Fair Day

Ideally, this was going to be the chance Petunia needed so desperately. She had budgeted enough for everyone, even David. She wasn’t sure why someone suggested bringing David along but she couldn’t bring herself to say no to giving an opportunity. 

Her grand plan was to bring everyone to the local fairgrounds, something full of fun and spirit. 

So it makes sense why David would immediately decline. 

However Petunia supposed it was a good thing. She wouldn’t want to be left alone with him and the other one. 

Martin was going to split off anyways, he’s much older than everyone and has much much different interests than the group. That was fine. 

We were always bound to lose Enedelia in such a busy noisy space. That’s to be expected. It’s her version of fun. That’s good. 

However Petunia failed to account that the second they got in, Elena and Beatrice would immediately vanish. She didn’t know what to expect but with hindsight, suppose it made sense. 

And then Reggie just happened to remember last minute that his girlfriend, whom he lives with, is working a booth for the Renaissance Faire. Should’ve just saved the money as he ended up hanging out with her instead. 

So that left her alone. 

With the other one. 

Ray. 

The two of them sat uncomfortably at a picnic table, Petunia watching the crowds, Ray picking at the wood. The silence in the noise was nauseating for Petunia. Quickly she glanced at Ray, an absolutely miserable expression plastered on his face as he tugged at his collar. Petunia did her best to make him wear a t-shirt and jeans so none of his important clothes would get dirty. Unfortunately, this had the effect of making him incredibly sad. 

“Okay,” she patted the table, Ray jolted to look up at her, “get up.”

Ray’s eyes narrowed, distrust glinting behind them.

“No,” he says flatly, “I think I’m fine right here.”

Fair enough. He was mad, he had some right to be. But she is trying to make it better. 

“Please? I’ve got something special in mind for you,” Petunia asked, maybe a bit of a plea. 

“What? More humiliation? More scratchy uncomfortable shirts?” 

“No…” she frowned, definitely hard to not feel bad for him, strange how she always had an ounce of empathy for him, “I was more so thinking of something… epithet related?”

It was hard to read his face, just a static disappointed scowl. But he eventually folded, exhaling loudly and standing up stiffly. 

“Fine,” Ray crossed his arms, “that means it’s me related and you’re lucky I actually like myself.”

I don’t think anyone is lucky to know how much you like yourself, Petunia shook her head and joined him in standing.

“Thank you,” she spoke with sincerity, “I know that you’re going to like this.”

He did not respond with words, only a mean look. 

That’s fair. 

“Okay,” Petunia yanked her wallet out of her pocket and checked her cash, “right. First thing’s first, we need to break this twenty.”

“Wow, I mean so much to you,” Ray remarked dryly. 

She held the twenty out for him, waiting for him to take it. This would take a while, eventually, Ray would briskly snatch it up and clutch it with vigor. 

“You’re gonna want to spend maybe twelve dollars, got it?” Petunia smiled, being nice is the only strategy here. 

“The hell can get you twelve little dollars?” Ray squinted at his slip of cash, “this is petty, weak change.”

“It can’t get you much I won’t lie to you,” she admitted, “but that’s not really the point of what we’re doing.”

He wasn’t having any explanation that wasn’t “I’m sorry, you can go home”. Just continued to pout with malice in his heart.

“Come on,” Petunia linked her arm with his and started walking off with him in tow. He did try to get away from her, deflecting the force of her grip, but only once. Even then that barely had any effort and changed nothing about his situation. 

The pair walked along, Petunia pointing out small treats and trinkets along the way while Ray completely ignores all of them. 

“Funnel cake?”

“Absolutely not.”

“There’s caramel apples.”

“No.”

“Cinnamon rolls?”

“I can get better.”

“I think I saw someone selling rings.”

“Cheaply crafted if it’s sold here.”

“What about those lollipops?”

“Do you honestly take me for some child?”

“That’s how you’re acting right now,” Petunia tugged him closer, arm slung around his shoulder, holding on tighter as they passed through a busy crowd, “maybe you want to eat like one too.”

“All you do is mock me,” he grumbled, reluctantly leaning into her embrace as they trudged against the current, swimming through the sea of people. Something seemed to come to Petunia’s mind and she suddenly picked up speed. Breaching free from the crowd, she pointed off in the distance at a building. 

“How about a sno cone?” She smiled brightly, noticeably still holding onto Ray, “that’s non-offensive enough!”

“And a snow cone is…?” he questioned, imagining something akin to a triangular snow globe. 

“Oh, you probably know it as something like ‘shaved ice’.”

A thought in him shivers. Maybe the idea of a bad margarita. 

“Didn’t think you could have something like that,” Ray finally responds.

“Why wouldn’t I? It’s just water and sugar syrup. The worst it’ll do is dye my sprouts!”

Ray opens his mouth and then closes it, realizing this is slightly different than what he anticipated.

“Sure,” he finally concedes, supposing he will actually buy something, “whatever gets us closer to whatever it is you wanted to do.”

“Great!” She stops, lets go, and pushes him forwards, towards the entrance of a building, “it’s on the left down a couple of stalls! I’ll be out here.”

He turns around, severely confused, squinting at her. Briefly, he looks between the building and her. That’s when he sees the sign for the building. 

Beer Garden.

Something mischievous grew across his face, turning back to her. 

“What Petunia?” He sneered, “afraid of a little alcohol?”

This did not get the annoyed reaction he expected, something to banter with. Instead, she avoided eye contact, eyes dancing around as she fiddled with her hands. 

“Y-yeah actually,” she said, her confidence drained from her body, “it’s just the only place with good sno cones.”

“Well I’ll certainly get one for you, I’ll make sure to get it after a drin—“

“Please don’t,” Petunia spoke without thinking, she pauses for a moment, fearfully that she just interrupted him. But he didn’t seem mad, only waiting for her to finish, curiously. 

“Sorry but I don’t… want to be around anyone drinking. It’s not actually… fun for me.”

“That’s new,” he mused, but she was completely serious. She was afraid. 

“I don’t think you remember that event correctly,” Petunia folds her arms behind her back and begins to squeeze them, “it’s not like I had a choice, that… that was for work.”

“Well it’s not like we actually have to be around each other,” he stated simply, “don’t let me hold you down.”

“I…” words were failing her, stopping right at her throat. So she cleared it, and hoarsely croaked, “yeah that’s true. You don’t have to be here with me.”

“You are a lot sadder about this than I would’ve ever expected,” Ray looked her up and down, gesturing vaguely, “written all over you. One would think you’d rejoice at the second you could finally lose me. Unless…?”

“Unless what?”

“I dare say you’d actually want to spend time with me!”

Her eyes widened, unsure how to retaliate. 

God this was so embarrassing all around. 

“I guess…” she subconsciously stepped closer, as if wanting to hide this like a secret, “I guess I kind of do. I wanted to hang out with everyone but y’know… don’t really care. You just haven’t run off yet and sometimes you’re actually… Nice to me.”

A devilish smile returned to Ray’s face, and he shook his head, holding in a larger laugh. To keep form, he patted her shoulder and kept grinning. 

“Good to see you’re finally being honest with yourself,” he proudly encouraged her, placing his finger under her chin and lifting her up, “don’t mope around out here. I’ll be right back then.”

With that, he strode inside, following the directions Petunia had given him. 

She stood outside, trying to figure out what the hell he meant by finally. 

And if he’ll see the banned posters she has.