XVI

By the time the ride finally slowed down and they were lowered back to the ground, Maya could barely think. Her legs felt like jelly, her stomach was somewhere back in the sky, and her grip on Danielle's arm hadn't loosened even a little.

As soon as the restraints unlocked, Maya scrambled out of her seat, practically stumbling onto the platform. She turned to Danielle with wide eyes, pointing an accusing finger.

"I hate you."

Danielle just smirked, effortlessly climbing out of her own seat, looking completely unbothered. "You were screaming my name the whole time, Hart."

Maya's face burned. "I WAS SCREAMING FOR MY LIFE!"

Riley bounced up beside them, grinning ear to ear. "That was amazing! Can we go again?"

Maya whipped around so fast she almost got whiplash. "NO."

Danielle chuckled, stretching her arms over her head. "Aw, come on, Hart. It wasn't that bad."

Maya shot her a death glare. "I literally saw my ancestors."

Danielle tilted her head in mock thought. "And yet, you survived."

"Barely."

Danielle leaned in slightly, amusement dancing in her eyes. "So... you're saying you need me to keep you alive?"

Maya swore her brain short-circuited for a second.

"Shut up."

Danielle just smirked, completely pleased with herself, as she slung an arm around Maya's shoulders.

"Come on, princess. I'll buy you a funnel cake for your trauma."

Maya should have said no. She should have pushed Danielle's arm off her shoulders and walked away like a normal person with self-respect.

But instead, she just muttered, "There better be extra powdered sugar," and let Danielle guide her toward the food stand.

Riley trailed behind them, humming happily. "I think today has been such a good bonding experience for us all."

Maya scoffed. "Yeah, because nothing says 'bonding' like almost dying."

Danielle chuckled, pulling out her wallet. "You're so dramatic."

Maya shot her a glare. "I was launched into the air against my will. If anything, I think I'm underreacting."

Danielle ignored her, handing some cash to the vendor. A minute later, she turned back around with a large funnel cake, absolutely drenched in powdered sugar, and handed it to Maya.

Maya blinked down at it. "Oh. You actually listened."

Danielle rolled her eyes. "I'm not completely heartless, princess."

Maya was too busy tearing off a piece of the warm, crispy dough to argue. She popped it into her mouth, her eyes closing for half a second. "Okay, this almost makes up for the ride."

Danielle smirked. "I knew food was the way to your heart."

Maya choked.

Riley giggled from behind her cup of lemonade. "You guys are so cute."

Maya turned on her so fast that powdered sugar flew off her hands. "We are not cute."

Danielle just raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying this way too much. "Oh, so now we're a 'we'?"

Maya scowled. "I hate you."

Danielle grinned, popping a piece of funnel cake into her own mouth. "Sure you do, Hart."

Maya scowled as she tore off another piece of funnel cake, aggressively shoving it into her mouth like it would somehow erase the very dumb way her stomach had flipped at Danielle's teasing.

Riley just sipped her lemonade, watching the scene unfold like it was her favorite sitcom. "You know, Maya, you always say you hate people you actually like."

Maya nearly choked for the second time in five minutes. She spun on her best friend, pointing a sugar-dusted finger at her. "I do hate her."

Danielle just smirked, leaning against the railing with that obnoxious air of confidence. "Keep telling yourself that, princess."

Maya's eye twitched. "I—" She turned back to Riley. "Do you see what I have to deal with?"

Riley simply smiled. "Yes, I do. And I think it's adorable."

Maya groaned, dragging a hand down her face. "You are the worst best friend ever."

Riley shrugged. "If I were the worst, I wouldn't be pointing out how you two have been standing way too close to each other for the last ten minutes."

Maya immediately stepped away from Danielle like she'd been burned. Danielle, of course, didn't move at all—just raised an eyebrow, completely amused.

"Relax, Hart," Danielle said, arms crossed. "If you keep freaking out like this, people are gonna start thinking you have a crush on me."

Maya let out a humourless laugh. "Oh, yeah, sure. That's exactly what's happening here."

Danielle grinned. "Glad we agree."

Maya took a deep breath, turned to Riley, and deadpanned, "If I push her into the nearest fountain, will you bail me out?"

Riley thought for a second before shaking her head. "Nope. I'm enjoying this way too much."

Danielle smirked, stepping just a tiny bit closer to Maya. "Face it, Hart. You'd miss me if I were gone."

Maya's face was burning. She didn't have a comeback fast enough, so she just stuffed more funnel cake into her mouth and refused to look at Danielle.

Danielle just chuckled, finally backing off, and Maya let out a breath she hadn't realized she was holding.

This day was never going to end, was it?