this chapter takes place directly after last chapter

(an: bare with me when i explain the rides lmao)

The ride next to it was interesting. There were seats in a circle and ride ride would spin around while also going up and down. You would be completely horizontal and see the ocean, since the pier was right by it.

We excitedly got in line for it and after waiting we were able to get on it

"Oh holy shit I didn't realize how far it goes up" I say nervously due to my slight fear of heights

"You gonna be okay?" Jaxon asks

"Yeah, I'll be fine, it'll just be a little nerve racking"

The ground below us lowers as we're lifted up slightly and we start turning

Quite honestly it was a lot of fun. But then it started getting higher and it started getting a bit more frightening. 

I need something to calm me down or I might start freaking out a bit too much

But what calms me down?

..Jaxon

I look over at his smiling face, obviously enjoying the ride much more than me. Instinctively, I grab his hand.

Too scares to make eye contact, in the corner of my eye I see him look at our hands and I hope that he doesn't think it's weird. Thankfully he doesn't, I smile and try to focus on enjoying the ride instead of being scared of it. 

And that I did. Holding his hand made it much more fun, maybe for reasons other than it causing me to not be scared..

"Do you wanna try not to go on the higher rides?" Jaxon asks as we get off the ride

"Hmm, I don't think I'd do them by myself..but maybe since you're here I might" I smile

"Well then, wanna see if we can finish all the rides before dinner?" He smiles back

"Oh hell yeah"

"Next up is the roller coaster, you sure you won't crap your pants?" He asks as we walk towards the said ride

"Like Tommy did at the amusement ride we went to when y'all were here last time? No chance"

"Alright well if you get a lil scared, my hand seems to be a top contender as comfort" He teases

I sigh "You're never gonna let that go, are you?"

"Not until the day we die" He smiles at me

"Fucking dick.." I mumble

Soon enough, we get to our turn on the roller coaster

"I'm so fucking hyped" I say excitedly

"This thing goes straight down, holy crap" 

"And you said I was gonna shit my pants? You look pale as fuck"

"Mx, that's just what I look like. I'm incredibly white" He jokes as the bar goes to our laps for safety

"Yeah yeah, excuses excuses. Y'know, I've got a free hand if you need one" I joke back to him

He rolls his eyes and the ride slowly starts to tip us up

"Ohhhhh shit here we go" He says

"Imagine how Twitter is gonna react when they hear about this" I laugh

"Imagine how Twitter will react when they find out you held my hand in pure fear. That I was your knight in shining armor" 

"You fuCKING BIIIIIIIIIIIIITCH" I yell as the roller coaster abruptly goes down

"WAHHHHHHHHHHH" Jax yells beside me

The roller coaster was short, but sweet. It ended just as abruptly as it started.

"AHAHAHAHAHA" Jaxon was laughing his absolute ass off

"If you don't shut the fuck up I will dox you" I say sternly

"BUT IT WAS HILARIOUS, YOU WERE GOING DOWN AND THEN SCREAMED AND- AHAHA" 

"YES, JAXON, I WAS THERE. I KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. FOR CHRIST'S SAKE PLEASE SHUT UP" 

"WOOO OK ok I'm done for now"

"Alright, now that you're done, what next?"  I ask, scanning over all the rides

"Horse tornado?" He asks

"The what now?"

He laughs "It's just a Merry-Go-Round, I saw it called that on tiktok" 

"You are on tiktok too much. You kinda smell. Like a baka. Eren Yeager" 

"Says the one who likes edits of themself constantly" 

"Don't act like you don't do that on your alt tiktok"

"OK IN MY DEFENSE THEY MAKE US LOOK REALLY COOL" 

"EXACTLYYYY"

We talk more about tiktok while waiting in the line. We ride the Merry-Go-Round, of which every other person riding was a child, and ride a few other rides.

The ride we were currently waiting for now, was a splash ride. And it was finally time for us to get in the log boat to ride it.

"Wait there's no fucking seat belt" I acknowledge as we get in

"Lets gooo, we're gonna just get absolutely flown off the ride when we go down the hill" The ride starts

"Well you have something to hold onto since you're in the front, I have nothing" 

"Not particularly.." He mumbles

"Are you implying I hold onto you like the couples we saw go down?" I ask

"OKAY THEY MIGHT'VE NOT BEEN A COUPLE"

"JAXON, I SAW THEM KISSING WHEN THEY GOT OFF THE RIDE"

"I'm sure there's been two people that've held onto each other that weren't dating for this ride" 

"Wishful thinking. I'm not holding onto your waist like some cliche instagram couple" I say sternly

"Well the drop is about to come to brace yourself" I could hear the smirk in his voice

"Wait wha- AH!" I yelp and wrap my hands around his waist, squeezing my eyes shut

"Hmmm? What was that about not putting your arms around my waist?" He asks, placing his hands on my arms

"I fucking hate you." I say into his back

"You don't mean that" The smirk was evident in his words

"I 100% do, I assure you" I retort sternly 

"If you hated me, you wouldn't still have your arms wrapped around me like some cliche couple"

My face turns red "I'M ONLY STILL DOING IT BECAUSE THERE'S ANOTHER HILL"

"Mhm mhm, sure sure"

And so we went down the next hill, my hands still wrapped around him. Although both of our face we flashed with red, and it was not because of the hot Florida sun.

2 red faces

2 teens soaked in water

2 thankful souls

We walked over to the photo section. Of course there had to be a photo of us going down the hill

"Oh I am 100% buying this, how much?" Jaxon asks

"Jaxon fucking Belview, I am never going to hang out with you ever again" I say, banging my head into his shoulder in embarrassment

(an: i made his last name belview. it's similar to beloved, i thought it was coool lmao)

"I'm pretty sure my middle name isn't fucking" He says, waving the photos in front of my face

I roll my eyes as we walk away from the photo section

"Alright, the sun should be setting soon. We have one more ride we haven't gone on and then we can probably do one other one before dinner" He says

"What's the last ride?" I ask

"The swings" He points to it

I look over at it and see how high the swings go

"Ohhhh shit that's pretty high" 

"I'm not gonna pressure you to do it. If you don't wanna do it, we don't have to. But if you're okay with it, I'll be right there and I'm sure the view will be worth it"

I debate it

"Y'know what? When are we gonna get this opportunity again? Lets do it" I say confidently

"That's something I admire about you"

"Shut up, don't get sappy on me now" I roll my eyes and smile

We get in line and look over the railings. Below us was the ocean and we leaned on the rails and adored its beauty.

"This view is enough on its own" I say with a smile

"I always had a strange connection to the ocean. Like every time I'm able to see it, it's enjoyable" Jaxon says

"I'm the same way but with the night sky" I respond "Y'know, the night sky and the ocean work really well together"

"How so?" He asks, looking at me

"Well, the moon of the night sky controls the tides of the ocean. One can't exist properly without the other. I like to think of them as soul mates" I explain

"Are you implying that we're soul mates?" He asks, looking back at me

I look him in his eyes "That wasn't the point of the explanation, but yeah. Maybe we are"

We stare at each other.

Again.

Y'know, I kinda like how this always happens. I don't mind getting lost in his eyes as much as we do.

"Willow, the line is moving" He says in a more hushed voice, still keeping eye contact with me

I blush and turn around to follow the line

We get on the swings. They were in pairs, so me and Jaxon would be able to sit with each other

I let a deep breath out, slightly nervous that we'd be going so high

"Look, I'm right here. Try to focus on the view instead of the height" He says, grabbing my hand

"Alright, I'll try"

The swings slowly life and my breath hitches. Jaxon squeezes his hand in an attempt to comfort me. Not gonna lie, it helped.

We make it all the way to the top the swings slowly turn

"Holy shit, you weren't wrong"

"When I said you'd be alright?" He asks

"When you said the view would be worth it" I smile

"Why would I ever lie to you?" We make eye contact

"Probably"

"What? Why?" He says, slightly taken aback

"I have my reasons" I look away with a smile

He just responds with a small huff

"This is nice" I say with a smile

"Agreed"

"I reckon we'll look back at this moment and just smile profusely"

"I'm already smiling profusely thinking about this happening right now" He says

"That probably sounded more sappy in your head, didn't it?" I laugh

"Very much so, yes"

We chuckle and continue looking out on the view. The sun slowly set. A day that started out gloomy ended with a sun set and my favorite person. We were slowly lowered back down as the ride ended

"Regret doing that?" He asks as we get unbuckled and walk away

"No, I don't think I do" I smile at him

Now I'm almost certain that no one else that saw us would even care

But there was one thing that I couldn't get out of my head

We were still holding hands even as we walked back to the car..

Words: 1716

Date: September 14th, 2021

(an..hey besties. isn't it funny that the day i put the book on break, i get motivation to write AKSKSJSJ i think the book is gonna go on a one week break after this. if i get motivation to write, then i might just not do the break in general idk lmao. but i hope y'all enjoyed! skyboo content bc ik you mfs are touch starved. EAT, DRINK, SLEEP, BRUSH YOUR TEETH, SHOWER, TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF!! IM FUCKING PROUD OF YOU! remember that you are and will always be beautiful, smart, loved, and valid :] love you my darlings and hope you're all doing well <3)