6: Life is for Amusement

 6: Life is for Amusement


BELLA ON THE MEDIA SIDE! -------------->


BTW CHANGED CANDICE'S CHARACTER, FROM NOW ON EWA AULIN PLAYS CANDICE!


"My heart was a hysterical unreliable organ."
- Vladimir Nabokov, Lolita


"No fucking way." Candice said, "It's not even your second week and you already need a break?" She asked.


Bryan rolled his eyes.


"Watch your language, Candice." Her mother scolded, then sighed, an unsure expression painted on her face, "Now...Bryan, of course you may have a day off tomorrow. Candice, you better be good while he's gone."


"Leave me alone." Candice said, quickly, then looked at Bryan, crossing her arms, she then tilted her head to one side. "Whatever." She mumbled. 


Bryan looked at Candice's mother, and spoke to her, quietly, "Are you not going stay with her? Just for one day?" He asked, unbelievably. 


Ms Harrington looked away, "I'm sorry. But i'm just not ready. She hates me."


Bryan pursed his lips in frustration, "You're leaving her isolated." He said, hopelessly.


"Just go and have your day off tomorrow, okay? Don't worry about it." She tried to reassure him.


Bryan stood there for a second, then sighed. Closing his eyes shut, then opening them again, turning to Candice, then back at Ms Harrington.


"Okay, how's this. I take Candice with me? I mean, i promised my girlfriend we'd have a day together but...if this is the case then..."


There was an unrecognizable expression on Candice's face, then she broke out into a huge grin. "Perfect! I-I mean...that sounds like a good idea." She said, chuckling a little, she turned to her mother, eyebrows raised in hope, "Mom?" 


Her mother thought about it, her mouth was like a straight line, as she dropped her shoulders. "Fine. I guess, that's fine."


---


Bryan braced himself after telling Bella the change of plans, but she blinked, and grinned like a Cheshire cat, "That's perfect! Yes! Come, come!" She said, excitedly, as if she was talking to the girl that she was going to meet on Friday, She laughed at her own ridiculousness, and softly grabbed Bryan's hand, rocking it back and forth like an excited child. "I mean, this is great!" She noticed the freaked out expression on Bryan's face. "What? You know how much i've wanted to have that little big sis, little sis bond!"


Bryan rolled his eyes, "Well, don't get too excited. Besides, i'm thinking about quitting."


Bella's eyes widened. "What? Why?" She asked, worried. 


He drew in a deep breath, and exhaled-


 ------


"What?" Bella exclaimed after Bryan told her about Candice's mother, and Cadice's attitude. "You can't quit!" She then said.


Bryan frowned, confused. 


"I don't know that girl Candice but i know she's troubled. This is the perfect opportunity to help someone!" She grabbed both of Bryan's hands and held them. "And besides, quitting because of something that petty is irrational! This should've made you stay even more to help the mother and daughter, not run away!" 


Bryan patted Bella's head. "You're cute when you're crazy." He said, bluntly. 


Bella pouted. "I'm serious."


Bryan rolled his eyes, swinging his arms around her. "Don't worry. I won't quit. For your sake." 


A little smile appeared on her face, but she quickly pouted again. "Okay. I love you." She mumbled. 


 ----------


Candice eyed Bella rudely, crossing her arms. She had brunette hair in a pixie cut and slightly pale skin with small brown eyes, her face was bare, free of any mascara or lip gloss.


Candice scoffed and looked away. 


"Well, this is great!" Bella said, enthusiastically, "I-I mean i've ever done something like this before."


"Me neither." Ms Harrington -who has been persuaded by Bryan to come along- agreed. 


Candice sighed, asking herself why her mother decided to come along. She turned away from all of them and looked at all the roller coasters, lazily.


Bella looked awkwardly at Candice, and sighed quietly. She hopes this plan works.


"We're gonna get us something to eat." Bella announced, grabbing Bryan's arm.


Candice tensed up and narrowed her eyes at Bella, giving her a dirty look, as they left her and her mother. 


--


"Bella, i know you're just trying to help but you need to stop." Bryan said, after they left Candice and Ms Harrington.


"What? Why? I know i can help. Trust me. This plan's gonna work." 


Bryan frowned to himself, "Why do you want to help someone you don't even know so much?" 


Bella smiled softly to herself, "Because...I don't want Candice to make the same mistake i did." She looked up at Bryan, "Remember? My mother and i weren't on good terms when i was a teenager. And even though she and i are close now...i still regret not having a relationship with her back then..." She thought about the memories for a seconds and snapped back to reality, blinking up at Bryan, as he stared lovingly at her. She smiled widely at him and took his hands, "If we just give them some space alone maybe they'll talk...like mother and daughter." She looked away and nodded her head behind Bryan, "So, what should we get?" 


--


Bella and Bryan had their hands full of food, "Where did they go?" Asked Bryan. 


"Uh...i don't know." Bella mumbled, then sighed. 


Bella and Bryan scanned the stalls, but they were no where in sight. Bella sighed, "I'll go check the bathroom."


She heard raised voices as soon as she stepped into the women's toilet, and banging o the door.


"Candice. Candice, open up. I'm not going to ask you twice."


"Leave me alone!" Candice screamed.


Bella stepped further in and saw Ms Harrington, one handbag strap falling off her shoulders and her angry face trying to keep calm. "You're been immature-" She spotted Bella, and sighed. "I'm sorry-i just-" She hesitated, trying to explain. There was a silent pause, as they both heard the door unlock as Candice came out, glaring at Bella rudely, "What do you want?" She demanded, bitterly. 


"U-Um. Nothing. I mean we were looking for you." Bella held up the bag of food, "We got some food. Do you like hot dogs or burgers?" She asked, lamely. 


Candice checked behind Bella, curiously, not answering her question, "Where's Bryan?" She asked. 


--


--


"Candice, you-"


"Urg! Just leave.Me. Alone, Mom!" Candice shouted, causing a few heads to turn. 


Bella walked next to Bryan, feeling hopeless, watching the two of them argue. 


"No, you're acting like a spoiled brat and you're making a scene." Ms Harrington's voice was trembling, trying not to snap. 


"Shut up. And leave me alone, mother." She hissed. 


Bella saw Bryan scowl from the corner of her eyes. 


"I said that you can't accept cigarettes from a strange man-"


Candice turned around furiously, "It wasn't a cigarette mom! Do you think i'm that stupid, huh?!?" She screamed. "You don't know me! You think i'm that fucking sleazy, huh?!" 


"What are you talking about? I didn't say you were-


"That's exactly what you said!!" Candice screeched at the top of her lungs, her cheeks burning red, as she looked furious, lips pursed. 


Bella shook Bryan's hands, telling him to do something.


"Candice, that's enough." Bryan said, sternly. "You can't talk to your mother like that." 


Candice blinked for a couple of seconds, "Well neither can you! Who are you? You don't know me! So stop acting like you do!" She spat, and angrily stomped away in her acid washed shorts and sneakers. 


Bella felt Bryan's hands tightening into a fist. 


Ms Harrington kept quiet for a second, biting her lips as if she was trying tot stop herself from crying, then looked at both Bryan and Bella. "I'm sorry...she just snaps like that at times-"


"Well she needs to learn that the world doesn't revolve around her." Bryan spat, bitterly. "Let's just forget it." He said, to Bella.


She desperately shook her head. "No, i can't. We have to try to do something." 


Bryan wasn't listening, as he pulled her hand away, as she pouted. She shook her hand free and groaned, "I'm going to speak to her. Okay?" She said, raising both eyebrows, "Jeez." She mumbled, and walked away. 


Bryan cursed and ran a hand through his hair. 


--


Bella slowly sat next to Candice, as she was hugging her knees, her arms covering her face. "Candice..." She didn't know what to say. She hesitated, before putting her arms softly on Candice's back. At first, she tried to shake her hand away, flinching, but then she gave up. "What do you want?" She said, for the second time today.


"Look...I know it must seem like right now you hate your mom...but trust me, she's just trying to look out for you." Candice lifted her head up, black stained tears covering her cheeks. "Look out for me? Are you trying to fuck with me?" She asked.


Bella was taken aback, "N-No. I'm sorry, i know i don't know you guys' relationship and what happened but...you have to give her a chance." 


Candice leaned her head back on the wall, staring into space, "Yeah well...i don't tell you how to live your life..." She mumbled. 


Bella nodded slowly, "You're right. But can we all just have some fun, now? I know you're dying to try out the rides here." She stood up, and put her hand out for Candice. Candice smiled faintly and took Bella's hand, as Bella pulled her up. 


"I'm not 12 years old anymore." She finally said. 


Bella chuckled, "Are you sure you'll say that when you get on one of the roller coasters?" 


Candice looked at her weirdly, "What's the deal with you and roller coasters? Weirdo." She mumbled. 


Bella sighed and mumbled, "Harsh..."


Candice sniffed, "I look really terrible, don't i?" She asked Bella.


She shrugged, "You have mascara stains all over your cheeks." 


Candice widened her eyes, and sighed. She walked over to the mirror and cursed, washing the mascara off her cheeks. 


Bella could see the sadness and worry in her eyes as she slowly walked over to Candice. "You can use mine. It's waterproof." She offered. 


Candice looked up at her, raising both eyebrows, then let out a little chuckle, as if she just heard an inside joke. 


Bella frowned, "What?" 


Candice shook her head, still grinning, then took some tissues and dried her wet face. She turned to Bella expectantly, the smile wiped from her face, as she raised on eyebrow. 


"Oh!" Bella dug in her bag and pulled out her waterproof mascara, "Here."


Candice took the mascara and rolled her eyes, leaning forward towards the bathroom mirror and tilting her head up slightly, applying it on her lashes. 


 --


Candice sighed, as she pulled down the roller coaster's safety harness. 


"Are you ready?" Bella asked, next to her.


Candice rolled her eyes away from her and sighed again.


As soon as the ride took off, Candice felt the strong wind running through her hair, she gave Bella a sideways glance. Her eyes had a look of fear in them, but she smiled widely, screaming from the top of her lungs. 


Candice hated her. She would do anything to see her fall out of the safety harness and fall onto the ground. But she frowned when she realized that it would never happen. 


--


Candice licked the strawberry ice cream slowly, leaning lazily back on the chair.


"Uh-Um.." Bella stuttered, before speaking, "D-Don't you want to go on the drop tower?"


"I'm tired." Candice replied, coldly.  


Bella nodded, then looked back and forth at Candice and her mother, helplessly. "S-So, you guys ever went to the theme park together before?" 


Bryan gave Bella a warning glance, but Bella ignored it. 


Ms Harrington smiled, "Oh, the last time was when she was only 6 years old. Do you remember, Candice?"


"Mm'no." Candice mumbled, not looking at anyone, looking like she was daydreaming.


There was an awkward silence.


A kid behind Candice was running around screaming, Candice casually turned around, then turned again, rolling her eyes away from the kid. 


"I guess she grew up from then, huh?" Bella said, pathetically. 


Bryan nudged Candice with his elbow, "She's too old for it now, isn't she?" He said, trying to turn her frown into a smile. 


Candice turned to Bryan, the harshness in her eyes slightly subdued. She then stood up, "I want to go on that big wheel, right there." She said, pointing out. 


"Oh, yes! You two would love it!" Bella exclaimed, "You can see the whole amusement park from there. You two should go." Bella suggested, looking at both Candice and Ms Harrington. 


Candice narrowed her eyes suspiciously at Bella, but she didn't notice. 


"Uh, no way. I got it feeling that would be a bit too..." Candice paused, looking at her mother, "...suffocating."


Ms Harrington clenched her jaw. "Candice. You should be a bit more respectful." 


"Respect?" She repeated, then chuckled. 


"Yes, Respect!" Ms Harrington replied, feeling more irritated, now. "I am your mother after all!"


"Mother! Oh, yes, mother. Here's the thing, mother-"


"Oh, just be quiet, Candice Harrington, i've had enough of you." Her mother said, running a hand through her long red dyed hair.


"Of course you have! Why don't you kick me out then, if i'm such a bother to you!" Candice was going to run away, but Bella stood up.


"Candice! Please, you two just...talk it out, i promise it'll-"


"What do you know?" Candice demanded, then widened her eyes, looking at Bryan, then she clenched her jaw and her fist. She nodded understandingly, "You bastard." She spat at Bryan, then ran away. 


"Candice, wait-!" Bella was about to run after Candice, but Bryan grabbed her wrist. 


"Stop. This ends right now." Bryan said. 


"But-!" 


"You can't fix everything!" Bryan shouted. 


Bella widened her eyes. 


"You don't know what she's thinking, or what they've been through. You don't know them. So stop trying!" 


"Bryan...i can't just sit by and let a family-"


"This was supposed to be our break." He loosened his grip on her wrist. "This isn't even about us anymore." 


Bella realized that, and looked down, "I'm sorry." She said, sincerely. "I really am." 


Bryan sighed, slowly. "It's okay. Just- talk to Ms Harrington, i'll be back.." He said, and ran after Candice. 


--


"Candice!" Bryan called out, quickly. 


She stopped running, turning her back to him. She sniffed and seemed to wipe her eyes, then turned around, with half a smirk on her face.


"Have you forgotten that little nickname that i made privilege just for you?" She said, then her smirk disappeared. "I know what you two were trying to do. Think i wouldn't catch on?" She said, crossing her arms. 


"Candice..." Bryan began, sighing. 


"No, No. I get it. But next time keep your gossip to yourself." She said, harshly.


"Listen, it wasn't like that-"


"I know. Whatever." She slowly walked over to him and grabbed his hand. "Your girlfriend...i don't like her." She admitted. 


"Well, she seems like she's very fond of you." Bryan replied. 


"I know. It's revolting." She said. "Let's go on the big wheel. I'll behave if you let me." She said, teasingly, batting her eyelashes. 


How could Bryan say no?


--


"You were quite a handful today." Bryan pointed out. 


Candice shrugged, "So?" 


Bryan chuckled and looked out of the window, grinning. "Do you normally act like that?" He asked.


"Only if i want to make somebody's day a nightmare." She said, sticking out her tongue. She leaned her head on one side and examined Bryan's face. "You know, you're not so ugly when you smile." She pointed out, and dug inside her pocket.


"I'm glad." Bryan said.


She popped a lollipop in her mouth. This time, green. "Want one?" She asked. 


He looked at her, then shook his head, then looked back out. 


She wiggled her feet, then spoke again, "Do you think i'm attractive?" She asked, out of the blue.


Bryan looked at her, his heartbeat speeding up, "Wh-Why are you asking me that?" He asked, his face becoming hot. 


She shrugged, "Just asking." She said. 


"I...I-I don't think i'm supposed to answer that."


"It's okay. I won't tell anyone." She said, winking, "I promise." She licked her lollipop slowly. 


Bryan shrugged, awkwardly, "Sure...i guess..." He mumbled. 


Candice's face lightened up, "Really?" She stood up, and sat right next to him. She grinned from ear to ear. "How dare you say that to another girl?" She asked, then chuckled. "Relax, i'm only teasing." 


Bryan swallowed, his mouth turning dry and his palms sweaty. 


"You wanna know something?" She suddenly said.


"What's that?"


"I know you like me." She stated.


"Oh really? Well, then you should probably get your head checked." 


Candice was about to touch his face, but he grabbed both of her wrists and pinned them on the glass window. 


"Don't." He warned.


She gasped, her mouth open, ready to be kissed. But Bryan stopped himself.


"Why? It's clear that you want to kiss me so badly right now." She said, teasingly. She saw the dark huger in Bryan's eyes, as he swallowed hard, trying to control himself. "Why don't you just let go?" She asked, smirking. 


"Shut up. Right now." He said.


"Why should i?" She asked. "No one's around. We can do whatever we want."  She pointed out. 


Bryan's cool breath hit her neck, as they stared at each other, giving hot passionate gazes, until they inched closer and closer, until their noses were about to touch. Candice inhaled slowly, as her eyes softened. "Bryan..." She whispered, then cracked a smile, and started giggling. 


Bryan blinked, confused.


"I'm...totally messing with you!" She said, laughing uncontrollably. 


Bryan bit his lip, swallowing the lump in his throat, then looking away, letting her wrists free, and running a hand through his hair. 


"Wow..." Candice said, slowly. "So you really are a pervert." She said, "Now i know how you feel." 


Bryan gave her a death glare, "Shut up! I wasn't going to do anything!" He insisted, "So get whatever thought you had out of your mind!" 


"Seemed like it." Candice murmured, "I could tell by the way you was looking at me." She said, twirling her twin-tails. 


Bryan scoffed, "You're delusional." He said.


"And you're in denial." Replied Candice. "But don't worry. I won't tell your precious little Bella." She said. 


"Tell her what? I didn't do anything." Bryan said, getting frustrated.


Candice threw back her head and laughed, "You're persistent." She said. "But we both know what we saw." She said. "So, here's this..." Candice said, sitting on his lap. "I won't say a thing to your girlfriend...but you have to do a little something for me..." She said. 


"What?" Bryan demanded. 


Bella whispered in his ear, and Bryan's eyes widened. "No. No way in hell! What the hell, Candice!?"


"Starting tonight." She said, grinning. 


Bryan groaned, gritting his teeth. Nothing happened between Candice and him, right? But he couldn't help but to think otherwise. But why was she trying to blackmail him like that? And why did she ask that of him...out of all things?


"No fucking way." Bryan said, shaking his head slowly. 


"Or i'll tell Bella what you were going to do to me." 


"So you're gonna lie?" 


"It's not lying." Candice insisted, getting angry. "But i am willing to exaggerate a little bit." She added, smirking. 


Bryan shook his head at her, "You're crazy. There's no way." He said. 


"Think what you want, Bryan. Think what you want." 


They were near the bottom, now, as Candice got off Bryan's lap and sat opposite him, crossing her arms. "I'm not afraid to tell her." She gave her last warning. 


"That you were practically going to throw yourself on me but i stopped you?" 


"Stopped me?" Candice chuckled, "You wanted it. You loved it. Didn't you, Bryan?" 


Yes, Bryan thought. But he couldn't bring himself to admit it. 


The ride was over, and the glass door opened, they stepped out of it, acting casual. 


--


Candice looked out of the car window, yawning. Bella was in the back, next to her, and Bryan was driving, with Candice's mother sitting next to him. 


A car pulled up next to their's when they stopped at a red light, and a man rolled down his window and smiled. "Hey." He said, looking at Bella. 


Bella's face fell, as she looked away and gave a tight smile.


"Who are you?" Bryan asked, a little too defensive.


"I'm just her manager." He turned to Bella, "I saw you in the back so i thought i'd just say hi."


Candice's eyes caught Bella's hands trembling, as she looked back up at her.


"H-Hi." She mumbled quietly. 


Her manager laughed. Candice knew that look he was giving Bella. She knew it too well. 


"Well, i guess i'll see you at work." He said, and drove off, when the light was green. 


Bella exhaled, as if she was holding her breath the whole time, but Bryan didn't seem to notice, as Candice caught sight of him looking at her through the mirror. 


"He seemed nice." Ms Harrington said. "What's your job?" She asked, trying to make conversation after an awkward minute of silence.


"I'm a waitress." Bella said, smiling.


Bryan stared straight ahead on the road, his face hard like stone. 


Did they have an argument? Candice asked herself, a slow smile creeping on her face. 


Ms Harrington's cell phone started ringing. 


Candice sighed, irritated, looking out of the window again, sick of hearing that stupid ring tone. 


"Hello?" She answered. 


There was a long pause.


Suddenly, Ms Harrington's eyes widened. "Oh. Oh! Oh my god, okay. I'll- I'll be right there." She said, and hung up. 


"What's wrong?" Bella asked, worried.


Ms Harrington brushed the hair out of her face, "C-Candice have to go to my workplace, there's an emergency. Bryan, can you drop me off?" 


"Uh, sure, where to?"


Ms Harrington told him the address, and Candice shook her head, rolling her eyes. 


--


After Ms Harrington left, the rest of the car ride was quiet, until Bryan pulled over next to Bella's house.


Bella sighed. "Um...Thanks. I'm sorry we didn't get to...spend time with each other as much." She said, fiddling with her hands, nervously.


Bryan shrugged, "It's fine." He lied.


Bella bit her lip, then looked down. "Bye." She said, quietly, "Bye, Candice." 


Candice just looked at her, then rolled her eyes away, crossing her arms. 


"So, have you thought about it?" Candice asked. 


"No way in hell." Bryan said, coldly. 


"Hm." She just said. "I guess my mother forgot this was your day off. She left me in your hands once again." 


"Well, there's no helping it." He replied. 


They stopped in front of her house, as she opened the car door. "Actually..." She said, "I'll be fine. So thanks." She said, closing the car door behind her. 


Bryan watched her walk away, as he groaned, "Wait." He said.


She stopped, and turned around. He opened his car door and stepped out. "I don't want to risk it." He said. 


--


She could hear the TV downstairs, was Bryan still there? She tiptoed downstairs, quietly, and made her way over to the couch. She looked at the TV, there were playing an old western movie. She looked at Bryan. He was asleep, breathing slowly. 


She bit her lip. She could do it. Right now, she could. What's stopping her? She slowly sat on the couch, hesitating. But then, she slowly inched near Bryan, on all fours, and leaned her head close to his, feeling his breath against her cheek. She slowly face him, and looked at his lips. She wanted to do it. 


She kissed him behind his ear, softly and teasingly, making sure she didn't wake him up. She smiled mischievously to herself. Flipping one of her pigtail behind her. She bit her lip in  concentration, as she carefully lifted up his t-shirt. She softly ran her tongue along her lips, admiring how sexy he looked, his long legs spread across the couch, his hard chest moving up and down, as he heaved softly. 


Behind her long eyelashes, her eyes skimmed along his face, as she swallowed hard, mouth watering. 


He was beautiful. His face was masculine, but his sleeping eyes were soft. Not like the other guys she used to see sleeping in class at high school. She looked down and softly trailed her fingers along his belt, slowly unbuckling it.


She gasped, as her eyes flew wide open. A hand stopped her. 


She looked up at Bryan staring up at her, eyes still sleepy, sexy, and confused. "What're you doing?" He asked, half whispering. 


She was first shocked, and afraid, heart hammering in her chest in shame. But she soon smiled down at him, placing her index finger on his lips. "Shh..." She whispered, inching towards him, until her lips were right next to his ear, "I know you want me to do this. I see the way you look at me. Pervert." She said, playfully, giggling. 


She carried on unbuckling his belt, surprised to see that he wasn't stopping her. "Candice..." He began, but she cut him off.


"I told you not to call me that." She hissed.


He slowly sat up, and surprised her by grabbing her waist, pulling her closer to him, then he lied back down. Candice, helpless, was trapped on top of him, not able to get out of his grip. He started to lick her neck, then kissing it lightly. Using his one hand to feel the soft braids of her pigtails.


Candice closed her eyes, smiling to herself in amazement. It felt so good. It felt so strange. She felt like a woman. She never knew that lying on top of a man in a sexual way would feel this intense. He felt muscular all over as her legs touched his. 


Her eyes flew open as she heard the front door unlocking. "Shit." She wriggled out of his grip, and sat up. As he was about to do the same, she pushed him back down and this time, put her index finger on her own lips. "Shh." She said again.


Bryan chuckled amazingly to himself, rubbing his forehead and looking away. He seemed to gain focus again, as he quickly re-done his belt, then pretending to be asleep. 


Candice's mother walked in, carrying a white plastic bag, as she eyes her suspiciously. 


Candice looked up at her, innocently, but then cracked a cute grin. 


"What're you doing, Candice?" Her mother asked.


Candice shrugged, "Just watching a movie."She replied.


Her mother looked at Bryan, the sitter, then back at Candice. "Don't even think about doing anything that i would not be proud of." She whispered to Candice, thinking Bryan was really asleep. 


Candice shrugged again, "I don't know what you're talking about, mom."


The mom rolled her eyes and placed the white paper bag on the kitchen counter. "I bought some Chinese takeout for you and Bryan. I'm coming back in the morning, i'm expecting a delivery."


"Aw thanks but...i've already eaten." Candice sad, wriggling her eyebrows, and getting a lollipop from her short pocket, unwrapping it, then putting it in her mouth.


"Goodnight, mom." She said, sweetly, and marched upstairs. 

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