I had never seen Kelly before, so I was glad to catch a glimpse of her before she turned back. Alfie looks a lot like her. But as I focused back on Alfie, I was star-struck. I hadn't really taken a good look at him since he came, so this was kind of a surprise. He was dressed in black slacks with off-white pinstripes with a matching off-white button down. His hair was all brushed nicely for a change and he took my breath away, just a little. He had never dressed up like this before, not even for school functions.
"Well, you look handsome tonight." I said furtively.
"I could say the same. I've never seen you so girly. What have you been hiding?" he responds. I chuckle, but the nerves are taking over, combined with the fact that his mom could most likely hear us, unless she has earplugs or extreme tuning out skills. Which, from now 6 kids, I assume she does.
"'Kay, guys, you'll have to pause the flirting. We're here!" Alfie got out and held the door for me. I accidentally made a little 'Aw' sound and hoped he didn't hear. We headed into a line for something and I looked up.
"Whoa," I said breathlessly. Towering above me was the London Eye, the tallest Ferris wheel in Europe. Despite being quite scared of heights, I was looking forward to the trip. It would be my first time in a Ferris wheel.
"It'll take you higher than you've ever been," Alfie said, wiggling his eyebrows at me. I laughed and said, "Are you sure about that? I don't know, I've been pretty high before…" I nudged him.
"You've brushed up on your innuendo, I see." We moved towards the front of the line and Alfie grabbed the tickets.
"I've learned from the best, Emily." We took the next car open and closed the door.
"What can I say? Dirty minds think alike," I moved toward the window cautiously as the car slowly moved around the wheel. The city looked so peaceful, all lit up by streetlights and buildings. For the third time tonight, I was in awe.
"It's so beautiful up here," I said. I felt Alfie come over and slowly slip his arm around me. I blush furiously, and inadvertently lean in.
"We must be near the top," Alfie says when the car suddenly halts.
"What happened?" I said frantically. My mind was racing. What could go wrong? What if the car falls or the wheel collapses and we die?
"I don't know, but it looks like some mechanism failed." Alfie said, cool as a cucumber. Apparently, he had no fears like mine, or at least he doesn't show them.
"What if we die?" I say, scared as a mouse of a cat.
Alfie looked at me and sang "THEN WE'LL DIE TOGETHER!" I burst out laughing, doubling over from the growing stitch in my side. As I stood up, the Ferris wheel started to move again, and I stumbled and fell into Alfie's arms. He picked me up and gently kissed me. I did not know what to do. So I just followed his lead. It was slow and sweet, just as I had hoped my first kiss would be. My eyes slowly opened as if I had been awakened from a happy dream.
"And love is forever," Alfie said, looking into my eyes. I was speechless. What could I say? I didn't want to ruin the moment. The car slowly ended its circle.
"Thank you," I said, clasping his hand in mine. We exited. Kelly's car soon came around. On the way back home, Alfie and I sat in comfortable silence, holding hands. We got to my house soon, and Alfie let me out.
"See you…whenever then?" He said. I smirked and replied, "Whenever is fine by me."