A/N: And we're back from that excruciatingly long commercial break. Let's meet back up with our friends as their date continues.
Disclaimer: Don't own Chuck
Chapter 20
"That was unbelievable. Hands down, the best burger I've ever had," Sarah exclaimed as she strode next to Chuck, her arm wrapped around his.
"I'm glad you liked it. I hope you liked the place too; the people. They're kinda like family to me. The only real family I have, outside of Ellie and Morgan. I appreciate you signing all those autographs, especially for Lou. I know she's a huge fan of yours and the fact that she didn't lose her shit when we walked in is truly remarkable." Sarah barked out a laugh at the comment.
"Lou's a riot. I really did enjoy myself. Everyone was so warm and inviting. I'm ashamed to admit it's not at all what I expected when we first stood outside. I can see why you like it there. You must take all your dates to Emma's."
"Umm… actually, no. You're the only date I've ever taken there," Chuck admitted, focusing on the sidewalk. Sarah turned to look up at him, a questioning look on her face.
"Why?" Chuck just shrugged as they walked in the dwindling daylight.
"Well, Jill, she wouldn't have liked it. It's too 'real' for her, if you know what I mean. She'd have thought a place like that, the people, would be beneath her. In reality, they're too good for her. She didn't deserve to know those people. Maybe I always knew that. The few other dates I've been on, I knew they would be non-starters. I only went out with them to make Ellie happy. I just didn't want to spoil my memories of Emma's. It probably sounds ridiculous." Chuck shook his head at himself, brandishing that self-deprecating smile of his.
"No. No, it's not ridiculous at all, but… but why take me there?" Sarah asked, craning her neck to look up into Chuck's eyes.
"Because… I trust you. I trusted that even if you didn't have a great time there, you would never make it weird or awkward. You always handle yourself with dignity and grace, so I knew you'd never ruin that place for me or disrespect those people. Plus, I can never hope to have a meaningful relationship with someone if they don't know the real me. That place is a part of me, of who I am, and I wanted you to see it. That way, you can make an educated decision." They continued to walk to the rendezvous point where they'd meet up with the limo.
"Good answer," Sarah said as she leaned her head on his shoulder. It may have been a little more intimate than Chuck had expected, as evidenced by his slight stiffening. She could feel him turn to look at her, but she didn't really care. The huge meal had nearly put her into a food coma, and adding the warmth he provided, it just felt right.
They continued on in silence until they reached the limo. Casey stood at the back door, holding it open as he had before. Sarah greeted Casey and then looked back at Chuck with a knowing smile before getting into the limo.
"Here ya go, Mr. Casey." Chuck held up a ToGo bag from Emma's, offering it to Casey. The older man looked on in surprise, but eventually accepted the bag. "That's for you, Sean and Jason. You guys need to eat too." Chuck gave him a smile before joining Sarah in the back of the limo. Casey closed the door and stared at the bag of food. He let out an amused grunt and shook his head before making his way to his seat.
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"So now where are we going?" Sarah asked, sitting closer to Chuck than on their previous drive.
"I can't tell you. It'll spoil the surprise. I've called tonight's festivities 'A Night with Chuck Bartowski'. At least in my head anyway. Now that I hear it out loud, it probably should've stayed there. Anyway, I wanted to show you some of the things that are near and dear to me. Our next stop will hopefully allow us to walk off some of this food. I'm glad you wore sensible shoes." Chuck eyed her slip-on deck shoes approvingly, then turned his attention to the scenery passing by.
"Are you insinuating that my other choices in shoes aren't sensible?" Sarah asked, with faux indignance.
"I refuse to answer on the grounds that I'll invariably put my foot in my mouth." Sarah burst into laughter, falling against his shoulder. After her laughter subsided, she righted herself, but immediately missed the contact.
"Ah, good. We're here!" Chuck exclaimed. The limo came to a stop and the door opened a moment later. Casey was watching the area, dozens of people walking on the sidewalks and a wide set of stairs that led to a concourse of sorts. Chuck hopped out and offered his hand to Sarah, which she happily accepted. Chuck waved into the limo, "See ya, Jason. Hope you enjoyed the burger." Sarah chuckled at his antics, amused at how Chuck is always more concerned about people than the illusion of television, where the camera is supposed to be invisible.
Jason remained in the limo, waving his goodbye as he filmed their exit. A group of two camera operators waited for them outside. The cameras the show used were much smaller than the large, shoulder-mounted monsters of yester-year. The much more compact HD cameras allowed them to more easily blend into crowds and operate in confined spaces. This was likely one of the reasons that Sarah often forgot the cameras were even there. The whole premise was to capture Sarah and the contestant's unfiltered interactions, which they did all too well. Thankfully, Zondra and Roan had final say on what made it on air, so at least she had that going for her. Some of the things they had already pointed out to her behind closed doors, regarding her interactions with Chuck, she hoped they would consider leaving out.
Sarah stood between Chuck and Casey, surveying her surroundings in an effort to determine where she was. Once she got her bearings, the smell of the ocean, the sound of the music and distant screams, her face lit up. Spinning to face Chuck, she grabbed his arm with both hands, unable to curb her excitement.
"The Santa Monica Pier! Really?" She felt like a kid at Christmas. She hadn't been to the Santa Monica Pier since she was a young girl. She had such fond memories of that time, back when her parents were together and happy, at least so she thought. All the years that she'd lived in LA, she had always wanted to go, but felt ridiculous going by herself. It wasn't really Carina's scene, so Sarah never asked her to go. She made the mistake of hinting at the idea to Bryce and he had, in true form, laughed at the idea. The fact that Chuck had brought her here, of all places, whether by happenstance or not, couldn't have been more perfect.
"I spent a lot of my childhood here, the arcade especially," Chuck admitted, giving her a self-deprecating smile, shrugging a shoulder. "What can I say? I've always been a nerd. I hope it's alright. If you don't want-" Before Chuck could finish, Sarah was pulling him up the steps, like a child hellbent on seeing Santa. Casey followed behind, much like a parent watching his kids at the park; keeping a watchful eye but allowing them to run free. Casey chuckled to himself, not only at the child-like enthusiasm of his protectee, but at the poor cameramen that had to try to keep up with them.
"Hold on. Slow down a second. I have a plan," Chuck huffed out, chuckling at the way she was pulling on his hand. She didn't recall when she had gone from holding his arm, to gripping his hand, but she wasn't about to let go. Now that she could feel the warm softness of his large hand around hers, she'd relish in it as long as she could. "Just over here. The Heal the Bay Aquarium." He gestured with his head, giving her a slight tug as he glanced down at their joined hands. She was almost fearful that Chuck would pull away in embarrassment. Thankfully, he gave her a warm smile and made no effort to extricate his hand.
The two took their time wandering through the aquarium, pointing out the fish; weird and beautiful alike. They were forced to release their hold on one another when the crowded walkways no longer allowed for it, but they remained close, brushing against each other or his hand on her back letting her know he was still there. The gesture was simple and innocent but felt like so much more. In the past, when men had put their hands on her back that way, it had always felt controlling or possessive, likely because, in their case, it was. With Chuck, all she felt was the warmth of his large hand, supportive and reassuring.
They stood shoulder to shoulder for a long while, staring in silent fascination at the jellyfish illuminated by black light. Like ghosts floating in the abyss, it was mesmerizing. As they moved through the aquarium, Chuck was the acting tour guide, eager to show her displays, share details and little-known facts about the creatures. Some of it she recalled from her youth or shows on television, but Sarah enjoyed listening to him, watching that child-like enthusiasm consume him. He was so unguarded and open, unafraid to share himself or his feelings. It was a very attractive quality and it filled her with warmth to see his boyish smile.
"So, where to next?" she asked as they strode out of the aquarium building, her arm wrapped around his bicep.
"Fancy a horseback ride?" He gave her a mischievous grin and, as they drew closer to their destination, his meaning became clear.
"The Carousel! Can we?" She practically begged and didn't care one bit if she looked childish doing it. Chuck let out a hearty chuckle as he led her to the large building with "Merry Go-Round" painted over the entrance. Chuck purchased tickets at the counter where the young woman working the register nearly freaked out seeing Sarah Walker standing at her counter. Chuck stepped aside, allowing the people working the counter to fawn over Sarah as she signed autographs and posed for selfies.
"Sorry about that," she apologized, looking sheepish as they made their way toward the carousel entrance.
"Don't ever be sorry for who you are. You're a kind, caring person and you take the time to connect with your fans. It's just one of the many things I lo-like about you." Chuck swallowed thickly, and she could see his Adam's apple bob up and down before he turned his head to look away. He was terrible at hiding his emotions, and the little slip he'd made caused a knot to form in Sarah's stomach. Before she could dwell on that, they were ushered through the line and found horses next to each other. Chuck attempted to help her up, but he found she was already astride her carousel horse before he got the chance. Chuck stood in awe for a moment at the speed and grace by which she'd mounted the horse. Sarah gave him a wry smile and shrugged a shoulder. Chuckling as he shook his head, he got on his own horse, with far less expertise than his date.
As the carousel turned around and around, picking up speed as it went, Sarah closed her eyes and felt the breeze against her face, batting her hair about her neck and shoulders. The sounds and smells took her back to the last time she'd ridden on this carousel, one of the last outings she'd had with her parents, as a family. It was a bittersweet memory, but she took a deep breath and blew it out, opening her eyes. She looked over at Chuck and saw him gazing at her, a look of concern on his face. He mouthed the words 'You ok?' as the calliope music was too loud to talk over without shouting. Of course, Chuck would notice even the slightest hint that something was bothering her. Either she was much worse at hiding it than she thought, and nobody ever cared to notice, or he just knew her that well. Perhaps it was a bit of both. Sarah wasn't sure if she should be saddened by the fact that nobody had ever bothered to notice or elated that Chuck was the one that finally had. Choosing to focus on the latter, Sarah gave him a tight-lipped smile and nodded, turning back to allow the breeze to caress her face.
When the ride came to a halt and they dismounted, the two made their way to the exit, blending into the crowd. It was early evening now, the sun having set, and all the streetlights were lit along the boardwalk. It was a weeknight, so the sidewalks weren't as crowded as she had expected, but there were enough people that they didn't stand out. When she felt him bump into her shoulder, she turned to look up at him as they walked.
"You sure you're OK? You wanna talk about it?" He looked a bit shy, his hands in his pockets. Her past wasn't something that she shared with people. Carina and Zondra knew some of it, but it wasn't a happy time in her life, so she didn't like to dwell on it. Still, it seemed only fair that she share something of herself, having gotten to hear so much about Chuck's life growing up. She steeled herself, taking in a cleansing breath.
"You know, I find it's a lot easier to talk about difficult subjects over ice cream," he interjected, pulling a hand from his pocket and gesturing toward the "Soda Jerks Ice Cream Shop". Not only did Chuck always seem to know the right thing to say, but he seemed to know the right food for every occasion. She eagerly nodded, following him up to the counter.
"I'll have a double scoop of Mint Chip in a waffle cone and for the lady…" Chuck paused, turning to look at her. Sarah twisted her lips to the side, trying to hide the smile but she figured she was failing, given the smile he was giving her in return.
"I'll have the same, but make it Rocky Road, please." Chuck nodded and his face expressed his approval at her flavor choice.
"Oh," Chuck added, leaning in conspiratorially, "could you make up three single scoop Dutch Chocolate cones?" The older man behind the counter curiously looked both ways out of his window. "It's for the two guys with cameras," he whispered loudly, gesturing with his thumb over his shoulder, "and the large, angry looking man standing by that lamppost behind us." Sarah snorted in laughter, covering her mouth to try and stifle it. The man behind the counter nodded his understanding and shrugged with a 'what d'ya do?' expression. Chuck grabbed a handful of napkins and Sarah gave him a questioning look.
"Oh. Sorry. I'm used to getting ice cream with Morgan. He's basically a large toddler, so he tends to make a mess. Not… not that I'm much better, to be honest," he shrugged, giving her a sheepish wince. Sarah giggled at his joking and the eye roll he gave himself. It was so refreshing to be with someone that didn't take themselves too seriously. She was always surrounded by people who were putting on a show, either for the cameras or to keep up appearances. It was nice to just let her guard down and be herself around a guy for a change. It felt quite liberating.
Chuck handed Sarah her cone and one of the napkins from his collection before taking his own cone. The man then placed the three chocolate cones in a plastic holder on the counter. Chuck turned and waved at Casey and the two cameramen and pointed to the cones as he began to walk away. The two cameramen waved and gave him a thumbs up in appreciation. Despite the distance between them, Sarah could swear she heard Casey's eyes roll as he shook his head in disbelief.
"You just can't help yourself, can you?" Sarah asked before taking a lick of her ice cream. Chuck gave her a quizzical look, unsure what she was talking about. "You're just kind-hearted wherever you go. You don't even stop to think about it do you?" Chuck's cheeks turned noticeable redder, shrugging off the comment.
"I dunno. I guess the saying 'Be kind to people on the way up, because you'll meet them on your way back down' has always stuck with me. I've always been at the bottom, and I've had plenty of people step on me as they climbed their way up. Now that I'm on my way up, if I make friends along the way, I like to think they might be there to catch me if I fall. I find it infinitely more rewarding to be kind to someone and lift them up, than to put them down. And that was a very nice job at avoiding the subject of what we were going to talk about over ice cream." Sarah gasped in faux indignation, but eventually they both chuckled.
"Alright. Fine. You win," she conceded with a smirk. Sarah was quiet for a long moment as they strolled in a leisurely fashion down the boardwalk, each taking licks and bites of ice cream.
"Sarah, look. You don't have to -"
"No. No, I do. It's…" She paused, looking up at him, seeing the concern in his expression. "I've learned so much about you over the past week and I've shared so little of myself. And before you say it," she accused, pointing a finger at him, "before you tell me that I don't have to share anything, I know that I don't have to. But for once, I want to." Chuck held his tongue but nodded in resignation.
"This place holds a lot of memories of my childhood. When I was probably six or seven, my parents brought me here. It was a great day. I can still remember pieces of it, you know. Just little flashes of moments. I can remember being happy. It was the last family outing I can remember. Not long after, my parents split up."
"God, I'm so sorry," Chuck interjected, sounding legitimately apologetic. Maybe because he knew firsthand what a broken family felt like. She gave him a tight smile and continued on.
"I… I really don't want to go into the details right now, but suffice it to say, my father wasn't in the picture much after that. A card here or there for birthdays or Christmas; maybe a present once in a great while. My mom never spoke ill of him, only that he was busy or living far away. I remember things being really tight, never having a lot of extras. Clothes and toys from thrift stores, living in rent supplement apartments, it was hard, but we made do. Even though she worked a lot, Mom was always there for me. I know that she sacrificed so much in order for me to have a good life. Sure, I missed out on the class field trips and camps because she couldn't afford it, but she had friends in the community that helped to make up for that. My mom's good friend, Dee, she ran the local community theatre, so I got to spend a lot of time there. She also ran a dance studio out of the theatre to help with costs, and I got to participate. That's where I learned to dance and gained an appreciation for the arts."
"Wow. I'm sorry you had things so rough as a kid. I get how hard that can be on a kid, to not have a parent around. But, hey. It's really cool that you had someplace you could go that inspired you." Chuck smiled warmly at her before digging into his ice cream, gesturing with his other hand to continue.
"Well, I know that people like to talk about my looks, but believe me, I did NOT look like this when I was a teenager," she stressed, gesturing to herself. "I was awkward, had braces and could never figure out what to do with my hair. It wasn't until my senior year that a volunteer make-up artist at the theatre took me aside and gave me a makeover. She taught me a lot about makeup and style. After that, I got a lot more attention, but mainly from the guys. It wasn't that my mom didn't try to teach me things. She did, but I just didn't trust her opinion. She always told me I was beautiful, and I thought it was just her being a mom, being biased and trying to be supportive. I think it took that outside influence to get me to see what my mom was trying to tell me all along. Beauty isn't about the makeup, the hair or the clothes. It's about who you are on the inside when you take all of that other stuff away. Your looks, that external beauty, it fades with time, and if you're an ugly person underneath, it'll show."
"That's really profound. I've gotta tell ya though, I find it hard to believe that even back then you were anything less than gorgeous." Sarah snorted at the comment, shaking her head in amusement.
"You're as bad as my mother," she teased, giving him a wry smile.
"Well, I'll consider that a compliment." Chuck held her gaze for a moment before it was interrupted by the crowd. The further down the boardwalk they went, the more crowded it became. Passing the Bubba Gump Shrimp Co. restaurant, Chuck let out a gasp of excitement.
"Come on!" he exclaimed, grabbing Sarah by the hand and pulling her down the boardwalk. He stopped in front of a sign that read "Santa Monica - 66- End of the Trail". "We gotta get our picture taken. This is the end of the historic Route 66 - the Mother Road- stretching all the way from Chicago to right… here," he emphasized, stomping his foot right beside the signpost as he sidled up to it. "Come on. Stand beside me so Jessie and Kurt can film it. If nothing else, I can get a picture of it to frame as a memento." For a moment, Sarah could see his expression darken, like something heavy was weighing on him, his gaze drifting off in thought. Blinking, he refocused, putting on a smile when he noticed she was watching him.
The two posed for some pictures and video footage with Chuck's arm around her shoulders and Sarah's arm around his lower back. She pulled herself close to him, enjoying the warmth and the unique scent of him. She remembered the scent well from their dancing the other night and it brought back a flood of memories. Sarah definitely didn't have to fake a smile for the camera. Her face was alight with the happiness she felt from just being with Chuck, and the hope of what 'might be'. When she looked up at Chuck, she saw a similar smile, which made her smile all the more. When Sarah noticed that people were beginning to take notice, she decided to move along before they drew a crowd. Chuck and Sarah, with Casey and the cameramen in tow, continued down the boardwalk at a leisurely pace.
Chuck came to a halt and she could feel his body tense slightly as her arm was laced through his. She looked around and then up at Chuck to see what the matter was. He had this look on his face that was a cross between a smile and a wince. Like he was about to ask for a really big favor and that face might lessen the blow. Following his gaze, she thought she knew what the issue might be. They had pulled up short in front of the Playland Arcade. She imagined the noises and flashing lights were a beacon, calling out to kids, and kids at heart alike. She recalled him sharing that he had come here a lot as a kid, and while she hadn't spent much time in arcades, she had been known to play a few games in her time. If Chuck wanted this to be a 'Night with Chuck Bartowski', as he called it, then she wanted to see him in his natural habitat.
"Come on, Chuck," she beckoned, pulling on his arm toward the entrance to the arcade.
"Ho-hold on. Wait-wait just a second," Chuck rushed out, gently resisting her pulling. Sarah turned to look up at him, looking confused. "I… I was wondering if … if you'd go in the ... photo booth with me?" he asked, gesturing to the smaller entrance to the left. There was a sign above it that advertised Photo booths and kiddie rides. When she turned back to look up at him, that boyish smile and his pleading eyes nearly made her melt. He was foregoing a chance to nerd out on games galore just to have a picture taken with her in a cramped photo booth. She felt tears stinging at the back of her eyes, as the significance of that overwhelmed her. She knew he would always put her first, and not just because it was her, but because that's who he was.
Not trusting her voice, she nodded enthusiastically with a broad smile, her eyes shining. With that, Chuck's face lit up and he began pulling her toward the photo booths like a man on a mission. She couldn't help but giggle at his antics as she stumbled after him. When they settled on a photo booth, they both slid in, Sarah first, followed by Chuck. Once he had folded himself into the small booth, he fed some bills into the machine.
"Get closer or you won't be in the picture," she beckoned, waving him toward her. He moved closer but was still trying to be respectful of her personal space. Realizing that she would have to be the one to make the move, she molded herself closer to him, their cheeks brushing as the countdown flashed on the screen. The flash began to go off, taking a series of pictures. With each picture they got closer and closer, until their cheeks touched. For the last remaining pictures, Sarah turned her head and placed a soft kiss on his cheek.
Sarah pulled back, hearing the machine spitting out the strip of pictures. She hadn't noticed Chuck's expression or that he was uncharacteristically quiet. When she snatched the pictures from the slot in the machine, she marveled at them. The couple in those pictures looked so incredibly happy together and it made her heart swell. She got it now. All the jabs and comments from Zondra, Carina and even Megan. She could see it now, just how happy she looked in those pictures. As did Chuck, and when she scanned down to the last few pictures, she couldn't help but burst out in laughter.
"What? What? Do I… do I have something in my teeth?" He asked, embarrassed, as he ran his tongue between his teeth and lips.
"No. No… I'm… I'm sorry. It's just the look on your face…" she trailed off, pointing out the pictures toward the end where she had kissed his cheek. Over the course of three frames, you could see the progression from shock to wonderment spread across his face. He snorted at the pictures, rolling his eyes as his neck, ears and cheeks turned a dark rose. Feeling a bit guilty, Sarah shoulder bumped him.
"I think it's cute." She handed him the strip of pictures. "Come on. Let's go play some games." Chuck climbed out of the booth, stretching to his full height, with Sarah right behind him.
"But… don't you want a set of pictures too?" He asked, glancing between the pictures in his hand, the photo booth and Sarah.
"Nah. I'm good. I don't really need 'em," she replied casually. Before Chuck's face had a chance to fall, Sarah continued. "Shake a tail feather. I wanna play some games," she said with a smirk, grabbing his hand and leading him through the arcade.
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"Oh my God, that was sooo much fun," Sarah exclaimed as they stepped out onto the boardwalk. She was hugging a stuffed teddy bear the size of a toddler as she skipped out into the night air.
"Sure, it was fun. You kicked my ass at like… every game," he chided with a playful grin.
"Ohhhh. That's not true at all," she rebutted. He just gave her a flat look in response. "OK. A lot of them, but I know you let me win on some of those." He began to argue but she jumped in before he could get a word out. "Don't you even try to deny it. I saw you missing on purpose when my score was getting close." He looked away sheepishly, not daring to confirm or deny.
"See! See, I knew it. You let me win," she scolded him half-heartedly.
"OK, but only because you were getting really mad. I was genuinely fearing for my safety and the safety of that plastic gun, he admitted with a wince. You have to admit, you can be a little scary when you get angry."
"I wasn't angry. I was…. frustrated. There's a difference," she responded with a faux pout.
"Well, 'frustrated' Sarah Walker is still very intimidating. Besides, I loved seeing the smile on your face when you won. The gloating, not so much, but it's worth it," he confessed, giving a small chuckle. His words struck a chord, causing Sarah to grow silent, ducking her head. She knew it was just a saying. To 'love' something a person does and to actually love the person were two different things entirely. Still, to hear that word, especially from his mouth, caused her heart to skip a beat. They had only known each other for a week. It was a ridiculous notion to think that he could really feel that way toward her in such a short time. And it was too soon for her to feel that way too. Wasn't it?
Looking down at the bear she was hugging tightly to her chest, she tried to set those thoughts aside and get back to the conversation at hand, "Well, I'm sorry if my competitive nature got the better of me. I'm just not a huge fan of losing," she admitted, looking up at him with a wry smile.
"So I gathered. I'm sure it's not a bridge you have to cross often. But, hey, you got a prize out of it. Mr. Snuggles there will be an ever-present reminder that you are, indeed, a winner." Chuck shook his fists above his head in celebration, making Sarah giggle.
"His name's not Mr. Snuggles. I think I'll call him… Chuck Beartowski," she said, as if it were a regal name befitting of rank and title. "And I didn't have enough tickets to get him. That was all you Mister," she added, playfully poking him in the chest.
"I had some vouchers from the last few times I was here. I simply donated them to a worthy cause," he shrugged, trying to play it off as no big deal.
"Even so, thank you. He's so sweet and fluffy," she cooed, hugging the bear to her face. Chuck gave her a broad smile and she could see the admiration in his eyes. Something seemed to catch his attention, pulling him from his musings.
"So, what's your stance on roller coasters?" he asked, pointing behind her. Turning around, Sarah could see the West Coaster, weaving its way around the Pacific Park behind then. A coaster train roared past, its riders screaming and flailing their arms. Wiping her head back to face Chuck, she didn't bother to hide the excitement on her face. "Ok. Let's go!" Chuck waved for her to follow.
"Oh, wait! I don't want to lose Chuck Beartowski. Hold on a sec." Sarah held up a finger before racing over to where Casey was standing a short distance away, trying to look inconspicuous. As she neared, he rolled his eyes and shook his head. Without a word, Sarah shoved the bear into Casey's arms. The large man stood wide-eyed with surprise, looking between the bear and a retreating Sarah. Grunting with a sigh of exasperation, he just gripped the bear and followed them into the Pacific Park.
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"Your screams aren't girlish. They're… very … manly screams." Sarah was twisting her lips to the side trying, and failing, to keep a straight face. Chuck just blinked, giving her a "really?" look. That made her snort out a chuckle. The smile that was growing on his face as he shook his head at her, let her know he wasn't offended. She weaved her arm through his, leaning against him as they walked. Passing by some of the games of chance, the ones that always seemed to be rigged in the house's favor, Sarah perked up and dragged Chuck over to one of the counters. It was your typical balloon pop game, in which you have a number of chances to throw darts to pop said balloons.
"Can I play? I'm sorry, I didn't bring any cash, or I'd pay for-"
"No. Don't be silly. Of course, you can play. Anything you want." Sarah gave him a raised eyebrow that suggested that she may challenge the limits of 'anything'. He ducked his head, shaking it as he dug out his wallet. He glanced at the sign, "4 Throws $3.00 - 6 Throws $5.00". He gave the woman behind the counter a five-dollar bill and she began to offer him the darts. Chuck held up his hands and then pointed at Sarah.
Sarah took the darts from the woman, who's mouth dropped open in recognition of who was at her booth. Scrambling, the woman pulled out her cellphone and began to record as Sarah stepped up to the line on the ground just in front of the counter. Rolling a dart between her fingers, she eyed the balloons, as if she were sizing up an opponent. With lightning speed, Sarah whipped out three darts in quick succession, popping a balloon with each. Chuck let out a low whistle as he watched in fascination from behind her. Feeling a bit cocky, Sarah shifted her body and again focused on the wall of balloons, this time rolling the dart in her left hand. With the same quickness as before, she released three darts, each popping a balloon in turn.
"YES!" Chuck exclaimed, giving a fist pump in celebration. "You're so freakin' amazing," he processed, sounding awestruck as he rubbed her shoulders in his excitement. He pulled his hands away, clearing his throat as he looked a bit embarrassed at his outburst. Sarah, of course, didn't mind a bit and gave him a bouncing eyebrow in response. That only seemed to deepen his embarrassment, as she watched his Adam's apple jump.
"I've never seen anyone do that so fast and hardly anyone gets all six. He's right, Miss Walker. You're freakin' amazing," the game worker declared, still looking surprised. "Well, you get the pick of any of the large prizes along the top." Sarah put her finger on her chin as she looked them over, finally pointing at one with a smirk.
"I want that one!" The woman smiled and nodded, using a pole to get it down from its hook. She presented Sarah with a large, cartoonish white and pink unicorn with a golden horn. Wheeling around, Sarah thrust it at Chuck. "This one's for you. Now you've got a prize too." Sarah was so proud of herself, figuring that he'd make a production about how he got the unicorn. But, as has often proven to be the case, he surprised her.
Grabbing the unicorn in both hands, his face bright with excitement, he shouted, "HE'S SO FLUFFY I'M GONNA DIE!" Sarah, the woman behind the counter and a number of passers-by broke out in laughter at his wacky display. Sarah was in tears she was laughing so hard, holding on to Chuck to keep from falling over.
"Oh my God! That's gotta be one of the funniest damn things I've ever seen. Wow! I can hardly breath," she huffed out, trying to catch her breath between bouts of laughter.
"Well, in the spirit of full disclosure, I stole that line from a movie," Chuck confessed, giving a sheepish shrug.
"Oh, I know. But the sharp contrast of that tiny little girl saying it versus you and your towering frame, it just seems so much funnier. You never cease to amaze me," she added before sidling up beside him, opposite the unicorn.
"Me?" he asked, looking down at her quizzically as they began to walk down the boardwalk.
"Yes, you. I seem to forget that you're so much different than any man I've ever known. Most guys would throw a fit about a woman giving them a prize they had won, let alone a fluffy unicorn. But not you. You're just so… fearless." Chuck opened his mouth, but Sarah let out a gasp and spun around to face him. "The Pacific Wheel! Can we go? Please?" she pleaded, with a giddy, child-like excitement.
"Suuuure," Chuck replied as his eyes followed the Ferris wheel from the ground all the way to the top.
"Awesome! Come on. I want to see the skyline at night from way up there." Sarah headed toward the line for the Pacific Wheel as Chuck slowly followed behind, still staring at the top.
"Yeah… fearless. Oh boy," he eked out.
A/N2: Oh boy! I did it again. Another chapter and STILL not at the end of the date. I mean, this is what we've been waiting for, right? Let's savor it a little while longer.
I really appreciate all of you and your overwhelming support of this story. When work is long and my free time scarce, you guys give me that extra boost to keep writing when I'd rather be doing something ridiculous, like sleeping or something. :) I'm enjoying writing this story and reading all of your reactions. Thanks so much.
See you next chapter where were tackle the ... "FERRIS ... WHEEL... OF DEATH"! (not really, but you need those overly dramatic teasers to get people to come back, right?)
JW