Chapter Ten - Parks & Prizes

Saturday rolls around quite quickly and around two in the afternoon I start getting ready for my second date with Hunter. Again, he doesn't tell me where we're going but he does tell me to dress casually. After showering and blow drying my hair, I decide to wear my denim overalls with a white, long sleeved top underneath.

I put on my combat boots and lace them up before styling my hair into a messy bun. I accessorize my look with some jewelry before spritzing perfume on and packing my shoulder bag with my purse and phone. Since it's chilly outside nowadays I also grab a chunky cardigan in case I feel cold at some point.

I'm out the door with only twenty minutes to spare to get to college. I text Hunter that I need to return a book at the library first and he replies saying that he'll pick me up from there. I feel the familiar guilt creep up again as I make my way down the streets. I should be able to trust him by now. Then why can't I? It's not fair for him to keep giving his all to me while I only meet him with fifty percent of myself. I need to tell him but I'm so scared of rejection and disgust. Get a grip Zoe, I think to myself. He'll be more hurt that I didn't tell him so just get it over with!

Sighing, I enter the library and return the book I had needed for my thesis. By the time I collect the receipt I get a text from Hunter that he's outside. Steeling myself I exit the building and immediately spot his car in a parking space by the front. He's standing outside and his excited expression makes my heart flutter. I decide to tell him soon instead of today and possibly ruining our date before it even starts.

"You're always out and about, Red. Do you ever get any rest?" He chuckles as he pecks my lips before letting me get in the car.

I panic because I know what's he's trying to do. I've only told him I live near Brooklyn Heights and never allowed him to see my apartment. My heart races faster as he rounds the car and gets into the driver's seat before buckling in. I smile at him but I'm sure it comes out weak.

"It's just been a little crazy with the thesis. Hopefully things will die down soon." I reply while reassuring myself that they will once I tell him.

He stares at me for a moment and I can tell he doesn't buy it but lets it go regardless. "Ready for our date?"

"Will you tell me where we're going now?" I ask with a laugh when he grins devilishly.

"Think roller coasters, candy floss and prizes."

I gasp as my eyes widen in excitement. "An amusement park?! Wait – Coney Island?!"

"Yeah, have you been before?" He chuckles at my reaction.

"Only when I was little. We used to go every Summer." I smile as the memories come back to me. "Have you?"

"Only once when I first met Cory."

We talk about our memories of the park and a wide grin blooms across my lips as he tells me how Cory was winning all the prizes and he couldn't win even one. So, they ended up staying until the park neared it's closing time while Hunter tried to win a prize. Eventually he did and he promises to win me one today too.

"I don't know...you might be a little rusty." I tease and hear him scoff in reply.

"Wait and watch, Red. You'll be leaving with a prize by the end." He smirks cheekily and I laugh.

Eventually we reach the park in around thirty minutes and manage to get a free space quite quickly. I'm buzzing with excitement as we get our tickets and make our way inside. Turns out Hunter loves the crazier, thrill filled rides as much as I do. We get on the roller coaster first before making our way to the next ride which somersaults us into the air and elicits the loudest screams from me. We then try out the "Slingshot" which makes my tummy flip as we're hurled into the air with speed and after trying out another roller coaster we finally decide to get food.

Apparently there's a food court by the entrance and by the time we get there I'm starving. Hunter orders way too much and I face palm when he comes back with hot dogs, nachos, milkshakes and even fried Oreos! He sits down at the table I had snagged with the biggest grin on his face which makes me chuckle.

"How are we even going to finish this?!" I exclaim as I start with the hot dog.

"Don't worry, we will. Have a little faith, darlin." He winks while digging in himself.

Turns out we do end up finishing it all and I'm absolutely stuffed after my last sip of the strawberry milkshake. We decide that walking around to digest the food is a good option so we make our way out of the food court. But as soon as I see cotton candy I pull him towards the stall and get one. Although he loves his sugar he doesn't seem to be a fan of it.

We make our way back towards the games and I bite off another chunk of the sugary goodness just before Hunter pulls me to a stop. There's a ring toss stall and the huge stuffed puppies as prizes capture my attention immediately.

"They're so cute!" I squeal as I watch a man hand a younger girl one that he won.

"I'm going to win you one." Hunter grins before pulling me to the stall.

"Let's see then!" I tease as I watch him pay before he's handed the rings.

I watch him play and true to his words he wins me the giant puppy. He turns to me with the proudest smirk as he hands me the stuffed animal. I hug him tightly and push up on my tip toes to peck his cheek but he turns at the right second and our lips end up meeting which makes me smile. I pull away with a laugh as he intertwines our hands before we carry on walking.

We end up going on a few more rides, one of them being a pirate ship which Hunter had to all but drag me to. I hold the bar as tightly as I can as the ship swings from side to side, going higher and higher each time. Mentally I'm cursing whoever created this death trap for not having secured seating while screaming at the top of my lungs.

Hunter's still snickering when we get off and I smack his arm with a pout. He kisses me quickly which makes my cheeks flame before pulling me to a towering ride. We get on and it climbs high in the air before going through multiple free-fall drops and rotating as it does so to offer us a view of the entire park. This one is so much better than that damned pirate ship!

We also get on a similar ride next but this one puts us upside down which almost makes me want to throw up the food from earlier but thankfully I don't. The last few rides we go on are ones that make me feel like I'm flying which I find enjoyable.

After winning Hunter a Pikachu and going on the Ferris wheel we grab some ice cream before making our way back to the car. I'm so tired by this point and as soon as I get into the car my eyelids start drooping of their own accord.

"Looks like today really tired you out, huh?" Hunter chuckles softly as he rests his hand on my thigh while driving.

"So sleepy." I mumble as I squint at him. "It was amazing though and thank you for winning Snowball for me."

I see him bite his lip before eventually snickering. "Snowball?"

"Yeah...he's white...like a snowball." I yawn before cuddling the stuffed puppy to me.

"Stay with me tonight?" He asks softly and I smile at him sleepily.

I nod before closing my eyes again with a content sigh. I doze off straight after for the whole drive and it's only when I hear the door shut that I wake up again. Blinking in confusion I gain my bearings just as Hunter opens my door. He reaches in to take my seat belt off and my breath hitches embarrassingly loud when I realize how close he is. My cheeks heat fiercely before my eyes widen when he picks me up bridal style straight from the car.

"Hunter! Put me down!" I laugh at his antics while he puts his Pikachu on my lap as well as my bag.

He kicks the door shut with an adamant shake of his head before locking the car. I groan in mortification and hide my face in his chest as he walks inside the reception area where multiple people are walking in and out. I hear some of them chuckle as they pass by us and I glare at Hunter as we get into the elevator where he finally puts me back onto my own two feet.

"I hate you." I mumble when he points out that my cheeks are still as red as my hair.

"That's not true." He grins boyishly and I cross my arms with a huff.

"Yes it is!"

"Well, maybe I can change that?" He murmurs seductively as he traps me against the wall of the elevator.

"Not a chance!" I smirk when we arrive at the top floor.

I duck under his arm before running out into the hallway. But as I get to the double doors I realize one thing and it's the fact that I have nowhere to run anymore since Hunter has the key. I close my eyes with a defeated groan when I hear him chuckle mischievously as he comes up behind me.

"Not so smart now, are you?" He winks as he unlocks the door.

I roll my eyes playfully before yelping when he picks me up unexpectedly. I wrap my arms around his neck while my legs lock around his waist tightly for fear of falling. He grins like a kid on Christmas day as he walks backwards into his apartment before closing the door.

"I believe I should get a prize for catching you." He taps his lips which makes me scoff.

"I had nowhere to run!" I roll my eyes but can't stop the smile from blooming across my lips.

He lays me down onto the couch but hovers above me. I know he's waiting for me to give in and I end up doing so by force when he almost tickles me. I hate being tickled, it's the worst thing when you're begging someone to stop but they keep torturing you. Quickly I grab the collar of his sweatshirt before pulling him down to press my lips to his.

He smiles into the kiss before deepening it. And for most of the evening we end up staying on the couch stealing kisses from each other before sleep finally pulls us into dreamland.

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