When Annika got home with her parents, she noticed Harrison was home too. She grins. "So, finally decided to come home from hanging out with Sky? You two have been practically joined at the hip lately." She teased, causing him to roll his eyes.

"Whatever." He replies, blushing. "Anyway, how was the hockey game?"

"Oh, you know, the usual." She responds, keeping it vague and not wanting to bring up Mac's situation. "So, what's up with you and Sky?"

Harrison shifts uncomfortably, a smile creeping onto his face despite himself. "We just...I don't know, clicked, I guess. She's fun to be around." He ran a hand through his hair, looking away, trying to hide his growing embarrassment.

Annika raises an eyebrow, a teasing grin spreading across her face. "Fun, huh? Is that all you've got?"

He shot her a look, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes. "Okay, okay. She's really cool. We like the same movies, music, and we can just talk for hours without it getting boring. I didn't think I'd find someone I could connect with like this."

Annika leans against the kitchen counter, crossing her arms and grinning at him. "Sounds like you might be a little smitten."

Harrison flushes, but the corner of his mouth turned up. "Maybe. But don't go getting any ideas, okay? We're just hanging out. We're just close friends."

"Just hanging out? Is that what you call spending every waking moment together?" Annika mused.

"Hey, you're one to talk!" Harrison shot back, smirking. "What about you and Mac? You guys seem pretty close."

She felt her cheeks warm slightly at the mention of Mac. "We are close. He just had a rough game today, and I wanted to make sure he was okay."

Harrison raises an eyebrow. "Uh-huh. And how'd that go?"

She shrugs. "Fine, I guess. He was pretty frustrated, but he seemed to feel a little better after we talked." She could feel her blush deepening and cursed herself for being so obvious.

Harrison smiles knowingly at her. "Uh-huh. Right."

Annika rolls her eyes, flicking the back of his head when she walked by him. "Shut up. I'm going to go get ready for bed."

As she walked to her room, she heard her parents greet Harrison and chat with him, but her mind drifted to Mac while she entered her room and closed the door. Her gaze fell on a polaroid on the wall amongst other polaroids, but this one stood out. It was a snapshot of her and Mac from last summer. The two families had gone to the beach together, and the photo captured them mid-laugh, sand in their hair and the sun shining brightly. The happiness radiating from that moment felt almost palpable. She could still hear the waves crashing and the laughter shared over ice cream cones. Annika walked closer to the photo, the fond memories washing over her.

That trip had been a chance to bond with Mac outside of their usual routines. They had shared secrets, dreams, and silly moments, and the friendship they had built over the years had become even stronger. Her chest tightened with longing. She sighed and got ready for bed. She wished she knew what to do with these feelings she had. She settled into bed, pulling the covers over her and snuggling into the soft pillows. But sleep eluded her.

Her thoughts were filled with Mac. She replayed the scene from earlier that night, and the way he had looked at her, the vulnerability and honesty in his gaze. It was a side of him not many people got to see, and she felt honored and privileged that he trusted her enough to show her. She knew she had a tendency to overthink things, and in the quiet of her bedroom, she was alone with her thoughts. The image of Mac looking at her in the gazebo, his eyes soft and sincere, played in her mind, and her heart beat faster.

She knew Mac meant a lot to her, and their friendship was important to her. But there was something about the way she felt when she was with him, the way her stomach flipped when he looked at her or touched her. The way she had noticed how attractive he was lately. She knew she was attracted to him, but what did it mean?

She rolled over onto her side, her mind racing. She realized something as her gaze fell on the stuffed animal Mac had won for her at a fair one night back when they were in Canada. She reached over to pick up the stuffed fox, cradling it in her arms. The soft fur of the little red fox plush felt familiar and comforting in Annika's hands. Her eyes fluttered closed, and suddenly she was there again-back at the autumn fair.

FLASHBACK

Annika was fourteen the year her family and the MacBentleys made their annual trip to the autumn fair. It had become tradition by then―an entire Saturday dedicated to hayrides, greasy food, and overpriced games, wrapped up in layers of sweaters and laughter. The fairground buzzed with energy, golden light from strings of bulbs crisscrossing overhead, the scent of kettle corn and cinnamon sugar drifting with every cool breeze.

Her fingers were already sticky from sharing a caramel apple with her older brother when Mac caught her eye from across the picnic tables. He motioned subtly with a tilt of his head and a small grin. Come on. She didn't have to ask where they were going. It was always the same: they'd sneak away for half an hour before regrouping with the others for rides. It wasn't really sneaking―both sets of parents knew―but it felt like it. Like their own little tradition within the bigger one.

"We've got exactly thirty minutes before our moms start calling." Mac said as they weaved through the crowd. He was also fourteen, all limbs and growing too fast for his clothes, his hoodie sleeves a little short on his wrists.

"Plenty of time to let you fail at five different games." Annika teased, brushing her shoulder against his.

"I resent that," He replies dramatically, placing a hand over his chest. "Tonight's the night I make history. Gonna win you something amazing. I can feel it."

She snorts. "Like last year's amazing prize?" She holds up her Ipod to show him the photo of her holding a deflated balloon with a sad face drawn on it. "Real treasure."

He rolls his eyes, playfully shoving her as she laughed. "Okay, this time it'll be different."

They stopped in front of the ring toss booth, a game that had always bested them both. Rows of glass bottles gleamed under the lights, and above them hung prizes of all sizes. Among the stuffed animals was a fox―smallish, but soft-looking, its reddish-orange fur the exact color of fall leaves. It sat high on the rack, tucked between flashier toys, but something about it made Annika's breath catch. Mac noticed.

"You like the fox?" He asked, nudging her with his elbow.

She shrugs, trying to play it off. "It's cute. Foxes are cool, that's all."

"You always draw foxes in the margins of your notebooks. Plus you have a lot of fox stickers in your sticker collection. Pretty sure you even have a fox themed blanket." He said easily, handing a few crumpled bills to the booth attendant. "They're your favorite animal too, right?"

Annika blinks at him, caught off guard. He noticed all those things? Sure, he's her best friend, but he noticed that much? Her heart gave a strange little flip as she tucked her hair behind her ear, trying to hide the smile tugging at her lips. "Yeah," She replies, a little quieter. "They are."

Mac shrugs and grins at her, but it was that grin he always did when he was trying to play it cool but was secretly proud of himself. "Figured. Now I have to win it."

"Good luck," She teases. "You still throw like you're aiming in the dark."

"I was aiming in the dark last time. It was the glow-in-the-dark booth!" He defends himself. Mac takes a deep breath and squared up. The first ring bounced off a bottle and landed on the floor. He groans. "Okay, okay, that was a warm-up."

"Sure." Annika says with a smirk, folding her arms as she watched. The second ring wobbled in the air, then clinked against two bottles before falling uselessly. "You're not making history yet." She pointed out, but her voice was more amused than mocking and she giggled when he shot her a mock glare. He took his time with the last ring. His brow furrowed, lips pressed in concentration. Then he flicked his wrist. The ring sailed neatly through the air and―clink―landed around a bottle neck, rocking slightly before settling.

The attendant let out a short whistle and reaches up toward the rack. "Well, would you look at that? We've got a winner!" He said, grabbing the fox plush from its perch. He didn't need to be told which prize, he figured what it was by overhearing their conversation.

Mac turns to Annika with wide eyes, stunned. "No way."

Annika's jaw drops, her laughter bursting out. "Shut up, you actually did it!"

Mac looks ridiculously pleased with himself as the booth attendant handed him the plush fox. He turns to Annika and, with exaggerated ceremony, bowed and presented it to her. "For m'lady, the fiercest fox enthusiast I know."

Annika rolls her eyes, but the smile spreading across her face was impossible to contain. She takes the fox and hugs it to her chest. "Okay...This is better than the deflated balloon."

"I told you it would be different this year." Mac said, rocking back on his heels, proud and maybe just a little smug.

Annika glances down at the plush in her arms, then back up at Mac. "You remembered all that stuff. About the foxes."

He shrugs like it was no big deal. "Of course I did. You're my best friend, Nika. I pay attention."

Her chest gave a funny little flutter, and she didn't say anything at first, didn't quite trust herself to. But her cheeks were warm, and she knew she was smiling like an idiot. "Okay, now I have to win you a prize."

Mac shakes his head. "You don't have to."

Annika's smile widens, eyes sparkling with playful determination. "Oh, but I do. It's only fair."

Mac chuckles, running a hand through his hair, clearly amused but also a little excited about getting a prize from her. "Alright, deal. Next game, you're up."

The two of them walked over to the next game, a balloon dart throw, where colorful balloons were tightly packed on a board, each one promising a prize if popped. The noise of excited chatter and the ringing bells from nearby rides filled the air, but Annika was focused.

She hands Mac the stuffed fox gently. "Hold her for me."

"Let me guess, you already named the fox?" Mac snickered, but he still carefully took the plush from her arms, cradling it like it was something fragile.

"Obviously," Annika said, giving him a look. "Her name is Rusty."

Mac gave her a smug grin. "Rusty? That's not very original."

"She has a rust-colored tail, thank you very much," Annika defends with a huff, though her tone was playful. "Besides, she looks like a Rusty."

He holds the fox up and inspected it like a jeweler appraising a gem. "Hmm. Okay, Rusty. You and I will be over here judging every throw your mom makes."

Annika tries not to laugh as she stepped up to the dart line. She narrows her eyes at the wall of balloons and grabbed a dart from the counter. "Prepare to be dazzled."

The first dart whizzed forward―pop!―a bright purple balloon burst cleanly. Mac gave a small, impressed nod. "Not bad." The second dart followed, popping a yellow balloon this time. Annika beamed and glanced over her shoulder.

"Rusty says I'm doing amazing." She announced.

"She's lying. Rusty and I are deeply concerned about your aim." Mac replied, keeping a perfectly straight face.

Annika snorts and lines up the final dart. This one required a bit more concentration. The balloon she wanted was wedged tightly between two others, and she squinted as she took aim. With one last deep breath―pop!―she nailed it. She beams, turning to grin proudly at Mac, who chuckled and smiled at her. The booth attendant let out a short whoop and gestures toward the prize wall. "We got ourselves a winner! Pick your prize."

Annika scanned the options quickly, then pointed to a dinosaur on the wall. The booth attendant reached up and plucked the small green dinosaur plush from the prize wall―a chunky, soft T-Rex with tiny felt arms and a goofy stitched smile. He handed it to Annika, who accepted it with a grin before turning back toward Mac.

She holds it behind her back as she approached despite the fact she knew Mac watched her pick it out, putting on a mock-serious expression. "Now, this had been a very important decision. I had a lot of choices, but I thought carefully about what would mean the most."

Mac raises an eyebrow, still cradling Rusty like a prized antique. "Oh really? Please enlighten me."

With a dramatic flourish, she brought out the T-Rex plush and held it up like a trophy. "For you m'lord," She dramatically said in the same way he had given the stuffed fox to her when he said 'mi'lady'. "For the boy who once named every single dinosaur in that ridiculous encyclopedia you carried around for a year."

Mac froze mid-eye-roll, gaping at her. "I can't believe you remember that."

"I lived through it," Annika said, laughing. "You made me sit through so many dinosaur documentaries. I still hear that British narrator's voice in my nightmares."

"I told you, Walking with Dinosaurs is a cinematic masterpiece." Mac replies, clearly trying not to grin too wide. He takes the T-Rex from her with exaggerated reverence, holding it up so it faced him. "We meet again, old friend."

"You had a whole dino phase," Annika teases happily taking back her fox when he gave it back to her. "You wouldn't shut up about them. I think you even pretended to be a raptor for, like, a week."

"I was six!" Mac protests, but he was laughing now, cheeks flushed. "And it was two weeks, thank you."

She tilts her head at him, amused. "You still like them though."

He opens his mouth to deny it―then thought better of it. Instead, he shrugs and avoids eye contact, staring down at the stuffed T-Rex. "Maybe. They're still kinda cool."

Annika's smile softens, her heart tugging a little at how gently he tucked the dinosaur plush under one arm beside Rusty. "I knew it. You're still a raptor at heart."

Mac gave a mock growl and lunges like he was going to chase her, raising the T-Rex and using its arms playfully to make it look like it was attacking. "Rawr! The mighty Mac-osaurus strikes again!" He declared.

Annika shrieks in mock horror, clutching Rusty to her chest and stumbling backward a few paces. "Not Rusty! She's innocent!"

"The Rusty era ends now!" Mac proclaimed dramatically, jogging after her as the T-Rex bounced in his hand like it was leading the charge.

They zigzagged around a cotton candy stand, laughing breathlessly, weaving through a group of younger kids who giggled at the sight. They stopped only to get a funnel cake Annika was promised and then finally slowed near the Ferris wheel, both a little breathless, both still holding their prizes. Mac looked down at the two plushies he now held―Rusty the fox in one arm, the tiny T-Rex in the other―and then at Annika, who was watching him with a bright smile and windblown hair as she ate her funnel cake.

"Funnel cake is always amazing each year." She said around a mouthful, wiping powdered sugar off her chin with the back of her hand. "But somehow it tastes even better after being hunted by a prehistoric predator."

Mac chuckles, brushing a speck of sugar off her nose with his thumb. "You're welcome for the authentic Jurassic experience."

Annika smirks. "You should really warn people when you're about to go full dinosaur nerd again."

"No one survives a Mac-osaurus ambush," He said solemnly, lifting the plush T-Rex and making it nod in agreement. "They think they're safe. Then bam―fun facts and trivia for days."

Annika giggles nudging his shoulder. "Oh no, anything but that."

Mac grins, slipping into an exaggerated scholarly tone. "Did you know, for example, that the T-Rex had one of the most powerful bite forces of any land animal in history? Over 12,000 pounds per square inch."

She gave an over-the-top groan, pretending to have Rusty cover her ears after wiping her hands on her napkin. "Rusty, save yourself from the incoming dinosaur trivia!"

Mac laughs, clearly enjoying himself. "Rusty's a brave one, but I'm not sure she can handle the full extent of Mac-osaurus knowledge."

Annika shakes her head, smiling. "Well, I'll try to shield her as best I can."

She finished her funnel cake, letting Mac get some funnel cake as well before they decided to go on the Ferris Wheel before meeting up with their families. They were now waiting in line for the Ferris wheel, the warm glow of carnival lights casting a golden hue over the evening crowd. Mac held Rusty and the T-Rex carefully, as if they were precious relics from a long-lost adventure, while Annika threw the trash from the funnel cake into a nearby trash can.

The Ferris wheel slowly turns, its cabins gently rocking as they inched closer to the front of the line. Around them, the carnival buzzed with life―bright lights, laughter, and the distant twang of a calliope playing a cheerful tune. Mac glances down at Rusty and the T-Rex, a soft smile tugging at his lips. "You think they're ready for the view from the top?"

Annika nudges his arm playfully. "I think they're just excited to be part of the adventure. And honestly, so am I."

As they stepped into the cabin, the attendant gave them a friendly nod. The doors shut behind them, and the Ferris wheel began its slow ascent. Up above, the world stretched out beneath them―twinkling lights, winding paths, and the smiling faces of the families enjoying the night. The wind was cool, carrying the sweet scent of caramel and popcorn.

"This honestly beats last year's fair." Annika admits. "And maybe it's a little because I have Rusty now." She added, smiling and hugging the stuffed fox close to her.

Mac laughs softly, his eyes warm as he looked over at her. "Yeah, having them definitely makes things better." He shifts the T-Rex slightly, as if to make it wave at the sprawling scene below. Annika giggles, holding her stuffed fox carefully and pulling out her Ipod to take a photo of their stuffed animals. Mac grins as Annika pulled out her iPod, angling it to capture Rusty and the T-Rex against the sparkling carnival lights below. "Gotta document the legends in their natural habitat." He joked, leaning in to sneak a playful selfie with the two plushies.

Annika smiles, tapping the screen to snap the photo. "Perfect," She said, slipping the iPod back into her pocket. "These two deserve a spot in the fair's Hall of Fame."

The Ferris wheel creaked gently as it reached its peak, giving them a breathtaking view of the carnival glowing like a sea of fireflies beneath the dark sky. Annika leans her head against his shoulder, her eyes tracing the lights. "You know," She says quietly, "It's not just the rides or the food or even the prizes. It's nights like this that remind me why traditions matter. Moments we can hold onto."

Mac nods, smiling at her and kissing the top of her head. "And the people we share them with." He added, his gaze meeting hers. A gentle breeze fluttered through the open cabin, carrying the laughter and distant music up to them like a soft lullaby.

"Next year," Annika says, a hopeful smile playing on her lips as her hand reached to hold his. "Same time?"

Mac smiles back, squeezing her hand lightly. "Definitely."

END OF FLASHBACK

Annika blinked her eyes open, suddenly back in the present moment. Her hand was still clutching the stuffed fox, Rusty, against her chest. The soft, warm plushness of it felt strangely comforting as if it was holding onto something more than just the fabric. She could almost still hear Mac's laugh, see his cheeky grin, feel the warmth of his hand in hers as they stood there on the Ferris wheel.

The quiet of her room pressed in around her. She glanced at the clock―late, but she couldn't seem to quiet the rush of emotions that had swept over her. She wanted to reach for her phone, send him a message, talk to him about everything bubbling up inside her. But what would she say? Would it be weird? Was this just another moment of overthinking, like she always did?

She pulled her legs up into her chest, hugging Rusty tighter, and stared at the polaroid again. That photo from last summer. The one of her and Mac laughing on the beach, carefree and full of life. The warmth of that moment was still so vivid, so tangible. She could almost feel the sun on her skin, the salty breeze tangled in her hair. It felt like she could step right back into that memory and just be there again.

But now, things felt different. The way her heart raced when she thought of him, the way her stomach did that fluttering thing whenever his name crossed her mind―it was more than just friendship. She could admit that to herself, even if she wasn't ready to admit it out loud. Annika let out a long sigh, resting her forehead against the stuffed fox's soft fur. What had shifted?

Was it that night on the Ferris wheel, the way he had smiled at her and kissed the top of her head? Or was it something that had been building for longer? Maybe since they were kids, or maybe something more recent, something she'd been pushing aside because it felt too complicated.

The more she thought about it, the more she realized how often she had been noticing him lately. The way his voice had softened when he said her name, how his eyes lingered just a second longer when they locked gazes. She wasn't blind. She could feel it―the pull between them. But was it something he felt too? Or was it just her?