"I'm not going to the Exhibition with you."

"You said you forgave me."

"That was just yesterday," Dahlia huffed putting her mug on the desk.

"Dahlia, entertain me for 3 months then you can forget me forever."

She didn't answer him. Forget him? They both knew it wasn't that easy. In fact, right now, it felt impossible.

"Will you come?" he pleaded.

"You should go!" Gloria's voice came from outside. Of course, she was in on this.

"I'll think about it."

"I'm picking you up tomorrow at 12."

"That wasn't confirmation," she called out as he left her office.

~~~~~~~~~

"It really is packed," Tristan mumbled once they entered CNE's grounds.

"Yeah, it's a really anticipated event. When it gets too crowded we can go to the Sky Ride," she looked upward.

"Should we check some of the rides then?" he looked around. Dahlia nodded as she grabbed his hand and headed toward the Bonsai.

"Oh, this is going to be fun."

"It is," Dahlia agreed, "Although, you can still hold my hand if you get scared."

Tristan chuckled, safely buckling himself in the chair.

"WOOO!" 

His senses were overcome by the screams of the people on the ride. He cheered as the rest of the fair disappeared into a blur of colors. Dahlia's laugh matched his own and her hand found his. He held it tightly hoping this ride would never end.

"The ribs were really good."

"Which ones?"

"All of them," Tristan chuckled, "I'm not joining the debate."

"Why'd you even go to Ribfest if you weren't going to choose a favorite?" Dahlia nudged him.

"Because you said it's tradition."

"Come on," she rolled her eyes, "You need to try these," she guided him to a stall.

"Tiny Tom Donuts?"

"Shhh, don't doubt Tiny Tom."

Tristan smiled the whole way through the food stalls and on the Sky Ride. They enjoyed the Air Show, the pilots doing quick turns and booming rolls. Their planes flew upwards rapidly before turning around each other, leaving colorful contrails behind.

"I think I'm going to be sick," Tristan said as they left the Mega Drop.

"I thought you were a secret agent. The Mega Drop defeated you, Tristan Antonov?"

"It didn't mix well with all the ribs and mini donuts."

"Let's take a break from the rides," Dahlia chuckled, "How good is your aim?"

"Perfect, obviously."

"Mine's probably better," she teased, guiding them to the balloon blast game.

"Go, go, go," a couple of watchers cheered the players on. Tristan was about to win; his balloon a second away from bursting.

POP!

"Wooo!" someone yelled.

"I told you," he smirked at her, "Although, I do want to get that minion over there," he pointed at the ring toss.

"That's going to be hard."

"Watch me," he skipped to the stall pulling Dahlia along. They looked like children as they ran around the fair from game to game. They felt like children. Spirited and full of glee. Dahlia seemed to have completely forgotten about Tristan's sabotage. Or rather, she seemed to forgive and forget. Right now, all that mattered was the cramped fair and the excitement it provided.

An hour later the two were walking side by side, arms full of huge stuffed toys. A minion from the ring toss, two dragons from the bust-a-balloon, a unicorn from the hoop shots, and finally a gingerbread man from the milk bottle knockdown.

"Okay, okay," Dahlia laughed, "You're better at dart throwing."

"Thank you."

"But, I still won."

"After five tries," Tristan chortled.

"It's not fair. Your job probably gives you an advantage."

"What does being a project coordinator have to do with aim?" 

"Ha ha, Antonov, you know which job I'm talking about" she looked at the toys, "I can't keep all of these though."

"My hard-earned prizes?"

Dahlia chuckled as she handed the unicorn to a passing girl.

"I'll keep the dragon. You keep yours too. The rest must go. They have failed us as loyal subjects," she added dramatically. Tristan was always surprised by how free she was around him. How spontaneous and open she could be.

"I agree, Queen Dahlia," he played along, "They haven't done their duties well."

They talk into the evening while trying more foods and joining more rides. Dahlia insisted they watch the Superdogs, because, well... dogs. Tristan understood why she enjoyed the overexcited hounds as they jumped over obstacles and sprinted through tubes. One of them even put rings around a cone.

The Polar Express was a ride to remember. Getting crushed by the force of the ride and each other while laughing their heads off. 

"You're going to get thrown off!" Dahlia shouted over the band. Tristan was getting ready to ride a mechanical bull at Northern Comfort Saloon.

"I'm at a fair! I have to try it!" he yelled back before hopping on the bull.

"Let's gooo!" a guy howled.

"Tristan! Tristan! Tristan!" a crowd had formed around the mechanical bull. Tristan had stayed on it for a whole minute. He was getting very dizzy but it didn't matter. He could hear Dahlia among the cheers and that made him eager to please.

"One more minute," he decided.

"Two whole minutes, damn!" someone stated as Tristan finally fell.

"Good job," Dahlia helped him up, "I've never seen anyone stay on for so long."

"You keep underestimating me, Miss Garcia."

"This calls for celebratory mac and cheese popsicles."

"I don't think I'll be able to eat more cheese," he claimed as they headed toward the food building.

"When did you even eat cheese?"

"The Hong Kong French toast and fried Monte Cristo," he took her hand once again as they entered the packed building.

"Well, there's nothing such as too much cheese," she swerved avoiding a child with a huge hammer balloon, "Besides, you're not visiting CNE again, so you have to try these foods."

"You want to get gold-covered ice cream?" Tristan asked when they were finished with the weird version of mac and cheese.

"You know that's normal ice cream with a gold leaf topping right?"

"You have to try these foods," he mimicked her in a high-pitched voice.

"My voice is nowhere near that high-pitched!" she lightly hit his shoulder.

"Come on," he demanded, "We're eating gold."

Once the moon had risen and they were tired, they headed to their last ride; the Century Wheel. 

"This is nice," Tristan sighed when they were heading to the top of the huge Ferris wheel. They were far from the hustle and bustle of the fair. It was quiet, calm, and beautiful up here.

"The whole day was nice," Dahlia smiled, leaning on his shoulder, "And tiring. I might fall asleep here."

"While I would enjoy showing off my strength by carrying you, I don't think it's a good idea in such a crowded place."

"I know, I know. Besides, the drone show should start soon," she looked at the sky. 

"I think it is starting," Tristan pointed out.

Sure enough, different colored lights filled the sky. They whirled around each other seeming to do a little dance before joining each other to make a myriad of images.

"They're mesmerizing," Dahlia gasped.

Tristan thought they were mesmerizing too, but he was watching her. The whole day, her face was lit up with excitement. Her eyes shone with exhilaration. She laughed genuinely and Tristan knew he'd never forget that laugh. He knew he'd never forget her features.

"Yeah," he agreed, "They are mesmerizing."