Chapter 29: The County Fair

September 6, 0001

Tifa Lockhart, now fourteen again, sat on her bed in a long nightshirt as Ellie pulled the thermometer from her mouth.

"One hundred and one," Ellie observed. "You have a fever, Kate. You're definitely sick. Anything else feeling off?"

"A lot," Tifa replied. "Sore throat. Stomach's a mess. Joints are achy."

"You poor dear," Ellie cooed. "I'll be right back with some tomato soup."

With that, Ellie turned and walked out of Tifa's room before Tifa could politely decline.

She spotted Cloud in the hall.

"Kate's sick," Ellie informed him. "Kyle, she needs her rest. She'll probably fall asleep soon."

"Okay," Cloud agreed.

Another year had passed on the Sullivan Farm. Cloud was now fifteen. Tifa was fourteen. Donna was almost eighteen.

"Please play your games quietly," Ellie requested. "I'm going to give Kate some tomato soup with drowsy meds mixed inside. She'll fall asleep within the hour."

Cloud nodded.

He then turned around and made his way in the opposite direction.

As soon as he rounded the corner, he saw that Donna was standing there, with her arms folded.

"I need you to take a ride with me," she said in a monotone.

"Where to?" he asked.

"Just take a ride with me," she commanded. "I need to talk to you about something."

Realizing Donna was not going to answer any more questions, Cloud followed her to her car. When they climbed in, she handed him a blindfold.

"Put it on," she commanded.

"Why?" he asked skeptically.

"Because I said so," she replied. "That's why."

Cloud, not wanting to argue, placed the blindfold over his eyes.

Donna, without a word, started the car and drove off.

LATER…

Donna was silent the whole entire car ride. This was unusual, especially for her. She was normally vocal and spunky, but not today.

She might have had something on her mind.

Or it could have been anything.

Is she going to kill me? Cloud thought to himself.

It had crossed his mind.

And then, the car had finally stopped.

"Let's go," she commanded in a monotone.

Cloud complied and stepped out of the car. He soon felt Donna's hand on his wrist, beginning to lead him.

What is this? he thought to himself.

He felt her continue to lead him.

Then, she stopped.

"Okay," she said. "Take off the blindfold."

Cloud did as he was told, and suddenly gasped.

Lights and rides stood in front of him. They flashed and sparkled, and music was playing.

Donna was standing beside him. She had cast off her tee shirt, revealing a navy blue crop-tank.

"Welcome to the Bolaton County Fair!" she announced.

Cloud immediately turned to Donna.

"Why?" he asked in surprise.

"Kate needs her rest," she replied. "Plus, I'll be eighteen in two weeks. But the fair will be gone by then. So I wanted a little pre-celebration!"

Cloud was speechless for a few moments. Then, he realized what he needed to say.

"Thanks for taking me here," he said.

"Don't mention it!" Donna replied with a smile. "But let's go. The rides aren't going to ride themselves!"

The first ride was a slide, all lit up with lights and strobes. There was a multi-platform obstacle course with diagonal rubber wires, a tire tunnel, and a set of six doors.

"Ever seen a slide like this?" she asked with a smile.

"Just the rusted metal ones," Cloud replied. "With spiders on them."

Donna smiled and laughed.

"Come on!" she commanded.

She led him through the obstacle course.

"Whoo!" she squealed in delight as she hopped over the rubber wires.

She then led Cloud through the tire tunnel. This proved somewhat difficult for him; as Donna went first, he had an ample view of her butt through her skinny jeans, and made sure he avoided making it obvious that he was looking.

After that, they made it to the doors. All but one were locked, and they had to determine which would open.

Then, finally, they reached the slide. Donna went first, squealing in delight as she slid down. Cloud felt a similar thrill as he slid down himself. He then rose to his feet as Donna continued to sit.

"Help me up?" she playfully asked as she extended her hand.

Cloud helped her up.

"Thanks!" she said. "Let's go again!"

They went again.

They hopped over the rubber wires again.

They squeezed through the tire tunnel again.

They tried the doors; it was a different door this time.

They went down the slide again.

Cloud helped Donna up again.

Cloud was somewhat intrigued by the song the slide seemed to be playing; he had never heard anything like it before.

"What song is this?" he asked.

"It's actually an ancient song from the Old World. I heard they used to play around lights," Donna replied. "It's called Take on Me. Like it?"

"Love it!" Cloud replied.

And then, Donna turned her attention to another ride. This one looked like a flying saucer.

"The Gravitron!" she exclaimed. "They didn't have this last time!"

She led him inside, where there were no straps or latches or even seats to be seen.

"Just lay against the wall," Donna commanded.

Cloud lay against the wall.

The door suddenly closed, and the ride began spinning.

Donna began to giggle.

"Try to get up," she laughed.

Cloud tried to get up, but he found it hard.

"It's because of how fast we're going!" she laughed.

The next ride was the bumper cars, where Cloud and Donna spent the whole five minutes engaged in a bump war, which Donna insisted she had won.

After that, they went to an attraction where they could shoot things, with various reactions.

Cloud shot a door; it opened and an angry, animatronic dog growled.

Donna shot at a bookshelf; the books fell to the floor.

Cloud shot at a mailbox; a rubber chicken popped out.

Donna shot at a window; it fell open, revealing a fat guy on the toilet.

And then, the Ferris wheel was next.

Cloud had never been on one before, and Donna was happy to change that for him. They climbed into their seat and the wheel began moving slowly. A soft, chimed melody began to play as Cloud and Donna were lifted into the air.

And then, Donna placed her hand on Cloud's shoulder.

"I never saw the town like this," she whispered. "It's gorgeous!"

They continued their ride. Slowly, the Ferris wheel took them to the top of the world, offering the beautiful, breathtaking view.

And again.

And again.

He could see Donna smiling.

He was feeling a tingle.

So was she.

LATER….

Further down the corridor, the rides had stopped, having been replaced by barns.

"Are these the farm animals?"

"You bet!" Donna replied. "This is where all the kids bring the livestock they raised."

The first barn was full of steers.

The second barn was full of pigs.

"That's where I kept my pig," Donna said as she pointed to one of the pens.

"You had a pet pig?" Cloud asked.

"He wasn't a pet," Donna corrected. "I won him in a greased pig contest. I raised him, and sold him here."

"Did he have a name?"

"Allylingying," Donna replied. "I auctioned him off and they probably turned him into bacon and ham soon afterwards."

"I'm sorry," Cloud said.

"It's the nature of the beast," she replied. "But I never raised an animal again. I'm just not a farmer."

After several more barns of chickens, goats, and sheep, they reached the end of the fairgrounds.

And there stood an ice rink.

It was deserted.

"I haven't been on the ice since I quit figure skating," Donna sighed.

Cloud could tell she felt uneasy.

"We don't have to," he said.

"Let's," Donna insisted as she kicked off her sneakers and began to put skates on.

"Why?" asked Cloud as he followed suit.

"Because it's there," she replied as she began to skate out onto the ice.

Cloud joined her, and they began to loop counter-clockwise.

"Why did you give up figure skating?" he asked. "I know you said it was competitive, but-"

"My mom made me," Donna interjected. "She thought it would drive me crazy. She never let me try another sport again."

Cloud was silent. He had no idea Ellie and Zeke were so strict and controlling of her.

"Actually," she continued as she continued to skate, "you and Kate have been my only friends since I quit."

"Would you start again?" he asked. "You'll be eighteen in two weeks. Your parents won't be able to tell you what to do anymore."

"It's too late," Donna sighed. "I'm not fourteen anymore."

"Better late than never," he assured her.

"I probably can't even do a double axel anymore," she sighed.

"How do you know?" Cloud asked.

"It's been years since I've practiced," she replied.

"Try it," he commanded.

"No," she laughed. "I'll make a fool of myself."

"There's nobody here!" he insisted. "I won't tell anyone."

Donna finally nodded.

"Please don't laugh if I fall on my butt," she pleaded.

"I won't," he promised.

Donna held out her pinky.

Cloud pressed his against hers.

Donna then skated to a corner of the rink. She built up speed.

She jumped.

She twirled twice.

She landed on her feet.

She had executed it perfectly.

She placed her hands on her mouth in surprise.

She then skated over to Cloud.

"I don't believe it!" she said.

"I knew you could do it," he told her.

Donna smiled. She then skated off the ice and changed back into her sneakers.

Cloud did the same.

They began to walk toward the rides again.

"Hey, Kyle," she began.

"Yes?"

"Thanks for believing in me."

They made their way back to the slide.

"Time for one last ride?" she asked.

"Sounds good," he replied.

They hopped the wires one last time.

They squeezed through the tire tunnel one last time, with Donna leading the way.

"How's the view?" she giggled in a flirty voice.

"Good," he replied, unsure of how to respond.

They determined the unlocked door one last time.

They both slid down the slide one last time.

Cloud helped Donna up one last time.

Only this time, she did not let go of his hand; she held it all the way to the car.

LATER….

Cloud did not bother to check the clock when Donna pulled the car into the driveway.

Both teenagers silently got out of the car, and made their way to the house.

Then, when they got to the porch, Donna stopped them. She turned to face Cloud.

"Kyle," she began, "I really had fun tonight."

"Me, too," Cloud said.

He felt somewhat nervous, as he knew what was coming.

And yet, he somehow wanted it to come.

The moment started to come when the smiling Donna placed both of her hands on his shoulders.

And, before she could change her mind, she leaned in and pressed her lips against his.

She continued to smile with her hands on his shoulders.

"Kyle," she began, "back at the bowling alley, I was a little surprised when I found out you feel that way about me. But my heart was happy because I feel the same way about you."

"You do?" he asked.

Donna nodded happily.

"I've been flirting with you all night, couldn't you tell?" she asked.

"I'm not good at that," he admitted.

And then, the smile faded from Donna's face.

"Kyle," she began, "I need to tell you something."

"Go ahead," Cloud permitted.

She took a deep breath.

"On my eighteenth birthday, I'm going to-"

Just then, the front door opened before she could finish.

An angry Zeke was standing in the doorway.

"Donna!" he exclaimed. "What the hell are you doing dressed up like that?!"

"Daddy-" she began.

"Go to your room and sit on your bed!" he interjected.

Donna lowered her head and complied.