For the next few days, I went to school, hung out with Becky and Matt, dodged Trevor, came home, and took care of Nightmare. After sunset, I spent as much time as I could with Alexander, watching movies, cuddling, and listening to music in the darkness.
By Saturday, I was exhausted. I slept the day away and met Alexander by dusk at his Mansion. It was the night of Dullsville's Spring Carnival.
In the past, Becky and I had always attended the carnival together. This time, we would be arriving separately on the arms of our respective dates.
Alexander and I entered, hand in hand, shortly after sunset. We stepped through the two arches made of multicolored balloons, a white wooden admission booth in between. Alexander approached Old Jim, who was selling tickets; Luke, his Great Dane, was sitting at his feet.
"Two, please," Alexander requested, paying for us both.
"I see you've been sleeping in one of the vacant coffins," Old Jim warned. "I haven't slept at the cemetery for months," I replied. "Maybe it's--"
He looked at me skeptically. "Well, if I catch you, I have to tell your parents, you know."
Alexander grabbed my hand and led me away from Old Jim and through the balloon-filled entrance. The carnival was spread over Dullsville High's soccer field. There were booths of homemade pies, corn dogs, snow cones, rides like the Ferris wheel and the Scrambler, a fun house, and games of tic-tac-toe, a ring toss, and a dunking booth. The air smelled of cotton candy and grilled corn on the cob. Alexander and I walked through the crowd like the prince and princess of darkness. But he was oblivious to the stares and looked like a wide-eyed kid not knowing what to play with first.
"Haven't you been to a carnival before?" I asked.
"No. Have you?"
"Of course."
"You made it," I heard a familiar voice say. It was my dad.
I turned around to find my parents eating hot dogs at a picnic table.
Alexander shook my dad's hand and politely said hello to my mother.
"Would you like to sit with us?" my mom offered.
"They don't want to spend all night with us old fogies," my dad interjected. "You guys have fun," he said, reaching into his wallet and offering me a twenty.
"I've got it covered, Mr. Madison," Alexander said.
"I like your style," my dad replied, returning the money to his wallet. "Thanks anyway, Dad," I said. "We'll see you later."
As Alexander and I walked past the booths, patrons and workers stared at us like we were part of the sideshow.
"Hey, Raven," Becky said, when I found her selling homemade pies at her father's booth. "Dad had to run home. We sold out of the caramel apples and only have two pies left."
"Congratulations," I complimented her. "But I was looking forward to some."
"I'll reserve two for you when he gets back," Matt said, as he handed a piece of apple cobbler to a customer.
"I think you've found your calling," I said to him.
We said good-bye to Becky and Matt as they tried to keep one step ahead of their customers.
On our way to the carnival rides, I spotted Ruby, who was standing in between two booths. "Hi, Ruby, are you here with Janice?" I asked.
"Oh, hi, Raven," she said, giving me a friendly hug. "No, I'm here with a friend," she added with a wink.
Just then Jameson, minus his usual butler uniform and wearing a dark suit and black tie, walked over with a fresh swirl of blue cotton candy.
"Hello, Miss Raven," he said, gently handing the candy to Ruby. "I'm glad to see Alexander is in such good hands, as I have the night off."
Alexander gave the Creepy Man a smile.
"I'm glad that you and Jameson are back in town," Ruby said to Alexander. "I am, too," he replied, and squeezed my hand. "Is Jameson treating you tight? I know he can get kind of wild," he teased.
"He's been nothing but a perfect gentleman," she said, but then whispered, "Hopefully that will wear off as the evening continues."
Alexander and I laughed. "We'll leave you two kids with your candy. I promised Raven I'd take her on the Ferris wheel."
We cut away from the food booths and past the carnival games.
"Raven," Billy Boy called from behind.
We turned around, and my brother ran up to us, holding a plastic bag with a frantic fish inside. Henry followed close behind with his own swimming prize.
"Look what we just won!" Billy Boy exclaimed.
"Cool," Alexander commented.
"He's a cutie," I said, tapping the side of the bag. "Just make sure you keep him out of reach of Nightmare. She's small now, but she'll be growing."