Chapter 8, Part 1: Carousel

Wednesday

Alissandra Cadence

     Another normal day went by, I haven't seen Elijah since yesterday, and Jason and I just talked yesterday too. Gawd, why am I so bothered about these guys? I went out of the classroom and walked through the hall. I'm also thinking about how I'm gonna go home, dad drove me to school earlier and said that he has to go somewhere before dinner and it's currently 6 PM. I don't have any other choice but to grab a taxi. I went to the main gate and it's closed for some reason. I guess I have to go back and take my exit at the parking lot. As I walked to the parking lot, I saw a man in a suit from afar leaning on his car. With this shitty eyesight that I have, I can't even figure out who it is. I got near him and it's - Elijah? The fuck?

     "Hey, ma'am. Just in time." wut?

     "What? Why are you here? There are so many people out here," I said quietly.

     "Huh? Why are you treating me like I did some sort of crime?" then he grinned. "I'm just here to pick you up, am I not allowed to?"

     "How'd you know I'll go out by the parking lot?"

     "I requested the guards to close the main gate." he did what?!

     "What?! Why would you do that? There are so many people going through there, now they have to go all the way around. And what in God's name did you tell them and wholeheartedly listened to you?"

     "The principal is one of my relatives, but we never knew each other," he said.

     Oh, right. Our principal's name is Dylan Grant. That makes sense.

     "They even told me that I can go here whenever I want. The principal and my mom were cousins. So he's technically my uncle." then he walked to the side of his car. "So if you don't mind, can I drive you home ma'am?" then he opened the backseat door.

     I walked towards him "If you insist, sir." I sarcastically said then went inside.

     He also went inside already and asked "Where exactly are we going, ma'am?"

     "Anywhere you want, sir," I said sarcastically.

     Then I saw him grinned by the rearview mirror and already started driving.

     A few moments later, I looked at the road and we're not even going through the right way home.

     That's it, I'm surely gonna start having trust issues with men driving me somewhere and ends up to the mall.

     Yes, we're going through the path to the mall.

     "Why are we here, Lij?"

     "You said I can take you anywhere, right?" he claimed proudly. Whaaat?

     "Do you take everything so seriously?"

     "I do. And you? Why don't you?" he said without looking at me.

     Is this man trying to say something?

     We arrived and parked at the underground parking lot. He got out and quickly went around to open the door for me then reached his hand.

     I grabbed his hand and he helped me get out of the car. "Thanks," I said right away and we still held hands as we went inside.

     "Can you tell me where we're going now?" Jeez, this man never runs out of ideas of places on where to take me.

     "You'll see."

     My parents are gonna kill me, for sure. Since it's almost 7 PM now.

We just kept walking, while still holding hands. I just stared at it while we're walking, while he's taking me somewhere. Have I completely fallen for him? Am I ready for this? Is this love? But it feels too soon... I'll just keep this to myself, for now. I'll wait for a proper time and place, Lij. And then I can finally tell you that-

    I love you.

     "Where are you taking me?" he's not even listening and just kept on dragging me.

FLASHBACK - Elijah Dwayne Caulfield

     "Daddy? Can we go there? I really wanna ride that..."

     "Let's try it some other time, Elijah." dad said while dragging me.

     I've always wanted to ride a carousel, but dad didn't give me a chance.

     "Sorry, Lij. Let's try it another day."

      And again.

     "We're gonna be late, Elijah. Not now, please."

     And again..

     "We're gonna go see your sister, Elijah. We'll ride it soon."

     And again...

     "You're already too old for that, Elijah. You're already 11 years old."

     Until I never had the chance to try it since childhood. My dad has been occupied with all the things going on with his new wife. I sometimes felt like I am the one who still tries to fit in even though I don't belong. I'm like a puzzle piece that tries to fit in the wrong place where I don't even fit. Like I am the one who's taking my own dad away from them.

Since then, I started to get used to a life without any parents. I still have, but I don't really know. I just think that both of my parents are gone now, it may be a little bit too much but it's better to treat it that way. Since the only parent that I have didn't even chose to stay. Now, all he does was to give me money. I'm like a dog that is just left with food by my owner that doesn't even care that much about me anymore. If I just knew that it would all end up like this, if I were my dad; I should've just chosen to save my mother rather than me. Then maybe they still lived a happy life. A happy husband and wife.

Elijah Dwayne Caulfield

     "We're here."

     "A...carousel?" her eyes squinted."What are we doing here?" she asked.

     "We're gonna ride it, dummy."

     She laughed "For real? What are we? 3rd grade?"

     "I just wanna ride it, I never did..." I said then looked down.

     "What? A-are you serious? You're the only grownup that I know here in the city that hasn't tried that thing yet."

     "I know, kinda funny right?" then I scratched my nape.

     "Is this what you wanted to do with me?" she asked then looked at me in the eye.

     I rested my hands on the handrail "Uhh, yeah... It's a first. And I like having my firsts with you." then I looked away.

     "Ooooh - kayyy... Let's go then," she said and I quickly grabbed her hand right away and dragged her again.

     "Woah, easy. A carousel just goes round and round, it doesn't run away, Lij."

     "One ticket please, and she's going with me," I said to the cashier.

     She pulled my sleeve "What the hell? Are we sharing rides?!" she whispered near my ear.

     I just grinned and we already got inside. We already have one ticket so she has no choice but to ride with me. I already sat on our ride and I felt excited. She then sat behind me, I looked back at her for a second and she glared at me. I just smiled. There are also other people riding. Kids, teens, and also grownups. Guess I'm not the only one. The ride is about to start and I'm so psyched. Then she suddenly hugged me. This just feels so good. The carousel then started to speed up. And this is it, the feeling that I've wanted for so long. And I'm here right now, with her. Tears started to fall from my eyes, I'm so damn happy. I've never been this happy. I just don't want this to end.

     Few laps have passed and she's still hugging me. And the carousel eventually stopped.

     We both got down and went outside the carousel already "Ahh - that was so good!" I said then stretched my arms.

     "Yeah, it is," she said then suddenly stared at me. "Were you crying?"

      I wiped my eyes and it's a bit wet. "Oh, it's nothing. I just - yawned, yeah." I reasoned out.

     "Ohh, okay..." she then looked around. "What are we gonna do now?" then her phone rang and buzzed for a moment then she took it out of her bag. "It's uhh - my dad... Stay here, I'll be right back." then she ran into a corner.

     I just stayed there and also looked around a little and found an accessory shop. I waited for her to come back so that we can go together. A few moments later, she came back. She walked towards me slowly while looking down with her phone clasped in both of her hands.

     "Hey, what happened?" I asked as soon as she got close to me.

     "My parents..."

     "What? What happened?" then I walked closer to her.

     "They're up to something, they're not going home for tonight," she said while staring at the plant beside me.

     "Oh, for fuck's sake. I thought something really bad happened." I then facepalmed.

     "It is bad!" she yelled.

     "Okay, okay. What are you gonna do now then?"

     "I'll thrive, I'll fight. I'll survive the night," she said as she puts her hands on her chest with her eyes closed.

     What's up with this woman?

     "Alright, bet. But before that-" I grabbed her hand and dragged her into the accessory shop.

     "I can walk, you know," she said sarcastically while I'm dragging her.

We got inside and there are plenty of different accessories displayed. I don't need to mention all of them, because it seems like every accessory could be found here. We walked inside and came across a stand full of beautiful wristbands. She walked closer to it and tried some on.

     "Look, Lij." she then showed me her arm. "It's a black and white one. Pretty, isn't it?"

     "Yes it is but - is that the last piece?" then I tried to search for another one of the black and white wristbands.

     "I-I guess so... Well, lucky me." then she smiled at me obnoxiously.

     I sighed "Yeah, lucky you." I air quoted. "And also, I'm paying that for you."

     "What? What are you? My sugar daddy? It's mine, so I'll pay for it." she insisted.

     I already walked to the cashier and she suddenly pulled my sleeve.

     "Hey, you ain't buying something for yourself?"

     "Nah. I'm good," I answered.

     Then she also walked to the cashier to pay for the wristband.

     "$10 ma'am." What the hell? 10 dollars for a single wristband?

     She then paid for it and we already got out of the shop.

     "Well, not too bad for a last piece," she said as she wore it outside while we're walking.

     "So, your parents aren't going home tonight, right?" I asked.

     "Yeah, I'm sleeping home alone tonight." then she sighed. "It sucks being alone."

     "Yeah..." I replied.

We're just walking around the mall. I glanced at my watch and it's already 8 PM. I don't have anything else planned for later and I also don't wanna invite her over again, it'll be too awkward.

     "Let's go home now?" I asked.

     "Already?" she then frowned.

     "What do you mean already? It's already 8 PM now. The mall is also closing in an hour or so."

     "Okay, let's go home then."

     That was fast.

     We walked to the underground parking lot and went inside the car then already drove back home. Our trip was quiet, nothing so special. I was just focused on driving and she was just listening to music. We arrived at our street and I quickly went out then went around to open the door for her.

     "Thanks for driving me home, I had so much fun today," she said right away.

     I smiled "My pleasure."

     "I'm going home now, see you later," she said.

     "Yeah, see ya." she smiled back at me then already went inside.

     I parked my car at the front of my house then already went inside with a smile on my face.