“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.
“Is it because of the tree?”
I stared at the ground, silently remembering the day that I’d fallen out of the tree and broken my arm. No one had ever pieced together the cause of my acrophobia. Slowly, I nodded.
“It’s not really a fear of heights. It’s a fear of falling,” I admitted, and Harry laughed lightly.
“Understandable. But, one more thing,” he added.
“What?” I asked as I looked at him.
“I’ve never let you fall since then, and I won’t start now.” He smiled humbly, like he didn’t just put into words the thing I’d needed to hear for weeks.
“Ok,” I unsurely commented, looking at the sky for a change.
“Ok?” he asked, confused by meaning.
“Ok, I’ll ride that freaking death trap.”
Victory was written across his pale face as he told the others about my decision, and was greeted by a unified exultation of cheers.
“To the Drop Tower!” Jenna yelled, completely forgetting the idea of lunch. Apparently the idea was lost on everyone else too, resulting in my severe disappointment and uneasiness as my stomach loudly growled.
It’s probably for the best. I probably want an empty stomach right now, I thought while we crossed the park to the large blue and white tower that made me dizzy to even look up at. We efficiently walked through the metal guides to the entrance of the ride, where we waited for our turn to load the seats. I could feel my hands shake and my breath quicken. My palms grew sweaty as I bit my lip to restrain myself from turning around.
“Harry,” I whispered quietly when we were once again behind the others. “I don’t think I can do this,” I squeaked, and he put a large arm around my shoulders. I smelled the familiar scent of his musky orange cologne, but it did little to calm my anxious mind.
“You can do it. Watch the ride right now, it’s not so scary.”
Together we turned our attention the tower as the car climbed higher and higher towards the sun. I counted eleven seconds before it finally hit the top. It stalled for four seconds at about a 275 foot elevation before the operator mumbled something over the crackly speakers. Then, they dropped straight out of the sky.
One Mississippi, two Mississippi, three Mississippi
The break abruptly stopped the cart, causing the riders to come to a slow descent onto the cement ground.
“Our turn!” Jenna squealed when the riders exited, and together we approached an old cart with about thirty seats arranged in a circle facing outside towards the park. I took my seat in between Hannah and Harry, locking the harness as tight as it could go. An operator progressed towards us and checked all of our harnesses, and when he was done he moved on to the next group of people.
“Excuse me?” I asked, my voice cracking.
“Yeah?” He walked back towards me. He couldn’t have been more than twenty, with greasy brown hair sticking up all over his head.
“Can you check mine again?”
“Is it loose?” he rolled his eyes in boredom.
“Well…no, but-“ I began.
“Then I’ve done my job.” He crossed his arms and walked away. I looked at Harry helplessly.
“Pull up on your harness,” Harry commanded. I tried my hardest, but the contraption wouldn’t budge.
![Drawn [h.s.]](https://img.wattpad.com/cover/19881379-64-k614310.jpg)