Bit of a short chapter this time I’m afraid!! Get ready for a showdown coming very very very very soon though!
Chapter 35
“Shit there’s another one!” she squealed as she ran quickly.
“If you stand still it’ll just go away,” he insisted, laughing at the blind panic on her face.
“I hate it when people say that, it’s so not true, they are evil, vindictive little things.”
Stopping suddenly and running sharply in the other direction Mel continued to try and escape the wasp, throwing her giant candyfloss at Mark to try and distract its attention.
“Yeah great, thanks,” he muttered as the wasp greedily followed the scent of the candyfloss, “give it to me why don’t you.”
“But you’re so good with them,” Mel grinned, watching him being to squirm slightly, “remember Mark just stay still and it’ll go away.”
“I’m so going to get you when this thing leaves me alone,” Mark yelled at her, standing in an awkward position with his arms sticking out in an attempt to bore it away.
“Doesn’t look like you’re going very far to me,” she taunted.
“Go on run!” He urged, “I’m giving you a head start and you’re just wasting it.”
Deciding to do as she was told Mel giggled with delight and began to jog gently through the funfair, looking over her shoulder every now and again to check that he was still there.
“I’m coming!” she suddenly heard a voice booming from behind her.
Giving a little squeal she picked up her pace and jogged a little faster until she reached a dead end and was forced to turn around.
“Got you!” he yelled snatching her up in his arms and twirling her around.
“Mind my candyfloss,” she demanded, alarmed at how near it had been to falling into a pile of dog poo next to them.
“You want it back now do you?” he teased.
“Yes please,”
“What’s it worth.”
“Your career?”
“How you work that one out?” he asked.
“Cos if you don’t give it back I’ll stamp on your foot and then you wont be able to dance anymore.”
He reluctantly handed it over, grumbling quietly to himself as she watched her clamp her jaw around it.
“That stuff is disgusting,” he commented as they continued to walk through the funfair.
“It’s yum”
“I can’t believe how many of them you’ve eaten today.”
“I’ve only had three,” she replied indignantly, holding up three sticky fingers to emphasise her point.
“Melissa, normal people don’t eat three candyfloss in one afternoon.”
“Well I had a sudden craving for them OK,” she snapped.
He held his hands up and took a step away from her.
“God, I’m sorry,” she said immediately, “I didn’t mean to have a go at you then.”
“You OK Mel?” he asked her in concern
“Yeah why?”
“Just that you’ve been a bit tetchy lately, is this Christian thing still getting to you?”
“No,” she replied, just a little too quickly, “everything’s fine.”
“You sure?”
“Absolutely, I’ve just been feeling a bit grumpy that’s all, may be I’m not getting enough sleep.”
Accepting her reasoning, he dropped the subject and pulled her to a ride that was right in front of them.
“We have to go on this!”
“We can’t,” she said firmly – noticing the way that the ride spun its customers upside down at several different angles.
“Go on,” he pressed, “don’t be such a girl.”
“I don’t like fast rides.”
“Since when?” he mocked.
“I just don’t OK,” she replied, walking quickly away.
Not wanting to ask her yet again if she was feeling alright Mark trotted behind her until they reached the carousel, something they both agreed to go on.
Running to get to the horse first Mark leapt on it, taking the front saddle, leaving Mel to sit behind him on the second saddle.
“This is more like it,” she whispered to him as the ride started to move and she grabbed him round the middle tightly.
He smiled, “this ones slow enough for you then?”
She felt him squeeze him in response and despite himself he found a grin taking over his face.
He didn’t know how it had happened but at some point over the last few days he had found himself really caring for the girl that sat behind him on the horse. She had become like his little sister, someone that needed loving and looking after. No matter what her problem, he was going to be there to help her from now on, she’d never have to do anything alone again.