Maggie

After Homecoming, the Grays were right. Bryson didn't look as hot as I thought he did. A broken nose and two black eyes will do that for you. His girlfriend looked rough. Did I feel bad for them? Nope, not one bit.

People forgot what happened to me at Homecoming. Bryson showed up at school, resembling Frankenstein's monster. Well, he has a good Halloween costume. He didn't need makeup.

I looked at posters plastered around the school about the fall festival carnival. I always go with my friends since there isn't much to do here. We took a moment to have fun. As I studied the poster, someone said, "Oh, great, another carnival." I turned and glimpsed Nixon standing next to me.

"You're not going?"

He snorted. "Oh, hell no! You won't catch me dead there."

Kat and Marcy walked up. "We won't catch you dead where?" Kat asked.

"Oh, Nixon considers carnivals beneath him," I said.

"Oh? I love them."

"A person can change their mind," he said with a slight smile.

I giggled at how he changed his tune with Kat.

"Are you going?"

"I wouldn't miss it for the world."

"Cool. I'll catch you there. We must head to class before we're late. Later, Mags. Later, Nixon."

"Later, Kat." I turned to Nixon. "So much for not going."

"Oh, shut up." Nixon walked past me.

I laughed. It was amusing to watch Nixon turn to Jell-o around Kat.

*****

Pat

"A carnival? Those things are lame," Nathan said.

"Well, too bad. You're going," I told the boys.

"But Ma!" The boys said.

"No. We don't do anything as a family. With Nash home, I want to spend time with my family."

Maggie came into the kitchen.

"It's your fault," Nathan said.

Maggie stopped. "What's my fault?"

"Because of you, we have to go to that stupid carnival," Noah said.

"Okay, first, I didn't even know you were going. Second, my friends and I go every year," Maggie said.

"Pft, whatever," Noah said.

Maggie and Noah argued.

Nash came into the kitchen. "Why are you two fighting?"

"Well, thanks to Maggie. We're going to the carnival," Nolan said.

"What's wrong with a carnival?" Nash asked.

"They're lame," Nathan said.

"You're lame, but we're not complaining about you, are we?"

Nathan shut up.

It didn't matter how much they whined and complained. The boys were still attending.

*****

Maggie

At the carnival, I hung out with my friends. Well, that was until Nixon stole Kat away from me. I shook my head and rolled my eyes. The twins grumbled until Marcy and Macey asked them if they wanted to ride the rides with them. They changed their tune. Then there was one.

Nash and Nolan hit the rides together, as did Pat and Nate. Great. Everyone had someone to ride the rides with except for me. I walked around, trying to figure out what to do. Most rides require a partner. I got stuck with a schmuck who didn't have a partner. That was my luck of late.

After two rides, I got a refreshment and found a picnic table on the carnival grounds. As I sat alone, Bryson and Tiffany walked up. Even better.

"It's Maggie without her bodyguards."

Will someone please explain why I had liked this tool for four years?

"The brothers are here."

"Where? Because I don't see them."

"Don't worry. The brothers are around."

"Thanks to them, they broke my fucking nose!"

"Oh, well, you shouldn't have read my journal, you douche."

That pissed him off. I wouldn't let Bryson bully me.

He stalked towards me as I got up. He took a swing at me. I hauled off and hit him with my fist, causing him to step back.

"You bitch! You re-broke my nose!" He grabbed his face in pain.

"It improves your face, but you have a shitty personality. So, I doubt it."

He got his composure and took another step toward me before someone caught him.

"The lady has spoken once with her fist. You may not want to feel her answer again." Nash held Bryson's arm.

Bryson jerked his arm away and stormed off, with Tiffany scampering behind him.

"Well, we know you can handle yourself."

"I can't believe that I liked that tool."

We laughed.

"Where's Nolan?"

"Little shit found a girl."

"Oh."

We stood in awkward silence.

"So, do you want to ride the Ferris wheel?"

"Sure." Anything was better than awkward silence.

We stood in line and entered the ride, getting into a bucket. The ride started. I hated the Ferris wheel but didn't tell Nash that little detail. I didn't need him to tease me.

"It hasn't been a bad night, has it?"

"I rode the rides with a schmuck. Then I dealt with an ex-crush. Yeah, sure." I sighed.

"Yeah, I guess it's sucky."

"It's the story of my life."

"Have you been to the funhouse?"

"What?"

"The funhouse. Have you gone through it yet?"

"No, and that's one carnival attraction I visit."

"Good. After the Ferris wheel, we'll go through the funhouse."

The Ferris wheel rotated twice. We exited, heading to the funhouse. It was so much fun making our way through it. Once we got done, we walked around, trying to find everyone. We came to a dance floor where people were dancing.

"Do you want to dance?"

"Oh, I don't know."

His parents danced to us, and his mom said, "Come on, the both of you!"

"We should do as she says before she gives us a tough time."

"Oh, fine." I sighed.

We stepped onto the dance floor. Nash took my hand and placed his hand on my lower back as he held me in a dance stance. The music played as he moved. I followed along with him, staring at my feet because I couldn't dance.

"Mags, look at me."

"I'm afraid I'll fall if I don't look at my feet."

"Do you trust me?"

I glanced at him.

"Trust me that I won't let you fall. Follow my lead."

I paid attention to Nash as he moved, following his lead. The minute I tripped, he caught me. He was right. He didn't let me fall. At that moment, I trusted Nash. I danced with him. He twirled me around and pulled me back to him.

Nash was a superb dancer. I smiled as he smiled. As we danced, his parents looked at us.

*****

Pat

"I told you," I told Nate.

"Okay, so they're cute together."

"Cute? Oh, Hunny. Maggie will be our future daughter-in-law."

"Patricia, not every person belongs together."

"True, but I trust my instincts. My instincts tell me that Nash and Maggie will end up together."

"If it happens, then it happens."

*****

Nixon

We walked up as Nash and Maggie danced.

"Interesting," Kat said.

"What?"

"Maggie doesn't dance."

"Well, she's dancing now."

"No, you don't understand. Maggie can't dance. She has two left feet," Marcy said.

We watched Nash and Maggie dance.

"For a girl with two left feet, she's doing a decent job," Noah said.

"Sometimes, you need the right partner to help you," Marcy said.

"What are you saying? Nash and Maggie?" Nathan asked. "No way."

"Is it unreasonable to believe that they're good together?" Kat asked.

Nash and Maggie danced, talked, and laughed.

"Don't Nash and Maggie deserve happiness?" Marcy asked us.

I sighed. "I guess."

"There's guessing. If two people belong together, it's those two. We'll give them the push they need," Kat said.

"You sound like Ma."

"That's an excellent complement." She smiled.

"No, it's creepy," Nathan said.

The girls and we conspired to get Nash and Maggie together. What could go wrong?