Daisy's heart quickened its pace the moment she laid eyes on William beside the ice cream stand. Secretly, she was thrilled at the prospect of seeing him again, even though her shyness often rendered her speechless in his presence.
 
She allowed Jayden to persuade William to join them on the drop tower, settling herself on his other side. Jayden's excitement was too contagious for him to notice that his friend had yet to open his eyes since they took their seats, or that his breaths were coming a bit faster than usual.
 
Daisy, however, immediately discerned William's fear of heights. It dawned on her that he wasn't quite as tough as he portrayed himself to be. Her thoughts flitted back to the radiant smile she had witnessed on his face during the basketball game. The realization that he harbored a secret fear of heights, yet tried to appear strong, made her smile endearingly.
 
She also noticed how he was gripping the handrail so tightly that he might break his knuckles. When he reached out to grasp it again, she gently interlaced her fingers with his. She relished the sensation of his larger, calloused hand in hers, even though he was gripping a little too tightly.
 
The ride whisked by in a matter of seconds, but William still hadn't mustered the courage to open his eyes. As soon as they touched solid ground again, he practically bolted off the ride, instantly releasing her hand.
 
Daisy felt a twinge of disappointment, especially when Jayden had already spirited William away, enthusiastically proclaiming something about popcorn. She doubted William even realized he had been holding her hand, preoccupied as he was with not succumbing to nausea after the ride.
 
She wasn't angry with Jayden for making friends with William; in fact, she was happy to have a reason to engage with him. Yet, she couldn't help but feel a pang of hurt as they dashed off without her.
 
Sighing softly, she felt a vibration in her pocket, signaling a text message.
 
She retrieved her phone and found a notification from Shane. She genuinely liked Shane, appreciating his easygoing and kind demeanor, which made him a great friend.
 
Though she secretly yearned to stay close to William, it was evident that he was presently focused on spending time with Jayden.
 
"Hey, I'm at the fair. Are you already here? We could meet up somewhere?" Shane's message read.
 
A faint smile played on her lips, and she didn't mind the prospect of hanging out with Shane. She enjoyed their conversations, and he was always kind to her.
 
"I'm by the drop tower. Come meet me! We can get some food :)" she replied with enthusiasm.
 
***
 
 
Back at the fair, Shane strolled through the bustling crowds, determined to find the drop tower. It wasn't too difficult to locate, given that it was the tallest attraction in the entire fair. His eyes quickly landed on Daisy, and he couldn't help but call out to her with a wave. As she turned around and offered him a warm smile, Shane's heart seemed to skip a beat. She looked absolutely stunning in the dappled sunlight, her dark brown hair gleaming and her dress accentuating her beauty. He was utterly captivated by her, his heart racing.
 
With a composed demeanor, Shane walked up to her and exchanged greetings. "Shane!" she greeted him with a smile.
 
"So, food?" he inquired, masking his excitement.
 
She chuckled sweetly and began to lead the way toward the food stands, Shane falling into step beside her. For a moment, he allowed himself to steal glances at her, marveling at her presence. When Daisy glanced at him with a questioning look, he quickly averted his gaze forward.
 
"So, where's Jayden?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
 
"Oh," Daisy responded, a faint blush coloring her cheeks. "He's with William."
 
Shane fought the urge to grin but couldn't help feeling relieved that Jayden was preoccupied with William, which meant he would have more opportunities to spend time with Daisy. It wasn't that he had anything against Jayden; in fact, he considered him a good friend. Jayden's humor and his ability to make friends easily were qualities Shane admired. However, he found it challenging to engage with Daisy when Jayden was around.
 
They walked mostly in silence towards the food stands, a comfortable quietness that Shane didn't mind. He was never one to engage in small talk frequently. When he did talk, it was often with Aleena, who had an uncanny knack for knowing when Shane was in the mood for conversation and when he wasn't.
 
As they walked, Shane's thoughts wandered to Aleena, wondering how his best friend was spending the day. He had messaged Aleena the previous day, explaining that he couldn't accompany her to the fair. Truth be told, Shane had momentarily forgotten about their plans in his excitement to get Daisy's number and possibly spend the day with her. While he felt a tad guilty about forgetting his best friend, he rationalized that since Aleena had said she couldn't make it either, he might as well seize the opportunity to be with Daisy.
 
Daisy's voice brought him back to the present, and they engaged in light conversation about school and the fair as they reached the food stalls. Two stalls over, Shane noticed William and Jayden, sharing a hearty laugh as they purchased popcorn. Daisy also caught sight of them, and Shane couldn't help but notice the look in her eyes as she gazed in their direction.
 
"Daisy?" he inquired, his curiosity piqued.
 
"Oh, yes? Sorry, I just spaced out for a minute," she said, her laughter breaking the momentary reverie.
 
Unbeknownst to Shane, she had been momentarily captivated by William's infectious smile as he laughed with Jayden. However, she wasn't about to admit that to Shane.
 
Shane watched her for a moment before refocusing on the food. After a brief pause, Daisy did the same. Shane observed Daisy closely, noticing her frequent glances toward the two boys who were now sitting on the grass, munching on their popcorn. William was playfully tossing kernels at Jayden, who was attempting to catch them in his mouth. Their laughter echoed loudly, even reaching Shane's ears from where he stood.
 
Daisy's continued attention on Jayden and William's antics didn't escape Shane's notice, and he began to recall the rumors that had circulated about Jayden and Daisy during their study period. He shifted his gaze back to Daisy, who seemed engrossed in watching the two boys.
 
A pang of dejection and jealousy swept over him as he entertained the possibility that the rumors might hold some truth.