The Fic Lab Prompt: Ferris wheel
It's been ages since I've written for The Fic Lab (well, since I've written anything at all, actually). I feel very rusty. Thanks to Andi for lighting a fire under me. I don't think I would have done this if she hadn't.
I've been to the Forks State Fair every night this week. I always look forward to this final week of summer - the rides, the games, the funnel cakes. The state fair travels around the small towns in Clallam Country every summer with Forks being its last stop. The last hurrah before fall. Before life goes back to normal and high school starts again.
I know I should be looking forward to that. I'm a senior this year and we're going to rule the school. That sounds straight out of a cheesy high school film, but that's how I've always thought of it. The seniors always seemed so grown up, just on the precipice of adulthood. I've been anticipating this year since I was a freshman. But now that I'm here, it seems hollow somehow.
I know why that is. Edward Masen. We used to be best friends. As children, Edward, Jasper, and I were inseparable. We did everything together. I thought we'd always be friends. But something happens as you get older. Appearances start to matter. Family money starts to matter. What is considered cool and what isn't starts to matter.
The fact that Jasper and I came from wealthy families, while Edward did not started to matter. Jasper and I began drifting away from Edward in middle school. We barely even said hello to him when we made it to high school. I was happy in my bubble, with my 'cool' group of friends. And I always had Jasper. We even started dating last year. It just seemed easy.
But things changed this summer. I started seeing Edward everywhere I looked, always working. He was the cashier at the grocery store when I bought the supplies for a weekend getaway to Jasper's family cabin. He was re-shelving books when I visited the library for an independent study course I was taking over the summer. He was serving refreshments at the country club pool every time my friends and I spent the day there. That one must have been tough on him, never being able to use the pool, but waiting on everyone who did.
I did say hi these times. Edward was always polite, always with a smile for me, as though there were no hard feelings. We'd talked whenever I saw him over the summer and I started remembering how much fun we always had together when we were kids. I realize I miss that time more than I thought possible.
I find myself thinking about Edward more now when I'm alone. I'd be blind not to notice how hot he is. But more than that, I admire him. He's smart and dedicated and he has great plans for the future. He doesn't take anything for granted like most of my friends do.
I tried to bring it up to Jasper, to understand why we let our friendship with Edward fall by the wayside. But Jasper wasn't interested. He just made a comment that like hangs with like and ended the conversation there. He gets mad whenever I'd mention running into Edward again, or when he sees me talking to Edward at the refreshment stand. Our relationship that had always been so easy was becoming more difficult. I don't know if I'm seeing a new side of Jasper or if I'm just now opening my eyes to what has always been there.
I finally talk Jasper into attending the fair with me. He doesn't enjoy it as much as I do, so it took all my pleading to get him to attend this last night. The night starts fine, but Jasper stops short when he looks over to the Ferris wheel and sees Edward operating the controls. One final job for him before summer ends.
While I haven't ridden the Ferris wheel all week, I've walked by it multiple times each night trying to get Edward to notice me. And he has…we've made eye contact, we've smiled at each other, he's given me a nod of his head. It feels like we're building up to something. But I haven't been able to bring myself to walk over there and take a ride.
Standing in front of the Ferris wheel tonight, looking at Edward looking at me, I ask Jasper to take a ride with me. I'm more surprised than I probably should be when Jasper starts yelling that all I've done for the last month is talk about Edward. Edward's expression changes from a friendly smile into something I'm afraid to wish for.
I try to calm Jasper down, but he just tells me if I want Edward I can have him and storms off. My eyes follow Jasper's retreating form and I realize that we've just broken up. I almost feel bad that I don't feel sad about it.
I turn back to Edward and he is still looking at me with an almost smoldering expression. He points to the empty passenger car of the Ferris wheel as if he's asking a question. I smile, nod my head and walk over to the Ferris wheel. Edward calls out to his co-worker who takes his place behind the controls and joins me in the car.
"Hi, Bella," he says with a knowing smirk.
"Hi, Edward," I reply with my own mischievous grin.
I'm pretty sure senior year is going to be my best yet.
