CHAPTER 8:

The Boston Fair was in full swing. The smell of food, the sounds of screaming from the rides, laughter. A cool fall night with a full moon. The night was perfect. The weather was perfect. It was a perfect night for a Club DKS reunion.

"Okay, guys," Seth began. "Let's have some fun."

"Sounds good to me," Shannon agreed.

"I think tonight will have a better outcome than last week when we got together," Kayla chimed in.

"As long as there's no slapping involved," Dean commented as he glanced at Kayla.

"Dean, I said I was sorry for..."

"Just giving you a hard time, Kayla," Dean answered with a wink that made Kayla shudder. Or was it the cool breeze that made her shudder? She didn't know.

"Let's move on from the slapping conversation," Seth stated. "What shall we do first?"

Kayla's eyes caught a game where you had to throw a ball at 3 stacked bottles to try and knock them down.

"Hey, Dean. How's your throwing arm these days," Kayla asked pointing at the game.

"Aha. Seth, whatdaya say?"

"Is that a challenge?"

"Loud and clear."

"You're on."

The girls followed the guys to the game whispering back and forth on if either one could knock down all 3 bottles. Seth stepped up first. He paid for 5 balls for 3 dollars, then got into position. Shannon encouraged him while rubbing his shoulders. Seth picked up a balled, rubbed it between his palms, and threw. The ball knocked down 2 bottles. Seth picked up another ball, threw it and missed completely.

"Come on, baby. You've got this," Shannon said.

Seth picked up another ball and chucked it at the 3rd bottle. *CLANG* Target struck.

Seth whooped as Shannon wrapped her arms around his neck, kissing his cheek.

"Good job, young man. Pick any stuffed animal you want."

"How about the pink bear with the white paws and stomach?" Seth suggested.

The operator of the game picked up the bear and handed it to Seth, whom handed it to his wife. "Aww. It's so cute. Thanks, honey."

"No problem, sugar. Alright, Dean. You're next. Think you can do better?"

Dean walked up to the game and payed 3 dollars for 5 balls. The balls were placed in front of him. He cracked his knuckles and licked his fingertips before picking up the first ball.

"Good luck, Dean," Kayla said.

Dean eyed the bottles carefully. He took a light breath, pulled his right arm back and tossed the ball. *CLANG* The ball connected with all 3 bottles, knocking them off the platform and landing on the ground. Seth's mouth opened in shock.

"YES!" Dean shouted.

"Nice job!" Kayla congratulated throwing her arms around his neck. She then took a step back. "Oh. Sorry. Got a little over-excited."

Dean chuckled. "I kinda miss that actually," he admitted.

"Well done, young sir. Your prize?"

"Um...let's go with the red teddy bear."

The man handed the prize to Dean. He passed it over to Kayla. "Red's still your favorite color, right?"

"You remembered?"

"Yeah. Of course. Okay, everyone. How about a ride?"

Both Kayla and Shannon walked in front of the guys.

"I can't believe it. You actually did it."

"What can I say? I was known as Mr. Golden Arm in school. You on the other hand..."

"Okay, so I wasn't as talented as you in softball when it came to throwing. But when it came to hitting..."

Seth reached up and smacked Dean on the left cheek. Not too hard, but enough to stun. "I was always on target."

Seth walked away from Dean to catch up to the girls. Dean flexed his jaw.

"So much for a slap-free evening," he muttered.

-Ride after ride, game after game. Even fun houses were an adventure. The mirrors contorted their bodies in weird ways causing the 4 friends to laugh.

Kayla caught sight of a ride known as slingshot. She talked Shannon into riding it with her. Both girls got strapped in securely. The seat reclined backwards before being released into the air. They went bouncing around, turning upside down, screaming their hearts out. Dean and Seth stood safely on the ground laughing at their girls being tossed about. After the ride was over, Shannon and Kayla joined the guys back onto the ground.

"How was it, ladies?" Seth asked.

"Talk about heart-racing," Shannon commented.

"Adrenaline rush all the way," Kayla added.

"So what now?" Dean wondered. "We've pretty much done everything there was to do tonight at the fair."

"Actually..." Kayla began. "I have a little idea."

"What's that?" Shannon asked.

Kayla looked behind her at the ride that her and Shannon just departed. She looked at Shannon and smirked before turning her eyes towards Dean and Seth.

"Oooohhhh..." Shannon said catching on at what Kayla was getting at.

Dean and Seth looked up at the ride, then at each other, then at Shannon and Kayla.

"No," Seth stated matter-of-factly.

"Yes," Kayla answered.

"No," Dean repeated.

"Yes," Shannon echoed.

"Come on, guys," Kayla pleaded. "We did it. It wasn't that bad."

"Absolutely not," Dean said.

"I'll love you forever, Seth," Shannon replied.

"Oh come on!" Seth remarked. "That's not fair, Shannon."

Shannon batted her eyelashes at her husband.

"Uh-uh, Shannon. Kayla. Their is no way that Dean and I are going to ride that thing. There is no way you're talking us into it."