Ariana's pov
"Ready to go have fun?" Zack's voice was light, teasing, and a little too confident.
I rolled my eyes, but the corner of my mouth betrayed me. "We'll see about that."
We stepped out into the morning sunlight, the air crisp and clear. The sky stretched wide and blue, streaked with soft clouds, and for once, the day didn't feel heavy. Zack opened the passenger door for me with an exaggerated bow.
"Your chariot awaits, princess."
I gave him a look. "If this ends in a ditch, I'm haunting you."
He laughed, climbing in beside me. "Fair enough."
The drive was quiet in the best way. Sunlight filtered through the windows, washing over the dashboard. Zack drummed his fingers against the steering wheel to the beat of a song playing on the radio, humming a little under his breath. He looked so at ease, like the world never managed to bother him. I envied that.
Every now and then, he'd glance at me, like he wanted to say something but decided against it. For some reason, that unspoken silence felt… nice. Comfortable. I couldn't remember the last time I'd felt that way around someone.
When he finally parked, I blinked at the sight outside the window. A bright, bustling outdoor fair stretched across an open lot. There were food stalls, games, rides, and the faint sound of laughter carried by the wind. Colorful banners rippled above our heads, and the air smelled like sugar and popcorn.
"This is what you call 'fun'?" I asked, stepping out and shading my eyes.
Zack grinned. "Come on, admit it—you love this already."
"I do not."
"You will," he said confidently, offering his hand like a challenge.
I didn't take it, but I followed him anyway.
We started with the games. Zack insisted he was "a natural" at every single one. He wasn't. The ring toss rejected him twice, the balloon darts refused to pop, and when he missed all three basketball shots, I couldn't hold back my laughter anymore.
"You're terrible!" I said, clutching my stomach.
"I'm warming up," he said seriously, squinting at the hoop. "Watch and learn."
He missed again.
"Wow," I said between giggles. "A real pro."
"Mockery will get you nowhere," he said, grinning. "Your turn."
I stepped up and—by some miracle—landed the ring on my second try. The stall owner handed me a small stuffed bear. I turned triumphantly toward Zack, who was pretending to be wounded.
"You're cheating," he said.
"Skill," I corrected, hugging the bear.
He smirked. "Alright, Miss Skill. I want a rematch."
"Rematch denied."
By the time we'd moved through half the fair, we were both carrying ridiculous prizes—a teddy bear for me, a crooked stuffed shark Zack claimed was "a symbol of redemption." We found a shady bench near a lemonade stand and collapsed there, still laughing.
Zack leaned back, stretching his legs out. "You're smiling," he said casually.
I looked at him. "So?"
"So, I think it suits you."
I rolled my eyes, though I could feel my cheeks warming. "You're impossible."
"Maybe," he said with a half-grin. "But I'm right."
He handed me a cup of lemonade, and I took a sip. It was cold, tart, and sweet all at once. The fair was loud around us—music, chatter, laughter—but somehow, sitting next to him, it all faded into a softer hum.
"Do you always drag girls to fairs?" I asked.
He shrugged. "Only the ones who look like they've forgotten how to laugh."
I blinked at him, caught off guard. "Is that supposed to be flattering?"
"It's supposed to be true," he said simply.
Before I could come up with a reply, my phone buzzed in my pocket. I pulled it out and froze when I saw the name lighting up the screen—Harper.
"Oh no," I muttered, pressing my palm to my forehead.
Zack noticed instantly. "Something wrong?"
I sighed, locking the phone. "I totally forgot I was supposed to be at Harper's today. She's my best friend—she's going to kill me."
"Ah, the mysterious Harper," Zack said, raising a brow. "Should I be jealous?"
I gave him a look. "She's not that kind of friend."
He chuckled, leaning closer. "Good to know. So what's the plan? Should I take you there?"
I shook my head. "No, it's fine. I'll call her later and apologize. She'll understand once she hears my voice."
Zack tilted his head. "You sure?"
"Yeah," I said, smiling faintly. "It's not every day someone drags me out for fun."
He looked oddly pleased with that answer. "Then I'll take full credit for this miracle."
"Miracle?" I echoed, pretending to be offended. "You make it sound like I never smile."
He gave me a mock-serious look. "Until today, I wasn't entirely convinced you knew how."
I threw a fry at him. He caught it midair and popped it into his mouth, grinning. "See? You're getting violent now."
"Keep talking," I warned.
The moment stretched into quiet laughter. A group of kids ran past us, holding balloons. Somewhere nearby, a man was singing an old tune into a crackly microphone, his voice floating over the noise of the crowd. The sun felt warm against my shoulders. It all felt… easy. For the first time in a long while, I wasn't pretending.
Zack stood up suddenly and offered his hand. "Come on."
I arched a brow. "Where now?"
"Ferris wheel," he said, pointing toward the massive spinning circle of colors. "Final round. You can't say no to that."
"I'm terrified of heights," I lied automatically, because something about being trapped in a small seat with him sounded like trouble.
"Then I'll hold your hand," he said, grinning in that way that always made my pulse trip.
"You're so full of yourself."
"Guilty," he said, without hesitation.
Still, I followed him to the line. The Ferris wheel towered above the fair, each cart swinging gently as it climbed. When it was our turn, Zack helped me in with an exaggerated flourish that earned him a glare and a small laugh.
As the ride began to move, the ground fell away beneath us. The noise of the fair dimmed, replaced by the soft creak of the metal frame and the hum of the wind. I tried to act normal, but the higher we went, the quieter everything became. The world below looked tiny, almost unreal.
Zack leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. "You know," he said, glancing at me, "I wasn't sure you'd say yes today."
"Neither was I," I admitted. "I almost didn't."
"What changed your mind?"
I thought about it—the endless days spent in my room, the tension, the silence, the weight I couldn't shake. Then this morning, his ridiculous grin and the way he somehow made everything feel lighter. "Maybe I needed to stop thinking for a while," I said quietly.
He nodded, his expression soft. "You think too much, Ariana."
"You talk too much," I countered automatically.
He smiled, eyes glinting. "Touché."
When the ride slowed near the top, I glanced down. The fair stretched below us—tiny people, spinning rides, a blur of color and sound. It was beautiful in a way I hadn't expected, peaceful and distant. I could almost forget who I was, what I was running from.
Zack followed my gaze. "Not bad, huh?"
"Not bad," I said softly, smiling despite myself.
For a few seconds, neither of us spoke. The wind brushed my hair across my face, and Zack reached over without thinking, tucking a stray strand behind my ear. The small gesture made my chest tighten unexpectedly.
"See?" he murmured. "Told you you'd have fun."
I swallowed the lump in my throat and smiled faintly. "Yeah. You win, I guess."
"Say that again," he teased.
"Don't push your luck."