44-A Good Distraction-Lukas

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HELLO TO ALL! Let me just do a quick little a/n real quick. First off, I'm sorry for the lack of updates! My motivation fell again, and it was nice to take a break for a while :) so thanks for your patience.

Second, if you haven't noticed already, the cover changed!! :D

I still can't get over how amazing it looks 😭 once again, a huge thank you to my friend Shiny_Rattata for making this for me! I love all the details, the shading—everything! Please just take a moment to appreciate it xD

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I still can't get over how amazing it looks 😭 once again, a huge thank you to my friend Shiny_Rattata for making this for me! I love all the details, the shading—everything! Please just take a moment to appreciate it xD

Anyway! I realize that a lot of people have drifted away from this book, and I wanted to continue dedicating chapters to the raffle participants but I'm not sure if they are still reading. So, if you did participate in the raffle and are still reading, just comment or vote and I'll dt you a chapter :)

Thank you guys! I'll leave you to it!

***

"What in the world is that?"

"A funnel cake! Don't tell me you've never seen one before." Jesse teased with exaggerated disappointment. I had watched idly as she had gotten distracted while throwing the remains of her trash away, disappearing for a few good moments before returning with a dessert plate in her hands. I couldn't help but feel a tad embarrassed.

It looked kind of strange. She told me it was deep fried cake, but its shape was thin and twisted into some sort of spiral. It was doused with whipped cream and strawberry bits, and it smelled absolutely delicious.

"I'll admit I've never tried one." I shrugged, mouth beginning to water. Jesse handed me a thin, plastic fork.

"Go ahead." I was about to dig in, but stopped abruptly.

"You got it, you should get first dibs."

"Oh my Notch Booke." She groaned. "Just do it. Or, would you rather me do it for you?"

Her expression turned blatantly mischievous, and instantly I felt my face get hot.

"Okay okay," I surrendered, shaking my head, "I got it."

I hovered my fork above the funnel cake for a moment, taking in the delightful smell before cutting a piece off and popping it into my mouth. It was hot--almost too hot, but the cooling whip cream evened it out immediately.

"You love it, don't you? You look like you could just about drool."

I could've sworn my face got even hotter. I quickly swallowed down my bite and looked away.

"S-stop teasing me! You always do this. I'm going to eat all of your funnel cake."

"Go ahead." She smirked, watching. It wasn't surprising she could call my bluff.

My heart was going crazy, from embarrassment or just becoming flustered-- either way, I didn't know. She was way too good at this.

*"**"*"*"*"*"*"*"*

I felt bad I had eaten a little more than half of her funnel cake, but she didn't seem to mind. Although that didn't stop me from feeling the slightest bit guilty.

We decided to walk along the pier, which was filled with even more mini huts and shops and rides too big to process. All the different smells of desserts and snacks practically overthrew the ocean's salty aroma.

We ended up starting with the games, the ones with the overly cheesy and too-hard-to-win prizes, but also the ones that looked too good and cute to pass up. We exchanged some larger bills for some smaller ones and quarters, and then we were ready to have some fun.

"You know, I didn't get to mention this earlier, but...thanks." My gaze turned to her, but she was busy staring at the row of prizes behind the current game we were at--a water gun shooting game. She had her hands in her pockets, not meeting my eye.

"Hm, for what?" I asked, handing the host a few dollars with a subtle nod so that we could both enter the game.

"You know," she shrugged, "taking me away from that pork hut earlier."

I flushed. "Oh, you noticed."

"'Course I did. I'm not that stupid, you know." She finally turned to me, rolling her eyes. "But thanks anyways, alright? That's all you're gonna get."

"You're welcome Jesse." I let out a small laugh, and we both sat down on the worn-out and bright red cushioned high chairs that suited the neon colors of the game. In order to win, you had to point the thin line of shooting water at the center of the target, long and steady enough for your meter to fill up. Once it was filled, the game was over, and the person who filled it first would win. "Hey, I've been meaning to ask..."

"Focus Booke."

A few other people had joined the game, and the host was finishing setting up each of their stations, turning on their water guns with a small hidden button on the side. I held my hands against the grip, readying my aim and the buttons on the edge of my thumbs.

"I am focused, but—"

"Everyone ready? Three!" The host began, shouting cheerfully, making a cup with his hands to enunciate his voice.

"—why the dislike for pork?"

"Two!"

"It won't hurt if you don't wanna tell me, I'm just curious."

"One!"

Her eyes were trained on the target, gaze full of fire. But it was different this time, there was no anger there. What replaced it was this amused-like aura that made her light up so suddenly. And just like that, I was mesmerized. It was different, seeing her like this.

"Eyes on the prize Booke." She explained, gaze unmoving. I, still with both hands on the gun, couldn't help but freeze as she placed her hand atop of mine, forcing my aim towards the center.

The guns flared to life, and a bursting stream of water erupted forcefully frontwards. What surprised me next was that both of our guns were hitting the dead center, our meters filling up at an excruciatingly similar rate. And she didn't let go either. Her hand was cool compared to mine, which was warm from putting them in my pockets.

I couldn't speak, not until a buzzer on the top of the stand lit up brightly and signaled a winner.

I looked towards Jesse's meter, but hers was dull. Along with the rest of the other people who were playing.

She gave me a smirk and let go of my hand, gesturing to the side. I turned towards my meter. It beamed with light, red and yellow flashes luring me in.

I won.

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