The next day felt longer than any day in history.
I checked the clock.
3:12 PM.
Then again.
3:14 PM.
"How is time moving this slowly?" I groaned, dropping onto my bed.
Tonight was the "hangout."
Not a date.
Definitely not a date.
I repeated that sentence in my head at least twenty times.
It didn't help.
My phone buzzed on my desk.
I reached over lazily, expecting it to be Ethan.
Unfortunately…
It was.
Ethan:
Important question.
I sighed and opened the chat.
Me:
What.
Three dots appeared immediately.
Ethan:
What are you wearing tonight?
My eyes narrowed.
Me:
None of your business.
Ethan:
Wrong answer.
Another message came.
Ethan:
Austin asked.
My heart skipped.
I stared at the screen.
Then typed.
Me:
You're lying.
Ethan:
Am I?
I groaned loudly.
This boy was impossible.
Before I could respond again, another message popped up.
But this one wasn't from Ethan.
It was from Austin.
My stomach flipped instantly.
Austin:
Hey.
Why did that one word make me nervous?
I sat up straighter before replying.
Me:
Hi.
A few seconds passed.
Then another message came.
Austin:
Still okay with tonight?
I blinked.
He sounded… careful.
Like he didn't want to pressure me.
For some reason that made my chest feel warm.
Me:
Yeah.
Another pause.
Then,
Austin:
Good.
That was it.
No teasing.
No jokes.
Just simple messages.
Which somehow made me even more nervous.
My phone buzzed again.
Ethan.
Of course.
Ethan:
Did he text you?
I rolled my eyes.
Me:
Why are you spying?
Ethan:
Because I care about this mission.
Me:
It's not a mission.
Ethan:
Everything is a mission.
I muted the chat.
For my own sanity.
By the time 5:30 arrived, I had already changed outfits three times.
"This is ridiculous," I told myself in the mirror.
"It's just hanging out."
But somehow my brain kept whispering:
It's still a date.
I grabbed a light jacket and headed downstairs.
Right on time, my phone buzzed again.
Austin:
I'm outside.
My heart jumped.
"That was fast."
I stepped outside and immediately saw him leaning against the sidewalk railing.
He looked up when he saw me.
And smiled.
That stupid heart-flip happened again.
"Hey," he said.
"Hey."
For a second we just stood there awkwardly.
Then he spoke again.
"You look nice."
My brain malfunctioned.
"Oh— thanks."
He rubbed the back of his neck slightly.
"Ready?"
I nodded quickly.
"Yeah."
We started walking toward the street where the fair was set up downtown.
The evening sky was starting to turn orange, and the air felt cooler than earlier.
"So," I said after a moment.
"So," he replied.
"Is Ethan secretly hiding somewhere?"
Austin laughed.
"I checked."
"Good."
"He wanted to come though."
"That's terrifying."
"Agreed."
We kept walking until we reached the fair entrance.
Bright lights blinked everywhere.
Music played from different directions.
People laughed and moved through the crowds.
The smell of popcorn and cotton candy filled the air.
Austin looked around.
"Well," he said, "Ethan was right about one thing."
"What?"
"It's chaotic."
I crossed my arms proudly.
"I told you."
"But," he added, "it looks fun."
I couldn't argue with that.
The place did look exciting.
"Okay," I said. "What's first?"
He looked around.
"Ferris wheel?"
My eyes widened.
"Immediately?"
"Why not?"
"Because heights!"
He smiled slightly.
"You're scared of heights?"
"I'm cautious of heights."
"That's a yes."
I groaned.
"Fine."
We walked toward the giant Ferris wheel towering above the fair.
The lights on it blinked in colorful patterns as the carts slowly moved up and down.
The moment we reached the line, I started questioning all my life decisions.
"This was a mistake."
Austin looked amused.
"We're still on the ground."
"I'm mentally preparing."
"You'll be fine."
"How do you know?"
He shrugged.
"I'll be there."
For some reason…
That made me feel better.
Soon it was our turn.
We stepped into one of the small carts, and the ride operator locked the door behind us.
As the wheel started moving, the cart lifted slowly into the air.
I grabbed the seat.
"This is a bad idea."
Austin leaned back calmly.
"You're doing great."
"We're ten feet in the air!"
"More like twenty."
"That does not help!"
He laughed.
But after a moment, he gently said,
"Look."
I hesitated… then glanced over the edge.
The view stopped me completely.
The entire fair stretched below us—bright lights, colorful booths, and people moving like tiny dots.
The sunset painted the sky pink and orange.
It was… beautiful.
"Wow," I whispered.
Austin watched me instead of the view.
"Told you."
I looked back at him.
"Okay," I admitted. "This was worth it."
The cart continued rising until we reached the top.
For a moment, everything felt quiet.
The noise of the fair seemed distant.
The breeze moved gently around us.
Austin leaned forward slightly.
"So," he said.
"So?"
"Is this still a terrible idea?"
I thought about it.
Then smiled a little.
"Maybe not."
He smiled back.
And something about that moment felt different.
Not awkward.
Not chaotic.
Just… nice.
Then suddenly my phone buzzed loudly in my pocket.
I pulled it out.
One new message.
From Ethan.
I opened it.
Ethan:
Update request: Are you two holding hands yet?
I groaned.
Austin laughed.
"What did he say?"
I showed him the message.
He shook his head.
"I should block him."
"Please do."
Austin looked at the screen again.
Then typed something.
"What are you doing?" I asked.
"Replying."
A few seconds later my phone buzzed again.
I looked down.
Ethan:
WAIT— YOU HAVE HER PHONE?!
Austin grinned.
"Oh this should be fun."
I laughed.
Maybe Ethan had started this whole mess.
But as the Ferris wheel slowly began to move again…
I realized something.
This "not-a-date" was actually turning out pretty great.
But somewhere out of the corner of my eye I saw someone, Mary, she was walking with her friends, and I raised an eyebrow, She can never change, not now not ever.