Amusement of Love

Roni and a group of her friends, paired off into couples as they were, were headed to Shadow Oasis Amusement Park for a day filled with rides and fun games. She was always the millionth wheel in her friend group, but she was okay with it. At least that’s what she told everyone. She daydreamed while her best friend drove and her thoughts were abruptly interrupted by her bestie’s boyfriend, “Earth to Veronica, we’re here. You gonna get out of the car?” He teased.

Roni rolled her pretty sunshine eyes and scoffed, “Lucas, you don’t have to be obnoxious about asking me. Yes, I’m getting out of the car.” She brushed her auburn hair from her face and put it up in a messy bun, to cool her off. The car’s AC was blasting and it was ungodly hot when she stepped out of it.

“You look like you’re dying, Roni,” one of her friends commented with concern.

“That’s because I am, Trish. Can we just get inside the park so I can wipe off this pool of sweat I have perspiring from my body?”

“You don’t have to be crabby about it, sheesh. Let’s go.”

Roni sighed and followed, trying to ring out her shirt as she waddled to the ticket line, her legs chafing as she walked. Why am I even here? I’m gonna be ignored the whole time anyway, just like every other time. She thought and crossed her arms. The woman took the cash she had handed her and gave her a ticket in exchange. She walked through the gate and her friends had already gone their separate ways for rides and food. She sighed, heading to one of her favorite rides, Grim’s Passage, a Rollercoaster with carts that had skulls and crossbones all around them, a ride that did three loopy loops in a row, enough to make her sick.

She got in the long line and saw a sign that said ‘Singles will be paired up’ as she moved slowly. That’s odd. They’ve never done that before. Wanting to pass the time, she took her phone out and when she looked up, she was next to get on the ride. She perceived the available cars, realizing all but the middle were completely occupied. Her eyes grazed to the only empty seat, the one that contained a single cute guy. “Ma’am, are you going to ride?” The ride attendant asked.

Roni pushed her auburn wisps from her face and nodded, “Yeah. Sorry,” she shoved her phone in her back pocket and walked to where the guy led her. As she claimed the seat beside the cute ash brown haired guy, he flashed her a smile.

“Hi. Name’s Matthew, but you can call me Matt,” he grinned. His hazel eyes peered into her own green, forcing the heat to rise to her cheeks..

“Veronica, but my friends call me Roni,” she blushed and held her hand out for him to shake. He took it and she felt electricity flow through her fingers. She pulled away as the ride started and she held the bar tight.

“You’re not scared, are you?”

“No. This is my favorite ride. I wouldn’t be scared of my favorite ride. Just anxious and excited.” She grinned and braced herself as the coaster took it’s first nose dive. She held in her scream, but when she heard Matt, she let hers out. 

                                                                                    ——

The ride was over and Roni was laughing at something Matt had said as the ride came to a stop. “So, are you here alone?” He asked as they got off.

“Not really. My friends and their boyfriends left for their own rides and food, so I decided to come to this one. I was debating on even coming, since I’m usually ignored by them anyway.” Roni confessed, clutching her phone wallet.

“Hey, my friends ditched me too. We can stick together…i–if you want…” Matt suggested as he scratched the back of his head.

Roni blushed, “Sure…I’d like that.” A smile crossed her lips. “So, where to now? Ancient Plunge?”

“Yes! Then some games? I always try to get a souvenir from here for my little sister, since she can’t come with me. She loves all the cute stuffed animals they have.” A smile crossed his lips as he thought of how happy his little sister was when seeing the stuffed animal he always brought her.

Roni nodded with a grin and they were gonna head to the next ride when some of her friends saw her. Her shoulders slumped as she sighed. Matt raised his brows, but she dismissed it. “Hey, Roni!” Trish gleamed.

“Hey, Trish. Where’d you guys go?”

“Food. I was hungry,” Lucas chuckled.

“You’re always hungry.”

“Who’s your friend, Ron?” Lucas eyed Matt and Roni felt his hand connect with hers. She felt her face get warmer as he was right up against her.

“I’m Matt.”

“Well that was fast, Roni.”

Roni pulled her hand away from him and walked away. Lucas hit a nerve. She heard running footsteps and yelling behind her. “Trish, it’s no use. He’s never gonna understand,” she choked.

“Never going to understand what, Veronica?” It was Matt running after her, not her best friend. He gently turned her around, brushing her tears away with his thumbs. Her phone rang and she knew it was Trish. “You gonna answer that?” She shook her head, so he answered it for her. “It’s Matt. She’s crying, but she seems okay, I guess? No, we just met, so backstories haven’t come up. No, I’d rather her tell me when she’s ready. Yes, I’ll take her to get some ice cream.” He turned to her, putting the phone to her ear.

Roni heard what Trish had to say, though what she really wanted was an apology from Lucas. She knew she wasn’t getting one, but she was always hopeful. She just nodded and made humming sounds as responses while her best friend talked her ear off. She looked down at her hands as they trembled. Her lower lip quivered and the lump in her throat got bigger.

Matt took the phone away from her ear and put it to his own, “Hey, she’s gonna start sobbing, so I’m gonna let you go…” before he hung up, he could hear Trish yelling at Lucas. He put Roni’s phone in his pocket and wrapped his arms around her in a warm embrace. “You don’t have to tell me anything, okay? I’m just here as a friend. Nothing else.” He felt her nod in his chest as she broke down.

Matt stood there holding her for several minutes, ignoring the chimes and buzzes from her phone and his own. Roni had finally let out all her feelings and didn’t dare look up at him. “Thank you…” she muttered.

“You’re welcome. Now, I think it’s time for some food and then some games to take your mind off of everything. How’s that sound?” He smiled, pushing her loose hairs behind her ear. “But, I need to see that pretty face of yours first.”

She shook her head, “No. I don’t like crying in public. My face is always a mess a–and…” she felt a hand under her chin. Her body flinched and she took a step back. “I–I’m sorry. I need to use the ladies room.”

“I’ll be right here.”

She ran to the closest bathroom as her heart raced. Her mind kept telling her not to trust him, but her heart said he was good and trustworthy. She shook her head trying to calm herself down as tears kept falling while she stared in the mirror. “I can’t do this…”

“Veronica?” Trish asked. Roni turned around and saw her best friend with her arms out. “Hey, no more tears. This is supposed to be a fun day, remember?”

“H–how did you find me?”

“Matt texted me from your phone. He’s worried about you. But I can tell he’s not like he who shall not be named. He’s sweet and I can tell he cares for you, just from what he told me.” Trish released her from the hug and put her hands on her best friend’s shoulders. “Go back out there and have some fun, kay? I’m sorry we all ditched you earlier. If you want, the four of us can stick together for the rest of the day.”

Roni nodded slightly, “Yes please. But Matt and I were gonna play some games. He’s gonna try to win something for his sister. You two can meet up with us for dinner. I know you and Lucas don’t like the games.”

“Hey, whatever you wanna do, I’m doing too.” She bopped Roni’s nose with a giggle.

She gave a light laugh as they finally left the bathroom. Roni saw Matt standing with Lucas slightly chatting. “Hey, there’s my girl!” Matt chimed. He realized what came out of his mouth and tried to fix it. “I–I mean, um…I see you’re doing better. Shall we go play some games now?”

Lucas eyed him with a raised brow and then looked at Trish, “We aren’t gonna play games are we? You know I hate them.”

“We are going wherever Roni wants to go. That’s final.”

“You guys really don’t have to. I–I want you two to have fun too.” Roni insisted.

Trish frowned, “You sure?” Roni nodded with a smile, standing close to Matt. “Alright. Well, call me if you need me, kay? Either of you.” She looked between the two. They both nodded and went their separate ways.