
“Three…” counted out the machine in a deep voice.
“Two…”
“One!”
Man, I hated those countdowns…
And I was already off to a terrible start! I flailed as I reached my arms up to grasp the first rock, and even once I got ahold of it, I wasn’t entirely hooked on.
“This…isn’t…fair…” I gasped, reaching my arms and legs everywhere to catch up with him…but two minutes later, it’s not like it even mattered. He was already so far ahead of me that he might as well have been freakin’ spiderman.
I kept on climbing, but just as I was about to reach my arms out for the final rock, I heard flesh slam into something, and a buzzer went off.
“Annnnddd we have a winner!” bellowed the attendant from the loudspeaker. “Now stay still as we take you down.”
“Ah,” he sighed deeply once we were back down at the bottom after a shaky drop. “I love that one…how close were you-”
He looked over to my face, and based off of the look on it, immediate regret filled his face.
“Oh, shit, I didn’t mean-”
“It doesn’t matter,” I groaned. I shifted uncomfortably, looking away. Why was I making this so miserable for myself? If Denis was having such a fun time, and yes, it was rubbing off on me, then why couldn’t I just smile and succumb to the happiness? I guess I was just too used to being angry all the time.
“Do you want to go sit down for a bit?” he asked, raising his arms into the air.
“Whatever you want to do,” I sighed. I thought this date was going to be either awkward or really fun, but so far the only thing it’d proved to be was exhausting-both mentally and physically.
“Here…” he muttered, leaning over to pick up the tickets that came gushing out of his machine from winning. “I know the perfect place to go.”
I looked up at him, sighing. “Okay. And I’m so sorry-”
“No. Don’t be sorry for anything,” he replied. “Just follow me.”
“Oh god…another surprise?”
“Just a tiny break, and then we can come back…let’s go.”
I wanted so badly to trust him, but I was just so tired of being the loser in every possible situation…whatever. I picked up my shoulders and followed closely behind.
“My favorite place,” he murmured once we finally made it to our destination. We walked from the carnival pier, across the beach (I finally got to take my shoes off), and ended up here, at Simskin Robins.
This time, believe it or not, there wasn’t as much as a surprise as the carnival one. Halfway down the beach, I could see see all of the pink and purple assaulting the outside and interior of the building at the end. Upon entering, my nose was delightfully assaulted by the scents of fresh sugar cones, color ice creams, and sweet bakery items being placed on display.
The place was so packed that Denis eventually leaned back and snaked his hand around mine, looking down and insisting that it was necessary when he did with his eyes. I let him, and after the long walk and relaxation of trudging across the sandy beach, I couldn’t even muster up enough teenage angst to not let him. I wanted him to touch me, and that was…well, that was scary to me.
Denis led us through all of the people and to the very front of the shop, finally stopping once we reached the main counter.
“Are you sure you can do that?…” I asked, cocking an eyebrow.
“Oh, yeah, I come here a lot.”
He turned back to the lady working the counter. She was pretty for the most part, but her hair color made me giggle a bit. Definitely bottle dyed.
“Oh, wouldn’t ya know,” said the woman in a raspy voice. “Hey, Bart!” she called across the shop to the man cleaning off tables. “Guess who’s back!”
The man who was apparently Bart nodded and laughed, raising his mop a little.
“Yo, my man!” he shouted over the people.
Denis smiled in his direction and gave a slight nod of his head. Bart chuckled and rolled away with the mop, swinging his hips to the tune flowing out from the old jukebox. I nodded my head, grinning.
“The usual?” she asked, laughing and leaning underneath the counter. She came out with two empty cups, holding them up questioningly.
“I don’t know…what do you want, Val?”
I giggled at the mention of my name, directing my gaze up to the long list of sweet treats. Then a thought occurred to me.
“Can you pick a flavor for me?” I asked. “You’ve done so well with surprising me tonight.”
He nearly choked, looking startlingly down at me. “I-I did?” he asked, disbelief flickering in his eyes. “I thought you hated me for taking you to the carnival!”
“No, no,” I muttered, trying to keep the smile on my face. “I’m just a sore loser.”
He chuckled, holding his gaze on me for a moment before turning back around. He looked so genuinely happy, and I felt it too.
“Rocky road for me, and…” he thought for a moment. “Mint chocolate chip for her.”
I gasped.
“What?” he asked, laughing.
“That’s my favorite flavor!” I giggled.
“You’re kidding…” he muttered.
“Nope,” I grinned. But then, as he turned back to the counter and started fishing money out of his pocket, something weird happened.
He was so vulnerable once he let my hand go. He was standing there, looking down, muttering obscenities, and completely oblivious…and his cheek looked so approachable…would it really be that much of a sin if I just stood on my tiptoes and snuck him a kiss?
“No,” I muttered under my breath. What was happening? I couldn’t let myself lose control like that. My sudden urge for human affection was startling, but I had to force it out of me. No. I couldn’t do this.
“Ah!” sighed Denis, slapping a twenty down on the counter. “There ya go.”
He snapped me out of my daze, and in that moment I decided that if he wanted to kiss me, he would. If I ever put myself in the position where I was the one making the moves, then that is when I’ve officially lost it. I need to learn my place.
“And can you throw an extra tart in there?”
“Sure thing, sweets,” replied the attendant. I needed to ask him who she was.
“Hey, question,” she said as she printed and handed him his receipt.
“Shoot.”
“What’s the deal on that thing we talked about?”
“U-uh, no, what?” he asked, his face turning bright red. “Not now, Ace…thanks a lot! Got to go!” he grabbed the bowls off the counter and scooped the tart into his arm. “Catchya later!”
He started walking away, and Ace just stood there shouting, “Okay, um, bye! See ya soon, cuz!”
Denis walked as fast as his long legs could take him, and I followed closely behind.
“Okay, what was that about?” I asked when we finally made it to a table.
“What’re you talking about?” he asked, setting down the icecreams. As I was reaching for my chair, Denis jumped to pull it out for me. I gave him my thanks, wondering how someone so perfect could ask me out.
“That woman…do you know her?”
“Yeah, didn’t I tell you? I come here a lot…”
“Yeah, you guys just seemed really close.”
“Well, I mean, she’s my cousin too.”
“Oh, okay.”
He settled into his chair and started eating his icecream…it looked like his favorite flavor was chocolate chip cookie dough, which was my least favorite. I took a bite of my sugary goodness before another thought occurred to me.
“Why do you come here so much?”
He took another bite of his icecream, eating it thoughtfully and slowly. I watched his every move as I raised a small bite into my mouth.
“It’s a long story,” he replied.
“That’s okay.”
“And kind of painful for me to tell.”
“I-I-“ I stopped for a second. Did I really want to force him into telling me something he didn’t want to? “Nevermind,” I murmured, burying myself in another bite of icecream.
“No, I can tell you,” he said in a monotone. “When I was five, I lived in here with my mom and my dad,” he started. “We didn’t live in the house we have now, but a nicer one.” He smiled at the memory.
“It had blue window frames and white shutters, and the roof was almost falling apart…” he seemed to get lost in his thoughts. “It was my favorite house.
“My dad was around for a while before he gave up on us. He used to go out during the day and come home at night just to go out again…my mom was there for me, though. Looking back, I don’t know why she stayed with my dad, but she did…she loved my father.”
I nodded thoughtfully, listening carefully and being careful to not make any facial expressions or movements that would make him think I didn’t care.
“I don’t want to bore you with the details, but…” he sighed. “One day, my mom went out to buy the groceries. She was mad that day, and told me that my room had better be clean by the time she got home, so I stayed home…but then my dad came home too.”
I pulled in a breath.
“He told me he wanted to go out with me…and I wanted affection from my dad so badly that I guess I didn’t seem to notice the slur of his words.”
Denis twirled his spoon around, pushing the cup away. Did he lose his appetite?
“And so I went out with him, and I didn’t tell my mom, and he took me…” Denis paused, looking out the window. There was a certain glimmer in his green eyes. “Here. He took me to this very ice cream parlor.”
I sucked in another breath, unable to comprehend his attachment to this place. Shouldn’t he hate it because of his father?
“But he didn’t get me icecream. We sat right over there-“ he pointed to the bar seats across the parlor. “-and he sat me down and told me he’d be right back. But he didn’t come back. He…he left me there. Right there.
“So then the lady at the front who doesn’t work here anymore had to call my mom and have her pick me up…man, I miss her.”
“Did your dad ever come back?” I asked carefully. I was too curious.
Denis pulled his gaze from the window, picking up and setting his spoon back down. He drew in a long breath before simply replying, “No.”
“…oh.”
“So my mom came and picked me up, and then that’s when her entire situation started…she was lost without my dad, which to this day, I can’t seem to figure out. What could he have possibly given her? Looking back, he wasn’t the best man…he hardly looked at my mother. I just wanted him to look at me with the smallest tinge of care in his eyes…you know? And now I always find myself coming back here because I keep on hoping that somehow, some way, he’ll appear, wrap his arm around me, and tell me he’s proud of me.”
I nodded slowly.
“And so now…now you know what a freak I am. Tonight was supposed to be fun…I’m so sorry. You must hate me now.”
I looked at him, concern spread across my face.
“Now why would you say that?” I asked. “Denis, this entire night you’ve been the one trying to get me to loosen up and have fun, and now you think I can just walk away when you’re not perfect?”
He looked up at me.
“Listen,” I said carefully. “I don’t know a lot, but what I do know, I learned tonight. This much is clear…I need you as much as you need me, and unless we become aware of this soon, neither of us are going to live life how it’s supposed to.”
Denis smirked at me.
“I’m not joking,” I said.
“I know you aren’t,” he replied, smiling for the first time since we sat down. “I just…this is going to be so hard.”
“What is?” I asked.
“Th-nothing. Nothing at all.”
I furrowed my brows. That was at least the third time tonight that he refused to tell me something that was bothering him. What was going on?
Rather than bothering him about it, I decided that if he wanted to tell me, he would…but I wasn’t going to force him to. He’d already shared something really personal, so who was I to pester him for more?
“Jeez, it’s gotten so dark,” mumbled Denis after an hour. We’d sat in the same seats as people filtered in and out, and the parlor started to clean out as the evening progressed. Regardless, our bums were still glued to our seats, and I had reclined far as he made me laugh, smile, and tear up throughout the entire night. I learned so much about him, and we talked about so much…now, he even knew that my mom did a 100 baby challenge and that she met my father about a thousand years ago.
“It has,” I sighed, sitting up. “What do you propose we do?”
“Well…” Denis thoughtfully looked out the window. “What if we went back to the carnival for one last thing?”
“And that thing would be…”
“Want a surprise? Or no?”
“Hmmm…” I pondered, giggling. He looked at me so carefully that it made me want to burst into tears. “Yes. Surprise me again.”
“Deal.”
He stood up stretching, and then came over to help me out of my seat. He offered his arm jokingly, and I took hold of it.
“Just in case I’m so tired I fall,” I commented.
“Of course,” he laughed. It rang through the entire parlor, and just as we were about to leave, I noticed his cousin waving to us and watching after admirably.
“You two stay safe,” she smiled, wiping down the counter.
Denis waved, and we headed out, our feet digging into the sand. We started walking back to the place that started the whole evening, and somehow everything finally seemed alright.
We walked slowly, but eventually Denis and I got back to the pier where the carnival was being held. By night, some things changed. It seemed that the atmosphere had dramatically changed. All of the babies and children were gone, and in their place was a bunch of half-dressed 12 year olds and a lot of shady people. Still, the carnival was really lovely, and I was so happy to be there with Denis. He helped me up the steps before turning to face me at the top.
“Okay, so I just need to know something…” he prompted.
I nodded.
“Are you afraid of heights?”
A large gulp formed at the back of my throat as Denis looked down at me, awaiting an answer. I was, to an extent…but I guess I didn’t really know. I’d always thought I would be afraid of heights, so I never let myself so that high…but was I really? I couldn’t be a downer anymore tonight.
“Uhm…” I choked out. “I-I mean, sort of, but not really, but yes, kind of-”
“Are you afraid to try new things?” he asked, chuckling at me.
“N-no. Sometimes, I guess? I’ not really sure actually, heh, but I don’t want to be a burden, so we can do whatever-“
“-Just follow me…and close your eyes.”
He held out his hand for me, and I took hold of it. Hesitantly, I eventually closed my eyes, and he pulled me to where I assumed we were going…the dreaded-
Oh my god.
And then it hit. He was taking me to the ferris wheel! He had to be…I was afraid of heights, which he asked about, and I was afraid to try new things…also known as the ferris wheel. Suddenly, I felt the urge to rip my hand from his and dart in the other direction.
But minute after minute, as he led me through the crowds of people and I casually opened my eyes every once in a while without him seeing, I learned to accept my fate. Besides, I didn’t want to give up the feeling of his hand around mine…my god, the way he held my hand was so sweet and caring. I never knew men could be like this. I’d always felt that they were cold, lifeless people, but the way he held my hand so protectively in his was so reassuring that I-
“Hello, how many in your party?” came a sudden directed voice.
“Two,” replied. I wanted to pry my eyes open to see if he was smiling or not, but now that we’d stopped, I knew he would be watching me like a hawk.
“Step right on in, then.”
Denis tugged on my hand, dragging me toward my doom. Instinctively, I started shaking, and suddenly I got really nervous. I’d heard of so many things going wrong on ferris wheels. Lightening striking it, people rocking it too much and falling out, and the entire thing stopping at the top for hours at a time were just a few of the things that I’d heard.
“Watch your step,” muttered Denis as he led me to my ultimate doom. He tentatively placed his hand on my back to help me in, and I tried to control my shaking, I really did, but it was so bad by that point that there was really no use.
“Oh god…are you scared? Here, open your eyes.”
Just as I opened my eyes, I was startled as the operator guy running the wheel came by to shut the door to our little chair box thing and smiled, saying, “Have a fun time! Don’t fall out!” He winked and walked back to the lever that would start it moving. I don’t know what came over me, whether it was what he said or not, but I jumped from my seat and tried to climb out as it started moving.
“Hey! You can’t do that!” shouted the operator, slamming the lever back down and running to me. I don’t know what I was thinking, but my muscles were acting before I could think straight for a moment.
“O-oh god…sorry sir, she’s just afraid of…of heights,” muttered Denis. “Valerie…do you want to get out? I swear you’ll love it…”
I gripped the edge of the mobile with fingers, and I when I looked down I was shocked to find that they were bright purple from holding on so tightly. I tried to drop the panicked expression on my face, but I was panting so hard I could hardly control it.
“Sit back down…trust me,” offered up Denis. He carefully lifted his hand from his seat, offering one to me. “Just sit back down…please.”
I looked from the pleading expression that Denis wore, to the pissed expression that the operator wore, and then I evaluated how my face must’ve looked in that moment…none were entirely pleasant to look at.
“F-fine,” I stammered, sitting back down. I still shook, but I tried my very hardest to put on a brave face and get over it…oh, hell, I was a mess and everyone at the entire carnival could see it.
“Hey, if you’re gonna stay on here with her, can you at least make sure she doesn’t do that again? The last thing I need is a casualty, bro…I need this job.”
“Sure thing, man. Have a good one,” Denis replied. The operator shook his head and went back to his desk, slowly but painfully. He stopped to apologize to the people in line, and that’s the moment that Denis decided would be good to give me a pep talk.
“Hey…everything alright?” he asked carefully and slowly. “You…you gonna be okay for the rest of this?”
“I-I-I-“ my stutter was so bad that I forced myself to stop and collect myself. He’d stuck around with me this long, no point in making myself look like an even bigger idiot now. Then a few seconds later, as I was about to try to not sound like an illiterate idiot, I was suddenly jolted by the ferris wheel starting to move in its daily circle.
“O-oh my god!” I screeched. My hands reached out instinctively, clinging on to the side of the box. I couldn’t do this, I couldn’t do this, I couldn’t do th-
“Valerie,” stated Denis simply. “Valerie, calm down…you’re fine! Here, want to come and sit next to me? Will that make you feel better?”
“I-I don’t-I can’t-“
Denis laughed and stood up. At first, I wasn’t sure what he was doing and quite frankly, the rocking of the box when he moved scared the absolute living shit out me, but then he plopped himself down next to me, and he looked down at me, concern splayed across his face.
“What can I do to make you feel better?”
“You can…you can…”
“Can I hug your worries away?” he asked suddenly. His suggestion was surprising enough to prompt me to lift my head from biting my nails and look at him.
“W…what?”
“Sorry, that sounded creepy, didn’t it?” he asked. “I was trying to sound smooth, but then it didn’t really come out right-“
“-yes,” I muttered.
“What?”
“Yes. I’d…I’d like that.”
Denis looked down at me, smiling.
He lifted his arm and snaked it around behind me, his fingertips brushing my other shoulder. As he readjusted, the fingers pressed into my skin reassuringly, which made me shiver with joy.
“Your shaking just got worse…am I making it worse?” he asked jokingly.
“No, no…really. I’m sorry. I just got nervous for a second, but you’re making it better…I swear.”
We both got quiet as the ferris wheel started moving again after inviting on new passengers. This happened several more times as we made our way around, until finally the wheel was filled up again and we could go around several, uninterrupted times. Denis kept his arm over me reassuringly, but something about the rocking made me absolutely sick to my stomach.
“See? This is fun,” he smiled after a minute or so. “But…boy, the wind is sure starting to pick up.”
I looked around, releasing my numb fingers from my mouth. He pulled his arm tighter around me, and the touch was an appealing one…I want him closer. Suddenly, I had a flash of want like I did in the ice cream shop.
I turned around to face Denis, nodding my head in thanks for his warmth. He smiled, but then suddenly his face grew more serious. Instead of looking at me in general, he focused his eyes on my eyes, and then my lips. He pulled his arm away slightly, and before I knew what was happening, I-
I froze up. His lips puckered before I had the chance to do or say anything, and to be completely honest, I felt like an idiot, sitting there and not knowing what to do. I’d never actually been kissed on the lips, just on the…the..
I cringed and pulled away quickly. I couldn’t let that man evade my thoughts so far after he’d ruined it. Every time I should be happy, I always found that he would come into my mind and ruin it for me.
Denis pulled back too, but not because I did…he held his hands out, and just as I was about to ask why, the first drops of rain hit me…and then it started pouring.
“Shit,” muttered Denis, rubbing his neck. “Looks like that storm is coming early.
“S-s-storm?” I choked out. I looked over to him, begging for that to be a lie with my eyes.
“Nah,we’ll be fine, they’ll just have to get us off of this ferris wheel-”
“-What?!” I shouted over the rain. It started falling in perfect lines, pelting the roof of our mobile and part of my body. It was an instantaneous storm, and it was nearly rocking the box side to side.
I looked helplessly to Denis, but then I nearly toppled forward when the ferris wheel started moving after stopping when the storm started. They must’ve turned it on faster, because within just moments, we were at the bottom and being shuffled off.
“You best be gettin’ under cover,” shouted the attendant over the storm. “It’s gonna be pretty bad.”
Denis and I looked after him as he frantically threw his hood over his head and ran to the control box again. The ferris wheel resumed movement for a moment, and then Denis grabbed my hand and pulled my gaze away.
“Let’s get under that overhang!” I shouted, fleeing behind Denis. “I need to be dry-”
The rain pelted down, and flashes of the night that changed my entire life played right before my eyes. As the water hit my skin and rolled off, I thought of watching the water roll down the glass as Mr. Farver rocked me back and forth. When the water hit my skin, it reminded me of when I finally got out and started sprinting to that diner…and when Denis grabbed my hand, I screamed because I was expecting it to be the large, greasy hands of my eighth grade math teacher, not the smooth, comforting ones of Denis.
“What’s wrong?” shouted Denis over the storm.
“The-the-”
“Shit, Valerie, I forgot something on the ferris wheel!” he yelled again. I looked hopelessly to him, praying he wouldn’t make me go back with him…the rain, I couldn’t take it…it was too much…I turned around, looking for the nearest exit. Then, I was startled again, but not this time by the rain bringing back bad memories in a flood, but instead by the smooth, guiding arms of Denis Levi, the one and the only…what did he-
Out of nowhere, his lips crashed into mine, soft and questionable at first, but then hard and forceful after. His arm laid on mine, delicate and reassuring. His kisses, unlike my actual first ones, were filled with actual need and lust, and they felt…well, they made me feel like I was actually wanted. I can’t believe I was actually getting my first real kiss…my god, I was so lost in the moment that I could hardly breathe…lord, I could barely think!
“W-what was that?” I asked over the rain after.
“That was…that was what I forgot on the ride.”
Denis ran his hands through his hair, the water dripping from it and falling to the ground with a delicate splash.
“You’re smooth,” I giggled, looking up at him.
“Well, I guess we should…” a shudder ran throughout his body. “I guess we should get under cover now-”
“-No. Let’s stay out here. The rain is lightening up anyways…”
And that’s when it hit me. Even though the rain that had been scaring me half to death a minute ago was still seeping over my skin and ruining everything, suddenly I wasn’t afraid…the rain now held new memories…not memories of pain, horror, and the worst night of my life, but memories of love, hope, and joy for the first time in a long time…why hadn’t he asked me sooner? I could’ve been happy for so much longer-
“Denis, why are you shaking?” I asked, looking up. Out of nowhere, his face had grown red, his hands were fidgeting, and his eyes were fixed intently on me…but when I looked, he looked away.
“What’s going on?”
“There’s s-something I n-n-need to t-tell you…” He stuttered. “I’ve been trying to all night, b-but I couldn’t…but I need t-to…Valerie, I-”
“-WHAT?!” I yelled over the rain. I could hardly hear what he was saying.
“I need to tell you something!” he enunciated. “Y-you need to hear it, but I don’t want to have to tell you-”
“WHAT?!” I shouted again.
“Valerie!” He said. I could finally hear him, so I tuned in. “There is something you n-need to know.”
“Yes?!” I shouted back.
“After g-gradu-uation, I am…I’m not…”
“What?!”
“I won’t be back!”
“WHAT?!”
“Valerie, you need to listen, and you need to listen now. I can’t say this more than once.”
He pulled me in close to him. The warmth was comforting, but the news that he laid in my ear as he held me was too much to bare-
“I drafted myself…I drafted myself into the war,” he said slowly. “And I’ve been trying to tell you all night, but I couldn’t, and now I…I…Valerie?”
I pulled back, looking up at him. He wasn’t doing this…he had to be joking…there’s no way he could leave me like that. This was a sick joke that he was playing. He couldn’t give me the best night of my life and then leave…that’s not how it worked, that’s not how it worked at all.
“How,” I said simply, wanting to hear him out. If this was a joke, I wondered if he had this information backed up.
“When my mom was drunk one night, I got her to sign the paper…listen, Valerie, I know this is sudden, but I did this before I had the courage to ask you out. I did this because I felt-hell, I knew I didn’t have a life here…it’s shit, and you know it. But now that I’m with you…I wish I could take it back so bad. Take back that pen, take back my god damned mind set, and erase that entire night…but Valerie-”
I gulped. He was telling the truth.
“-I can’t take that night back.”
The rain slammed against my body as it started coming down harder again. Tears welled up in the corners of my eyes, and they started pouring down. Why did everyone I loved leave? Freya, now Denis? I was the worst person ever. I wasn’t ever going to be loved, and I knew it.
“-But Valerie, I want you to know that-‘
“-When do you leave,” I asked pleadingly, tears escaping my eyes. I couldn’t hold it in anymore. I grasped the cotton of my dress as I awaited his answer. Then it hit me like a ton of bricks.
“One week.”
My feet took off from under me as the weight of the world came crashing down on my shoulders.
I took one last glance behind me to Denis…would that be the last time I would ever see him looking at me like that?
Well, I guess so, so I kissed it goodbye and ran to wherever my feet wanted to take me. I couldn’t handle another goodbye.
[GAHHHHH!!! I need to interrupt this for a few things. First of all, I’d like to apologize for taking so long to post…this needs to change. .__. Second of all, a lot of team effort went into this post, so if you check out the credits page, you can find out who helped there. And lastly, please feel free to head over to the Guest Book to sign it and keep your lasting memory here…it would mean a lot to me. Other than that, I hope you enjoyed this installment, and please leave a comment if possible letting me know what you thought! Thanks. B)]
AMAZING!!!!!!! Totally worth the wait and I loved the post! ( as usual)
Love the way he tricked her into the kiss ^_^
Also, how did you get the rain effect? It looks cool 🙂
My friend Angie edited those photos in photoshop for me! And thanks so much for reading and commenting, love! 😀
Ahh ok! And your welcome 🙂
That date was adorable! I also don’t blame Valerie for being afraid of the Ferris Wheel. Those things are scary… *shudders*
Denis is so sweet! [“W-what was that?” I asked over the rain after.
“That was…that was what I forgot on the ride.”] That part made me giggle. ❤
Okay, onto the sad. I definitely was not expecting that. Valerie! Don't think those things! You ARE loved! Goodness, when will things start getting better for her? I hope she can find happiness soon!
Amazing job, as per usual! I'm so excited for the next one and hope that somebody can make her feel better soon.
I really am jealous of your writing abilities! 😀
:’D That was amazing! You got talent and your sims amazing ❤ But….Valerie needs to tell someone !!! Awhh Denis, you sweet heart! I love them together!
…..Denis, I might have to hurt you!!!! Valerie……</3
Amazing chapter! Worth the wait ❤ Dying for the next chapter<3
AMAZING Chapter.
DENIS BEBE. ;________________________________________;
kjsajgasjkgksa I LOVE HIM SO MUCH. AND VALERIE. gskjagjasjgsajgakj THEY NEED TO MATERIALIZE SO I CAN GIVE THEM HUGS SJGJKSJSSGJKJSSJJKGSS.
DENIS BEBE COME BACK.
He’s so sweet. sfskgjasg
I LOVED THIS CHAPTER SO MUCH.
Val, you should’ve ditched the heels! Those are the shoes from hell sghagkjsja
stop being such a good writer!!! I hate you! ❤
VAL AND DENNIS IT'S JUST UFHSIGUFHLGJIFH
LOVED IT SO MUCH.
<3,
Laura
I love every minute of it. Dennis I love you, why do you have to leave but you can always come back and love on her some more lol
Love it, can’t wait for the next post 🙂
What a lovely date 🙂 Glad they’re getting closer…and then he says he’s leaving x.x Oyeee.
Hope it works out for her in the end. Make use of that week, Vallll.
Lovely update c:
Oh my… I am sitting in tears, this would make a perfect movie… I loved this post soooo much, knowing it’s the second last one ever just makes it worse, but Denis is still the hottest (exept for Soren) sim I know of! Going into war is the baddest thing that could have happend…. Oh my word…
Dalerie Bebe!?