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“Yes.” Justin replies.

“Okay, IDs please.”

Oh shit.

They slide them over and I think of how the hell I’m going to get out of this lie.

“Next, please.” the cashier says.

The other people go ahead and go, and the others were just inside waiting for the rest to us.

My nerves were shot as I thought of what I was going to say to her.

“Next.” she calls out.

I walk up to the stand and hand over the cash my dad gave me.

“Will you be purchasing a ticket for the carnival as well?”

I knew I was going to hand over my ID and be caught. I wasn’t stupid. Maybe I can tell Willow that something came up around that time and I had to leave or something.

“Could I come back up before the fair closes and get one?” I ask.

“Of course. But, if you do not have one, make sure you leave the camp ground right when it closes.”

Relief flows out of me at that and I say yes ma’am and grab my fair ticket.

I walk over to the group. Willow looks down at my ticket.

“Are you not staying anymore?”

“I’m going to try, my dad is being a pain.”

She huffs. “Parents.”

I blow out a breath because boom that was a good save.

And we walked in.

THREE

The moment I stepped through the gates the fair swallowed me whole.

Golden strings of carnival lights stretched overhead like fallen stars, painting everything in warm amber despite the sinking sun.

The air smelled like buttered popcorn, spun sugar and cinnamon, sweet enough to hid the faint scent of wood and machine grease beneath it.

Laughter drifted between the rides, mixing with the cheerful call of workers and the distant melody of a carousel that sounded just a little too slow.

I watched as children darted between colorful game booths clutching oversized animals and toys while couple wandered hand in hand beneath striped tents the gently fluttered in the summer breeze.

It was beautiful.

It was magnetic.

Like it had a way of drawing you in because it was day time outside. So you felt safe. Secure.

I desperately wanted to know what happened when the sun set and it became dark.