Diana
If you told me two months ago that I would enjoy being around Carson Ryder, I would have laughed in your face.
Because, as some may have it, he’s easy to talk to. Even outside our tutoring sessions, in the middle of the upper lot of Universal Studios, I’m having a fucking blast with just the two of us.
Since it’s Saturday, and the park is very crowded, we’ve resorted to resting by one of the auditoriums where they used to hold the special effects show, just asking each other random questions.
Through it, I did get to learn his middle name and he learned mine—it’s Jameson—our conversation has shifted mainly towards me because he wants to know what the park in Orlando is like.
“So she went up to hug the guy? Was your sister not aware of the fake blood?” Carson is still shocked at my little sister’s lack of spatial awareness.
I shrug. “If you were my sister, you wouldn’t notice.” Even now, I think Crystal’s spatial awareness has gotten worse than it was when she was eight.
“Shouldn’t we be waiting for the others to get off the ride?” I suggest at the exact moment my phone buzzes in my bag. I pull it out to find a text from Ronnie waiting.
Ronnie
We’re going on the ride next door so you and Carson should eat without us.
I chuckle softly. Leave it to the adrenaline junkie to wait another hour in line for his thrill. “Let’s go,” I tell Carson, shoving my phone back into my bag.
“Was that Adrian texting you?” He furrows his brows.
“Ronnie,” I reply.
He scoffs as we make our way over to the carnival games. “Leave it to the two adrenaline junkies. You’d think Adrian would have enjoyed this show over the rides but if he’s not falling to his death, then it’s not worth it.”
“Are you just being dramatic?”
“Those were words out of Adrian’s mouth.”
“He might have a point,” I say. “The one in Orlando looked boring.”
He places a hand over his chest. “Wow, Diana. You wound me.”
“What? Was the show actually interesting?”
“Like no other,” he clarifies, a little glint in his eyes. Probably from thinking back to a good memory. “They filmed multiple shows and movies in this park. My family and I got to volunteer for a demonstration when I was nine. We all got to wear those suits with the green balls on them.”
That does sound a little cool. I, however, would have been frightened by the prospect of standing up in front of people. Kudos to little Carson for having that confidence. Because at that age? I would have cowered. Even now, I would have cowered if I had been thrust into the spotlight like that.
“What do you say?” We stop at a ring toss game, where the prizes are all related to one of the animated movies displayed in the section of the park we’re in. The yellow and purple minions and those huge unicorns are all they have.
But I know better. “Those games are a sham.”
Carson makes a face. “The claw machines are scams. These aren’t.” He motions to the ring toss.
“Have you ever won a prize from them?”
“I haven’t. But they look so easy.”
“Oh, you sweet summer child,” I sigh. “That’s what they want you to think.” I have yet to see one of the game attendants pull a stuffed minion from the shelves and a kid walking away happy with it.
“Then I’m going to prove you wrong,” he declares, chin up high.
Both of my brows fly up my face. “You are going to attempt this game?”
He slams a five-dollar bill on the table. “Correction, I am going towinit.” The attendant rests a set of five rings on the table in front of us. Carson grabs the bright orange ring on top and focuses on the bottles inside the booth. “No doubt about it.”
