I wake up to the familiar smell of bacon and eggs. I blink away the sleep and slowly sit up. Looking around, I notice I'm no longer in the living room but, rather, a large bedroom. It almost reminds me of the hospital despite the darker colours. 

Waking up in a strange room. Not really remembering much from the night before. I do, though, remember Isaac's smile. 

And his eyes.

God, those eyes.

I slowly sit up and get off the bed, my bare feet hitting the soft carpet. I look down at myself and notice I'm still wearing my clothes from yesterday. The large room almost seems intimidating. I'm used to smaller rooms. Nothing this fancy.

I pad downstairs, the lovely aroma's becoming stronger. I silently walk into the kitchen and sit down at a bar stool. 

"Angie!" Bella races over to me from the living room and hugs my leg tightly. I hug her back.

Isaac turns around and smiles. "Good morning." 

I smile back and wave a little.

I seem to be smiling a lot more when I'm around them. I feel like going back to Holly and Dave will only remind me of things I want to forget. But I can't just abandon them. 

I watch Isaac cook. I like men who can cook. 

Bella sits up on a stool next to me. "I had such a nice dream last night. Would you like to hear it? I was sleeping, right? And then I woke up in our house, but I could tell something was different. I walked downstairs and you and Isaac were sitting on the couch and his arm was around you. I got that weird feeling in my stomach, but I ran over to you guys and jumped in between you two. We all cuddled, and it was really nice."

I smile. What a nice thought. But I'm guessing it won't ever happen. How could it? Besides, I just met them and, like Isaac said last night, they're just helping me. Once they're done, we're going to go our separate ways. Though, after the few days I've been with them, when the day comes, it will probably be the hardest thing to do. 

Isaac, shaking his head and trying to suppress a smile, sets a plate of eggs and bacon in front of me and Bella then makes one for himself. 

I eat silently as I listen to Bella talk. 

"Last night was so fun. I loved making a fort and stuff. And then I think the best part was when Isaac carried you to his room, and he slept out here."

My eyes snapped up to meet his. He did what? 

He smiles at me, shaking his head. I smile back. 

"I'm going to school, do you have to?" Bella asks, finishing up her plate.

I shake my head. 

"Oh. What are you going to do all day then?"

I shrug, looking at Isaac.

"We'll find something to do," he says, ruffling Bella's hair.

"Ew! My hair! Don't mess up my hair!" she tries flattening it out but a few stray pieces still stand straight up. She glares at Isaac. "You ruined my hair and the bus is here. You're such a guy, sometimes."

Isaac laughs, ushering her out the door and throwing her backpack at her. She catches it, gives him one last glare, smiles at me, then hops on the bus. 

I look up at Isaac.

"Well, what do you want to do today?"

I shrug and point at him.

"Me?" He raises his eyebrows.

I make the writing motion and he pulls out a pad of paper and a pen.

You pick.

"Oh," he chuckles. "Well, do you like rides?"

I nod eagerly. It's been forever since I've gone to a carnival. 

"Okay. The carnivals not that far from here. Let's go." 

He leads me outside, locking up the house then heads towards his car. We both hop in, and he starts towards the carnival.

"Do you ever talk?" he suddenly asks, glancing at me.

I shrug. 

I used to.

He glances at my notepad then scrunches his brow. "Why don't you anymore? Don't you miss talking?"

Not really.

"Oh. I know when we first met, I didn't talk much. It takes some time," he says, the ending part more of a question than a statement.

Me too.

He chuckles. "Well, when you did talk. So, you don't remember what happened before?"

I shake my head, looking ahead at the road. Sometimes, I wish I remembered so I could tell people and they could properly help me. Other times, however, I'm happy I don't remember; otherwise, I could be way worse. It's an inner battle. I feel like I'm constantly battling some inner demon. 

Sometimes, I have to be my own hero.

"Well, I know Bella would like to help and so would I. I'm sorry if I came off... distant, at first."

I nod. I get that. I used to be like that, too. It's not that I never trusted anyone, it was just that I didn't really know the person. They may be the nicest person in the world and I'd still take a while to warm up to them and finally start a conversation. 

"Well, we're here." 

I look up and see the carnival ahead of us, the large iconic Ferris Wheel popping up from behind a line of trees, spinning. I smile at the thought of going on it. It's been a while since I've been to one. How nice it will be to have fun again. 

But then what? What happens after? While this may be fun, it only lasts for so long. Nothing stays the same forever. I know that. So, after this, I suppose I'll just go back to my old life. After all the fun, I'll go back to darkness, sadness, loneliness. How wonderful.

"Let's go have some fun." Isaac smiles at me, parking the car. 

I get out at the same time as him and together, we walk towards the gate where a line of employees are stamping peoples hands and checking bags. Nothing has changed despite the wide gap of years I've ignored this carnival and its festivities. 

We get in line and get our hands stamped. Neither of us have bags so we walk right in. Around me, a vast aroma of scents fills the air, and I inhale it all in at once. It smells absolutely wonderful. Like a dream. Almost. Coming back to an old childhood memory. 

I look around and spot a colourful avenue of booths selling food and toys. I can see the tops of various rides, too. It's all almost overwhelming. 

"What do you want to do first?" Isaac looks at me, smiling. 

I shrug, pointing to him. 

"Me? I honestly couldn't care less. It all looks like a lot of fun." he smiles again, looking around.

I shove him gently and he chuckles. 

"Fine. How about some food then?"

I nod my head. Now that he has mentioned it, I am hungry and my stomach's growling. 

"Alright, where do you want to go?"

I give him a blank look, and he laughs. He looks amazing when he laughs. And smiles. Even when he doesn't with his mouth. Sometimes, people can smile with their eyes, too. 

I'm glad I don't speak because I'm pretty sure right now, I'd blurt something out that I would regret later. Maybe. Taking risks doesn't always lead to bad consequences. Nevertheless, what I'm thinking about could never happen. Happiness isn't meant for people like me.

He leads us over to a booth selling tacos and chips and an assortment of different foods. After looking over the menu, he orders something for both of us. Then, he grabs my hand and pulls me to the side to get out of the way of the others, but he doesn't let go. He keeps his hand snug in mine, and it fits perfectly like they were made to be held by each other. I don't look up at him, only stare head. I'm nervous and I've got butterflies. It feels amazing. 

Someone calls out our order and he lets go of my hand gently to take the food. I miss his hand. 

He leads us over to a table under a large canopy and we sit down. Both of us eat in silence, my eyes concentrated on the food before us. Sometimes, I can feel his eyes on me. And I can still feel those butterflies. It feels amazing.

"What do you want to do after this? Wanna go on a ride?"

I look up and smile, nodding my head. I remember going to different amusement parks and picking the tallest ride to go on first. I love the creaky sound of the cart going up the big hill, stopping at the top. And then the drop. My stomach riding up to my throat. My hands up in the air catching the wind.

"Okay, let's go." he stands up and throws away the trash then leads us over to a ride.

---

The whole day was one big memory of laughter and smiles. Although I never screamed, Isaac definitely did. I almost went deaf, too. He's such a baby on high rollercoasters. It's funny.

He laughs as we walk out from under the front gates of the carnival, his hair sticking up in a million different ways and his eyes filled with a wild craze. I've noticed that I'm becoming more observant of my surroundings, especially those of a certain brown hair, deep, dark-eyed man. I know I have feelings towards him despite the short amount of time we've known each other, and it scares me. Ever since last year...

I shake the thought from my head as I step into Isaac's car. 

"I liked that," Isaac whispers, a large grin on his face.

I nod happily. So did I. Where has this man been all my life? Within the span of a few hours, he 's shown me how to truly have fun. Perhaps, after everything, we won't completely leave each other's life. That would nice.

He drives us back to his house. It's almost time for him to go pick up Bella. 

I sit down on the couch and he sits down next to me, turning on the television and putting on some show I've never seen before. 

If only it could be like this every day. Us going out and having fun then coming back and watching some television together. Maybe cuddling. Maybe hugging. Maybe ki—

The front doorbell rings, and I jump. Isaac chuckles then stands up to go answer it. 

"Where is she?"

I turn my head and lock eyes with an angry Holly, her hands placed sassily on her hips. I scrunch my eyebrows and purse my lips. 

Without asking for permission, she pushes past Isaac and stands in front of me. "And where have you been, missy? Hanging out here with this... this stranger?" 

I shake my head, frowning. We're definitely not strangers. I suppose we're friends. 

"Why didn't you call me, huh? Dave and I have been worried sick about you all day. We didn't know where you were or what you were doing or if you were even alive! Thankfully, that little girl outside knew you and told us where you were!"

I open my mouth then close it. I understand why she's mad but I'm a grown-up, not some child. Plus, I did text her. So, technically, it's her fault for never having her phone on. 

"She's just been staying here a little. My little sister and I have been taking care of her. She's perfectly fine," Isaac says, defending me.

"No! I don't know who the hell you think you are. Taking her and speaking for her. You're just some stranger." She looks him up and down and shakes her head. "Probably was going to take advantage of her, too." 

Before Isaac can say anything else, she stomps over to me, pulls me up by my arm and marches outside. Right past Bella, right past Isaac. I don't even get to say goodbye or even take one last look at them. Instead, she shoves me in her car and drives back to our apartment, the tension thick in the air. 

When we arrive back at our apartment, she stops the car and gets out, slamming the door. I watch her from my seat as she unlocks the front door, then looks back at me, the irritation evident on her face. Silently, I get out and walk into our apartment. 

Yes, I get why she's mad. No, I don't get why she did what she did. There was another way she could've handled it. I'm kind of mad at her for forcing me to leave like that. For treating me like a child. 

Dave is sitting on the couch, crying. When Holly closes the door, he looks up and runs to me, pulling me into a tight hug. "Where have you been? I've been so worried!" 

I shake my head and pull away, walking to my room and closing the door. Yes, I'm mad, too. Within a day, Isaac gave me my happiest and brightest memory I've ever had. And Holly just took me away from him without asking me or talking to me or anything. Sometimes, she thinks she knows best. 

I lie down on my bed and close my eyes, replaying the whole day before Holly ruined it. Bella. Isaac. The carnival. Isaac. The Ferris Wheel. Isaac. 

He seems to be the only thing on my mind. And I don't care. Those eyes entranced me the very first time I looked into them at the bar and ever since then, I knew I didn't want to look into anyone else's eyes like that.

Which brought up another thought. What was he doing at the bar in the first place? Rough week? Troubles? Sometimes, people go to bars and clubs just to party and drink. Other times, however, people go to forget the pain and bad memories. To put the past behind them and forget everything bad for just a night. To be free of their inner demons, even for just a few hours. To have fun.

I sigh and just lie there, thinking about him for the rest of the night before sleep finally pulls me into its dark arms. 

~~~

❝Nothing stays the same forever.❞