"You don't have to walk me home," Vanessa said as they stepped off the bus. "It's the middle of the day anyway."
Vince shrugged easily.
"That's fine. I don't have any plans."
She glanced at him sideways, smirking.
"You just want to follow me around again, don't you?" she teased, reminding him of how they'd first met.
"I told you, I'm not a stalker," he shot back.
They walked through the familiar alleyways leading toward her neighborhood, the city quieter here. Halfway down the street, Vanessa suddenly stopped.
A small vendor stood nearby, his table covered in trinkets and pendants. One in particular caught her eye.
She laughed, pointing at it.
"Banana milk... as a pendant?" She shook her head. "Your weird little obsession."
Vince chuckled, watching her crouch down to look closer—more amused by how genuinely happy she looked at the pendant itself.
Without hesitation, she bought it.
Then she turned and pressed it into his palm.
"Here."
He blinked.
"Is this an early Valentine's gift?" he teased.
Her eyes widened.
"Give it back." She reached for it.
Vince immediately lifted his arm, holding the pendant high above her head.
"Nope."
Vanessa jumped once. Missed.
Jumped again. Still too short.
Annoyed, she kicked his foot—not hard enough to hurt, just enough to throw him off balance for a second.
Still didn't reach it.
Vince laughed, completely unashamed.
"Are you struggling?"
"Are you laughing?!" she snapped, grabbing his ears and yanking him down.
"Ow—ow—hey!" he protested as she dragged him a few steps down the street by the ears.
The vendor watched the whole thing with a fond smile, shaking his head.
"Must be nice," he said warmly. "Being young and in love."
Vanessa froze.
Vince stopped laughing.
They both let go at the same time, suddenly very aware of each other.
Vanessa cleared her throat.
"...Let's go."
Vince slipped the pendant into his pocket, a small smile lingering.
They stopped by their usual convenience store, settling into their familiar glass booth by the window. Vince grabbed his usual banana milk, while Vanessa picked out a pack of gummy bears.
Vince found himself staring at her as she looked out at the street, sunlight catching the side of her face.
"Stop staring," she said without turning, flicking a gummy bear at him.
He caught it cleanly with his mouth.
She clicked her tongue. "Greedy."
Vince grinned.
"Let's go to the amusement park."
She looked at him. "When?"
"Next week. Or maybe after school," he suggested casually.
She tilted her head, thinking for half a second.
"Hmm... let's go today."
She stood up immediately.
"Wait—today? We just—"
Before he could finish, she was already outside, waving down a taxi.
Vince sighed, grabbing his drink and jogging after her.
"This girl..."
As he slid into the cab beside her, he couldn't help but wonder why she was so full of energy today.
The amusement park wasn't far—barely fifteen minutes from their school—but it felt like another world. Massive rides towered overhead, lights flashing, music spilling into the air. Since it was the weekend, the place was packed with families, couples, and groups of friends laughing without a care.
Vince stepped out of the taxi, looking around.
"We're... really here."
"Let's go!" Vanessa said, grabbing his hand.
It was the second time she'd done that today.
And she didn't let go.
For the next few hours, she dragged him from ride to ride—roller coasters, go-karts, drop towers—laughing louder with each one. Vince went along with it all, even when his legs felt like jelly.
He didn't complain.
He knew this was her way of coping.
Of pushing the grief aside, even if just for a day.
Eventually, as the sun dipped lower, she slowed.
"Let's get cotton candy," she said, "then ride the Ferris wheel."
"Okay," Vince replied.
They bought their cotton candy and boarded the Ferris wheel just as the sky began to glow orange and pink. The city stretched beneath them, lights flickering on one by one.
Vince leaned back, watching the sunset.
"It's been a while since I came here."
"Me too," Vanessa said softly, sitting across from him.
The wheel creaked gently as it rose.
"Are you enjoying yourself?" he asked.
She nodded. "Yeah."
Then, casually—almost dangerously so—she added,
"But Vince... isn't this the perfect time for you to confess your feelings to me?"
She took a bite of her cotton candy like she hadn't just dropped something world-shifting.
Vince froze.
"Confess...?"
The Ferris wheel continued to climb, the sky darkening around them.
And suddenly, Vince wasn't sure which was more terrifying—
the height,
or the fact that she was finally asking him to be honest.