A/N: Thanks again for my wonderful reviews! We hit the 100 mark and then some!!! that's awesome you guys! I have to say that I absolutely LOVE this chapter!!! it's very fluffy and cute. i hope you like that :D. remember to review. i only got 17 for the last chapter and i really want to get a lot more. this chapter also has a slight time jump bc most of the action that is going to take place during this story is during the summer so I won't have the problem of Molly having to worry about school, so the school aspect of this story is almost over, but fear not, there will be lots of drama still to come from the other students. love!!
The next few weeks passed with little incident. I started hanging out in La Push with the guys a lot more, and they also began hanging out at my house (when my mom wasn't there) once I had gotten the TV and DVD player hooked up. I began to feel accepted by them. I had made a few more friends in Forks, but I had the odd sense that the guys treated me more like part of their family. I wasn't sure why they did, but I was glad for it. Once my mother's work routine was more finalized, and we had a better judgment of when she would be home, most of the guys became fixed structures in my home. They were always popping in unannounced or inviting me to La Push, and I realized that maybe I had been wrong about thinking I was fine doing things on my own. Feeling a part of a group filled a part of me I hadn't realized was empty.
Paul definitely dropped in more than the other guys, and I found that I couldn't stop grinning whenever he would just stop by to say hi. We hadn't been alone for as a long a time as we had a few weeks ago, and we definitely hadn't come close to kissing again. It was like we were getting a feel for where we stood with each other. I just hoped that Paul and I were standing on the same cliff. I found out more about him, and sometimes I would catch him looking at me with an odd look on his face when he thought I wouldn't notice. As hard as I tried I could never decipher what was playing in his eyes. I could just smile slightly at him and a broad grin would stretch across his face.
With only a few final weeks of school left, Samantha, Jillie and I decided we needed a break. They were definitely my best girl friends I had. Sure, the La Push guys had easily wormed their way in my heart as great friends, but it was nice to have girls around and listen to them gush about guys or whatever whim passed through their minds. I was realizing it was actually nice to have friends. Our need for a break had come just in time for the carnival that had made it to town.
It was the end of the school day on Friday and I had just gotten home. A note from my mother let me know that she had gotten up early to go somewhere before work. I didn't see how she managed to get along on as little sleep as she seemed to be getting. Jillie and Samantha were coming over to my house later before we went to the carnival. We had figured that after the carnival they could stay at my house for a sleepover since my mom wouldn't be home, and we could be as loud as we wanted. Jack had asked Samantha to go to the carnival with him, and we couldn't have been more excited for her. It seemed like Jack was finally acting on his feelings for her. Of course, Jillie and I would slip away from the couple as soon as it wouldn't be obvious to give them some romantic, carnival, alone time.
I went to the basement room so I could let Boomer into the house from the backyard, and I heard the doorbell ring before the squeak of the front door opening. Boomer started barking at the intruder.
"Molly?" I heard Jillie call.
"Down here!" I yelled back as I scratched Boomer to calm him down.
I heard two sets of feet pounding down the stairs, and Samantha and Jillie entered the room. Boomer wagged his tail at them after seeing it was just my friends.
"Guess what?!" Jillie all but shrieked, bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"What?"
"Derek asked me to go to the carnival with him!" she squealed. Jillie had been holding out hope that Derek would ask her to the carnival, and since she wouldn't see him until after the weekend after today, she had almost given up.
"That's great!" I squealed back. Sometimes it felt great just to let go and act like a girl.
Samantha, Jillie, and I all grabbed hands and started squealing with excitement while jumping around in a circle. I was so excited for the both of them.
"Hey."
"Ahh!" The three of us screamed as we heard another voice and jumped away from each other.
When I looked at the stairwell, I saw Paul and Jared standing at the bottom with amused and slightly confused looks on their faces. "How can guys so huge be so quiet?" I mused out loud, putting a hand on my chest over my rapidly beating heart.
"You guys scared the hell out of me!" Jillie exclaimed.
"Well, maybe if you ladies hadn't been shrieking already, you would have heard us," Paul smirked.
"Hey," I said, pointing a finger at him and glaring playfully. "We don't need the sass, mister."
"What were you guys screaming about anyway?" Jared asked.
"Before or after you nearly gave us heart attacks?"
"Before," he chuckled.
"Our dates for the carnival tonight," Samantha spoke.
"Well, Jill's and Samantha's dates, anyway. I'm going solo," I stated, realizing that I would be sort of a fifth wheel. I thought I noticed a change in Paul's posture. Relief?
"Oh no you aren't," Jillian said with an evil smirk. Paul stiffened again.
"What did you do?" I was almost afraid to ask.
"Nothing...yet." She grinned evilly again, and grabbed me by the shoulders. She steered me to stand in front of Paul. She let go of my shoulders then tried to move Paul more in front of me, unsuccessfully I might add. "Can I get some help here?" Jill asked Jared.
Jared shoved Paul so he was facing me directly. Paul's face was what I was positive of being a mirror image to my own. Wide eyes looking horrified at the sudden spotlight, not to mention audience included.
"Paul," Jillian spoke again from where she had taken her position behind me, "This is the part you ask Molly to go to the carnival with you."
"Uh-"
"You don't have to," I murmured, looking down. As much as I wanted Paul to ask me, I didn't want him to be forced into it. I felt a now familiar warm hand cup my chin, and found myself looking into Paul's deep brown eyes.
"Molly, will you go to the carnival with me?" Paul asked in that soft voice I had only heard him use with me.
"Yes," I answered a little breathlessly.
"Tell you what," I sort of registered Jared talking, "I'll see if Kim wants to go too. She really wants to meet you, Molly."
"Great!" Jillie began speaking again. "Well, you boys go get ready and we will meet you guys there in about an hour."
"See you then," Jared said, pulling Paul along with him. I wanted sorely to object to Paul's leaving since he had just gotten there, but I was hit with the realization that Paul and I were going to the carnival together.
I slowly turned back to the girls left in the room and looked at them. It was my turn to shriek, and we started up our jumping circle again. I could have sworn I heard the ghost of a chuckle float down the stairs.
An hour and ten minutes later, Jillian, Samantha, and I were pulling into the parking area of the carnival. We would have been there sooner, but Jill insisted that she go through all of my clothing to find something for me to wear. She had decided on a form-fitting, long-sleeved, red t-shirt that "brought out my natural coloring", according to her, and I was determined to wear my light jeans so I could at least stay a bit casual, and Jill finally consented. After also making me wear my hair down, we were able to leave. With the way she was treating me, it was as if she thought I had no sense of style at all. I do know how to fix my own hair, thank you very much.
As we made our way to the front gate, Jillie and Samantha called out as they saw Jack and Derek. I searched the small crowd of people waiting in line. As they towered over the rest, it was relatively easy to spot Jared and also Quil. I noticed a girl standing with Jared and assumed it must have been Kim. Quil, on the other hand, had a toddler balanced on his shoulder. I didn't see Paul. Panic set my heart into rapid thumps. Maybe he had changed his mind.
"I'll be right back," I told the girls, and made my way over to the others. "Hey, guys," I greeted when I had weaved my way through the bodies.
"Hey, Molly," Jared greeted back. "This is my girlfriend, Kim."
"Nice to meet you," I said, with a smile.
"You too," she said, pulling me into a hug. I was slightly surprised by her enthusiasm. "It's great to finally meet you. I was getting tired of Paul always saying things about you with me still not knowing who you are."
"Paul talks about me?" If I was apparently on his mind so much, then why wasn't he here?
Before Kim could say anymore, Jared gently put a hand over her mouth and said, "Speak of the devil..."
I turned to see what he meant, and saw Paul approaching. My mouth nearly gaped at the sight of him. He was wearing a white button-up with the sleeves rolled to his elbows, showing off well muscled forearms, along with a pair of dark-wash jeans. The white shirt contrasted nicely with his dark skin. He looked amazing.
"Did you get the tickets?" Quil asked Paul.
"Yeah. Where did you think I went?" Paul replied sarcastically. He handed the tickets to Jared and Quil. I assumed he gave them tickets for Kim and the little girl with Quil also.
"See you guys in there," Jared said, putting his arm around Kim and walking towards the front gate with Quil walking behind them, bouncing the little girl and making her giggle.
Paul finally looked at me when we were alone. "Hi," he said.
"Hi," I said back, smiling at his sudden shyness.
"I've never seen you with your hair down before," he said, reaching out and grabbing one of my strands of curly hair. He pulled it slightly with his other hand and watched it spring back into place. "You look really pretty."
I blushed at his compliment. "Thanks," I replied.
"Are you ready to go in?" he asked, gesturing to the gate.
"I have to get my ticket, actually," I informed him.
He stuck out his hand and showed me the ticket he held between his fingers. He slid his fingers opposite directions and a second ticket slid from behind the first. "Already taken care of," he said with a smile.
"Paul! You didn't have to do that. I would have bought my own." My independence took a hit.
"I know that, but I wanted to, and it's already done, so there isn't any point in arguing over it."
I had to admit, it was rather sweet of him to do. "Well, thank you," I said sincerely.
"It was my pleasure," he said just as sincerely. "Now since that is taken care of, are you ready to go?"
"Let's go," we walked through the gate side by side and started looking for the others. We noticed them a few yards away along with Jack, Samantha, Jillian, and Derek. We had quite the large group. "So who is the little girl with Quil?"
"Oh, that's Claire. She's Emily's niece." I had heard mentions of Claire before, but I had never gotten around to actually finding out who she was.
"Then why didn't Sam and Emily bring her?" I wondered.
"Well, let's just say she has an unusual attachment to Quil. He's just as attached her, if not more so, so it works well. He's always babysitting or taking her to the beach, and she loves it. Plus it gives her mom a break."
"That's really sweet," I said almost to myself. I always found it endearing when a guy liked little kids. It probably came from the fact that my dad had very little to do with me when I was younger.
"Yeah, she's a cutie."
By then we had met up with the others. I ran over to Jill and grabbed my camera out of her bag. I looped the strap around my wrist so I would have easy access to it if I needed it.
"Ooooh, Molly! Will you take a picture of me and Jared?" Kim asked excitedly.
"Sure!" I said enthusiastically. I always loved an opportunity to take pictures. I moved so that I was more in front of them and had them scoot so that there were a lot of lights from the carnival in the background but not enough to drown out the shot. With the sun sinking quickly, it made a wonderful backdrop. "Ok. Ready?" Jared wrapped his arms around Kim and grinned while she leaned into him and wrapped her arms around his waist, grinning just the same. "One, two, three!" I snapped the shutter button and took the picture. "Great! I'll make sure to give you guys a copy of all the ones we take tonight when I get them on my computer."
After taking Kim's and Jared's picture, everyone else wanted pictures too. After about 15 minutes of just taking pictures, everyone was ready to get on some rides.
"Are we done now?" Paul asked after I snapped a picture of Quil and a giggling Claire.
"Don't be so impatient, Paul," Kim chastised. "Besides, we haven't gotten one of you yet."
"I don't like having my picture taken," he said immediately.
"Come on! Don't ruin the fun!"
"Just do it, Paul," Jared joined in seeing that it was something Kim wanted.
"I bet he'd take one with Molly," Quil grinned mischievously.
"Shut up, Quil!" Paul fumed.
"It's ok," I said to everyone, handing my camera back to Jillian so she could put it in her bag for the moment. "I already have a picture of Paul."
"You do?" Jillian asked
"Yeah, I flashed him a few weeks ago," as soon as I said the words I felt heat rise in my face. Everyone's eyes got wide and their mouths dropped open. I was, of course, referring to when we had been moving some of my things and I found my camera while Paul was in my room and had taken his picture, causing the flash to go off in his eyes, but it came out completely wrong.
I covered my face with my hands. "Oh my lord!" The words came out muffled through my hands. I wanted to crawl into a hole and die.
"That's not what she meant, you guys!" Paul almost yelled.
There was silence for another moment then everyone busted out laughing. I was so embarrassed. I made to turn away from everyone, but ran into something. I peeked through my fingers and found that I was up against Paul's chest. His large, warm arms wrapped around me, keeping me pulled to him.
"Leave her alone," I heard him say. He ducked his head so he could look at my face, "Are you ok?"
"Yeah. Just terribly embarrassed." I took a deep breath and turned back to the others. Paul's arms slid back to his sides. "Moving on..." I said, trying to change the subject.
"Yeah, let's go ride something," Samantha said.
We all rode a few rides together then ventured off in our pairs to play some of those cheap carnival games. I wasn't really into wasting money on them because I knew they were rigged so no one could win any of the really good prizes.
"Hey, big fella, why don't you try to win a prize for your little lady?" One of the carnival workers yelled at Paul as we were passing by. I tried not to laugh because I thought people only said "big fella" and "little lady" to complete strangers in movies and old TV shows.
Paul looked down at me and raised his eyebrows. I looked at the game the worker was manning and saw it was one where you had to throw a ball and try to knock down all the bottles.
"Don't waste your money," I told him. "You know these things are made so no one can really win." As if to prove my point, a guy threw the ball and hit the bottles but it bounced off and barely even rattled them.
"Hey, Quil!" Paul called over my head. I turned and saw Quil walking over with Claire in one arm and a teddy bear bigger than the little girl herself in his other arm.
"What's up?"
"Molly doesn't think I can beat this game. What do you think?" He asked as if he already knew the answer, and I felt like I was missing an inside joke.
"If I can win this for Claire-bear here, then I think you can win too," Quil answered, gesturing to the stuffed animal under his arm.
Paul looked at me again. "Hey, it's your money. Go ahead if you want," I said, raising my hands in surrender. "But you don't have to do it for me."
He grinned in response and pulled me over to the booth. He laid down his money and the worker put three balls on the counter in front of him. He gave me one last look before picking up the first ball and throwing it directly at the bottles. As soon as it hit, all of the bottles flew in the air then rattled to the ground. He turned to me grinning again, and my mouth dropped open.
"Impressive," I told him, and he looked like a proud little kid.
"Impressive, all right," the worker said, looking slightly annoyed. "Well pick your prize," he said, pointing to the higher quality large stuffed animals on the top shelf.
"You pick," I told Paul when he looked at me questioningly.
"That one," he said immediately and the worker grabbed the prize with a hook. Paul took it from him and handed it to me.
I looked at it and saw that it was a large, soft, silvery-gray wolf. "This is awesome!"
"Glad you like it."
"Thanks, Paul," I said, hugging him. He wrapped his arms around me and I was enveloped in his warmth.
"No problem."
Later, our group met up again and for the rest of the night, we rode many rides and had a lot of fun with me getting a quick picture whenever the opportunity arose. Quil would venture off every now and then to let Claire ride some of the little kid rides while the other guys thought it would be funny to spin the seats really fast on the Tilt-o-whirl resulting in us girls getting extremely dizzy and queasy. Needless to say, they felt bad afterward and tried to comfort us.
"Do you want some popcorn?" Derek asked tentatively, offering his small bag to those of us sitting on the bench trying to regain our balance.
"Idiot," Jack punched Derek on the arm, "They feel like they are going to puke. Don't offer them food!"
"No, actually, I think popcorn is a good idea," I said, giving the girls a secretive glance.
We all took a handful from the bag, then following my lead, threw it into the face of our respective guy, and took of running. Kim grabbed my hand and we ended up behind a balloon display after dodging several people.
"They are so going to kill us," Kim breathed heavily. "That was awesome though!"
We could hear them calling our names and the occasional squeal as Samantha and Jill tried dodging Jack and Derek. Kim and I tried futilely to stifle our giggles. Unfortunately, a large bubble of laughter erupted from us just as Jared was walking by looking for us, and he immediately locked eyes with us.
"Paul! I found them!" Jared yelled over his shoulder and closed more than half the gap between us in less then two bounds.
"Run!" Kim gasped, giving me a shove as Jared's arms closed around her, and she erupted into more giggles.
I only made it a few feet when I was enclosed in a pair of arms and swung off the ground bridal style. I shrieked in surprise, and found myself looking into Paul's face as he cradled me against his chest.
"Don't you know not to pick fights with people bigger than you?" he asked quietly, his face only inches away from mine.
"I like a challenge," I replied.
Paul quirked an eyebrow as the others joined us. He gently lowered me to the ground and stood behind me, wrapping his arms around my shoulders as my back rested against him. I was once again shocked at how natural it felt.
"That was fun," Jillian said, all of us slightly out of breath.
"Did I miss something?" Quil asked as he approached.
"Just revenge," I said causing everyone to laugh. "Very mild revenge, I might add."
"I think we have time for one more ride, you guys," Quil said, as Claire's little mouth opened in a yawn and she snuggled into his chest.
"Hey, let's ride the Ferris Wheel!" Kim suggested, which happened to be the ride we ended up in front of after our little romp.
Everyone started moving toward the line, but I hesitated. Paul noticed.
"What's wrong?" he asked, concern painting his wonderful eyes.
You don't have to try to be so brave, he had told me. He made me feel as if it was all right to be vulnerable. "I, uh, don't like Ferris Wheels," I said, somewhat embarrassed.
"Why not?" he asked, coming to stand directly in front of me, seeming genuinely interested. I avoided his eyes as he tried to search mine. "Molly, I watched you ride some of the biggest and fastest rides here. What's wrong with the Ferris Wheel? It's as mild as the Carousel."
"But Carousels are on the ground," I blurted.
"You stay home alone, you ride gigantic, towering rides, and you punch drunk guys in the face" -he smiled at that one- "But you're afraid of heights?" he asked, incredulously.
"Not really. Ferris Wheels just freak me out for some reason," I said, fiddling with the wolf in my arms.
"Come on," Paul said, grabbing my hand and walking toward the line.
"Paul!"
"Molly!" he imitated me. I glared at him. "I promise to protect you. Nothing will happen."
"Ok," I agreed after I deliberated for a moment, still reluctant.
We were guided to a seat for two and sat down side by side with me on Paul's left, and I squeezed my stuffed wolf between me and the side of the seat. We were the last seat to be filled, and I waited nervously for the ride to begin. I looked up and saw Samantha wave down at me from a few seats higher as she sat next to Jack. I waved back uneasily.
The sleek metal bar lowered in front of us and the seat lurched slightly as the ride began. I made a nervous noise in the back of my throat.
Paul sighed softly as he heard me, and gave me a comforting smile. He wrapped his left arm around my back and pulled me into his side, while reaching his right hand across us and lacing his fingers through my left hand.
"Don't worry. I've got you," he said in my ear. I shivered.
As our seat slowly made it's way higher, I turned my head and hid my eyes in Paul's shoulder. I felt him chuckle slightly and put his chin on top of my head.
"Don't laugh at me," I told him, even though it was muffled against his arm.
"I'm not," he said, rubbing my shoulder, but I could tell by the sound of his voice that he really was.
"Look, Molly," Paul said a short time later. I felt our seat sway a little as it stopped again.
I shook my head against his shoulder. I knew we were at the very top. There was no way I was opening my eyes now.
"You're okay. I promise. Just look." He waited a few seconds then added, "Please?" very softly.
Why did he have to say 'please'?! I slowly raised my head and looked at him. He was grinning broadly, then motioned with his head in the direction he wanted me to look.
"Wow," I said softly. From the top of the Ferris Wheel, I could see across the entire carnival. The view was beautiful with the array of colorful lights lit up against the black backdrop of the sky. "That's amazing," I breathed.
"I know." I turned my gaze back to Paul and saw him staring directly at me.
Suddenly the seat lurched again, and we were slowly moving down. I wrapped my arms around Paul's waist in surprise of the movement. I felt him chuckle again as he tightened his arms around me and rested his temple against the top of my head.
That's when it hit me. I was in a carnival ride seat with Paul. My arms were around him. His arms were around me.
Maybe Ferris Wheels aren't so bad after all...
A/N: *squee* like i said, I love this!! and i wrote it!! i just think carnivals are extremely romantic (is that weird?). Ferris Wheels have got to be the most date-worthy ride ever. i really hope you all liked reading as much as i liked writing it! please remember to review and let me know what you think, whether you loved it, liked it, or even hated it this time. oh, and i also now accept anonymous reviews so even if you don't have an account, feel free to review!! thanks!!
