sam hales loved fairgrounds— especially the one run by the town during the summer months. the air was muggy and warm, the evening alive with fireflies and town locals exploring the various games, rides and little shops, all lit by overly bright fairy lights and freshly instated solar panel-run street lamps.

.

it was the late afternoon so the cool summer breeze was starting to come with the promise of the sunset; and you were having a bit of trouble with the ticket lady for the ferris wheel— a gum chewing university student clearly only there to get a cheeky buck to pay off student loans.

“sorry, man, it’s two people per cart.” she didn’t sound sorry in the slightest. that was your issue. you were alone.

“i’m the second person.” sam piped up, stepping forward out of line as he pulled off skullcandy headphones, shrugging in an irrationally chill manner that was a bit too relaxed, concerning the context that he was going to be in the wheel compartment alone with a stranger.