(Carl)
"Carlton! Carlton Stewart!!" My mom yelled
"Yeah... I'm coming" I said as I rolled myself out of bed
After a quick bath, I got a ping on my phone, looking at my phone I was reminded that today is the day that my costume and glass figurine would be arriving today
"Yes. Yes. Yes!! It's finally here" I jumped for joy. Not wanting to wait any longer I rushed out of the house jumping on the first bus, making my way to the post to collect my package.
"Hello, how may I help you?" The lady behind the counter said
"Hi, I'm Carlton Stewart, I'm here to collect a package. It should be under that name," I said
"Oh yes, Mister Stewart, your package hasn't arrived yet, but you're welcome to wait," she said
"Actually, I have to head to school," I said
"It will only be a few minutes," she reassured with a friendly smile
"Okay, I'll wait," I said
"Excellent there's a chair over there, please take a seat while you wait," she said
"I thought it was only gonna be a few minutes, why would I need to sit?" Carl said
"Because there's a line behind you," she said before, I sighed and went to a seat slouching down.
I sat there idly watching the clock tick. A good forty-five minutes had passed before I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket.
"Great," I sighed, taking out my phone and seeing that I had gotten a text from James
*James- where are you?*
*Stuck at the post office. I might miss the first class*
*James- Alright then I'll see you in the second period*
*Yeah*
After that, I put my phone in my pocket just in time for the lady to call me.
"Yes, finally," I said as I went to the counter
"Sorry for the wait. The delivery truck that had been transporting your package had been delayed by some unforeseen events. Thankfully everything was handled and your package is here. You just have to sign a few forms" she said, dropping a tall stack of forms in front of me making me sigh
"A few huh," I groaned as I started to sign.
It took another five minutes before I was finished and finally got my package. Though it had taken forever, I was still over the moon. I was like a child getting his new birthday presents as I sat at the bus stop. I really wanted to rip the tape off the box and look inside, but I controlled myself and silently waited. The box seemed to be calling my name so eventually gave in
"Just one look," I convinced myself as I took the tape off
"Let's see what I've got," I said as I opened the package, but before I could get a good look the bus came. Silently cursing, I got up, before stepping on the steps meanwhile unknown to me someone was trying to depart at the same time accidentally making us collide knocking the package out of my hands.
"Oh no," I gasped watching as my box flew in the air, landing hard on the ground.
My soul got ripped out of my body when I heard the glass shatter. The only thing I wanted to do was cry, but I decided with my better judgment that I wasn't going to
"O.M.G! I'm so sorry about that," she apologized
"Was there something important in there? It sounded like glass shattering into a hundred pieces," she said
"Can we not talk about this?" I asked silently sobbing to myself
"Sorry, can I pay you back?" She asked
"Depends, do you have five hundred dollars on you?" I said, looking up to see a blonde size three girl with fair skin and blue eyes searching her pink purse
"No, but I do have fifty dollars and a gift card worth.... ten bucks," she smiled playfully
"That it?" I asked
"Unless you want some makeup," she giggled
"You know what it's fine, okay. You don't have to," I sighed
"No, it's not fine. Let me make it up to you"
"How?"
"Um... let me buy you something to eat," She said
"What?"
"As an apology, let me buy you something to eat," she offered again
"I'm seriously fine. Honestly, I have to go I'm late," I said
"For what?" She asked
"School," I said
"Well, maybe I could make it up to you another time. I'll buy you lunch, please I really want to apologize" she said before I got a text
*James- first period's over. Where are you?*
"Great, I missed first period," I said sarcastically
"What is it?" She asked
"School, I'm going to be late for second period and I doubt a bus is going be here for a while," I said
"Then let me give you a lift," she said
"No, it's okay," I said
"Come on, It will be my way of apologizing," she said, but I was still skeptical. I wasn't too keen on the thought of sharing a car with someone I had just met.
"Please, if you don't I'll just feel extremely bad. Let me drop you off... for my sake," she pouted cutely like those cute puppies begging for likes on Facebook I just couldn't say no
"Fine," I said before we got to her car which I was surprised to see was a yellow sports car, a Ferrari to be exact,
"Come on don't be shy. Hop in," she said, forcing me into the car
"Alright, let's go," she cheered getting in the car
"Um, where's your seatbelt?" I asked
"On my seat silly," she laughed my nervousness turning into terror as she jetted off into the road which was luckily clear. This girl seemed to believe she was in a fast and furious movie as she tore up the streets at high velocities. By the time I thought I was going to get a heart attack the joyride from hell ended, thankfully. I thanked all the gods in existence for allowing me to make it safely out of the car as she parked carelessly in the parking lot
"Wasn't that fun?" She asked smiling
"Um, I think I'm gonna throw up," I said quickly sticking my head out of the car as I barfed out last night's dinner
"Wow, I didn't expect that," she said
"I should get to class," I said, getting out of the car
"Um, I don't think I got your name," she said as I was walking off. Despite not wanting to meet this insane girl again, I told her my name
"Carl. Well, actually I'm Carlton Stewart, but everyone calls me Carl" I said
"That's so weird. I had a friend with the exact same name; He had red hair, freckles, was a little chubby and he wore glasses. Kind of like you," she said.
She's totally talking about me, but the only other blonde I know besides Sophie is
"Brittney. You're Brittney Carter right?" I asked
"Oh my God, how do you know? You must have seen my catalogs. You must be a fan" She asked with a gasp
"No, it's me, Carl"
"I know you just said that silly," she said
"I mean I'm your old friend, Carl. You know James, Sophie," I said
"OH MY GOD!! I can't believe it! Carl, it's been so long. How have you been?!" she said getting out of her car and hugging me excitedly
"Yeah, I'm fine. How about you?" I asked
"I'm good," she said letting go and leaning on her car and then I suddenly realized something
"Um, Brittney that's your car right?" I asked
"Yeah," she said
"So why were you taking the bus?" I asked
"Um, well you see I was buying something at the supermarket and I was coming back the bus stop was crowded blocking my way so I started waiting with the crowd and when the bus arrived, I sort of walked on too." She answered leaving me wondering just how absentminded she was
"Well, it's been nice catching up with you," I said
"Oh my gosh. I was totally thinking the same thing. Maybe we can meet up again," she said
"Sure, we can catch up more later," I said before the bell rang.
"Sorry, I've got to go," I said before I walked away.
I walked down the empty hall when suddenly the janitor's closet opened. Finding it weird I looked at the door, watching James and Betty-Ann as they walk out fixing their shirts
"Um... hi," I said awkwardly
"Hey... Carl," he said awkwardly
"I should get going," Betty-Ann said awkwardly before she turned around
"No, it's okay, I was just heading to class anyway. You can just continue whatever you were doing," I said before quickly excusing myself from that awkward situation.
'That was weird' I thought
"Hey, Carl. Wait up" James called out as he ran up to me
"Um... hey James," I said before we went mute
"Um so this is awkward," he said
"Yeah"
"Well, that's to be expected, you just caught me walking out of the janitor's closet with Betty-Ann"
"Yeah, so what was that about?"
"What do you think it was?" He asked
"How long has 'that' been going on?" I asked, not wanting to say it
"Not long just a week," he answered
"A week!" I yelled shocked
"Dude" He shushed
"Sorry, I'm just surprised you've been secretly dating Betty-Ann," I said
"Well, we're not exactly dating.... yet," he said, looking down on the floor
"Not dating? If you're not dating what are you doing?"
"It's complicated"
"So does Sophie know about this complicated relationship?" I asked
"No, and she doesn't need to," he said
"James"
"Carl it has nothing to do with her, plus no one knows and I want it to remain that way," he said
"Okay, but I don't see what the big deal is. You're dating Betty everyone knew that was going to happen at some point of this story," I said
"Except we're not dating, we're just friends," he admitted
"Oh yeah right, how did that happen?" I asked
"Long story," he said before Brittney came running down the hallway
"Carl!" She screamed out running over to us
"Hey, what are you doing here?" I asked
"You left your phone in my car," she said
"Oh, thank you," I said, taking my phone
"How did your phone get in her car?" He asked
"Long story," I said
"I see. Well, I have to go to class before they wonder what I'm doing in the bathroom so long. See you later Brittney" he said before he left with her waving
"So James and Betty-Ann huh?" she said
"You overheard that?" I asked
"Yeah, don't worry, I won't tell anyone," she said.
"Thanks a lot, maybe we can go out for that lunch today," I said.
"Awesome, let's go now," she said, pulling on my hand
"I meant after school," I said
"Yeah, I knew that," She chuckled letting me go
"See you," I chuckled as I watched her running out the door
The school day went by and I was walking out of the school when I saw Brittney waiting outside by her car
"Um, have you been here all day?" I asked
"Yeah, Let's go," she excitedly answered getting into the car
"Sure," I said, opening the door.
We drove for a couple of hours and it was beginning to get dark
"Um, where are we going? I thought we were going for lunch" I asked
"Yeah, but then I heard the carnival was nearby," she said as she parked.
"The carnival?"
"Yeah," she nodded excitedly
Normally that would be nice if the carnival wasn't two towns over.
"We're here," she said excitedly. I looked around at the rides and gulped. They were so... Tall and they go so very fast.
"Let's go slowpoke," she said, pulling me out of the car and into the park.
"Okay, so what are we going to do now?" I asked
"Cotton candy," she said
"Sure," I said as we walked past many food carts making my mouth water because of the many fragrant smells hitting my nose from all angles.
"Um, let's buy this first," I said. I had bought one thing and then another. Before I knew it, I had been tempted by all the salty, sweet snacks, as well as, the sound of sizzling oil as it fired everything
"And that," I said, moving to the next cart
"I don't think I've ever tried that"
"Maybe just a bit of this,"
By the time we reached the cotton candy machine, I was flat broke
"Um, that was the last of my money," I said embarrassed
"It's okay, I'll pay for everything else," she said
"You sure?" I asked
"Yeah, I mean this is supposed to be my apology to you so I should be paying anyway," she said paying for the cotton candy
"Okay, so what do we do now," I asked before she smiled and pulled me to the roller coaster which made me immediately go pale
"They call it the Devil's Greatest Creation," she said making me gulp
"Come on, let's join before the line gets longer," she said pulling me into the line.
I stood there quivering as I waited in the really long line of suicidal people all anxiously waiting for their turn. You'd think that the wait would give me time to mentally prepare instead it was like I was waiting for my execution. By the time we actually got on the ride I was soaked in sweat
"Are you okay? You look nervous" Brittney said
"Nope, I'm fine... I'm totally fine," I said, shaking as the roller coaster started moving
"Well, here we go," she said as we reached the submit
"Carl calm down, it's probably not that bad," I thought to myself and I immediately knew I was wrong. The roller coaster zoomed down the rail entering all kinds of loops and zigzags before going back up again for a second drop. When that torture ride ended, I was rocking from side to side as we walked away
"You okay?" she asked
"Um... sure," I dry heaved
"Then why are you talking to a brick wall" her giggling voice coming from behind me
"Sorry," I said, turning towards her.
"The Earth's just spinning really fast right now," I said
"Come on," she giggled, pulling me unto another ride which was the Ferris Wheel
"This is a slow ride so don't worry," she said
"Thanks," I said
"You're welcome." She said before I got a text from James\
*James- how's the date going?*
"Who is it?" She asked
"James, he wants to know how's the date going," I said as I started texting him to clarify this wasn't a date
"What are you going to tell him?"
"I'm telling him that it isn't a date," I said before I noticed her smile faltering
"Is something wrong?"
"I'm sorry, I must have gotten too excited and forgotten that I was just repaying you"
"You are repaying me. This isn't a date... is it?" I asked her
"I don't know, but I am sort of hoping it was" she smiled. Oh God, I blew it! How was I supposed to know this was a date?
"Then what I am supposed to tell him," I asked nervously waiting for her evaluation of the date
"Oh, tell him... the date's going marvelously" she giggled
"Sure thing," I smiled happily changing my reply
"Hey, can I ask a question?" I asked
"Sure," she said
"Why did you leave the school? I mean no one heard from you after that and you even moved out of town. You seemed to have up and disappeared without a trace" I said
"It was just um... I guess I was tired of always getting treated like I was stupid and getting left by the best friends" she said
"I'm guessing you mean Libby and Sophie?" I asked
"Yeah." She answered
"Well, I guess I should tell you they aren't on the best of terms now," I said
"Oh please, it won't last. I bet by Thanksgiving they'll be sitting at Libby's dining room table eating with her Dad" she said
"You're probably right," I laughed
"I know," she giggled
"So which school do you go to now?" I asked
"I actually dropped out," she said
"So what do you do?" I asked
"I'm a model," she said as we reached the top, then the Ferris Wheel stopped freaking me out
"Oh god no. Oh god, it stopped, Is this supposed to happen?"
"I don't think so," she said calmly
"What's gonna happen maybe the machine stopped working"
"Probably" she shrugged
"Maybe some screws flew out," I said
"Pretty sure the opposite of stopping would happen if the screws fell out"
"Oh my God, what if it's something they can't fix. Maybe we'll be stuck here for days and have to receive food via delivery drone"
"You don't get food Amazon-style" she chuckled
"It's not funny. We might be in serious danger" I freaked as I continued my rant of unlikely possibilities
"Okay, Carl, calm down, we're gonna be okay," she tried to calm me down but it wasn't working
"How are you so sure. Maybe we'll-" I started before she interrupted me by doing something unexpected.
SHE KISSED ME!! I couldn't believe it
And I don't mean just a little peck. I mean a full-blown four-minute kiss with tongue and everything
"What was that for?" I asked, staring at her with eyes wide open after we separated
"To calm you down. What, you didn't like it ?" She asked. Not answering I kissed her back and she wrapped her hands around me then the Ferris wheel started working again and we kissed straight until we reached the bottom again
"I liked it," I said
"Prove it," she said before, I kissed her while the Ferris Wheel went around again