-You're ready?- a man conducting the Ferris wheel asked.

-Yes!- everyone in the queue shouted.

The man opened the first rail, securing the first bench and began to let people on the ride. Bob and Corrina were the third pair waiting and they soon were on the top of the big wheel.

-Wow!- the girl exclaimed. -It's stunning, Bob!- she smiled like mad.

-"Not as stunning as you, dear"- he thought. -Magical- he said, looking at her, as she turned her head to see as much as possible.

   After the Ferris ride, she took him by the hand and dragged him to a big gong. She tried to pick up a rubber hammer but it was too heavy for her and she fell in the process, laughing loudly.

-Let me try- Bob laughed and proceeded to pick up the hammer.

He tried very, very hard and she cheered every now and then, encouraging him. He finally picked it up a few centimeters up in the air and immediately let go of it, panting.

-Oh, my hero!- she laughed and hugged him quickly.

He could smell her perfume. A scent of wild flowers, vanilla and musk. It reminded him of one day, when he went for a walk in the fresh, chilly, morning air and walked through the green pastures and meadows full of dewy, blossoming flowers. He could clearly remember the gentle breeze, caressing his face, chirping birds, neighing horses, the dreamy smell of freedom...

   He didn't have much time to dwell on his memories as he saw her running to something that caught her interest. He quickly followed her. She was looking at a big, black stuffed horse hanging in one of the booths.

-You wanna try your luck?- a man in the booth shouted. -Shoot like a real cowboy and win an award for your fair lady!

Bob smiled to himself and decided to play. He'd seen how much Corrina liked the toy.

-I want to try- he said putting some money on the counter in front of the barker.

Corrina looked at him and smiled.

-You really wanna do that?- she asked. -It looks difficult.

He only smiled at her and took a hold of a plastic gun. He aimed it at a group of cardboard Indians and shoot. He hit only two of them.

-Ow!- he scowled.

-Ah! What a washout! Maybe you want to try again?- the man asked.

Bob payed for another round and tried again. He repeated his actions five times in a row and after nearly losing hope and his eagerness, he felt a hand on his shoulder. He turned his head and looked into a beautiful pair of green eyes.

-You don't have to do that, Bob- Corrina said, quietly. -I really appreciate that you're doing that, but I don't want you to spend a fortune on one stupid game- she smiled.

-Ok. Just one last time- he pleaded and she laughed, nodding.

He sighed and...

BANG! BANG! BANG!

-Congratulations!- the man said, handing him the horse.

-Thank you!- Bob said. -Me lady...- he said in a posh tone, giving her the toy.

She smiled and hugged the present.

-Thanks! It's beautiful!- she came up to him and gave him a kiss on the cheek.

His face became red and he smiled.

-Come on, let's go somewhere else now- he said.

She nodded and they headed to another attraction.

   They played around and joked for at least another three hours, until it was time for the little concert to begin. They stood close to the stage. It wasn't very big, nailed together from a few not hewn boards.

-Hello, ladies and gentleman!- a tall man in a burgundy suit came up on stage. -Do you wanna hear some real folk music? Get your hands together for our greenhorns. First of all, Sweet Mary Jane!

A short, blonde girl came up on stage. She was holding a banjo and scanning the crowd with her sparkling, brown eyes.

-Evenin'- she said in a delicate voice. -I'd like to perform ''Down by the river", for you.

She started to sing. She had a nice, calm voice that trembled a bit at the end of the phrases, making the song sound much more important. She sang two more songs and bowed. The audience clapped.

-Oh my! Wasn't that lovely?- the man shouted. -Now. Let's see who we've got here?- he quickly flipped through the papers he was holding. -Ah, yes! Now ladies and gentleman! This boy came from a very small town, to chase his dreams, his name's Billy Parker. Let's give him a warm applause!

A tall, slender man, with long, black hair came up on stage. He was wearing an oversized suit. He scanned the crowd with his nearly black eyes and smiled. But the smile didn't touch his eyes at all.

-I don't like him- Corrina whispered, flinching.

-Let's hear him sing- Bob whispered back. He put his hand on her shoulder, as if to say ''it's all right". -Besides... You don't have to meet him.

She nodded and looked at the stage once again, leaning a bit on Bob.

Billy started to sing. His voice was raspy and not very pleasant. It sounded as if someone was breaking glass. But on the other hand it was so powerful, that most of the people in the audience got goosebumps and unconsciously started to approach him. And then he finished his performance and all the magic was gone. The audience cheered and clapped loudly.

-Wow! I'd never say he could sing like that!- Corrina exclaimed. She smiled and looked at her friend. His eyes were wide open and he was muttering something to himself.

-Whoa! That was amazing!- the announcer said. -Now, please welcome...

This continued for about two hours. Corrina and Bob were standing right in front of the stage, all the way through the concert. They were making comments on every artist, discussing their style of singingand playing an the way they interpreted the songs.

   Soon, after the performances were over, they decided to leave the fair and take a walk in the park, beafore heading back to Corrina's apartment.

-I had a great time- she said, holding the big, stuffed horse and looking at him with her eyes full of happiness. -Thank you- she smiled.

He gave her a lopsided grin and offered her his arm, which she accepted. They were walking along the winding paths in the park, talking about the time they spent at the fair. They sat on one of the benches, overlooking a big pond that was lit only by the moonlight.There were a few swans, cutting the black mirror of the water, swiftly.

-"It's a pity, we don't have any bread"- Bob thought and glanced at the girl sitting next to him.

Her eyes were fixed on one of the birds. It was smaller than the rest, had a lighter beak, it's eyes didn't glow, the feathers weren't as white as they should have been and it just looked sick. She frowned. He saw sadness and concern in her eyes. He delicately touched her hand. She jumped slightly and turned her head to face him. He smiled reassuringly and motioned for the bird.

-Idon't think we can do anything about it- he said sadly.

-Right- she nodded. -I still pity it, though. I really like swans. They say, they're patrons of lovers and poets- she smiled dreamily. -In Ancient Greece, it was believed that Apollo's soul entered a swan, he became one of them. As you probably know, he's a god of music and poetry and the lord of the nine Muses. Therefore, this bird was considered blessed and the one who killed it was cursed for the eternity- she continued.

All the time, he was looking at her, unable to turn his head from her beautiful face. They sat in silence for a while.

-Do you know Francesco Petrarca and his ''Sonnets to Laura"?- she asked.

He shook his head. She glance at him and started to recite the 132nd:

''What do I feel if this is not love?

But if it is love, God, what thing is this?

If good, why this effect: bitter, mortal?

If bad, then why is every suffering sweet?

If I desire to burn, why tears and grief?

If my state's evil, what's the use of grieving?

O living death, O delightful evil,

How can you be in me so, if I do not consent?

And if I consent, I am greatly wrong in sorrowing.

Among conflicting winds in a frail boat

I find myself on the deep sea without a helm,

So light in knowledge, so laden with error,

That I do not know what I wish myself,

And tremble in midsummer, burn in winter."

He was looking at her with his eyes filled with tears. He didn't know, why he was crying, the poem wasn't as emotional as he thought it'd be. He realised, he was still holding her hand. He squeezed it and she turned her head towards him. She smiled a bit.

-It was beautiful- he whispered. -When was it written?

-Around the XIV century, in the time of Italian Prerenaissance. Personally, I love his sonnets. You know that he was the first one to present love, as a fire burning inside a man?

-That's interesting...

  They sat there deep in thought, untill a chilly wind started to blow and ruffle their hair. Corrina shivered.

-Here- Bob said, giving her his scarf. -Take it.

She wrapped it around her neck and quietly said ''Thank you". He stood up and offered her his hand. They started to walk together back to her apartment. All the way there, they kept on talking about books they recently read. Every once in a while, she was breathing in his scent, that lingered on the scarf. She tried to do that, without him noticing. It smelled strongly of cigarettes, but underneath that, there was a strong aroma of a forest right after the rain, citrus fruits, musk, peppermint and lavender. She loved it. The scent was addicting.

-"That'd be a nice range of perfumes"- she thought and giggled.

-What, did I say something funny?- he smiled at her.

-No, no- she blushed. -I just reminded myself a funny event.

  They were standing in front of her doorstep. The wind blew stronger and it started to snow.

-Would you like to come in?- she asked, holding the black horse close to herself.

He looked at her and smiled sadly.

-Sorry, I can't. It's late and I'm meeting with a friend of mine, tomorrow mornin'. He said, he might find me a producer.

-Oh! Ok then- she replied, with her eyes full of sadness.

Suddenly, her face lit up and she said- I'm playing at the Gaslight tomorrow evenin'. Would you like to go there with me and keep me company? Maybe you'd even get to sing.

His eyes lit up and he grinned.

-I'd love to come- he said, nodding.

-Great! We'll get in touch- Corrina said and hugged him.

Bob hugged her back and she turned around and started to walk towards her door. He kept his eyes on her, scanning her beautiful body, as it moved with grace of an angel. Suddenly, she stopped, turned on her heel, ran back to him and kissed him sweetly on the cheek, then she skipped back to the door and opened them, looking at him over her shoulder and smiling lovely. He stood there shocked, long after she disappeared inside her house. He brought his hand to the cheek, that her lips touched and grinned foolishly.

   The young man went back home, whistling a happy tune all the way there. He couldn't wait to see her again. Right before he entered his apartment, he realised he was falling in love with this girl and they've met only yesterday...

A/N: The performers and song titles were nearly all made by me. I don't know if they exist in real life. Also, I've never been to a fair and I'm not sure what the attractions are and what people do there.