I pointed at the array of neon signs on the wall.
“I like what you’ve done with the place.”
She laughed. “Bar chic.”
“Aren’t those supposed to be marketing beer or something?”
“They are. In my apartment.”
She stuffed her phone into her pocket and picked up the yellow shirt. “All right. I’ve gotten past my initial reaction. I suppose when at the carnival, do as the carnival people do.”
“You don’t have to wear it. It was just for fun.”
She held it up. “I suppose I could try on a new skin.”
My throat caught as she pulled off her black shirt with the arms cut out. Beneath it, she wore a black bra that would probably show through the yellow.
But this Ava didn’t care about stuff like that. The new shirt fit perfectly. It also changed her completely.
Her brown hair was twisted into tight balls behind either ear, pieces sticking out like pinwheels. When she wore all black, the effect was badass. But with the sunny yellow shirt, it came off as playful and cute.
“I have to go check this out.” She disappeared down the hall.
I sat on the orange chair and waited. I wondered if she would accept anything from me for her place. Gram’s was crammed with stuff from my parents’ old house. I had even more in storage. Suddenly, it seemed ridiculous to leave all the furniture, dishes, and appliances in there to rot. I would talk to Gram about it.
Ava returned. “You turned me into a flower. I’m used to being an angel of death.”
“Ava Roberts, I’ll take you any way you come. Sunshine or doom.”
She twisted from side to side, tugging on the hem.
“I like it. I didn’t think I would, but I do. Come on, let’s go ride a cliché.”
We took the bus down south, since I still couldn’t drive. Having Ava back made me want to get a job again.
Fact was, I didn’t even know what I could do. Lots of doors were closed to me with my migraines off the rails. I’d spent as much time in a dark room in recent months as I had out in the world. My ability to be at the carnival was courtesy of hoarded pain meds and sheer grit.
Hell, I didn’t even know what company would take me in my condition. Gram had saved my parents’ life insurance money for college, but I wasn’t using it. It wouldn’t last forever at any rate. Having Ava in my life made me want to figure everything out, make new dreams again.
We walked the last half-mile to the parking lot where the carnival was set up.
The colored lights shone on Ava’s hair. “I haven’t seen that much neon since Big Harry took me to one of the restaurant conventions. The parking lot is glowing.”
“I think that’s by design. They want you to see the adventure that awaits from miles away.”
“An adventure. In a parking lot.” Ava’s voice expressed the disdain I remembered from our early hospital days.
“I think anything can be an adventure.”
“All right, sunshine boy. Show me a good time.”
I bought us a strip of tickets for the rides. We ventured onto the Hammerhead, which was a long rod with a capsule on either end. Each one could hold four people. Ava and I squeezed into our side, exchanging glances when we spotted the two girls opposite us. We had only buckled in, but one of them was already screaming.
“Is this a preview of coming horror?” Ava asked.
I didn’t answer. It was hard to talk over the sounds of the girl.
“We already rode it once,” her friend yelled. “She’s planning ahead.”
