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Or what if the person behind the mask wasn’t even hear this year?

The slow crawl of disappointment flows through me and I try to not let it affect my face as I think about it.

“Hey, what’s with the long face?” Charlie says when he noticed I slowed my footsteps down to no longer moving.

Shaking my head to get rid of the face, I look up at him and smile. “Sorry, I was just thinking of my mom.”

I hated lying, but it was a little harmless one.

His eyes soften a little at that, before he raises an arm and puts it on my shoulder. A very innocent gesture, but given what I know about his crush, I think he was definitely trying something.

“Well, for this weekend, let’s just focus on the fun that we are about to have. Your mom would want you to have a good time.”

He was right, even if the context was wrong since I lied.

I decide to not move his arm away from me, and just roll my eyes at him.

“Hey, be careful. You wouldn’t want your pretty eyes to get stuck that way.”

I felt the rush to my cheeks and knew that even though I have a slight tan, the blush would still shine through.

“You going to be my partner for the rides today?”

Thinking of Willow, I open my mouth to speak before the woman herself waltz back over.

“In your dreams pretty boy. She’s mine.” she says as she sits her hands on her hips.

His hand still hung over my shoulder and his fingertips were swaying and brushing the skin on my upper arm.

I go to laugh at her when I feel someones eyes on me.

My own eyes dart around from where I’m standing around to see why I feel that way.

Through the crowd, my eyes search for the reason behind the feeling.

Nothing.

Nothing out of the ordinary besides crowds of people all walking fast to get to the next ride.

“I really like this hair on you Raven.” I hear whispered near my ear.

My head snaps over to see Charlie has leaned down right next to me.

“Fabio. I just said she was mine.” Willow says as she moves his arm off of mine.

He moves away from me with a laugh.

“You are staying for the carnival, right?”

I feel like he asked me the same thing earlier. Nodding my head, I watch his eyes glitter as if I said something worth smiling over.

“What exactly does the carnival even entail?” I ask.

He turns his head to look at Willow.

Willow looks back at him.

They share a look between each other.