“Raging Bull first,” Harry announced, and we all nodded in agreement as we raced to the other side of the park. The Raging Bull was the biggest, fastest roller coaster around. We easily made our way through the practically empty park and to the first row of the ride, strapping ourselves in, excitement coursing through our veins. I sat next to Harry, and he gave me a nervous smile.
Before we knew it, we were chugging up the incline of the roller coaster, instantly regretting our decision.
“We’re dumbasses” Harry yelled, kicking his free feet back and forth.
“AGREED!” Charlie yelled from the opposite side over the wind, bracing his legs as hard as he could against the car.Hannah and Jenna looked nauseous as we climbed higher and higher into the cloudless sky.
Eventually, we reached the top. We stalled for a few seconds, leaning over the edge with a birds-eye view of the park, the people ants crawling across the pavement. The pit of my stomach lurched as we dropped at top speed, and I felt the familiar feeling of my body rising out of the seat ever so slightly as the force pulled me upward. Involuntary screams exited all of us, mine a low, animal grumble, while Harry’s took on a frequency resembling a feline giving birth.
“NO NO NO NO NO,” Harry called as we whizzed around a loop.
When it was over, we all wooed in approval, smiles spread across our faces.
“Again?” Jenna asked, and we all shrugged.
“Sure, why not?” Hannah grinned. Due to the nearly empty line, the ride conductor allowed us to stay seated in our seats.
We rode that ride five times in a row that morning, and every time Harry screamed about the idiocy of our decision, and every single time I smiled, finally realizing what I’d been scared to accept the entire time; when you start something unfamiliar, it’s undeniably terrifying. But even if it’s the scariest experience of your life, if it’s meant to be, it’s completely worth it, even if it isn’t any better the more familiar you become with it. No matter what, if you’re with the ones you love, it’ll always be beneficial to you in the end.
******
“No. I won’t do it.” I firmly sat on a rusted blue bench, arms crossed and lips in a pout.
“I don’t understand. You were fine with the roller coasters,” Hannah sighed, sitting next to me.
“Roller coasters are fast. Roller coasters don’t dangle you. Most importantly, roller coasters don’t stop.”
I kicked a rock half-heartedly down the sidewalk, aware of the four pairs of eyes that rested on me, watching me, trying to decipher whether or not I was joking. After all, as Charlie had pointed out, plenty of small children much younger than me fearlessly rode the Drop Tower each day, returning from the sky unscathed and exhilarated.
“So you’re telling me that you hate heights, even after everything we’ve done today?” Charlie began, and I slowly nodded my head in confirmation, wishing I was smaller, younger, and able to get away with my fears without being questioned or ridiculed. In the end, after I had exhausted all efforts in getting me to ride the Drop Tower, the group gave up and decided to stop for lunch instead. Harry and I trailed behind the rest of the pack as we went in search for a fast food joint.
“Can I take a psychological crack at you?” Harry smiled his friendly, comforting grin that immediately relaxed my muscles and thoughts.
“Be all you can be,” I laughed.
YOU ARE READING
Drawn [h.s.]
FanfictionThey say falling in love with your best friend can ruin everything. But I promise you this; no matter who enters your life, I will love you more than any of them would ever be able to. Always.