Because of You

A Front Row Seat

"You're really not telling me where we're going?" I asked, keeping my eyes shut as ordered. It was Friday evening, the date night Finn had planned and I sat in the front seat of his beat-up car, a muffled Greg Laswell song coming from the crappy speakers.

Finn laughed quietly. "Nope. And you better not peek."

I turned my head towards him and cracked my fingers open threateningly. "Or what?"

"Or you'll ruin it. And that's against your medical nature."

I managed to roll my eyes behind shut lids. "That's a lame excuse."

"Fine. If you want to ruin what I spent the week meticulously planning then go ahead."

"No," I sighed with faux impatience. "I'll wait."

But when I felt the car's tires jostle more than usual, bumping over what I could only presume was a dirt road, the false impatience turned a little more genuine. "Can you at least tell me what direction we're going in?"

"Forward."

I leaned against the headrest, smirking to myself. "You're really testing me, Collins."

"Gotta find some way to keep the relationship fresh, Griffin."

Greg Laswell turned into some somber number and Finn reached up to switch it off, which I appreciated. Another handful of minutes passed before the car finally shuddered to a halt.

Finn put it in park. "Here."

I wiggled my hands. "Where's 'here?'"

The creak of the door signaled to me that he was getting out of the car. I heard his footsteps as he came over to my side and opened my own door. Cool air prickled my skin.

"No looking yet," he instructed.

"Why? Do you want me to trip?"

"No, but if you're opposed to walking a little, I can always carry you bridal style."

I shook my head, lowering one hand so he could take hold. Soft fingers wrapped around mine. "All right, come on. It's just up here."

"What is?"

"Patience, Grasshopper."

I let him lead me on, to where I had no idea. I did trip once, toe catching on a pothole, but Finn steadied me before I could fall on the ground. Gravel crunched under my sneakers and I heard the high-pitched keen of some kind of gate being opened.

"Almost," Finn said, dragging out the word. He took me by the shoulders and steered me a little farther before turning me around. "Sit."

"There's something for me to sit on right?"

He sighed melodramatically. "No trust. Yes. Sit. I've got you."

Using his arms as support, I leaned back until I felt a hard cushion beneath me. I relaxed, settling into the chair. It rocked back a little, making me grip the sides.

"All right. Now hang tight," he said, his hands disappearing from me. My eyes cracked open, not enough to make out anything, though. "Finn?"

"Don't look!"

"What're you-?"

"Got it!"

The chair under me suddenly kicked, moving beneath me. I let out a yelp, unable to keep my eyes from flying open. I looked down, gripping the seat that I could now see was part of a Ferris wheel. It wasn't big; just enough to hold five or six carts, but high enough to expose the small theme park around me. It was abandoned, clearly, constructed a mile or so off the highway.