"I wanna be the one to walk in the sun"
Girls Just Want to Have Fun by Cyndi Lauper
SEVYN AND THE boys hit the boardwalk, buzzing with anticipation for a night of fun. Hunger pangs gnawed at Sevyn shortly after they arrived.
"Eat first, rides later," she declared, her voice laced with a hint of impatience.
Marko raised an eyebrow. "You want to eat then ride the rides? Sounds like a recipe for disaster to me."
"Nah, I got an iron stomach," Sevyn scoffed. "Pizza time!" she exclaimed, lunging onto Marko's back before he could react. Instinctively, he caught her, hands wrapping around her thighs for support. He glanced back with a questioning look.
"What? We're playing cowboys, right? Come on, you're wearing chaps! Besides, I can't carry you, you're a giant compared to me," she countered with a playful grin, reaching down to swat his butt playfully. "Hi-yo, Silver, away!"
"Next time, cowgirl, I volunteer for horse duty," Paul exclaimed.
Sevyn's cheeks flushed a brilliant red at his innuendo. "I- you- Paul!" she stammered, a flustered grumble escaping her lips about "perverts."
Marko and Paul erupted in laughter at her flustered state. Marko playfully mimicked a horse whinny before taking off at a canter through the crowds. Sevyn clung to him, her laughter echoing in the night air. Her arms loosely draped around his neck, legs secure around his waist.
Marko found himself drawn to her infectious laughter. Paul joined in the banter, teasing him about his horse impersonation, causing Marko to bump roughly into his shoulder in retaliation.
Reaching the pizza place, Marko gently lowered Sevyn to the ground. She patted his arm in gratitude before drifting into the restaurant. As soon as she entered, she inhaled deeply, a groan escaping her lips.
"Seriously, I love pizza. I could devour a whole one myself," she said, practically drooling at the mere scent.
"Perfect timing then," David said, leading the group to a booth in the back. They ordered two large pepperoni pizzas, which Sevyn eagerly helped demolish.
"I want to stay on the boardwalk after it closes," Sevyn declared, polishing off her fourth slice.
"Where do you put all that food? You're tiny," Marko remarked, genuinely surprised by her capacity. Sure, she wasn't overweight, but she had enough curves to give her a feminine figure, and the rest of her was toned and appealing to him and his brothers.
"Yoga," she replied smugly, patting her stomach.
David ignored Marko's comment. "What did you have in mind?"
"Nope, not telling. I want to see the surprise on your faces," she said mischievously.
David and Dwayne exchanged wary glances, met with Sevyn's toothy grin. They weren't exactly thrilled with whatever she had planned – that mischievous glint in her eyes didn't bode well.
Paul, on the other hand, couldn't wait to see what she had up her sleeve. Unlike most humans he'd encountered, Sevyn knew how to have a good time. And when she was excited, she radiated a captivating energy, an intoxicating allure that drew him in like a moth to a flame.
She was intoxicating.
Meanwhile, Sevyn buzzed with anticipation. The ride to the cave they went on the other day was loads fun, but not thrilling enough. She craved a surge of adrenaline, that exhilarating rush she hadn't felt in a while.
After finishing their meal and settling the bill, the peculiar group ventured back onto the boardwalk, the boys chattering amongst themselves. Sevyn was content to simply observe them, enjoying their camaraderie and relaxed state.
A sense of belonging bloomed within her. Maybe they wouldn't admit it, but they seemed to enjoy her company, even after learning her secret. At least, they seemed to tolerate her – she did offer to help save their lives, after all.
But their recent behavior hinted at something more. They cared about her, to some degree. At least some of them. Her gaze drifted towards the ever-stoic David. He was an enigma, difficult to decipher, but even he seemed to be making an effort.
For the rest of the night, they rode rides and stirred up some trouble with a group of arrogant surf nazis, much to Sevyn's amusement. A good fight was always entertaining, and these boys definitely knew how to handle themselves. She fought not to drool over them and their brawling skills.
Before she knew it, they pulled her away from security when they came to break up the fight. Judging by their expressions, her attempt at playing cool wasn't entirely successful.
By the time the boardwalk closed, everyone had cleared out except for Sevyn and the boys. They stood around their motorcycles, chatting casually, Sevyn trying to teach Paul how to roll a coin over his knuckles. Midnight rolled around, and the boardwalk was finally deserted.
Excitement crackled in the air as Sevyn grabbed Paul and Marko, dragging them towards the large rollercoaster. "Come on! Let's move!" she called back impatiently to the remaining two, who were lagging behind at a leisurely pace.
Finally reaching the unlit rollercoaster, Sevyn tilted her head back, a mischievous glint sparkling in her turquoise eyes. She turned to the boys, that same glint sending a shiver of apprehension down their spines.
"Alright, why are we here?" David asked coolly, a lit cigarette dangling from his lips.
Instead of responding, Sevyn winked playfully before vanishing. They spotted her a moment later, perched precariously at the very top of the peak of the highest hill, twirling around one of the flagpoles with one hand.
Surprise was a vast understatement on the boys' faces. Dwayne's initial concern melted away when he saw her confident balance. Marko vibrated with anticipation. Paul, unable to contain his excitement, bounced on the balls of his feet, whooping and hollering. David simply watched, a flicker of curiosity in his gaze.
The two blondes cheered her on, eliciting a joyous laugh and a wave from Sevyn. "Ready?" she called out.
"Ready for what?" Paul yelled back; a wide grin plastered across his face.
Without another word, Sevyn did a front flip off the ride, plummeting towards the ground with a thrilling shriek. The vampires reacted instinctively, all four lunging forward to catch her. But just before she collided with the boards below, she vanished again.
They gaped at the empty spot, bewildered, before hysterical laughter erupted from behind them. Whirling around, they found Sevyn doubled over with laughter, clutching her stomach.
"What? You knew I wouldn't hit the ground! You should have seen your faces," she beamed, radiating the afterglow of her adrenaline rush. "I've been dying to try that since I got here. The ferris wheel's so next!" She was practically vibrating with excitement.
"Hell yeah!" Paul roared, already amped for the next adventure.
Marko, a Cheshire cat grin splitting his face, chimed in, "I gotta see that."
David put a damper on their enthusiasm. "Not tonight. You've had your fill of thrills for one night, kitten."
Sevyn was momentarily deflated. "Aw, come on! That's no fun!"
David rolled his eyes, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips. "Time for you to go home, the boys and I need to eat."
"Fine! But tomorrow, I'm jumping!" she declared with playful defiance.