Fun City

By RachaelMole

Angel Parker loved the fair. At eighteen years old, about to start university studying Behavioral Science, the child like excitement she produced each year as the 'Fun City' fair rolled into town never ceased.

There was just one problem. Angel Parker hated people. And fairs were always full of people. It wasn't all people. She liked her mum and dad, she liked her best friends Alex and Emma as well- even the occasional stranger- everyone else though, she avoided at all cost.

For the past five years Angel had sat on her bed looking out of the window, snuggled in her favorite blanket, grasping a hot mug of hot chocolate with whipped cream and marshmallows, watching as the trucks filled with fairground rides and attractions rolled into town and set up- while also convincing herself that she was having much more fun in her bedroom and not missing out on anything at all.

This year was no different. With her mug of hot chocolate, she sat on her bed looking out to the flashing lights, listening to the screams and squeals of children as they strapped themselves to more and more daring rides.

Angel bit her lip as she wondered whether she could just try to go this year. Surely it wasn't busy on a Thursday night. But the thought was quickly dismissed from her mind. Of course it would be busy. She could hear the murmur of a mass of people- and a mass of people would not be fun.

"Angel, Alex is here!" Her mother's soft voice floated up the stairs before her best friend barreled into her bedroom.

"Hey you!" he shouted, taking her hot chocolate and placing in on her bedside table before scooping her up for a gigantic bear hug.

"Hey you too!" Angel replied, smiling at the goofy, energy filled boy in front of her.

He followed her wandering gaze out of the window and sighed melodramatically. Collapsing back onto the bed, his hand reached his forehead like a Victorian swooning lady.

"The fair again?! It's like it comes back every year or something." He mumbled

"That would be because it does come back every year." She replied monotonously, not giving him the satisfaction of making her smile so quickly.

"Do you think you will go this year? I know you want to." He asked, propping himself up on her pillows before helping himself to her discarded hot chocolate.

"It does look like fun." Angel replied.

As soon as the words left her mouth her chest began to constrict. Every thought of how much fun it would be morphed into every terrible thing that could happen. Most absolutely ridiculous in their nature, but they were now seared in her mind non the less.

"So you'll go with me this evening?" Alex asked, cautiously watching her reaction.

She wanted to say yes. More than anything she wanted to say it. Shout it even.

But she couldn't. Opening her mouth, she closed it only a few seconds later. Her throat becoming dry and tight, her palms sweaty, head rushing a million miles a minute.

So instead she shook her head.

No.

Alex smiled and nodded, like she had just refused a gummy bear and it was no big deal. His reaction to her oddities was one of the reasons he was her best friend. But it was a big deal. And they both knew it.

"Next year?" He asked, just like he had done for the past five years.

"Yeah, next year."

Her sad smile sat unwanted on her lips for the next hour as they wanted silly YouTube videos of ninja cats.

Angels gaze could often be found glancing longingly back out of the window.

"You know... I hear the field that surround the fair makes a great evening walk. You want to get out the house for a bit?" Alex asked.

Angel thought for a moment.

The field beside the fair was practically empty, just grass and mud. With Alex there as well, there wasn't much that could go wrong.

"Yeah. Ok."

She couldn't believe the words had left her lips. And neither apparently could Alex.

"Really?" He exclaimed.

"Yeah." She replied, biting down on the grin that was threatening to spill out onto her cheeks. .

"Just one walk around the fair though, and then straight back here."

"Sounds fun!" Alex replied, jumping up from the bed before pulling her up too.

Angel sighed in her mind. It did sound fun- to her. It would be nice to get out of the house with her friend- but it wasn't was fun by Alex's standard.

Snow-boarding, jet skiing, bungee jumping Alex who did not find walking around a field fun unless it was a high adrenaline assault course.

She bit her lip, thinking about how to tell him she wanted to change her mind. They can spend the evening playing video games and watching a bad film instead- that did sound like more fun.

"Come on!" Alex said, grabbing her reluctant hand to pull her out of the bedroom.

At her hesitation he turned back to her. As though he could read her mind he wrapped her in a big hug.

"An evening with you, walking around a field watching the bright lights and listening to the sound of the fair sounds like fun. And it will be fun." He looked down at her seriously, knowing he had to convince her of what he said.

It worked. Kind of. Nodding with a smile she pushed him out of her room and followed him down the stairs. Though the notion that he wouldn't have a good time still niggled her at the back of her mind.

"What are you doing?" Her mother asked with a quirked eyebrow as she watched them walk down the stairs.

"We're going to walk around the outside of the fair." Alex answered her, as though they went for walks around fairs every day.

Angel didn't miss her mother's eyes widening in surprise- or shock, she couldn't quite tell.

"Oh...!" Well, have a lovely time."

"We won't be long." Angel replied quietly, her eyes now focusing on the front door.

She hadn't even put her jacket and shoes on and already the front door felt like it was pulsating in her mind. A physically nauseous feeling bubbling in her stomach.

Alex brushed her arm as he put on his coat, bringing her back to reality.

"Ready?" Alex asked, handing her jacket over.

Smiling tightly, she took a deep breath, not ready yet to step outside the door. Glancing over her shoulder, she saw her mother hovering by the kitchen door watching them both intently.

Angel couldn't reply. Yes. Yes! She was ready, longing even to walk out the front door and head towards the large crowd and flashing lights. But it was as though the doorway was bricked up- and even though she wanted to- there was no way out.

"Let me help you." Alex said, holding open her jacket and guiding her unwilling hands towards the sleeves.

"Now the shoes." He bent down, helping her slip them on before zipping up the sides.

If it weren't for the increasing feeling of impending doom, she would no doubt have felt embarrassment at his help.

But she didn't have time to think about him other than the feeling of gratitude. She would not have been able to put on her shoes and jacket without him. The blast of warm, late summer air hit her, searing her skin as a constant reminder of what she was doing.

Gulping, she took the first few tentative steps towards the door.

"We'll be back really soon Mrs. C." Alex said over her shoulder while extending his hand out to her. Wrapping her fingers around his in a vice like grip she made the final step out of the door- her heart racing.

Squeezing her hand reassuringly, Alex pulled her gently into his side and began to lead them out of the drive towards the fun fair field.

With her own comforting body guard and teddy bear, they began the journey across the road, through the park and into the far side of the field with ease- careful to walk far away from any large oncoming groups of people. With each step she took, Angel felt her smile grow and grow, until she was sure she would not be able to smile any further.

The soft grass beneath her feet was like walking on air Angel decided as they began to walk around the outskirts of the field. Though the fair was still a good distance away from them, the flashing lights and hum of life practically radiated through her bones. The thrum of music pulsating through her feet.

"It's a lovely evening, isn't it?" Alex asked after a while.

He was right, Angel realized. She had not yet appreciated the mild weather or the way the sky looked like a painting, with orange and pink brushstrokes, punctuating the clear blue.

"Yes, it's beautiful." She replied, taking it all in.

The way the trees silhouetted the sky, the sun dipping further in the distant horizon. The water that still clung to each blade of grass after the rainfall of the previous night. The laughter. Screams of pleasurable terror. Children skipping out of the exit with their arms laden with stuffed toys and the occasional bagged fish.

Together, Alex and Angel walked in silence, his periodic squeezing of her hand telling her that he was still there, and making everything ok. Easy, even.

Her heart sank.

It would not be easy without him. She would have never left her warm bed and comforting hot chocolate without him. She refused to think about what university would be like, even though she had chosen the one closest to home, in a city she knew. Pushing the thought from her mind as best as she could, she tried hard to concentrate on all the good things about the evening. But as hard as she could, it just wouldn't leave her thoughts.

The worry. Anxiety. Sadness.

Her muscles tensed, breath hitching as a group of younger teenagers ran out in front of them. Her feet frozen, even after they had passed.

She followed them with her eyes, staring after their carefree, nacho laden hands with envy.

"You know; the nacho stand is just over there by that entrance. It doesn't look to busy at all."

Angel couldn't help but laugh, the sound leaving her lips acting as the magic needed for her to relax and her feet to start moving again. She raised her eyebrow at her best friend, who rolled his eyes in response, casually slinging his arm around her shoulders.

"I've known you forever and have come to learn by now that when you see someone with nachos- you want some too." Alex explained, laughing.

"Whatever" She muttered in reply, not able to stop herself from laughing along- or her longing gaze that was now pointed towards the side entrance of the fair.

"What do you say?" Alex asked, pointing over to the food stand.

Angel sighed, her chest tightening. No. No there were people there, scary looking ones. And teenagers, who weren't looking where they were going. And children. Children who cried and made a mess.

"Don't worry about it- we can head back to yours now, look- we aren't far now. I will have to make you my new food invention! The 'Macho Nacho.'" Alex replied to her silent answer.

Angel smiled sadly, though it came out more as a grimace. "Thanks. Though, what's a 'macho nacho'?" She asked.

Alex began to walk again, pulling her along gently.

"Well, I'm so glad you asked."

Angel couldn't tell whether her friends excitement was real or fake, though when it came to food it was probably the real deal.

"So it's like a bowl of nachos, with melted cheese, tomato salsa, pickle and chopped chili- but bigger!"

"Bigger? So just more than one portion then?" Angel asked.

"Absolutely. Like, times it by 4 at least. That's why it's called the 'macho nacho'. Because only us guys can get through it all." Alex explained, puffing out his chest for dramatic effect.

Angel playfully punched him in the shoulder, laughing. Turning to her, Alex looked her up and down. "Ok, fine. All men and Angel."

"Oh- ha. Ha." She said.

"So- you wouldn't be wanting any? All for me?" Alex said, leading her through the park gate.

"Hey! I never said that! 'Macho nacho' sounds great!" She replied.

And it did. Alex was a master in the kitchen, even with something as basic as nachos.

Angel was mentally and physically drained. Her feet up in front of a bad movie eating 'macho nacho' with her best friend would be the perfect end to a pretty cool evening- for her.

"Thanks for helping me out the house. I really enjoyed this evening." She mumbled, relief floating though her as she spotted her home. Muscles relaxing in her back, neck and shoulders she hadn't realized were tense.

"Anytime." He replied, giving her a smile. "So what film are we watching this evening?"

"Godfather?" She replied, hopefully.

Alex rolled his eyes. "I vote for 'Flash Gordon' he said, almost giddy at his suggestion.

"No!" Angel exclaimed. They had watched 'Flash Gordon' the past two times they had a film night.

"Rock, paper, scissors?" Alex suggested, holding out his hand in front of him.

"Ok, fine." Angel replied, doing the same. "One... Two.... Three!"

Angel laid her hand flat, Alex waving his fingers towards the sky.

"What on earth is that?!" Angel asked incredulously, slapping away his hand from hers.

They crossed the road safely and stood outside the driveway.

"It's fire! Duh! And fire beats EVERYTHING!" He answered, laughing giddily while practically skipping to her front door. His wind swept hair, rosy cheeks and broad grin warming her heart.

He knew her. He got her. There was a reason why he was her best friend. There was never any pressure to go out and be 'teenagers'.

"You're crazy." She called out to him.

"Yes, but you love me." He replied, opening the door and letting her through.

"That's true." She said "- you make me nachos!"

-

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