Chapter 17

December 1st marked the day of the official Winter Carnival. It was an event that everyone looked forward to, so much so that school was cancelled because of it. Not that I'm complaining, of course.

I honestly don't understand why they cancel school; the carnival starts at 6 pm and ends at 10. But like I said; I'm not complaining.

It was supposed to be me, Nick, Alex, and Jimmy in our little group. Ever since the situation with Darren, I've been wanting to spend more time with Nick, to prove that he's the boy I want.

Nick smiled down at me as he held my hand. "So, what do you want to do first?"

"Let's get some cotton candy," I grinned.

"And some hot dogs!" Jimmy chimed in.

"Don't forget pizza!" Alex cut in, already drooling.

Nick laughed, "alright, let's just eat our carnival-style dinner first, then we can go on rides!"

After we ate, Nick whispered something in Jimmy's ear. He nodded with a grin, then turned to Alex and said something in her ear.

I rose an eyebrow, wondering what they were up to.

Finally, Alex smirked as she stood. "Me and Jimmy are gonna go off by ourselves, you know, to go on rides and stuff. I'm sure you two will have a good time."

Before I could answer, she took his hand and hurried off, leaving me alone with my boyfriend.

The last time I was alone with him was our picnic date, and then I felt that nothing was out of the ordinary. However, this time, I began to feel uneasy. I tried to shake it off, knowing that I was just being paranoid.

"Come on, let's go!" He grinned as he took my hand, helping me up.

He was practically dragging me forward, dodging all the people.

"Where are we going?!" I asked, beginning to grow out of breath.

"The fun house!" he replied happily, "I always go there whenever I could go to a carnival. It's gonna be great!"

"Alright," I smiled, but inside I was disappointed. I'm all for fun things, I love fun. However, since he asked Jimmy and Alex to leave us alone, I thought that he had something romantic in mind. Guess not.

When we were standing in front of the fun house, the first thing I noticed that it was silent. It was also dark, and in a secluded corner of the carnival. The noises from people and rides were muffled by the distance.

"Nick, I don't think it's open," I said.

"Sure it is, there's not sign saying that it's closed. Let's go!" He tugged my hand, leading to the enterance.

"There's no workers here," I pointed out.

He rolled his eyes, "there's no need for workers at a fun house. Now come on, I've been looking forward to this. Please?" he begged, staring into my eyes.

I rolled mine with a smile, "fine."

He smiled, then led me inside. We walked around for a bit in the darkened house, taking many tunnels that took us deeper into the maze.

I stopped walking, wondering where I was. I didn't hear anyone behind me, or in front.

"Nick?" I asked.

Silence.

Oh no. Not again.

"Nick?! Please answer me!"

Nothing.

My heart rate picked up speed, matching my breathing pattern. Calm down, Rose. Calm down. It's a fun house, nothing will happen to you.

"She's back..."

Oh no. I searched desperately around me in the dark, trying to pinpoint the voice.

"And this time we have her. He'll pay for destroying our friends..."

I had no clue what they were talking about, but I wasn't wasting any time on figuring it out. I bolted, putting up my hands in front of me so I wouldn't crash into a wall.

"We need to take her quick, before he finds her again!"

"Damn him, why can't he just leave us alone?"

"Stop wasting time! Take her!"

"No!" I screamed, still running. I was terrified. "Nick! Nick, where are you?!"

"She's so stupid, why would he want her by his side?"

"Well, he isn't the smartest, either."

The voices began to laugh.

Suddenly, a hand latched onto my wrist.

I screamed, pulling away madly. "No! Leave me alone!"

Whoever it was didn't let go, only now both arms wrapped around my waist.

"No!" I protested, wriggling around. When the thing lifted me in the air, I kicked wildly. "Let me go! Help!"

I struggled even harder, but it wasn't relenting.

"Help! Let me go!"

It wasn't letting go, my heart felt like it was about to burst. I couldn't be kidnapped!

"DARREN!"

All of a sudden, I was outside, standing on the soft, worn grass of the carnival. I breathed in and out, trying to slow my heart rate. My eyes widened at the sight of him in front of me.

"Darren? How-?" I blushed at the fact that I had screamed his name only seconds before. But before he could say a word, I took the two steps needed to reach him and threw my arms around his neck, burying my face into his black t-shirt clad shoulder.

"They wanted to kidnap me!" I sobbed, "I-I didn't know what to do. I should've used magic, but I didn't think and they were chasing me and-"

"Shhh," he soothed, rubbing a hand along my back, "you're okay. You're fine, nothing is ever going to hurt you, I will never allow it to happen."

I pulled back, rubbing the tears off my cheeks with my sleeve. I hardly ever cried in front of people, and when I did, I wanted it to end quickly.

I looked into his piercing blue eyes, that were staring into mine. "How did you know where I was?" I asked.

"I-I sorta maybe followed you into the fun house," he rubbed a hand sheepishly along the back of his neck, "I was worried about you being alone with Nick, I don't like that guy." He narrowed his eyes, "I think he's dangerous."

I glanced down at my shoes. "I don't know...but I do know that I'm going to break up with him."

Darren's eyes bulged. "Huh?!"

"I'm going to break up with him," I shrugged, "he left me alone once, and I decided to give him a second chance. But now that he left me again, I'm done."

He grinned madly, "in that case...would you like to accompany me for the rest of the night?"

I smiled, "yeah." We walked side-by-side back to the populated fair grounds.

...

"There's no way you can do it," I shook my head.

"Are you seriously underestimating my strength?" he teased.

"Well, you're not the Hulk," I smirked.

"I don't have to be to ring that bell."

"Darren, no one ever wins on those. They're all rigged."

"That's what all the weaklings say," he answered with a wink. He turned to the worker. "One try," he said, handing him a dollar.

"It's impossible," I say, although my eye has caught sight of an adorable panda plush.

Darren followed my line of sight, smirking. "It's yours," he promised, lifting the hammer.

My brain told me that it was rigged, it was hopeless. Yet deep down I was hoping beyond hope that he'd win.

He reared the hammer back, his eyebrows furrowed in concentration. I ignored the muscles bulging in his arms.

Quickly, he snapped it forward, banging the sensitive pad. The metal piece sailed towards the sky, and a satisfying 'DING' sounded.

I gasped aloud, glad, yet shocked that he actually won.

Darren put the hammer down, giving me a grin before he turned back to the worker. "The panda," he spoke, pointing at the stuffed animal.

The worker unhooked it from the wall and gave it to him. "Here you go, good job."

"Thanks," he replied, then handed me the panda.

I smiled widely, taking it in my arms. It was just as soft as I imagined, and it was the perfect size for hugging. So I did just that as we were walking away from the game.

"Thank you," I beamed at him.

Darren shrugged with a grin, "no problem. Anytime you need my muscles, just let me know." He smirked and gave me a wink as he flexed his right arm.

I averted my eyes, feeling the color rush to my cheeks. "So, what now?"

"Well, now you gotta name it."

I rolled my eyes, "I meant what should we do now but okay. Hmm..." I thought, "how about 'Cookies and Cream?' or C.C. for short!"

He rose an eyebrow, a bemused smile on his lips. "Cookies and Cream?"

"Yeah! She's black and white...white ice cream and oreos, it's perfect!" I grinned.

He shook his head, "whatever you say."

Darren looked to the right, towards the ferris wheel.

"Hey, it's getting pretty late and the carnival's gonna be over soon. Wanna go on the ferris wheel?"

I bit my lip. "Well, I don't see Jimmy and Alex anywhere," I looked around my just to make sure. "They must've left. Sure, let's go on."

He smiled as we walked to the line to get to the ride. Once at the front, the ride attendant opened the gondola, and me and Darren climbed inside. The woman shut the door, then Darren latched it shut from the inside. The attendant gave the 'thumbs-up' and in seconds we were were off.

The gondola wasn't open, so I couldn't feel the breeze on me, but it was nice all the same. There was even a shade on both sides in case a couple wanted some privacy.

I looked down nervously. "Darren?"

"Hmm?"

"Were you the one in the fun house who grabbed me?" I asked. I had to know if it was one of the voice's hands or his. I knew he got me to safety, but he could've just said a spell to send me outside while he would wait for me.

He nodded, "yeah, that was me." He chuckled, "it was actually pretty hard to save you, you know. You wouldn't stop kicking and squirming."

"I thought you were a kidnapper!" I defended myself. "Or those voices..."

"What voices?" He asked, serious.

"I don't know...they were very creepy-sounding. They mentioned that 'he' again, and a 'she.' I assumed they were talking about me. But why? Why would they want to kidnap me, whoever they are? What makes me so special?"

He glanced away, then reached over to pull the shades over the windows. "I-I don't know."

"You don't have the slightest idea?" I asked.

"No. I don't," he denied. "They were probably just some sickos."

"Yeah," I nodded, beginning to believe that. What else could they have been? "You're right, they were probably just some average sickos."

"Thank God I got there in time," he muttered to himself. "Who knows what they would've done if they got you..."

"Thanks for saving me," I said quietly, not meeting him in the eyes.

He took my hand, forcing myself to look into his blue orbs. "Always."

The gondola jerked to a halt, snapping us out of whatever we were in. Darren immediately pulled the shades to uncover the windows, unlatched the door, then got out of the gondola. He raised a hand, helping me out of it.

By now mostly everyone had gone home, the only rides that were still working were the ferris wheel and merry-go-round. The ground had trash littered all over it, mostly napkins, that people left behind on numerous tables. The food stands were all closed, too.

"I think I should take you home now," Darren said quietly, searching the area with a darkened expression.

"What are you looking for?" I asked, confused.

He shook his head, "nothing. Come on, let's get you home."

I nodded as I clutched C.C. tighter to me, letting Darren walk by my side.

Soon we were on the sidewalk that would eventually lead to Rose's house. The whole time I kept an arm wrapped firmly around her waist, searching the darkness for them. They love the night, as it can mask most of their deeds. They would have surely taken her if she was walking home alone. But luckily, I didn't see any in my sight.

"Darren?" she asked softly.

"Hmm?" I responded distractedly.

"Why do you keep looking around like that? We're fine, there's no one out now. Well, not here anyway."

"You'd be surprised," I answered darkly, glancing down at her. A smile tugged at the edges of my lips at the sight of her holding her panda plush to her chest, as if it was the most precious thing in the world. Cookies and Cream...I fought a chuckle.

"What's so funny?" she questioned, eyebrows lowered in annoyance.

I shook my head, "nothing."

Finally, we arrived at her house. We stopped just behind the fence she had outside of her front lawn.

"Thank you for everything tonight," she said quietly with a smile. "For getting me out of the fun house," her smile dropped as did mine, until she continued. "For treating me to a night at the carnival, for my cotton candy-"

"That I paid eight bucks for because you dropped the first one," I interrupted with a teasing grin.

"You're never gonna let me hear the end of that, are you?" she laughed.

"Not without proper incentive..." I replied mysteriously.

"Incentive?" Rose questioned, brown eyes wide with wonder.

"Mhm," I nodded, leaning closer to her face, eyeing her lips.

"What were you thinking?" she whispered shakily.

I smirked, "I was thinking of...hmm, how did Romeo put it? Letting lips do what hands do?"

I hated having to read Romeo and Juliet this year, because honestly, I thought the main characters were just stupid with most of their decisions. But the part when Romeo said that...damn, Shakespeare had game.

Her eyes widened slightly more. "Pray?" she squeaked.

"Not this time," I replied, connecting my lips with hers.

Rose gasped slightly, then began kissing me back. She threw her arms around my neck. I smiled at the feel of Cookies and Cream hitting my back, as she was still holding on to her with one hand.

I left her mouth, trailing soft kisses down her neck. From the sound she made, I'd say she was quite pleased.

When I reached the bottom of her neck, I kissed upwards, going under her chin and then returning to her lips.

I knew I had to stop, that this wasn't the right place for kissing. But the way her free hand dug into my hair, the way her mouth fit with mine...I was beginning to not care and ready to do this for hours.

However, before I could lose all control, I gently pulled back, breaking the kiss.

Rose's eyes opened slowly, half-lidded. Her lips were slightly puffy and her hair was mussed. She was breathing heavily.

"I think it's time you go inside," I whispered, planting one last, chaste kiss on her lips.

She nodded wordlessly, still in a daze. I smirked, proud that I was the cause of it, and certaintly not Dick...

I silently cast a spell to make her appearance tidier, then guided her to the walkway in front of her house. She walked up the steps, then turned around before opening her door.

I grinned, giving her a small wave good-bye and a wink.

She smiled back, shifted Cookies and Cream so she was settled in her left arm, then opened the door with her right.

"DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT TIME IT IS?!" A man's voice screamed, presumably her father.

Rose darted her nervous gaze to me, then turned and went inside.

I laughed, tele-transporting to my own house.

A/N: Cookies and cream is Paola's favorite ice cream, so that inspired me to name the panda that ;D

202 reviews...thank you all SO MUCH. Seriously, you guys are amazing :D

Cookies and Cream link is on my profile!

alli211: Aww, that's nice that it reminded you of someone ;)

xDreamingAtMidnightx: Thank you, I'm happy many people liked that I finally had a chapter with Aurora in it again.

Random Person: Idk, he's pretty protective of his little girl ;)

alessandramottam: If you're talking about updates, no, I don't update only once a month with this story. I like to think I update frequently. Lately I've been busy with a job, then of course I have school. I don't have all the time I'd like to write.

delightisadream: Haha, I'm glad you liked it :) And you really thought it was adorable? I was trying for that scene to be cute ;)

lovethatignites: Thank you, and I'm glad that I wrote it :) I think she needs to stop lying to herself too ;D

jisela: Omg that made my day X'D Princess Aurora...Sleeping Beauty...spinning wheel XD

Guest: Yay! :D

Guest: I agree with you, Rose should have a sibling. Unfortunately, writing is harder than a tv show, as you have to visualize everything for yourself. Plus, most of the characters in this story are my own creation. It's only centering around them, so if Rose did have a sibling, then they wouldn't be included very much because they don't pertain to the plot. But if EWW ever has a spinoff about their kids, then yes, I fully believe that Jemma's child would have brothers and/or sisters.