It was the one concession I made for her. I’m not scared of funhouses, but sometimes they are too cramped and make me feel like I can’t get out. Like the walls are closing in on me. It’s not my favorite feeling in the world. Especially since it’s how I felt my entire childhood having to tiptoe around my parents.
“Ten tickets,” the person running the funhouse announces as we approach. “Each.” He adds at the last minute.
“We should have gotten the wristbands,” I mutter under my breath.
“Probably,” Piper laughs and nudges me with her elbow.
I count out the twenty tickets and hand them over before taking the steps into my own personal nightmare.
“Do you think this is the same one they had out here when we were kids?” My steps are careful as we make our way over what feels like plywood to the first room.
“I doubt it. That thing was falling apart back then. I’m positive this is a new one.”
“If you say so.”
I follow her through each room, my hand never leaving hers. The one with stripes going in every direction always makes me sick to my stomach. It’s too much chaos and reminds me of the times my parents would argue after they thought I was in bed.
I can see reflections as we enter the next room. Mirrors cover every wall and the hallways splits into multiple directions. Why did they have to make this is a maze?
Though this could work to my advantage. If we get stuck in a corner and don’t have anywhere to go, she has to hear me out. This is my last chance or I’m going to chicken out the way I always do.
We turn left, then right, and another right. Honestly, seeing ourselves in every direction is disorienting. It’s definitely not a space you can hide from yourself. Everything is on full display whether you like it or not.
“Shit, we hit a dead end,” Piper says loud enough to be heard over the music blasting through the speakers. She turns around and slams into my chest. “Sorry, I didn’t realize you were so close. We should turn around. I know how much you hate this attraction.”
How convenient. She said the one thing I want to talk to her about. I walk her backwards until she’s between me and one of these God forsaken mirrors. Focus Beau.
“What are you doing?” She glances up at me. “You hate this place.”
“I want to talk to you.” Honestly, the ferris wheel would have been a better place because there was absolutely nowhere to go. I guess the best part is if things don’t go the way I’m hoping, we can leave easier.
“A-about what?” Her voice is soft and barely above a whisper. Our close proximity is the only reason I can hear her.
“My feelings toward you.” She opens her mouth to respond, but I cut her off. “Look, I know you think that night was a fluke. That I only kissed you back because I was in shock. But, Piper, that couldn’t be further from the truth. I’ve wanted to taste your lips since we were teenagers.”
“No.” She shakes her head and tries to head back down the hallway, but stops when my hand meets the mirror, blocking her escape. “You’re just trying to make me feel better.”
“I’m really not, Piper.”
“Yes, you are. We’ve been best friends for years, you’re just confusing the emotions.”
There she goes again trying to write off the connection between us. “What can I do to prove it to you?”
She’s looking around trying to figure out how she should answer this question. A war raging inside her head. Finally, she smirks because she’s come to a decision and it’s one she doesn’t think I’ll follow through with.
“Kiss me.”
She’s wrong. My lip crash into hers with zero hesitation.
fifteen
. . .
piper
Holy shit.It’s the first thought that runs through my mind when his mouth meets mine. He actually did it. I didn’t think he would. Probably not smart on my part. Telling him to kiss me was like waving a big flag daring him to do it. What the hell was I thinking? Easy, I wasn’t.
It doesn’t take me long to ignore every thought running through my head about it being a bad idea. Deep down, I knew him acting on the request would answer my question about how he felt about it.
