Chapter 31 - red Fox

Isla and Faun cheered when they got down from the roller coaster, clamouring to go on it one more time.

Lou stood shakily, leaning on a stoic Declan as she tried to catch her breath. "I-I'll pass." She mumbled, looking very green.

Declan wasn't affected but he would rather not get on the roller coaster again. "And I'll stay to keep an eye on Lou, you both should give it another try."

Faun shared an excited look with Isla over this, snagging her hand to pull her in the direction of the line.

"Lou, will you be oka… oof…" The rest of her words got punched out of her when Faun pulled her hurriedly.

Isla stole one last glance behind her to find Lou waving at her to ease her worries.

"Thanks, now don't touch me." Lou stood up straight as soon as they were out of sight.

The sides of Declan's lips twitched, 'so Lou had been faking to get out of riding the rollercoaster a second time?' he had to give her props for thinking so far ahead.

"You were the one leaning on me…" He started to say.

Lou was already walking off. "I'm going to get myself a drink, I'll be back soon and don't ask me to get anything for you." She cut him off.

"I wasn't going to ask." Declan muttered with a blank face.

"Fine, I'll get you something but you have to reimburse me." She huffed, her pale purple hair and black outfit disappearing into the milling crowd.

Declan just shook his head, the more he found out about Lou, the more he was blindsided.

He could almost see how Isla couldn't figure out that the rainbow haired goth liked her.

On the rollercoaster, Faun and Isla were screaming their heads off in happiness.

The only ones in their carriage who seemed genuinely happy.

So it was with overflowing excitement and boundless energy that they made their way back.

"We should try more rides!" Faun exclaimed; Isla seconded his suggestion, barely giving time for their tummies to settle down or to even take a sip from the drinks that Lou had bought them.

Trying to slow them down was like trying to stop a moving train, they just got dragged along.

Lou was over trying the rides again though and Declan also conveniently sat them out.

Faun and Isla's energies weren't dampened by this, the both of them running through each and every ride at the fair, even bumper cars.

"We should take a break to eat." Lou cautioned after they had gone on about every single ride.

It was easy to miss the passage of time while he was watching Faun have so much fun but it was already well into the afternoon.

As if on cue, Faun's tummy rumbled; it made his ears heat up although the only person that caught it was Declan.

Isla was already hanging off Lou's arm, loudly whining to her about what she wanted.

"Is there anything you want to eat?" Declan asked, amusement and a hint of concern in his voice.

Faun quickly forgot his mortification, his eyes twinkling. "Yes, cotton cand…"

"No." Declan cut him off with a straight face.

"But you asked." Faun made a face, drifting closer to him as they headed to a cluster of food stands to get something to eat.

"Cotton candy isn't food." Declan explained patiently, reflexively glancing at Lou when he put an arm around Faun.

The unicorn was too observant for her own good, and she seemed to have it out for him but thankfully she was distracted with handling Isla.

"But we ate them though," Faun grumbled stubbornly.

Declan sighed quietly; he was just as bad as Isla.

"We should play some games while there's still sunlight to burn." Lou suggested, looking lively for the first time all day.

"I want a big plushie, Lou." Isla hung off her shoulders making a pouty face.

Lou was already headed there even as she complained. "Then I hope your shooting has improved."

Declan just calmly watched as Lou headed straight for a game stand that offered big plushies for top wins, Isla cheering her on the entire time.

"Do you want one?" He turned to Faun as Isla threw herself on Lou when she handed her the toy she just won.

Faun's eyes went wide, he had been watching them curiously the whole time. "Yes, please."

Lou and Isla went quiet when Declan stepped up to play the game too.

"It's quite hard to hit the target, are you sure you don't want Lou to help y…" Isla started to tease good naturedly, trailing off when Declan hit all of the targets without even seeming to aim.

"Or not." She chuckled nervously.

"Here." Declan handed both plushies that he won to Faun; one of the stuffed toys was a grinning red fox. Apt.

"Hey! I only got one." Isla pouted, hurrying over to hang off Declan's arm. "Win more for me, won't you?" She urged him. "For old time's sake."

Declan tongued his cheek to stop from scoffing. "I'll pass, Island." He patted her head, off to Faun's side in no time.

Nervously, she glanced at Lou who was watching her the entire time with a fixed look in her eyes. "Come on." She invited her. "I'll get you more."

Isla practically rocketed into Lou's arms, throwing her arms around her neck. Lou was inches taller than her so she could hide her face in the crook of her neck.

"You're so good to me, Lou." She said into the crook of her neck, her voice coming out muffled.

Lou flinched when she heard a sniffle from Isla. "Oi! Don't cry on me, you'll get your snot all over me." She grouched, making no move to push her away.

Faun noticed Lou giving Declan a small smile but by the time he looked at Declan and back at her, the moment was gone.

He paid it no mind, far more interested in what Declan had gotten for him. He clutched both of the plushies to himself.

'This was very nice.'