Author's Note: Hi. So to make up for the long break in between chapters, this one got pretty long. The longest chapter so far. But, please read until the end!
"I can't believe we did this," Emily whispered as Thomas stroked her hair.
"I can't believe it either. Just wow," Thomas laughed. Being the money machine that he was, he went to a nearby motel (and used a fake ID) and rented a room for a few hours. And what a great few hours it has been.
Emily giggled. "I know, but we really do need to think about heading home before our parents freak."
"Ugh, parents... they're always the buzz-kill even when they're not around."
"It's not like I would love to spend the whole night with you, but we can't." Emily sat up in bed ready to get up, but Thomas pulled her back and kissed her. She smiled into the kiss.
"I'm just so in love with you."
"I love you, too." Emily ended up being dragged back under him. How could she win against him when he says things like that?
After a bit more "stalling", Thomas dropped Emily off at her home.
"Last stop," he said.
"I hope my parents are asleep..." Emily said worriedly.
"Just tell them you had so much fun at the party you lost track of time. It won't be a complete lie."
Emily was still worried but she exhaled, giving Thomas a kiss goodnight. "Goodnight, Thomas."
"Goodnight, Emily."
The following Saturday morning, Emily slept in until a quarter past noon. She was just so tired that she didn't know what to do with herself except sleep.
"There you are, honey. It's not like you to sleep in so late," Emily's father said when she came into the kitchen.
"Hi, Daddy. Yeah... the party really wore me out," Emily said as color rushed to her cheeks as she thought about what, or rather who, really wore her out last night.
"Well, I'm glad you had a good time. I thought you were going to sleep all day and miss the carnival."
Emily gasped. "The carnival! I almost forgot it!"
"It's open for a week, you know."
"Yeah, but I promised to meet with my friends there today. Though we never planned a time..." Emily wondered if Thomas was awake and thought if she should call him and ask. After getting some food, she went back into her room to do just that.
Thomas stirred awake as he reached for his ringing phone. He had immediately crashed after dropping Emily off, and thankfully no one was up to ask any questions. "Hello?"
"Thomas, it's Emily. You were asleep, weren't you?"
Thomas sat up. "Um, no, I was not sleeping."
"Sure, sure, but listen, when are we going to go to the carnival. We were going to cheer up Percy, remember?"
"Oh, yeah..." Thomas face-palmed when he realized he left Percy at the party last night and he was the one who convinced him to go. "It might be a bit harder now."
"What do you mean?"
"I left him at the party. He didn't even want to go, and I hope he isn't upset with me."
"Oh, Thomas... that's my fault, isn't it?"
"What? No, it's not your fault at all, Em, it's mine. I should have listened to Toby and let Percy do what he wanted."
"Mm..." Emily still felt a little guilty since she made Thomas leave the party.
"Look, Em, I need to go, but tell Percy to meet us at the carnival around three. I'll pick you up."
"Okay, I will."
Nevertheless, Thomas and Emily weren't the only couple who cut their time at Caitlin's party short. Rosie and James got so caught up with each other that they had to leave, or James would have taken her right then and there.
But now that it was out of their system, they were chatting it up about the party as they walked down the street hand in hand.
"Did you see that necklace? Wasn't it gorgeous?" Rosie asked.
"Yeah, y-you don't want something that expensive, do you?" James asked nervously.
"Of course I do. Diamonds, hello?! But, they're not important. You're important."
James blushed. "And you're important to me."
Rosie smiled. "Hey, did you see Emily at the party last night? Mavis and I couldn't find her."
"Not since the beginning."
"I wonder if she left or something..."
"Well, her house is right up there," James said, pointing up ahead. "Wanna visit her?"
"Yeah, but I'm kind of in the mood to be with just you right now," Rosie said. "I can catch up with Em at the carnival later."
"Sounds like a plan."
Soon enough, it was carnival time and people of all ages were there. The Sodor Fairground was filled with colorful booths, rides, and the smells of yummy food.
Daisy was among all those people tapping a polished nail at her chin as she looked around when she noticed a cotton candy stand.
No, Daisy! You can't risk gaining weight, she thought as she forced her eyes elsewhere among unfamiliar faces. She wore a tight, green dress that showed off her curves and glowing skin. She wanted to look extra perfect in case she saw any cute boys worth her time.
Specifically, Toby.
Daisy had never been smitten with someone else's boyfriend before. A little, tiny part of her wanted to forget about Toby and try for someone who's not taken, but the rest of her was all in for the challenge. Besides, who could resist someone as beautiful and amazing as her?
"Hey, you!"
Daisy was shaken out of her thoughts by a gruff male voice. She turned around and raised an eyebrow at the offender. "That's not how you call someone of my caliber."
Diesel chuckled. "Says the girl staring into space like a zombie."
Daisy's cheeks turned red, but thankfully, it was hard to tell through the makeup. Was she making a ridiculous face as this ruffian said? "Shut up. Go away."
"Hey, wait up a minute!" Diesel walked to Daisy's side as she tried to walk away.
"No, what are you some kind of stalker?"
"No, look, I didn't mean nothing by the zombie thing, but can I just ask you something?"
Daisy stopped and turned towards Diesel, folding her arms against her chest. "What?"
"I never seen you around before. What's your name?"
"It's Daisy, and I just moved here a couple of weeks ago. Now, leave my presence!" Daisy said and started to turn away but Diesel blocked her off. Daisy huffed in annoyance. "Are you that desperate to talk me?"
Diesel scoffed at her. "Please, I'm not "desperate" for any girl. You're lucky I even noticed you."
"Of course you noticed me. EVERYONE notices my charm," Daisy said, whipping her hair to the side for effect. "What makes you so special?"
"I'm Diesel."
"And? Am I supposed to be impressed?"
"You should. You're looking at the hottest junior in all of Sodor."
"Am I?"
Diesel glared at her. "Maybe I was wrong. I'm too cool for a freshman anyway," he said before walking away.
Daisy was irked by this and hurried to keep in step with him. "I am not a freshman! I am a sophomore, highly sprung and mature!"
"Oh, is that right? My mistake then," Diesel said, still facing forward as he got into a line of people.
"And don't you ever forget it!" Daisy exclaimed, feeling satisfied with herself. Diesel abruptly stopped and Daisy almost bumped into him. "Hey, I was walking behind you, you know! What gives?!"
"About that…" Diesel started, turning around to her. "Are you that desperate to talk me?"
Daisy blushed again, hearing the same words she said to him shot back at her. Toby was far from her mind as she stared angrily up at Diesel, deciding to do the same to him. "Please, I'm not "desperate" for any boy. You're lucky I even noticed you."
Diesel was amused, turning around and moving up as the line in front of them got shorter. Daisy only then realized that they were even standing in a line. She looked ahead and saw it was for a food truck. "You're getting food?"
"I am in line for it, Daisy."
Daisy scowled, but on the inside, at the same time, she felt her heart skip a beat. That was the first time he called her by her name. Wait, no, why was she noticing things like that with this creep? She was supposed to be here to find Toby.
After a few minutes of waiting, they were at the front of the line, and Diesel got a funnel cake. Daisy was tempted to get something, but still decided against it. They moved out of the line and Diesel handed his funnel cake to her. "Here."
"Why are you giving it to me?"
"I saw you looking at the food earlier like a homeless person."
"I was not!" Daisy exclaimed, but she wondered how long was she staring at that cotton candy and did anyone else saw her. "Are you sure you're not a stalker?"
"Do you want it or not?"
Growl!
Daisy's stomach answered for her to her embarrassment. "Well, I guess since you're offering…" Daisy took the funnel cake and took a bite.
"Only half."
"Yeah, whatever."
Not far from them were Annie, Clarabel, and Henrietta, all three surprised to see Diesel and Daisy together, nonetheless, talking to each other.
"That's weird," Clarabel said from behind a big sphere of pink cotton candy.
"Figures. A snake like Diesel with a snake like her," Henrietta said as she picked off a piece of Clarabel's cotton candy and tossed it in her mouth.
"Well, Daisy isn't a complete snake, she did apologize after all," Clarabel said.
"Yeah, when Toby and Thomas practically forced her to!" Henrietta said.
"Oh, Hen, forget about her. Let's just have fun today, okay?" Annie said, though Henrietta still did not trust Daisy.
Soon enough, Thomas, Emily, and Percy arrived at the carnival together. Percy was not upset about Thomas leaving Caitlin's party early, and he actually had a great time to Thomas and Emily's relief.
"Well, get ready for even more fun," Thomas told him as he linked one arm with Emily and the other with Percy, dragging them to the first attraction he saw. Emily and Percy could only laugh at Thomas' never-ending enthusiasm.
"Emily!"
Emily turned her head to see Rosie running up to her. She had managed to get out of riding the bumper cars with the boys, and was at a crafts area. "Hi, Rosie."
"Hi," Rosie sat down on the picnic table beside her. "I've been meaning to talk to you."
Emily continued to thread green and blue beads on a string as she spoke. "What about?"
"Caitlin's party? I swear you were only there for like five minutes," Rosie said, admiring a fake purple gemstone and decided to pocket it.
"I stayed longer than that."
"So you did leave! Something's up, isn't it? Oh, and you totally left me to help Mavis 'understand the mechanics of a party' as she put it."
Emily laughed. "'The mechanics of a party'?"
"That's what she said!"
Emily calmed down from laughter and thought for a moment. I she really was going to tell Rosie what happened after she left the party, then she had to be far away from people as possible because Rosie would not keep quiet. "Rosie, I'll tell you, but not here. Follow me."
Emily got up, grabbing her bracelet before searching for a private place to talk amidst a bustling fair. After walking a while, Emily found a spot near the entrance that was perfect. The two girls sat on top of a wooden fence.
"Okay, so you dragged me practically out of the fair to tell me something juicy, yes?" Rosie asked.
"First, tie this on," Emily said, holding out her wrist and her bracelet.
"Blue and green," Rosie said as she tied the string, "reminds me of a certain couple."
"A certain couple who may have done something together… in a bed."
Rosie gasped. "Oh my gosh, no way! You actually–"
"Yes."
"Oh my gosh, Em!" Rosie pulled at Emily's arm excitedly and Emily giggled. "Details, come on!"
"What?"
"You promised!"
"I said maybe! Besides, I can't, not here…" Emily was still conscious of her surroundings despite the lack of people around them.
"Then whisper it to me," Rosie said, pointing to her ear. She might not have any shame spilling stuff so private, but Emily was way more reserved. When Emily did not move to tell her, nervously picking her at her nails, Rosie said, "you don't have to tell me, Em."
Though she could be imagining it, Emily thought she heard laughter in Rosie's voice as if she was thinking what happened between Emily and Thomas was too embarrassing to tell. "Well, for your information, it was beyond great!"
Rosie was taken aback by Emily's defensive tone. "Did I say otherwise or something?"
"Did you think I'd back out at the last minute? Do something stupid? Well, I didn't!" Emily didn't know why she was angry, but she couldn't take back her words.
"I didn't think that at first, Emily, but maybe now I do." Now Rosie was angry. Though she didn't mean what she said at it all.
"Well, I'm not that incompetent, thank you very much."
"Like Thomas is so hard to please anyway." As soon Rosie said it she gasped, covering her mouth in surprise.
Emily looked at Rosie, confused and hurt, who was avoiding looking at her at all costs. "What do you mean, Rosie? Why would you know that?"
Rosie stayed silent as she looked away from Emily's burning stare as if she would forget what she said.
As if.
"Rosie!"
"I'm sorry!" Rosie finally turned back to Emily. "We shouldn't have done it!"
"Tell me."
"Emily…"
"Tell me now."
"It was when you guys broke up last year. Before I started dating James. We just hooked up! It didn't mean anything, I promise!"
"That's hard to believe from the girl who crushed on Thomas for years!" Emily exclaimed, feeling betrayed.
"Emily, you know I'm over him!"
"Are you?" Emily asked, tears in her eyes. "And to think I thought I was his first. Not me, but my best friend! How could you?" Emily hopped off the fence and ran away into the crowd.
"Emily, wait!" Rosie exclaimed, but Emily had already disappeared from her sight. So, instead of trying to find her, Rosie went looking for Thomas.
Meanwhile, Henry, Gordon, Edward, and James were crowded around a strong man game. James was failing at showing how good he was at the game after three unsuccessful tries and still couldn't ring the bell.
"James, why don't you give up and give someone else a try?" Gordon asked.
"Just one more time! I can hit it this time!" James pleaded.
"Why not let Henry give it a try?" Edward asked, not giving James the chance to object as he took the mallet from James' hand and put it in Henry's.
"I don't know…" Henry said as he slowly stepped up.
"Come on, you're way stronger than James," Gordon said.
"He is not!" James said angrily.
"Or this thing is fixed," Edward whispered to Gordon. Henry raised the mallet and hit the platform, and made the bell ring in one try.
"Nice going, Henry," Gordon complimented.
"Thanks…" Henry smiled sheepishly. And to think Henry used to be the weakest of his friends back when he struggled with health problems. It made him proud how fast he's recovered.
"I can do that!" James said stubbornly as he took the mallet away from Henry.
"Well, I for one am not going to watch you humiliate yourself any longer," Gordon said before walking away. Edward and Henry failed at holding in their laughter as they followed Gordon.
"Ha, ha, you're hilarious!" James deadpanned.
Gordon, Edward, and Henry walked through the fair, looking for something to do when Edward saw a familiar face. "I don't believe it," he said in surprise.
"What is it, Edward?" Gordon asked.
"Look over there! Isn't that Gator?" Edward asked, pointing over to where a strongly-built young man was standing, talking to Porter.
"I think it is," Henry said as the three walked over to them.
It was Gator, and he turned around and smiled. "Oh, hello, you three. It's been awhile."
"What brings you back to Sodor?" Gordon asked.
"Well, like I was just telling Porter here, my father's company transferred him over here. We should be staying a long time," Gator said.
"I know someone who would be really glad to hear that," Edward said.
"You wouldn't be talking about Percy by any chance?" Gator asked, blushing slightly.
"We all thought you wouldn't be back anytime soon. The kid's really missed you," Gordon said.
"If you see him first, tell him I'm back?" Gator asked.
"Of course we will," Henry said.
Speaking of Percy, he was still hanging out with Thomas, drinking lemonade on a bench. They had worn themselves out playing every game they saw, and he hasn't felt this happy in a long time.
"Thanks, Thomas," Percy said.
"For what?" Thomas asked.
"For just hanging out with me today. It's been fun."
"That's what friends are for, Percy. I'm just glad you're not mad at me for ditching you yesterday."
"Nah. Caitlin's party was pretty fun just like you said. By the way, where did you go, yesterday?" Percy asked, noticing that Thomas started to blush. Percy caught on quickly. "Thomas, you didn't?"
"Well…" Before Thomas could go on to details, Emily was walking towards him, and it looked like she has been crying? "Emily?"
"We need to talk. In private," she said.
Thomas set his drink with Percy and followed Emily to where not many people were nearby. "Em, what's wrong?"
"How could you hook up with Rosie while we were still dating?" Emily asked.
Thomas was completely caught off guard by that question. "Emily, I…"
"We were still together, Thomas," Emily said. "I didn't think you'd lose interest in me so quickly."
"No, Emily, you know that's not true!"
"Then, what's true, Thomas? Did you not sleep with her?"
"… I did, but-" Thomas couldn't stand the pained look on Emily's face, and felt awful that he was the one he caused it. Emily began walking away, but Thomas caught her arm. "Don't walk away, please!"
"Let me go. I want to go home," Emily said, though she wasn't trying to move away.
"Please, Em, at least let me explain."
"I don't want to hear it right now," Emily said before breaking away from Thomas and started to head home.
A girl's voice called his name from behind him. It was Rosie. Thomas turned around.
"Thomas, I'm sorry!" Rosie cried.
"I hope you're happy. If you kept your mouth shut-"
"Oh, and keep lying about it? Don't blame me like it's my fault alone, Thomas," Rosie said.
Thomas knew she was right. They were both to blame. He sighed in exasperation. You're right. I'm sorry, Rosie, but what do I do now? She doesn't want to talk me."
"Just give her some time. I'm sure she'll forgive you, the both of us," Rosie said, her eyes tearing up. "We never should have done it."
"Aw, Rosie, I don't need two crying girls today," Thomas said as he brought Rosie in for a hug in an attempt to console her, the latter crying on his shoulder. "We both know what happened that night was a mistake. There were no strings attached."
"Right." Rosie sniffled.
"I love Emily more than anything. When she's ready to talk to me, I'll really have to prove it to her," Thomas said, rubbing Rosie's shoulder as he thought.
Unfortunately, the two are in for more consequences of their actions as James spotted them and wanted answers. "Thomas?"
The sound of James' voice caused Rosie to move away from Thomas. "James!"
"What's going on? Why are you crying? Why is she crying?" James asked, looking at Rosie and then at Thomas more shadily.
"James, don't overreact," Thomas said.
"Since when do I overreact?" James asked.
If Thomas felt like laughing, he definitely would have.
"James, it's nothing," Rosie said, going over and holding his hand between hers.
"Rosie, you can't tell Emily and not tell James," Thomas said.
"Thomas!" Rosie was against doing that.
"Rosie, he should know," Thomas said.
"Know what?" James asked.
"You remember last year when Emily I broke up for a while?" Thomas asked.
James nodded. "Yeah, go on."
"Thomas, don't!" Rosie pleaded.
"Me and Rosie had sex. It was before you two got together, and there were no strings attached, honest," Thomas said.
"You did what?" James asked.
"It didn't mean anything. It was an accident," Rosie said.
"How was it an accident? Did you trip and fall on top of him naked or something?" James asked.
"Well, no," Rosie said. "Are you angry?"
"No, I'm pissed," James said. "Emily's like a sister to me. I can't believe you kept this from Emily for over a year? That's not cool, guys."
Rosie looked back at Thomas and then back at James.
"Why are you looking at me like that?" James asked.
"We thought you were about to cuss us out," Rosie said.
"Or hit me," Thomas said.
"Oh, I can still do that," James said as he stepped toward Thomas, but Rosie grabbed his shoulders.
"James, no!" Rosie said urgently.
"Relax, I'm kidding, kind of," James said, glaring at Thomas for a second. "Even though I could easily beat Thomas in a fight, that happened in the past. I won't hold it against either of you, though I'll forever be weirded out." He protectively wrapped his arm around Rosie's waist. She leaned her head on his shoulder.
Thomas decided to let the fight comment slide as he bit his lip nervously.
"You really don't learn, do you, Thomas?" James asked.
"I'm going to talk to her. I can't just stay and wait. If you see Percy, tell him I left," Thomas said before he rushed off.
"Even after I told him to wait…" Rosie said.
"By the way," James said, making Rosie turn so she faced him properly, "you have to answer me. Who's better, me or him?"
Rosie blushed. "James!"
"Yeah, I figured," James said before laughing at Rosie's expression. "Let's just go back and enjoy the carnival."
"I'd love to."
If only Thomas, Emily James, and Rosie knew that Diesel heard a lot of their conversations as he hid nearby.
The second part of Diesel 10's mission was complete.
And he didn't even have to do a thing.
