Miss Incomplete | ✓

62 | He Loves Me Not

The boardwalk is a long pavement thicken with decorative concrete and overcrowd of tourists. Iris decided this for our last stop of the day; with our morning hours in the ocean for yet another swim and another activity on her planner, she wanted the evening on the boardwalk filled with salty air and loud music.

We passed another gift shop as Isaac and Colin attempts to stray away from the group and ransack the items on the shelves. Nick and Julian manages to snag a hold of their best friends from leaving the group, again, and we trail down towards the activities of the boardwalk.

It's set up like a carnival; with high rides and a rollercoaster somewhere in the mist. The attraction is parted with an arcade, a Ferris wheel, and hundreds of gift shops to restaurants. A definite destination for tourists.

Iris hooks her arms around mine, pulling me down at her grip, "I want to go to the Ferris wheel!" She declares, and not allowing me to usher a complaint to her words; she begins to drag me away from the group and running quick with her short legs towards the ticket booth.

"I'm not paying then," I declare, turning to my best friend. She gives me a pointed look and I shrug. "Little girl, you dragged me."

"Fine," she looks away from me and turns towards the ticket collector. The girl was a teen, probably around the same age as us, with a bored expression on her face.

"How many?" She asks, her tone monotonic.

"Two," Iris cuts in, answering the girl. Iris eyes the girl up and down, however a smile continue to stay on her lips to not dampen her mood. "Ferris wheel."

Iris hands the girl the money and the girl gives in exchange for our tickets. Iris shoves me to the side, allowing the guys that followed us to pay for theirs. Nick and Julian appeared next, and suddenly, the girl's mood sudden brighten.

Her eyes sparked and a broad smile appeared before her lips. "Where are y'all heading?" She asks, a sweet tone on her voice.

"To the Ferris wheel," Nick answers choppily. "Four tickets."

"Oh, going with anyone?" Nick hands her a twenty as she takes and attempts to make another conversation.

"Yes." Nick answers as he takes back his change and his tickets.

"You know, I'm getting off in a few—"

"I'm not interested," Nick answers shortly, stuffing his cash in his wallet as he turns back and hands Isaac and Colin their tickets.

"Okay... but a girl can shoot her shot if she wants, right?" She said, leaning closer to the window, "I mean, I know you might not be interested in me now but if we hang out and I don't know, get each other numbers to know each other—"

"I'm gay." Nick cuts her off, and the surrounding friends eyes widen. Julian, however, didn't looked as fazed as Isaac and Colin. Julian merely turns to Nick, not a lock of emotion passes through his face; almost like he didn't care... almost like he knew.

Isaac, Colin and Graham on the other hand looks shocked. The trio stared at the back of Nick's head as the girl's mouth laid opened like a fish.

"But you don't act like—"

"Cause we're all the same." Nick sneers sarcastically, turning to give the girl another look before walking towards us. Iris stood with a bit of a fazed expression, but wasn't locked with total shock. I stood with a small corner smile, holding out a hand for Nick. He comes over and gives me the high five.

"Congrats," I said, and Nick merely chuckles as the rest of the group comes over and begin to bombard him with questions. I hold out my hands, "wait!" I declare, causing them to stop and look towards me. "Let the man breathe for a second before asking him a million questions. But, before you do; he is still the same guy as before, and yes, you could still talk about girls with him and not feel weird. Anything else?"