"Okay and that does it." Mom said as we put the last piece on her stand . It was a high roller that displayed creamy rolls with a hanging sign that said ' Baked delights' , the name of our mothers' bakery shop.
"You kids better start enjoying yourselves . " Lucas's mom said as she put on her pink apron. Mrs Lucy Johnson was a robust woman of medium height , her skin was light brown which showed her mixed race ancestry of Caucasian and African American. Her hair was curly and knitted in a nice bun on her head, covered with a hair net.
I looked around us, there was alot to do and choose from.
There were stalls for food , games and rides everywhere in the park . People walked around laughing with family and friends. The Spring Fair was a tradition of our town Oakwood, started more than four hundred years ago by the invading pioneers who butchered the resident Indians nearby and claimed the land.
The Fair was not about that, thank goodness no.
The Spring festival was in celebration of the first Oak trees ever planted in the land in the first Spring after the pioneers claimed the land. It celebrated the new home they found, the future that would come and the generation to inherit the land. Sure the land was blood stained but so was all the world if you thought about it. Besides, who didn't like popcorn, cotton candy and games. Looking around, the happy faces made the Fair a grand time for all Oakwood townies.
There was even a dunk tank where my geography teacher was hurling insults at anyone who came by. It was all very enticing but.... I turned back to Mom's stand where mom's buns just stood there in all their glory.
I can't leave them, I thought, it would be like a mother abandoning their child in a hospital all alone.
That's too cruel!
" You can have one . " Mom saw my face and sighed with a wry smile, and I looked up, pretty sure there were stars in my eyes.
" Really ? " I asked in a delicate whisper and she smiled widely.
" You worked hard and hard work pays . " Lucas's mom said taking two buns and placed them in our palms. I devoured mine in an instant , slobbering and slurping up every last crumb.
Don't look at me like that, a lady can eat like a wild beast too you know.
" What a lady . " Lucas chided softly as he finished his last bite too, yeah he eats less animalistic , but still equally as fast as me, almost.
We looked at our empty hands and each other, then as if psychly linked, we both looked at our mothers expectantly.
" No , you work once , you eat once . " Lucas's mom said and my heart deflated.
Why was the world so cruel? I wondered shamelessly, you shouldn't work for sweets, it's just not fair.
"But if you want another, then you can buy. Just two bucks. " Mom said smiling and I debated with myself. I really wanted to save for some rides, not that anything in this Fair was decent to a girl like me, but you never know.
Yet, I looked at the buns and knew my fate was sealed.
"Don't." Lucas said dryly, his eyes gazing at the buns too," We'll be half broke."
"It will be worth it!"I declared with a wide smile.
...
"That's the last time I listen to you again ." Lucas said as we walked around finishing our buns.
"Oh come on, it was worth it." I said licking my fingers like a dog.
" Okay , then which ride should we start with, we can only go on three since we used our money, to buy two pairs of buns." He said looking at me pointedly and I just looked away innocently, " I think- hey what are you doing?"
I had grabbed his arm and was dragging him behind an empty stall. Istood still , taking some deep breaths and then peered back.
" Oh , it's him ." Lucas said contemptuously but I didn't share the feeling . Infact I was filled with love and swooning inside.
By the dart stall stood a group of teens waiting to try the game but what was most important was who stood with them.
"Ahh, Bradley Quincy." said softly . Bradley Quincy was the most popular boy in Oakwoods highschool. He was handsome , he was a football player , he had a sports car , he was popular, did I mention that he was handsome?
He was truly perfect.
" What a croc." Lucas said with disdain.
Well it was my opinion atleast.
" Hey , don't say that ." I told Lucas , " You used to like him too ."
Which was true. During freshman year , we had been high Bradley Quincy fans, but then at the end of second year... Lucas just started hating him. He had never told me why and I had curbed the impulse to ask him. He was my best friend and he'd tell me when he wanted to.
Him being an Emo kinda meant that would probably be a long time from now, but I could wait.
That didn't mean it was okay to insult him though. He would be my future husband, I thought wistfully.
" Yes I used to like him, emphasis on used to ." He said folding his arms and looking away.
" Well , when I marry him, you'll have no choice but to like him ." I told him and he grumbled.
" And what about Medusa ? " he asked slowly and I rolled my eyes.
" Don't roll your eyes , when you know I'm right."
" No , you are not ." I said irritably, " Cindy is not his type , she's not in love with him like me , she's too fake , she's too selfish , she's-"
" Kissing him on the mouth ." Lucas finished and I did a double take.
What I saw made my blood boil . Brad was being kissed by a tall, slender and fair blonde haired girl in a white flannel shirt and ocean blue jeans . Everyone of the teens around them was taking pictures of the two and I knew it's what the girl had wanted.
" Cindy ." I said venomously.
Cindy Langford was the most popular girl in school and begrudgingly this meant she was in a relationship with the most popular boy , Bradley. Which was wrong , because Cindy was a terrible person . She was mean , selfish , self-centered and had an ego like a hot air balloon.
" Stop scowling at them before someone sees you ." Lucas said dryly and turned back to him.
" How can I , when my future husband is kissing a mean snake girl?"
Lucas rolled his eyes , " He's no better , and, " he held up his hand before I could say anything in Bradley's defense , " he's never noticed you. Like ever. Or any of the other dumb girls who fawn over him... well , unless he wants too."
I bit my lip , feeling angry because he was right . I was part of alot of girls who were lovestruck by Bradley's allure . But being just a plain nobody , he had never given me a glance... ever.
" Back to reality ? " Lucas said looking at me and I socked his shoulder.
" Ow , why ? " He asked me and I huffed.
" That's for being right. Again ." He was usually always right , but I was waiting for the day I could be with right and him wrong . It hadn't come yet but I was optimistic.
" Sorry to burst your fake love bubble but - "
" Hey , I love him . Just because he hasn't looked at me doesn't mean we can't get chemistry ." I said and Lucas raised a brow.
"I may not have any relationship history , but even I know if a guy doesn't pay you notice, he doesn't want you ." Lucas said dryly.
" But I want him ." I said vehemently, " And we both know Cindy is not really with him . "
This was kinda of true. Cindy and Bradly had external relationships and this always made me feel like I had a chance with him. I could be the one to tame his heart and we would be happy together for ever. We'd hold hands, wear matching outfits , he'd drive me in his car and we'd go on sunset drives. I would call him every night and we'd talk until two am and -
" Hey , wake up . " Lucas said and I snapped out of my mind.
" This proves me right . You're daydreaming about loving him but the real situation is that he wouldn't and you don't , right now ."
" Bestfriends are supposed to support your love life not snuff it out ." I accused him but he rolled his eyes at me.
" Yes but this is fake love and I'm trying to help you realize you don't love him. Like I've told you hundreds of times ." He said dryly and it was true . It wasn't the first time we'd had this conversation.
" I love him , end of story ." I said folding my arms.
" No you don't ." He said dryly and I felt annoyed.
" I love him and that's that ." I said louder but he shook his heard.
" No , you don't and I think you should - "
" I love Brad , full stop ." I said louder than before.
" Sarah , I know you're mad but I - "
" I love Bradley Quincy and no one else ! " I yelled at the top of my voice.
It was so frustrating having your friend crush your love like this and I didn't want Lucas to think he was right, even if he was. So I raised my voice louder. It was the only way to fully assert the fact that I loved Bradley and Lucas couldn't argue that . My Mom probably wouldn't have approved , she always said raising your voice means losing an argument.
But judging from Lucas's face , I was sure I had won this argument . He had an embarrassed look on his face and I felt smug.
Id finally won an argument! I thought happily, mom was wrong. Raising your voice totally wins you an argument.
" Speechless huh ? " I asked him and he looked at my head and then my eyes.
Was something in my hair ?
" I can't believe you did that ." He said through a plastered smile and I became confused . Why was he talking through his teeth like that?
" Well , I just wanted to prove my point, since you weren't listening ." I replied.
" I was listening and so were they . " He said and I became more confused . Who was they ? I wondered and then it got me . I remembered where I was and who had been standing close by.
I plastered on the same smile as Lucas.
Fuck, I thought, Bradley and Cindy, along with our schoolmates were still there!