Balloons, pony rides, and obese people walking around with grins on their faces. That was my definition of a carnival. Not the best place, but definitely better than being stuck at home, working on leftover homework that I would still have two days to complete. Pathetic? Yeah, I agree. My name? Ray Brennan. My profession? Comedian in training.

Actually, I don't even have training – so scratch that last bit. I'm a comedian that really can't act. Good enough explanation for you? I'd hope so. Well, today I'm being punished. Taken to a carnival with none other than Lily Randall and Travis Strong. Not to say they're bad people, I just... it's hard to get along with both of them together. Travis is always watching Lily with his googly eyes, and Lily flirts, completely ignoring me. Heh, what a great inspiration.

I didn't really do anything this morning. Sat, got online, talked to a few people. Slept again, ate, did my 'bodily needs.' Story of my life. Dramatic? Oh, yes. Why, I have to battle my own mind just to stop myself from pressing 'snooze' in the mornings before school. My life is quite dramatic enough for my liking, thanks.

But that didn't stop my friends from making everything worse. See, it all started with Lily. Lily Randall, Shady Lane, Miss Lily, whatever you want to call her. My best friend of seven years... and my crush of four. Embarrassing? You bet.

I was more than happy to have received a phone call from the girl I've so often watched from afar... meaning the cafeteria. I could care less if she liked me back – but when she likes Travis, it gets personal. I mean, the guy just showed up practically out of nowhere! We're friends and like to have a little competition, but he's kind of a queer, if you get what I mean...

This is kind of pathetic. He's the queer? I'm more of a queer than he is, with my Abercrombie t-shirts and blue jeans... God... But at least I'm not gay. That's a relief. If I were gay, I wouldn't have these feelings about Lily.

So now, we were at the front gate of the carnival. Tickets cost seven dollars – how dumb is that? That's too expensive for a cheap fair that only has petting zoos and bumper cars! Stupid economy. Stupid.

Lily looked a bit cold, and I kind of wondered if I should offer her my sweatshirt. It probably smelled bad, but would that matter? I thought for a moment, debating on my decision, before deciding against it. I didn't need her to smell my B.O. from playing basketball the night before. Did I mention that I have absolutely no hand-eye coordination? Yeah, I kind of just discovered that...

Well, it looked like I thought too late. No sooner had I decided my decision that Travis took off his prissy jean jacket and offered it to Lily, where she gladly took it. God, I'm dumb.

The woman at the ticket counter seemed oddly familiar, but it was as she turned her head that I finally discovered who it was. "Kim?!" I asked, not at all expecting to see someone such as she. She'd always been the great enemy of RFR, trying to cancel the show. "Kim Carlisle?!"

She gave me a sickening smile that seemed somewhat welcoming, as if she'd recognized something in me. "If it isn't our own Ray Brennan and his little friends," she said quietly, glaring at us as Lily tried to hand her the money. The frizzy haired girl refused. Not that Kim knew who hosted RFR, but Ray had always wondered why no one could recognize their voices. They weren't that unpopular!

At least, he wasn't.

"Just take the money, Kim," Travis warned her, rolling his eyes. "Is it really that difficult?"

Well, as we walked away, I could feel her glare sizzling on our backs like the hamburgers on my dad's barbeque grill. Heh, that's my try on a simile. Not too good, eh? "So, where to first?" I asked, brushing away my black hair. It always fell in my eyes, and it's the most annoying thing in the world, trust me on that... "Haunted house? Bumper cars? Roller coaster?"

If you can't tell, I'm definitely in it for the rides. Not big rides, though. Those scary the living daylights out of me, although I have yet to tell anyone that. And it better stay that way too, you hear? Heh. As if you'd be able to tell anyone. This is my mind. I'm not psychic.

"I was thinking the Ferris wheel," Lily said, that loving grin on her face. Ironically, I didn't feel that horrible dancing feeling in my stomach anymore. It was just... normal. Like how it used to be before I started to like her. Hmm. Maybe it was something I'd eaten. "It's bound to have a lovely view this time of day."

I nodded, not too keen on the heights, but then again, I'd do anything for Lily. Always and forever. God, that sounds so cheesy! "Sure, whatever you want," I reasoned, looking over at Travis for help. I hated heights even more than I hated upside-down rides. I'd probably puke all over Travis's new jacket. Oh, what a pity. Heh.

Travis, however, noticed nothing and kept walking.

Before I knew it, we were on the Ferris wheel, and the sleazy employee was lowering the bar on our section. I really wanted to tell him to stop, but... I couldn't. Soon enough, we were going up into the air. Holy crap, I thought I was going to puke, honestly. I kept staring down at the floor, determined not to look at anything else.

I could sense Travis and Lily giving me strange looks, but I didn't care. It was way too scary for my liking.

"Ray, are you okay?" I heard Lily say, and her hand was on my back. Oh, it felt wonderful. The butterflies were back, and her soft hands were patting my shoulder comfortingly. I turned to smile at her, but nearly jumped when I looked at whose hand was really on my back. Travis.

But do you want to know what's really wrong? The butterflies were still there. God, this couldn't be happening! I must've still thought it was Lily. Yes, that was it. Lily. Just think about Lily.

But... it was Travis!

I moved away, swallowing. Finally, I took my seat on the opposite side of Lily, every so often looking back at Travis to make sure that what just happened was my imagination. It had to be. It just... it had to be.

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