“The Wonder Wheel? I can copewith that.”
The blue and yellow striped cart awaited them as they jumped in. The sign stated the ride would take around ten minutes to complete the full rotation, so she paid the operator double—it was quiet, so he accepted withouthesitation.
“This wheel is a little different to the normal ones.”
“What do you mean?” The cart shot forward and back at speed, causing Megan to grab hold of Ashley with one hand and the side of the cart with the other. “What the hell! Isit broken?”
“No, of course not. Just wait until you get to the top andit does it.”
Megan’s face dropped. “And you’ve paid for two turns? Areyou crazy?”
Ashley shrugged. “I like the viewat the top.”
“Of course, you do.” Megan crossed her arms.
The cart movement happened every minute or so, but Megan became more comfortable once she knew what to expect.
“So, I thought about Nancy’s story theother day.”
“Did you start it?”
“Not quite. I thought about starting it. I think I need to talk to Nancy though. Do you thinkshe’d mind?”
Megan smiled the most heart-warming smile. “Not at all. Shall I give you her number? Then you can arrange to speak with her?”
“Do you mind? I didn’t want to just turn up at the bar and start bombarding her withquestions.”
Megan pulled her phone from her pocket and sent the contact information over.
“Thank you.”
“That’s okay. I can’t wait to read the article whenit’s done.”
Ashley frowned. “Hmmm.”
“What?” Megan braced herself for the next drop before turning towards Ashley. “Why do you looklike that?”
“Like what?”
“Like you have absolutely no confidence in your own ability to writethe story?”
“That’s deep. You got all that from a look?”
“Am I right?”
The silence confirmed herassumption.
“Can I ask yousomething?”
Ashley noddedreluctantly.
“What happened to make you lose confidence in your writing? You told me when we first met that you moved into the city with the hopes of being a writer. That was three years ago. I have known you for almost two weeks and I haven’t once heard you speak about something you’re working on—until now with Nancy’s story—and I’m pretty sure you’re just trying to appease me before I leave by saying you’ll do it.”
Ashley looked out towards the beach. The wheel had reached the pinnacle and was beginning to descend again; the view looking out to the sea was what she loved the most about the Wonder Wheel. Everyone down on the beach seemed so small. It was a different world atop the wheel and that made Ashley feel superior somehow, as opposed to her normal inferior mindset. The two weeks she had known Megan, they’d spoken most days, but she had tried to avoid referencing her parents for fear Megan would want to know more. The thing she found the most confusing was the urge she possessed to talk about it with Megan, an urge lost even with her best friends.
“Ashley?” Megan brought her backto reality.
“Sorry. I guess it’s to do with my dad.” When she didn’t say anymore, Megan tried to lead the conversation.
