The day of the annual fair had dawned, casting a wave of excitement throughout the school. Despite being viewed as a mere pretext for the school to raise funds and keep the students occupied with their cheap food and challenging games, it remained a beloved event that garnered great enthusiasm among the students.
Daisy and Jayden, like clockwork, prepared to attend the fair together, just as they had every year. Daisy was especially eager, tugging Jayden by the hand, her anticipation evident as she yearned for a taste of cotton candy. Jayden allowed himself to be led, chuckling at Daisy's sweet tooth, well aware of her penchant for sugary delights.
Their fair adventure had barely begun, no more than ten minutes in, when Jayden spotted William at an ice cream stand. His eyes lit up, and he called out to his friend, making his way toward him. Daisy, too, noticed William and trailed after Jayden.
"Will!" Jayden called out, and William turned at the sound of his voice.
Jayden caught up to him, inquiring with a grin, "You don't mind if I call you that, right, Will?"
William was taken aback by the term but gave a nod of approval. Daisy shyly nodded her head toward William, who only spared her a cursory glance.
"Will, come join us! We're about to go on the drop tower," Jayden exclaimed, gesturing to the modest ride that loomed about 50 feet above the ground.
Although William paled slightly at the sight of the tower, he didn't want to reveal his fear of heights to Jayden. He concealed his trepidation with a façade of indifference and began crafting an excuse to decline the invitation.
"I just had some ice cream, I don't know, I might throw up," he offered.
"Aww, come on! You won't throw up; the ride is tiny. Please?" Jayden pleaded, disregarding the fact that the ride was far from tiny.
William hesitated but ultimately agreed, not wanting to disappoint his newfound friend. The previous day, Jayden had spent the entire afternoon at William's house, talking, playing video games, and sharing a meal. To William's surprise, he had quite enjoyed the company.
Jayden treated him as if they had been friends for years, rather than two people who had just started talking the day before. Deep down, William admitted that it was nice to have someone who genuinely wanted to hang out with him.
Being an only child, William had never experienced the companionship of siblings during his childhood. His parents, both lawyers at the same firm, were perpetually absorbed in their work, leaving little time for their son. Their dedication to their careers meant that they barely crossed paths outside the office. William's parents were passionate about their work, and their cases seemed to take precedence over their own child. He had grown up in a large and lonely house, his parents' neglect gradually fueling bitterness within him.
In his early years of high school, William had made various attempts to garner his parents' attention. He pierced his ears, engaged in fights, and broke school rules, but their indifference remained unshaken. When he was suspended from school, his parents didn't even make it home from work that day. Instead, he received an email expressing their disappointment and notifying him of his transfer to a different school. On that fateful day, he punched a hole in the wall, an outlet for his frustration and anger.
Weeks turned into months, and William's parents continued to spend minimal time at home, leaving him feeling like a mere footnote in their lives. He grew accustomed to his solitude and stopped attempting to seek their attention. Nobody at school wanted to befriend him due to rumors about his behavior at his previous school, and he had never expected anyone to genuinely want to spend time with him.
However, Jayden didn't comment on the emptiness of William's sprawling house or the state of his disheveled room, for William had never felt the need to clean it. Why bother when no one ever ventured inside? Not even his parents.
"It's okay, my room's ten times messier, I swear," Jayden reassured him, his smile alleviating William's embarrassment and offering a measure of relief.
The presence of Jayden had brought some semblance of joy to William's life, a sensation he hadn't experienced in a long time. He attributed it to having made his first-ever friend, even if it felt somewhat pathetic.
William hadn't initially planned to attend the fair, considering it a cheap and meaningless event aimed at entertaining students with little else to do. Yet, the thought of another weekend in his desolate home had driven him to choose the fair instead. Here, at least, he could surround himself with people and convince himself that he wasn't lonely.
As he wandered aimlessly through the fairgrounds, William found it increasingly difficult to stave off the creeping loneliness. He wished Jayden were there with him but quickly dismissed the thought. Just because Jayden had spent time with him yesterday due to a spontaneous decision didn't mean he would want to continue their friendship. William berated himself for even harboring such a wish.
As if summoned by his thoughts, a voice called out behind him, and William instinctively turned around.
There was Jayden, running toward him, with Daisy not far behind.
Although the ride wasn't particularly large, William felt his nerves escalating. He tried to lag behind, hoping to delay the inevitable, but Jayden firmly grabbed his hand and pulled him toward the ride. William felt his palms growing clammy and tried to break free, but Jayden refused to let go, playfully threatening to chase after him.
Once on the ride, William reluctantly took a seat between Jayden and Daisy. Even before the ride began its descent, he shut his eyes tightly and attempted to regulate his breathing.
Throughout the entire ride, William's eyes remained sealed shut, his façade of indifference betraying the tension that gripped him. Fearful of the height, he clenched the handrail, or so he thought. In his anxiety, he failed to notice that what he was gripping wasn't the metal bar he had intended but something much softer.
Jayden, on the other hand, reveled in the thrill of the ride, screaming in exhilaration. When the ordeal was finally over, William stumbled off the ride as fast as his legs could carry him, letting go of whatever he had inadvertently held onto.
Jayden caught up to him, patting him on the back with enthusiasm. "That wasn't so bad, was it?" he inquired with a grin.
William attempted to glare back at Jayden but could only muster an incredulous expression. Jayden's laughter filled the air, and he led William away to purchase popcorn, a prospect that was far more appealing to the shaken boy.