"Where are we going?" I'm trying really hard to repress my growing curiosity and the butterflies swarming in my stomach. Not getting anything out of Zander's passive expression, I tried reading the GPS which only gave away so much as a 'turn right in five hundred meters.'

"Look here sis, let bygones be bygones and surprises be surprises," Zander said, his tone annoyingly high-pitched in an awful attempt at mimicking either me or Celia.

"Don't sis me, I'm just curious," I replied irritably, slightly pouting at the passing scenery flashing by against the car window. We were out of the city now, the roads twisting and turning yet no matter how many signs we passed, I hadn't a clue as to where we were headed.

Chuckling, Zander gives me one of his beaming smiles, "Just wait another ten minutes. We're almost there."

Sighing, I lean back against the seat and mumble, "This better be worth staying stomach sober."

True to his word, we arrive at our destination in ten minutes and I waste no time in hopping out of the car and shriek excitedly at the sight before us.

We were at an amusement park by the seaside, where the sound of seagulls squawking mingled in with the clapping waves that beat against the sand bleached white by the sun. A ferris wheel stood high at the farthest point, circling clockwise with brightly painted cabs, bringing back a sense of nostalgia and a feeling of adventure kicks in.

"I take back everything I said Zander, this was definitely worth staying stomach sober for," I said happily and breathless, grabbing for my phone to capture the scenery on camera.

I'm so engrossed in taking one photo after the next, that Zander has to drag me to the turnstile entrance but immediately resume my photo session with multiple thumb clicks once we're past the central checkpoint. Mildly offended by all the visitors deliberately photo-bombing, I glower at them before stoically deleting the images they've ruined with a dramatic hand.

I'm only brought back to reality by the smell of food, odours of sweet and savoury blanketing over us with stalls placed on the left and right that leave me humbled and at a loss at which to pick.

"I know you're already thinking of dessert but there's a place we need to go first," Zander whispered, leaning in so I can hear him amongst the crowd.

Turning to him, I finally take in the baseball cap and sunglasses but nod at his suggestion since guilt began to sprout within me. Zander was taking a risk coming here and despite the remoteness of the area, there was still a chance that someone could recognise him - the least I could do, is share this moment and let him have some fun, turning this into a hopeful reset of our mall trip.

Following a snaking path that branched off to one side, Zander led the way and stopped briefly every so often to check our location on a boarded map while I continued my photo frenzy. It's only when he stops abruptly in front of a haunted house that I pocket my phone and audibly gasp, covering my mouth.

"It's beautiful," I whispered, my comment baffling Zander who sets his mouth in a firm line when the terrified screams of people filter through.

"Hmm..."

"Thanks for bringing me here despite being scared," I stated, noting the colour in his face beginning to drain.

"I'm not scared...just a little creeped."

"What's the difference?" I prodded, watching him run a nervous hand behind his neck.

"You know what? Fine I'm scared so what are you going to do to comfort me?"

"I'll go grab you a flash flight from the gift shop over there." My tone is flat while I just shrug my shoulders, not bothering to sink my teeth into the bait he's throwing at me.

Nice try, wise guy.

"I'd prefer a hug."

Rolling my eyes, I cave and circle my arms around his waist before he can whine for anything else.

"Fine, only because I'm such a nice person and you're my ride home," I said mockingly, stifling a laugh when Zander places me in front of him as we enter the pitch dark house.

"If I punch a ghost, will they sue?"

"It's not a real ghost so the answer is obviously, yes. Are you trying to make the fake blood real?"

"I mean they're asking for it," Zander grumbled, scowling at a vampire flinging out of a coffin.

"It's not that bad, look! There's a headless figure over there and a woman dangling from the ceiling upside down with her insides spilling out."

"And why would I willingly want to look at that?"

"Because it's fun," I mused, giggling at a group of caged zombies snarling at us.

"What a twisted sense of fun. Fun she says."

"Hey! You brought us here."

"Because I knew you were into this stuff," Zander groaned, tightening his hold against my midriff when we edge closer to the dangling corpse.

"And I love it but squeezing me to death isn't going to get us out of here is it? I can't exactly guide you if you're going to hug me any tighter. Just imagine the woman like she's on monkey bars or skydiving..."

"To what? Her death?"

"At least work with me here."

"Cat, if I let go I swear, I'll throw a kick."

"Violence isn't the answer."

"Yeah, tell that to the guy who probably got his head severed off."

We're going at it so intensely that a suited clown with a chainsaw springing from a hidden corner makes both of us scream, a vile cackle from the clown causing me to laugh hysterically, border-lining tears in order to quell my desire for flight.

I'm still laughing in a state of delirium when the clown pulls the chainsaw chord, setting it spurring fiercely and that's all it takes for Zander to kick both shins of the clown and hoist me off the ground like a cardboard cutout...here we go again.

"What the-" The clown groaned, scowling angrily which does nothing but alarm Zander who positions me sideways, knocking the wind out of me.

Dashing through the remaining sections of the house, Zander mumbles under his breath trying to make sense of the dark labyrinth.

It takes him a moment to figure it out but I don't even have a chance to lend a hand, my hair covering my face and my legs dangling in the air.

The glowing exit sign is the only thing I see, a blur of red against a door with sunlight surging in, but I hardly have time to take anything else in before I'm deposited on a bench and squinting against the harshness of daylight.

"Well...that was..." I croaked, my throat hoarse from my deranged laughs and the air leaving my lungs from Zander's crushing hold.

"Never again, please. Never again," Zander groaned, collapsing next to me on the bench with his forehead showcasing a thin sheen of sweat underneath his hat.

"There, there. You did well, don't cry baby," I cooed with false sweetness, patting his arm lightly.

"I can still squeeze you to death," Zander remarked coldly, and I immediately let the smile on my face slide off and shut my mouth.

I do the sensible thing and remain silent but begin to worry when I catch sight of Zander's chalky face. "Okay, wait here," I said, bounding off the bench and disappear into the crowd before he has a chance to respond.

I return in five minutes with napkins, a water bottle, and ice cream and puff my chest like a valiant knight before handing Zander a napkin to wipe his forehead and unscrew the water bottle, placing it in his cold hands.

"Okay, we won't do that again."

"Are you finally taking pity on me?" Zander murmured, giving me a wide innocent stare.

"I don't think it's fair if I'm the only one enjoying this. I'll come back next time with Celia or Patrick...besides, I think I prefer iceskating with you," I said shrugging, a smile twitching at the corner of my mouth but I regret my words the minute my ice cream is snatched out of my grasp, my fingers moulded for a cone that is no longer there.

Side-eyeing him, my head turns mechanically as I watch him devour the ice cream in a few quick bites.

"How old are you?" I said, my eyes narrowing.

"And how old are you? Making a good man suffer more than he already has but if you must know, I'd say twelve...and a half."

"Well I don't date children."

"I guess it's good for you that you're younger than me. C'mon babe, let's go over to your great-aunt's and butter toast. A kid friendly activity," Zander mocked, chuckling at my dead-pan stare.

"I will seriously replace your pillow with my cactus and happily see you hospitalised from needles lodged in your brain."

"As long as you promise to butter all my toast for the rest of my life."

"Okay look here, you and your non-existent jawline better stop mentioning my great-aunt and toast," I replied hostilely, rising from the bench and tapping a foot knowing damn well I hit a nerve.

Gawking, Zander mirrors my actions and rises, crossing his arms defiantly and the two of us stand there stupidly glaring at one another. Muffled whispers near us however, make both of us turn to see a small group huddled behind a metal railing as they wait in line for a pirate ship ride, each of the members taking bets on us.

"Who do you think will win?"

"Definitely the girl, she's got a cactus at home!"

"But the guy is no joke, look at that physique."

"That's nothing when she's got a weapon and a living one at that, I might add."

"You've got a point, okay I'm placing five dollars on her."

"Wait, but don't you think he's winning in the end! Toast for life isn't anything to scoff at. I'm betting at least ten on him."

Struck entirely dumbfounded, Zander and I begin to back away slowly to the dismay of the group, one person darting a hand in our direction, pleading, "Wait, don't go! Come back! We're so bored! COMEE BACCCKKKK!"

Grabbing Zander's arm, the two of us walk briskly and quicken our steps at the group's wailing not bothering to look back. "I think we're the only sane ones here, kid who's twelve," I said, shaking my head.

"That's twelve and a half, and I agree but you know what's crazy about that? They were miserable adults. Grown adults acting like kids jeez. All right, let me go get you a replacement ice cream. I need a new shirt too, mine's all sweaty from that haunted house," Zander said, grimacing as he flaps the ends of his shirt and I don't have the heart to tell him we were as immature and childish, choosing to nod in agreement instead.

Entering one of the larger gift shops, Zander scans the shirts for something to wear and frowns at each one, all of them containing really terrible puns or clowns - an obvious sore spot considering the one with a chainsaw was still fresh in our minds.

Growing impatient from his indecisiveness, I quickly grab one and thrust it at him. Pointing to a fitting one, I notion for him to change while I pay but struggle to maintain a sense of neutrality when he emerges, catching the eye of everyone in the store.

"This is not what I had in mind." Peeking at Zander through my lashes, I try to hold back the laugh that's dying to burst out of me.

He looks uncharacteristically adorable in a t-shirt with baby elephants on it, the pale blue contrasting so much with the masculine and cool look he had during the first half of the day.

Was it even possible for Zander to look this cute?

Staring in disbelief, he continues to grumble, "My pride has depleted."

"Who cares about your pride if it's doing the job? Besides, if you ask me, no one will think twice if they saw you because they'd never think Zander Nolan would actually wear such a thing. It's actually the perfect disguise."

"Why not put a bib on me and hand me a rattle too," Zander muttered under his breath with a wounded look which almost makes me sorry for him.

Almost.

"If that's what you want..." Trailing off, my eyes swim with amusement when I catch the expression on his face—horror and mild rage flitting against his features.

Narrowing his eyes, Zander merely sighs, "You're twisted."

"It's cute! I don't see anything wrong with it. Next time, I'll make sure to get one with flowers or baby ducks that says 'blooming bud' or 'quack' on it."

"Fine. I'll get you a shirt that says, 'EAT ME' happy?" I added, pretending to brush lint off my shoulder.

He opens his mouth to offer a reply but only gawks, shaking his head from what I'm making him endure.

Tsking, I shake my head and place a light hand against his cheek, giving it a pat before channeling my best motherly tone, "Aww honey. I'm just trying to look out for you."

Swatting my hand away, his shoulders slouch and a pout replaces his frown, "Don't honey me."

"You call me Cupcake so why can't I call you honey?" I asked pointedly.

"Because you're not trying to sound endearing."

Smiling up at him with fake sweetness, I pinch his cheek like a horrible aunt would, "But honnneyy, I am," I droned patronisingly, batting my lashes for effect.

Sighing, Zander soundlessly takes my hand and places an ice cream in it before trudging back towards the car.

With dessert finally acquired, I drop my mean childish comments and follow Zander back to the car where he can discard his old shirt but stop short as the two of us stare at the vacant parking spot, the car gone.

"Oh shit," we said simultaneously.

"We're..."

"Stuck," Zander finished, our expressions going from blank to bleak as the sun took this opportunity to shroud behind dark grey clouds that suddenly rolled in, drops of rain teasing a heavy storm.

Observation: the car, the curfew, my ice cream! Now what?