So here's the last Cedar Point chapter, and then we get onto the angsty stuff. :D Enjoy
Chapter 17
Nick grinned as he jumped down beside Jeff, leaning their shoulders together as they made their way out the exit ramp just so that he could be closer to him. He'd do anything to keep close to Jeff.
"Yay, Screamsters!" he exclaimed when he saw them lining up near the front of the park, "We have to get to the midway thingy!" he said, excitedly and hurried along the front of the midway to get to the tower where the Over Lord made his speech to let the actors get to their haunted houses.
"Uh…okay…" Nick blinked a few times, unsure of what to do before simply following Jeff. That seemed like the only logical thing. He quickly followed behind him, reaching out and grabbing his hand just in case he lost him among the people.
Jeff laughed and looked back at him, gripping his hand with his own. He'd been looking forward to this all year long.
"Come on slow poke," he said teasingly, and smirked at him, slowing down when he reached the end of the Sky Ride, at the small crowd standing in front of the tower, waiting for the Over Lord. There was music playing, and the fog starting. It was super exciting. Before turning the little corner, he looked behind them, and saw the Screamsters just starting to march down the midway, so he made his way to the front. When they charged in, most of the people would scatter. It's funny to see people scream and jump from them.
Nick let their fingers naturally thread together, smiling to himself. He'd never get sick of that feeling. It was all kinds of perfect.
"Alright, alright, I'm coming!" Nick laughed softly, keeping up with Jeff's pace as he followed him to the end of the Sky Ride. He wasn't entirely sure where they were going, but he supposed, Jeff had known where absolutely everything in this place was so far, so there was no real need to question. He looked around at all the people curiously. It didn't feel like there was this many before. Keeping a tight hold of Jeff's hand to make sure he didn't lose him, he did his best to keep up while he looked around them, taking everything in.
Jeff made his way through the crowd, and got a good spot right in the front. It wasn't too crowded though. It was only the first Sunday. He kept the smile on his face, and the chanting music played in front of them added to the thrill of all of this. "God this is so awesome. I love this part," he said, excitedly, and bounded around, trying to look passed the people for the monsters coming from behind them.
Nick just kept as close to Jeff as he could, not wanting to lose him. Losing him would be bad, and was really the last thing he wanted to do in a place filled with so many people. He couldn't stop smiling mainly because of the smile on Jeff's face, and the excitement of his voice. This was probably the most childish he'd seen Jeff all day, and he loved it. He gently squeezed Jeff's hand, grinning brightly.
Jeff was used to getting screamed at by the Screamster for 'not being worthy enough' and wanting all the people to get out of the way, but he just laughed and turned to wait for the Over Lord to come out on the stand. When it was foggy enough, and the music turned off, he came out. All the actors on the ground got to their knees. Jeff immediately followed. He whispered up to Nick, "Get down." He was playful about it, because he could hardly stop himself from giggling out loud.
Nick really wasn't completely sure what was going on. He just knew Jeff was really excited, and it was really adorable. He blinked a few times, looking at everyone around them before looking down at Jeff as he knelt to the ground. He frowned, but did as he was told, smirking, and murmuring softly, "What's going on?"
Jeff smiled at him, and leaned over to whisper to him, "The 'leader' of the Screamsters releases them into their haunted houses first by making a speech. They all bow down to him. It's really cool," he said quietly. Jeff looked up to the man in the red billowing robes. It seemed real, and it was exciting. He squeezed Nick's hand and looked around him to the creatures watching the Over Lord. There was chanting and screaming, and even the guy that always carried around his prop trash can with a siren in it buzzed that.
Nick was much more focused on Jeff than anything else when he leaned close and whispered to him. He didn't really know what to think, but he went along with it. He just liked how into it Jeff seemed to be. The bright smile on his face. He'd never get tired of seeing Jeff smile like that. He brushed his thumb over Jeff's hand as he squeezed his, leaning his head against his shoulder as he watched everything around them.
They stood up when the crowd got rowdy, and he waited for it to disperse before heading over to the new haunted house. There was a little line, but that was only because they aren't opened yet. The Screamsters had to get into their stations in the houses.
Nick kept close to Jeff, not wanting to lose him in the crowd. He followed him to the haunted house line, looking over at him, and smiling brightly. That wasn't something he'd ever seen before. It was different. He liked it. Mostly because of the smile it brought to Jeff's face.
"The walkthrough maze things are scarier than the houses," Jeff said, and smiled, keeping his hand linked with Nick's. That was a definite thing. They had to be linked together somehow. He felt strange without it.
"Ha, so you admit that you do get scared." Nick teased, leaning against Jeff's shoulder, and smiling brightly up at him. Being close to Jeff was so important to him. He didn't know why. It just was.
Jeff blushed and smirked at him, "Well of course. I guess I will admit that. There are things out there, worse than silly haunted houses. Murderers, ha, the government." He just gave off a few examples. He watched him for a reaction to that. He was mostly saying that to get him off the teasing of being scared though, but it wasn't something someone just normally said.
Nick raised an eyebrow, laughing softly. He hadn't exactly expected Jeff to say anything like that, and it took him a moment to figure out what he was supposed to say in response. It felt like one of those moments when he really didn't know how to talk to humans.
Nick shifted awkwardly on his feet, trying to find the right words, "Well, yeah, there are a lot of things much scarier than haunted houses. I guess that's why they've never really scared me." He smiled sheepishly.
"Well yeah I know what you mean. They don't really make me want to run and scream. I mean, I'm excited for it, but sometimes things jump out at me. Like when you're in a movie theater, and everything is quiet and a random thing jumps out at you. That's scary, but it's a good kind of scary. You laugh afterwards," he said, and looked out over the small lagoon they were standing next to. Iron Dragon wrapped around the lagoon. It was more of a kids ride, but not a baby ride.
Nick smiled brightly at Jeff, relieved that what he said hadn't sounded weird. He wasn't really sure what else he was supposed to say. Nick kind of hated that feeling, knowing that there were some things you really couldn't say to a human, especially one that you liked, and wanted to keep around. "Sometimes it's good to challenge yourself with something scary." He gently squeezed Jeff's hand, "Helps prepare us for the really scary stuff."
Jeff rolled his eyes and chuckled, "Oh yeah? What kind of 'really scary stuff' anyway?" He was just playing around with him. He knew what some of the really scary stuff was. Growing up was just scary now. "I think clowns are pretty scary. Does that count?" he asked, and tried to hide his laughter.
Nick raised an eyebrow, trying to figure out what he was supposed to say. He couldn't very well come out with, 'oh, you know, demons are pretty scary if you meet the wrong one'. That wasn't something you were supposed to say to a human.
And then Jeff spoke again, and Nick laughed softly, nodding. He could work with that, "Well, yeah, I guess clowns can be pretty scary."
Jeff laughed out loud, and moved forward when the line started to go. They'd go through in groups, so the line was moving in a strange way, but they weren't real far back. Just in a minute. He linked his fingers with Nick's and sort of wrapped their arms together to stay close. The pathways were sometimes narrow, and he just wanted to stay close either way. The fog would blind them, so it'd be scary for that.
Nick smiled fondly at the way their arms were wrapped together like that. It was nice to think that Jeff really wanted him to be close like that. He would do anything to stay close to Jeff.
The haunted walk through was actually really cool. Dragster was shooting in the distance, next to the maze, and added a great scare. There were barrels and actors and lasers all along the walk way. Even a few alligators. It was a Bayou themed maze.
This was definitely one of the better haunted walk throughs he'd ever been through. It was scarier than others, though still not nearly scary enough to frighten Nick.
The park was completely dark now. It was getting cold outside too. "Say two more, and then we can fatten ourselves with funnel cake and hot chocolate?" Jeff suggested, snuggling closer to Nick. He wished he had his other hoodie, so he'd have to grab it later. Too bad they were in the back-ish of the park.
Nick hummed happily as Jeff snuggled closer to him. That was something he could definitely get used to. He wrapped an arm around Jeff's waist, pulling him into a hug just so that he could hold him. "That sounds good," he smiled brightly.
"Mhmm. This is my favorite one," he said, and tried to keep away from the clowns that were roaming from the Carn-Evil walkthrough, since their entrances were right next to each other. "Pirates are cool," he whispered, and went through the little turnstile. You have to cross a little wooden floating platform to get to this haunted house. It was on a little island in the middle of Cedar Point peninsula.
Nick smiled to himself as Jeff tried to avoid the clowns. So many people were afraid of them and he wasn't entirely sure why. He'd never seen a bad clown before. Still, he'd humor him.
Nick chuckled as Jeff whispered, nodding his agreement to Jeff, "Pirates have always been cool." He chuckled softly as he followed him to through the turnstile, keeping close as he looked all around them.
The darkness and the fog added to the thrill very much. There were lasers pointed right at them, blinding them from seeing in front of them, allowing the actors to jump out and growl at them at the perfect moments.
Nick kept a firm hold of Jeff's hand just in case. The fog and lasers making it hard to see had him worried that he might lose him if it wasn't for the hold he had on his hand.
Terror Island is the longest maze in the park, and the exit was right next to the entrance, so with Jeff gripping Nick's hand a little too hard, they walked into the fog of Carn-Evil.
Nick smiled to himself at the vice like grip Jeff had on his hand. It was kind of cute, really. He shifted a little closer, their shoulders brushing together in a way he hoped was reassuring.
Jeff smiled at Nick. Even if clowns freaked him out, he loved the haunted house. Normally the actors would follow you and harass you, but Jeff just hurried along, trying to see all the effects, but not be near the clowns. He liked the guy with eight arms at the end a lot.
There was a guy on a stand who had a microphone talking to all the people, it was quite interesting. He was glad nothing was said to them though.
"So funnel cake or an elephant ear? I'd say the elephant ear, but either is good. A funnel cake might make us sick," Jeff said, swinging their arms back and forth as they walked past the Gemini, and through the more wooded area.
"I'm fine with either. Elephant ear it is," Nick said, and squeezed Jeff's hand lightly.
"Okay then," Jeff replied, with a cheerful grin, and got into the short line. Corn Stalkers was next, and he was quite excited. It was getting pretty late, but the park was open until ten tonight. They had school the next morning anyway, so he didn't want to stay super late. They'd already done everything, and he just wanted to get onto Millennium Force one more time, and then catch Raptor on the way out.
"I'll take one elephant ear, and a small hot chocolate. Nick, do you want something to drink?" Jeff ordered, and turned his head to look at Nick, quickly.
"Uh, yeah, I'll have a coffee," Nick said, and took out his wallet.
"I can pay for it, you don't have to," Jeff said, and pushed his hand away.
"No, really, you bought lunch, I'll get this wad of grease and sugar," Nick said with a teasing smile, and gave the cashier the money.
Nick took his coffee, and the change, while Jeff took his hot chocolate and the elephant ear, and they both headed to the small picnic area in the center of the walkways. There was sugar all over the place from the previous eaters, but Nick just took a napkin and wiped up the table before sitting down next to each other. The pair tore off pieces to their giant elephant ear, and ate almost in silence, just watching the people around them, observing everything. The day had been a major success, and he wished it didn't have to come to an end, but everything ended sometime. Peacefully or not, quickly or slow, everything had an end.
This end was a peaceful one. Jeff drove them home, and they got into the dorm and snuggled into Jeff's bed together, awaiting their alarms to wake up the next morning.