March 22nd // 14th day
B R A I D E N
Riley was more than hesitant to hand Jade over to me for the day and I guess I couldn't blame him for that, but the details were insignificant anyway. The only thing that mattered was that he eventually let her go with me without much of a fight. She could turn him to jelly with just one smile and seeing how they looked at each other after they exchanged a hug tore me up inside, but watching them kiss was what broke me.
"You ready?" I choked out, mustering a smile, as she left Riley's side to join me and she nodded her head in reply, but before I could even take one step forward, Riley grabbed my arm and pulled me back towards him and the look in his eyes was enough to kill.
"Don't you dare try anything," he growled into my ear, making sure Jade didn't hear him. "I swear if anything happens to her, I'm going to make sure you regret it. Do you understand?"
I gulped, then nodded in reply before he hit me hard on the back then followed it with a couple gentle pats and it took all the strength in me not to cough due to the blow. Once I regained my composure, I simply smiled at him and he smiled back and for a moment I thought I saw something familiar. I thought I saw the tiniest fragment of the friend I once had before we both let a girl come between us. Then, just as fast as it had crossed his features, it was gone with no trace that it had even been there in the first place.
"Come on, Jade," I said, placing a hand on the small of her back as I kept my eyes on Riley. His muscles tensed almost instantly when he saw the contact and he looked as if he was going to throw a punch, but I knew he wouldn't. He wouldn't dare pull something like that in front of Jade.
We walked down the driveway, towards where my car was parked and I quickly pressed the button on my keys to unlock the doors as a loud chirp echoed through the still air. Jade practically skipped her way to the passenger's side while I opened the door for her and helped her in, allowing me to hold her hand for the briefest of moments, but it was enough for me.
The drive was quiet aside from the random album that Jade had put on playing softly from the car speakers. Every once in a while, I would just glance her way as she absentmindedly tapped her pinky finger to the rhythm of whatever song came through and how she would sit up and instantly get excited when she spotted someone walking their dog on the sidewalk, a brilliant smile spreading across her face and I could feel myself falling harder and deeper for the pretty girl in the passenger's seat of my car. Then, I'd catch a glimpse of the diamond resting upon her ring finger and my whole world would come crashing back down on me, leaving me stranded amongst the debris of my own emotions. It hurt so much more than any other pain I'd ever experienced, but another pain was going to replace this one in just a few days time. The pain of a much greater form of loss, but I chose not to dwell on it too much. Instead, forcing myself to focus back on the road in front of me, erasing any depressing thoughts from my mind.
After driving around for quite a decent amount of time, we had finally arrived at where I wanted to take her and I gave myself a triumphant pat on the back once I witnessed her reaction to seeing the place.
"You took me to an amusement park!?" she squealed excitedly, jumping up and down like a little girl, and I simply crossed my arms and nodded in reply as I allowed my eyes to scan all the rides set up in front of us. "Oh my God! I haven't been to one since I was a little. This is so exciting!"
Without a warning she grabbed my hand and tugged me along with all her might, marveling at everything around her and for a minute, she really did look like a little girl and a smile absentmindedly played on my lips as I watched such blissful innocence unfold right in front of me.
The gentle spring breeze raked through my hair, making hers flow around in the wind, as the scent of churros and other deep-fried goods from a nearby stand wafted its way over to us and I made a mental note to buy some after we were done with all the rides.
"So, what do you want to do first?" I asked her, squeezing her hand, which was still in mine, and making her stop in her tracks.
She placed a thoughtful finger to her chin and stared at each ride around us for a while before she looked back to me, a playful glint in her eyes. Then, I was being dragged off again in the opposite direction and it was surprisingly hard to keep up with her as I found myself stumbling behind, trying my best to match her pace, but Jade was on a mission and there was nothing that could possibly slow her down. Once she stopped moving and I saw what she wanted to ride first, I looked down at her with one of my eyebrows raised and a breathy laugh escaped me, but I proceeded to get in line without argument. After all, this day was all about her. She called the shots.
We eventually reached the front of the line as the guy in charge unlatched the gate and let us through, several feet thumping on the floor and making the contraption tremble a bit, everyone scrambling to get on one of the shiny horses. It didn't really help my self-esteem to see that most of the people who were on the ride were either balancing children on their hip or barely even reached my hip.
"The carousel? Really?" I said, still in disbelief, as the unmistakable carousel music began playing and the horse I was on, as well as all the others around me, bounced up and down in their own individual intervals. "How old are you again?"
"Not as old as you, grandpa," she joked in reply, causing me to roll my eyes. I was only three years older than her. There was no need for the nickname.
When the music died down and the horses stopped moving, Jade was the first to jump off, taking my hand again and rushing over to the next thing she wanted to ride, which was the spinning swings ride. The same process occured. We lined up, got to the front, went through the gates, and rushed to sit in a swing. And by the end of the ride's allotted two minutes, I was dizzy beyond compare and had to lean on Jade for support.
"Are you okay, Brai?" she asked, worry evident in her voice and I nodded in reply, instantly regretting it because the small movement had caused another wave of dizziness to wash through me and I ended up having to walk over to a nearby bench to try and sort myself out. "I don't think we should go on any more spin-y rides." She took a seat beside me, placing a soothing hand on my back and -- as cheesy as it sounded -- her touch alone was enough to make me feel better. I hated how she had this effect on me. I hated how she was Riley's and not mine and I hated how there was nothing I could do about it. And whenever I thought about making a move, Riley's words echoed in my mind, causing me to pull back each time.
Don't you dare try anything.
Brushing the thought aside, I looked back up at Jade, our eyes connecting instantaneously, gazes meeting in the middle, and I was able to muster a small, yet genuine smile. "I'm aright, Jade. It's fine." I could see it in her eyes that she didn't fully believe me, but I stood up and held out my hand, proving to her that I really was okay and helping her up before I began dragging her along. The roles had been reversed. "I'm choosing the next ride, okay?"
I pulled her over to the line of the ride that I wanted to go on and the sparkle in her eyes as she looked up at the huge rocking ship put a reassuring feeling in my chest. Most of the people raced over to the opposite ends of the boat-shaped ride because that was where you'd get the full experience, but I simply guided Jade towards the middle section, despite her whining about wanting to sit at the ends, because it was the mildest and safest place to sit for someone with her condition. I forced the metal safety bar down and the ride began to do it's thing, starting out nice and easy before the rocking escalated and my stomach felt like it was wedged between my lungs. Meanwhile, Jade was having the time of her life, throwing her hands up every time the thing went down and letting out a high-pitched howl every chance she got. I'd never seen her this happy before. It was so beautiful. She was so beautiful.
We rode a couple more rides after that. The bumper cars, the ferris wheel, even the wet rides, which left us completely soaked right after and I ended up having to buy the both of us new shirts from the gift shop because the ones we were wearing were far too wet to keep on. I had also managed to win Jade a small, stuffed elephant from one of those game booths that were scattered around the whole park. I'd originally been aiming for the big one, but I swear those games were rigged.
And just as I was about to call it a day and buy those churros I had wanted earlier, something caught Jade's eye and I started to sweat.
"We can't leave yet," she protested, making me stop walking and rest my gaze on what she was staring at. "We haven't gone on that one yet."
"I don't think that's a very good idea," I replied as my eyes scanned over and inspected every inch of the the gigantic rollercoaster. It had too many twists and loops and the screams of terror coming from the riders was enough to make me feel uneasy. On any other day, I wouldn't have hesitated, but with Jade, I had to be extra cautious. "I don't think your heart can handle it."
"My heart," she started, nearly looking offended by the words that had just escaped my lips. "Can handle anything. Thank you very much."
"But--"
"Please Brai," she pleaded and with the look she was giving me plus the little elephant clutched in her arms, I just couldn't find it in myself to say no and the split second after I'd let out an exasperated sigh, I was being dragged off again.
The line was the longest one we'd seen all day and the screams of the people on the death trap as well as the low rumble of the numerous cars zooming along the metal tracks was enough to make my ears ring and my anxiety swell up inside me. This was going to end badly. I could already feel it.
As soon as we stepped in and took a seat, a group of employees checked up on everyone, making sure each person on the ride was strapped in properly and asking them if they had any life-risking health issues, like a heart disease. I squirmed at that one, looking over at Jade as she lied and shook her head when one of the workers asked her about it.
Then after one final check, the ride begun, climbing up a tall incline then suddenly dropping at who knows how many miles per hour. And at first, Jade was screaming out in glee, raising her arms up off the safety bar, having the absolute most fun ever and for a moment I thought everything was going to be okay. Then, the loops came and all of that stopped, a sinking feeling settling in my heart as I tried to look over at Jade, but my head kept getting whipped around in different directions.
When the rollercoaster finally came to a halt, I immediately jumped out before bending down and grabbing Jade by the arms as I hoisted her out of the car and up onto the platform. Once, I got a good look at her all my organs felt like they had dropped down to my toes and my brain went fuzzy.
All the blood looked as though it had been drained right out of her body as she was deathly pale, white as a ghost aside from the purple hues under her dull eyes, which were so bright and bursting with life just minutes before, and the slightest tinge of blue taking over her, usually, pink lips.
I swear if anything happens to her, I'm going to make sure you regret it.
"Brai," she choked out, holding her arms out, begging for some kind of support. "My heart."
Then she collapsed.
~
a/n: i went to an amusement park just to write this chapter and if that aint dedication idk what is lmao it's 3am help