Even though the wind blew hard and cold against my face, it was still redder than a tomato when we arrived at the boardwalk. I tried to hide it behind my mass of blonde curls, keeping my hazel eyes low as we got off of the bike. "Sophie!" Laddie screamed, running off from Star and barrelling into me. He jumped up, wrapping his legs around mine and his arms around my stomach. I giggled, "jeez Louise, kid you're heavy!" I groaned, nearly falling backwards if it weren't for Dwayne standing behind me.
Laddie released his death grip, taking my hand, "come on, Sophie, we need to ride the carousel." He exclaimed, tugging me along. Without thinking, I instinctively grabbed Dwayne's hand, pulling him towards the carousel with Laddie. You, ma'am, are making something very similarly akin to a mistake. I thought. His hand felt warm against mine, it was calloused, probably from riding that bike so much - though it was smooth.
"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to drag you over here." I apologized, "I actually don't know why I even did it, to be honest." I confessed, but Dwayne only grinned. "Don't worry about it, I like seeing Laddie have some fun once and a while." He said, and he curled his hand around mine, lacing his fingers through the spaces between and wrapping an arm around my shoulders. I could feel that scarlet blush returning to my recently paled cheeks.
"I wanna ride that one!" Laddie said, pointing to a dull blue elephant, with big green eyes and a black, high top-hat. I giggled, pulling out a few quarters and handing it to the man running the whole ride. "Only a child once, I suppose." I lamented, getting on top of the ride and walking Laddie to the one he wanted before it had gotten taken. I strapped him on the elephant, marvelling at how cute it was.
"Dwayne, come here!" I called, "come here, come here, come here - stand by Laddie really quick." I said, digging through my bag furiously to find what I needed before the ride started. Both boys raised a brow at me, but I ignored them, feeling my hand clasp around the plastic substance. I pulled out my disposable camera I had gotten the minute I arrived in Santa Carla. Why not put it to good use? I still had a lot of film left, too - I wasn't much of a photographer, but this was a sight worth remembering.
Laddie huffed, "come on, Sophie, not pictures!" He groaned and I saw Dwayne's face twist into a hard look. "I don't think that's a good idea, Sophie." He said, his tone very serious. He looked scared almost. "What's the big deal, come on, boys," I aimed my camera, winding it up and taking a picture. "It's just a photo." I added smugly, putting my camera into my bag and walking back over to where the two boys stood. Laddie was fine, he was having the time of his life. However Dwayne? Not so much.
I furrowed my brows, "are you alright? If it's about the picture, I mean I don't have to get it developed I was just trying to make the most of tonight-" I went on before Dwayne stopped me short. "I'm fine, Sophie. It's just..." He sighed, "let's just say that there's a lot in this world you don't know about, and I don't want you finding anything out before I think you're ready to." He spoke, and I was now even more confused.
"What is that supposed to mean?" I inquired, and Dwayne's serious face turned into a crooked smirk that almost made my knees weak, "it means be a kid while you still have the chance. Not all of us live forever." He commented. I scoffed, "I'm only fifteen, I'm not a kid!" I defended, punching him in the shoulder. He chuckled, "yeah? And I'm nineteen. You're a kid. Cherish it." He countered.
The ride ended, and Laddie, Dwayne and I got off, heading back to where David, Star, Marko, and Paul stood. The boys were checking out girls who passed, giving the boys who passed a death glare, and the kids - the kids they didn't pay much attention to I suppose. "I take it the princess wont give you back your jacket, D?" Paul asked, and that was when I realized I was still wearing it. Gah, I feel like an idiot. I began to shrug it off, getting to my wrists when Dwayne stopped me.
"No, leave it on. Ignore him, he's just being a dick." He whispered over my shoulder to me, grabbing the ridges at the top of the jacket and sliding it back up until it was back on my shoulders where it had been before. "I'm just messin' with you, Sophie," Paul told me, and I forced a smile, nodding, "no offense taken." I mumbled, hearing a loud, shrill voice over the cluster of people.
When I peered over, I saw it was my mother. Running. Screaming something about Michael and Sam.
"Oh my God, that's my mom! She can't see me, she'll freak out - Dwayne, I'm supposed to be at home!" Now twas I who was flipping my shit. Like mother, like daughter. I was taken by the shoulders, and placed against Dwayne's bike. "Well, let's make sure if she looks," my shoulders became my waist, and he became very real and very close. "She won't know it's you." He added. Now, this was something I hadn't expected.
Dwayne closed the space between us, curling his hand around the side of my face and pressing his lips to mine.
Well, this one is a little shorter, but here you go! And bow-chicka-wow-wow things are gettin' a lil saucy ;) lol. XO - Kari
