The fair is in full swing by the time we get here. Kids are yelling as they run around the fair grounds. Music blares from the speakers amping up the atmosphere.

"Wow, nothing has really changed," Elea comments. Her hazel eyes roam over the familiar fair, a smile smile lighting up her face.

I nod my head in agreement, matching her expression. "Definitely looks the same from the last time we were here."

Olivia smirks. "Don't forget. Now we have boy bands playing."

Elea and I both make a face. Not that we have anything against boy bands, but they definitely don't beat the local bands.

"Can we go play games?" Adam asks, looking up at me with pleading eyes.

Elea and Olivia share a look before Olivia speaks. "Elea and I can do some shopping while you and Adam play games. Then grab a late lunch afterwards?"

"Sounds good," I say, letting Adam drag me towards the games section of the fair. Olivia and Elea laugh and wave as I'm tugged away.

Adam's walking in front of me and suddenly stops short, causing me to awkwardly step around him to avoid crashing into him. He turns around to eye me with big puppy dog eyes. "Can I get ice cream now?"

Looking to my left, I see the ice cream truck he must've spotted. I glance at my phone and look at the time. It's half past ten now. I guess it wouldn't hurt to get him some now. Plus, it's hard to say no to him when he looks at me with puppy dog eyes.

After his ice cream is paid for he licks it without a care in the world as the chocolate gets on his face. "Thanks!" he says before taking another bite. I smile at his manners and can't help but think about Axel teaching him.

We pass the stage that the band will be playing on later tonight and I notice the eighteen wheeler is parked on the outskirts of the fair grounds. People are walking around the stage as they plug cords in and begin to set everything up.

Once Adam ditches the ice cream and I wipe all of the leftover chocolate from his mouth, we head to the game area. He plays a few games before getting bored. "Can we go on a rollercoaster?"

The thought sends a shiver down my spine. "Um, you want to go on a different ride? I don't think you'll be tall enough, Adam." Which isn't a total lie.

He huffs, crossing his little arms over his chest. "What can I ride?"

For a little kid he sure has a lot of attitude. "Um." I glance around the fair and my eyes land on the ferris wheel. "Want to ride that?" I ask, pointing at the ride.

Adam looks at me, unimpressed. "Sure," he says, surprising me."

He marches toward the ride, leaving me to walk quickly after him. On our way there Adam takes off out of nowhere, causing my heart to jolt. "Adam!" I yell, chasing after him. The last thing I need is to lose Axel's brother.

Adam sprints to a familiar man that's squatting down with his arms spread out wide. Adam jumps into his arms and the man stands up, holding Adam with one arm. My nerves take a backseat when the man smiles at me. "Well, hello Vienna."

I salute him for old times' sake as I grin. "Jared, my man!"

He shakes his head but smiles, showing off a side of him I'm still getting used to. He gives me a hug with his free arm. "It's been awhile since I've seen you."

I shrug nonchalantly. "I've kind of been avoiding Bayside."

Jared nods his head, setting Adam down. "I figured after what happened." Elea and I were still friends at the time Axel and I had broken up. I knew she'd told him, but it's weird talking to him about it now.

"Yeah, it's been a little strange being back," I admit.

"I see you're watching his younger brother though?" I don't have to ask who he's referring to. "You two dating again?" he asks, looking at me pointedly.

A heat creeps into my cheeks. "No, we're not. But Axel finally told me why he broke up with me."

Jared places his hands on his hips. "And did that change things?"

I raise an eyebrow at him. "What do you mean?"

He chuckles, narrowing his dark eyes at me. "Does that change the way you feel about him now? You are watching his brother, so I have to assume you two are on good terms."

"Well-" My words fall short when I realize something. "Wait, how do you know about everything that's happened?" For one, that Adam is his younger brother.

"Axel came and talked to me. You know his father has never really been a father to him." I nod my head in agreement, but my heart warms at the fact that Jared was there when Axel needed him most. "So after he went to his dad, who didn't want to help, he came to me for advice. I've been helping him with Adam since."

I appreciate that Jared was there for Axel and Adam when I wasn't, but I can't help but feel a little sting of hurt. "Was it your idea for Axel to break up with me?"

Sadness clouds Jared's face. "Let's have a seat." He leads Adam and me towards a picnic table, handing his phone over to Adam so he has something to do. "Axel breaking up with you wasn't my idea. It was his. I advised against it, but deep down Axel knew it's what needed to be done for you to leave and not stay in Bayside."

"Why did it take him so long to tell me about Adam?" That's something I've been curious about since Axel first told me everything. He could never really give me an answer as to why it took so long.

"The longer you were away, the harder it was for him to tell you I suppose. He felt it would be insensitive of him to do that to you. He thought you had moved on too."

Well, he thought wrong and I told him so last night. "How do you know I haven't moved on?"

Jared smirks, rubbing his hand over Adam's hair. "Well, you're watching this one aren't you. That alone tells me you still care for Axel."

"But how?" I ask, desperate for his answer. Somehow everyone but Axel and I could tell neither of us had moved one.

"Vienna," he says slowly, like I'm a child. "You're here watching Axel's younger brother, who is basically a son to him. That alone tells me you still haven't moved on from Axel." I'm about to interrupt, but he cuts me off by holding his hand up. "Let me finish. Yes, you're a good person. But if you weren't into Axel and he wasn't still into you, do you think you would be here right now watching Adam?"

My jaw hangs open as I think about Jared's words. I guess he's right. It would be odd if we weren't into each other.

"Exes don't help each other out like that even when they're on good terms, unless there's something else still there." I make a face at him, knowing he's right. He rolls his eyes, but smiles.

"How are things with Amelia?" I ask, changing the subject to Elea's mom.

"Things are good. It was hard doing long distance for a year, but I got to visit them a couple times in Paris." The look in his eyes tells me he's thinking about the memories he made there. "Are you and Elea on speaking terms now?"

"Yeah we are. We patched things up last night, actually."

"Good. Seems like coming back to Bayside has done some good for you."

"Yeah, well I came back for Olivia's and Jaden's wedding." I grab my necklace and let my fingers find the pendant, feeling a little uneasy at where the conversation could be heading.

Jared seems to sense it and stands up from the bench, letting my words hang between us. Adam hands him the phone back as he says, "I have to get back to work, but it was good to see you."

"You too," I say, standing and giving him a hug.

Jared hugs Adam next. "I'll see you guys at the wedding."

I smile, grateful I'll get to see him again soon. "See you around."

Adam and I wave at Jared as he walks away. "Ferris wheel time?" Adam asks, looking up at me.

Nodding my head, I point at the ferris wheel. "Ferris wheel time."

Smiling, Adam yanks my arm in the direction of the ride.

A guy, probably still in high school, looks bored out of his mind as he stands underneath a colorful umbrella. He leans on the podium in front of him with a sign in front that says ferris wheel.

Adam sprints to the guy and hands him the money. The guy takes it gratefully, seeming somewhat revived at having customers. As we get seated into a two person cart, a small line starts to form.

"When will we go?" Adam asks impatiently. We've been moving a few feet every few minutes as people load the carts.

"We have to wait until everyone is on and then we'll go."

Just as I say that, the ride starts. Lights flash along the outer rim of the ferris wheel as it starts to move. We hit the peak of the ride and Adam and I both are in awe of the view of the fair grounds. I laugh a little to myself at Adam's reaction, especially since he's so young.

"This is so cool!" Adam leans forward and the cart rocks, causing me to have a mini heart attack.

Even with the rusted metal bar in front of us, I still feel a little queasy from being up so high. It's the only ride I could think of that I wouldn't chicken out of because of my fear of heights.

We make it one time around and are heading back towards the peak of the ride when screaming below us starts. I look at what people are yelling at and see the big eighteen wheeler backing up. My mouth starts to feel dry as my heart drops in realization.

It's heading in the direction of the ferris wheel we're on.

A/N: Hope you enjoyed! Will be back with another update in the next day or so to make up for not updating last week.