"It's time to build from the bottom of the pit,
right to the top
don't hold back"
"Audrey! Honey, Nate is outside." My mom says as she enters the house coming from work.
"They are going on a date!" Kay informs her and mom turns to look at me.
"Wow! That's great honey, have fun..."
"Okay. See you when I come home."
"I knew they were more than friends." Mom smugly whispers to Kay.
"I can hear you guys." I tell them as I leave and close the door.
As soon as I'm outside I see Nate standing by the passenger door of his audi. He's wearing jeans, a white v-neck, and black converse. For a minute I think my heart is beating so loud I wonder if he can hear it. Deep breath in and out I remind myself.
While walking towards him, he sends me a smile.
"You look nice." He tells me as he opens the door for me.
"Thanks." I feel my cheeks get warm.
"Where are we going?" I ask him as soon as he gets in the car.
"I was thinking we could go to where we first met."
"The boardwalk? Sounds good. Does that mean everything is free since your going to own it?" I joke.
"The company still needs to do a couple of things before buying it but I actually do have an all access pass to use. Not that I'm trying to be a cheap-skate. I just thought we could have fun playing games and riding the rides."
"I can't wait to beat you on some games."
"We'll see."
"How about we do a rematch of air hockey? Loser pays for dinner."
He looks skeptical but eventually agrees. "Fine and winner picks the place to eat."
"Deal."
The drive and parking is only about 4 minutes since I live close to it. We could have walked but it looks like it might rain.
It's packed with people and kids running around playing games. But it looks pretty since its getting dark outside and the colorful lights are on.
The first place we obviously go to is the arcade.
"Why are you winning? Stop it!" I say about 5 minutes into the game. The score is 5-3.
"I cannot stop my awesomeness." Nate replies.
"Whatever." I roll my eyes. I don't really care if I have to pay for dinner, it's more about pride at this point.
As our match continues I carefully watch his every move looking for an opening to score.
"Yes!" I score 2 back to back making it 5-5. Just 2 more points.
"Not so fast." Right after I put the puck back on the table he scores.
He just needs one more. Okay, I've won before, so I can win again.
"Hey do any of you have change for five dollars?" Some guy comes up to ask us and I get distracted.
Of course at that moment Nate scores.
"Victory is mine!" he smirks.
"Calm down Stewie Griffin. That was not fair."
"Not my fault you got distracted."
I turn to said distraction. "Sorry, what did you say again?"
I just notice he's around my age and is good looking. Not as good as Nate though.
"Just if you had some change for a five. Or if you want, we can go get a bite to eat?" He winks at me. Can he not tell I'm with someone?
"Yeah, don't think that's going to be happening since she's with me." Suddenly Nate is right next to me with an arm around my shoulder.
"My bad. I didn't know if you were just friends or what. But if you ever wanna call me...." the guy looks me up and down.
"Really dude? Back off." Nate adds annoyed with a super pissed off face.
He must look scary enough because the other guy leaves without saying a word. Though he keeps look at the retreating back.
To get rid of the tension I ask "So congrats on winning.... I guess. Where do you want to eat?"
He finally looks back at me and smiles. "Let's go to eat at the Aquarium."
The Aquarium is a seafood resturant that has- well aquariums of fish inside that you can look at while eating. They even have stingrays you can feed.
It's kind of pricey but a deal is a deal.
"Okay, let's go."
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
"Are you serious?" I ask as I'm about to pay for dinner.
"Yes."
"You could have told me before I made the deal earlier."
Nate just told me because his dad's company is looking into buying the boardwalk, he basically gets to do or get anything for free since they are inspecting everything to see if they're going through with buying. Including if they like the current resturants. Which means free meals.
"But the day we met you paid for those ice cream cones." I add.
"I didn't know you yet so I didn't want you wondering how I got them for free." He explains.
"Hmmm.. if you say so." I put back my debit card.
"So, if I can ask, is the company going to buy the other theme parks Aimee's parents own?"
"No, we are just looking onto this one. I believe some other companies are looking into the other ones."
"I hope you and your date enjoyed everything Mr. Kingston." A man in the suit who looks like a manager approaches us as we start leaving.
"Everything was great."
"So, I don't mean to intrude, but will the company be buying the boardwalk? We heard the Cavens don't have much money left to keep the business up."
"I can't talk about it, but I think everything will be fine."
I didn't know the situation was that bad. If it isn't bought then it could close down and my mom could lose her job at the gift shop.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing." I lie.
"What is it? I can see somethings wrong. You can tell me."
"I was just thinking that if it closes my mom would need another job. Sorry for bringing it up. I just didn't know that Aimee's parents can't keep up with the costs."
"It's basically a done deal. We're just negotiating the price. We just can't tell people yet. But I trust you so I'm letting you know."
"Thanks for trusting and telling me."
"Of course."
"Now how about we go pet some stingrays?"
-----------------------------------
"That was awesome! Why were you scared of the stingrays?" While feeding small fish to the rays Nate had kept a distance from them and every once in a while tried to pull me back when one got to close.
"Oh I don't know because I remembered they can kill you with their tail. Remember the animal trainer who got killed by one?"
"Yeah, but he was in the water with it. We were outside the pool."
"Still. Better safe than sorry."
"I don't know but fine. Lets go on some rides." I suggest.
"That, I can do."
A couple of rides later I feel like I might vomit. "I shouldn't have listened to you and got on that backwards twirly ride again. Ugh."
"Lightweight." He laughs "C'mon lets sit for awhile."
After my dizziness went away we decide to play some carnival games.
"Oooo, Lets play that one, I'm great at it." I point at the wall of ballons you throw darts at. The more you pop, the bigger the prize (stuffed animal) you get.
"I think anyone can win at that game."
"Shush, it's my favorite." Actually it was because it was the easiest to win at.
"Here let me win you something. Which stuffed animal do you want?" Nate asks me while showing his pass and getting the darts.
I see stuffed elephants, giraffes, and dolphins in different sizes.
"Hmm, I want the big stuffed dolphin." I love the ocean and it was one of my favorite animals so it was a no brainer.
"One dolphin coming up."
After Nate won it in one round we started walking around and took some silly pictures. I started noticing that people had started leaving.
I check my phone and see its 10:30 pm. It's not too late since it doesn't close till midnight but I work tomorrow.
"I think I should go home, I go to work in the morning."
"Okay, let's go."
As we walk towards the car he holds my hand the whole way. Not gonna lie, I feel like a lucky person.
It takes us a little longer to get back because others are leaving at the same time we are.
Once we are at my house Nate opens my door and I get out holding my new stuffed animal.
"I had alot of fun." I tell him.
"Me too. When are you off again?"
"Uh, I think two days from now."
"How about we go out again?"
"That would be great."
He walks me to my front door and it's starting to drizzle with rain outside.
"Goodnight." Nate says then softly kisses my cheek.
Don't blush I tell myself.
"Night." I return.
I go straight to my room and get ready for bed. It's hard to sleep though as I keep thinking about tonight. I think I even fall asleep smiling.
Chapter Note: Hope you liked it :) Writing this chapter made want to go visit Kemah. Please support by voting and commenting. It means alot. Also did you notice the Family guy reference?