Jean-Luc Cheri [Cheri - Cursed

I think Im going to puke!

That was what my friend Mallory screamed beside me as we rode the carnival ride named Roundup. It was one of those rides you see at all carnivals and fairs, with a spinning round platform where people stood in a circle with the centrifugal force pressing them back against a circular cage-like wall. Once it picked up enough speed, it would tilt up into a vertical position, with the people spinning high into the air and then down again, over and over.

Thats what we were currently doing, and I gripped the bars tightly, holding on as the ride spun us around and around. I wasnt getting sick like my friend, but instead I was thinking about how safe a ride could be when it gets taken down and put back up every week, as the carnival moved from town to town. Part of me was expecting the whole thing to just fall apart in the middle of our ride, sending everyone flying.

But then it began to tilt back down to horizontal, and we went from being flung up into the night sky, to being whipped in a flat circle, and then the ride began to slow.

That was great! Mallory said a minute later as we walked down the rides exit ramp, obviously forgetting her need to vomit just a few moments earlier. What do you want to ride next?

How about we get a snack and a drink? I replied, not wanting to admit that I wasnt in the mood to risk my life again on some carny-assembled machine.

A few minutes later, we were enjoying our pretzels and pop on a bench while watching the crowd walk by. This carnival had been brought here by our small town as part of its week-long Fourth of July celebration, so we knew most of the people here. During the evening, wed met a lot of our friends from school who we hadnt seen since graduation a month ago.

At one point, two familiar guys walked by, and Mallory called out to one of them.

Hey, Kevin!

Kevin looked around, seemingly confused about where the voice was coming from.

Over here! Mallory called.

He turned and smiled when he saw who it was, and headed over. His friend followed.

When they reached us, Mallory said, Hey, Kevin. Hey, Seth.

Both guys said, Hey, Mallory at the same time. Kevin looked at me and added, Hey, Julie.

Whatcha guys up to? Mallory asked.

Not much, Kevin replied. Just hanging out. How about you?

Same. Have you rode the Zipper yet?

Not yet. We were planning on riding that next.

Same here.

Hey, Mallory, you want to ride it together?

Mallory smiled. Id love to! But then she turned to me and said, If you dont mind.

I gave her a wave of my hand. Go. I think Im done riding for the night.

She stood and moved beside Kevin. Maybe we could go in the House of Mirrors after the Zipper?

He nodded. Yeah, thatd be cool. He looked at Seth. Meet back here in twenty minutes?

No problem, Seth replied.

Lets go, Mallory said excitedly, and took Kevin by the hand and led him off in the direction of the Zipper.

Seth sat down on the bench beside me, stretching out his arms along the top of the back, the left one pressing lightly against me.

Why dont they just get it over with and fuck? he said.

I giggled. So true. Theyve been pretending theyre just friends for years.

He has her picture as his screensaver on his computer.

Seriously?

Well, its all the cheerleaders, but its obvious he has it on there because of her.

So that means Im on his screensaver too?

Of course.

Then maybe its me he wants.

He chuckled. Trust me, its not you.

Are you saying Im not crush-worthy?

He laughed again. Youre definitely crush-worthy, but not by Kevin. He paused, then added, Someone else.

I looked at him curiously. Who?

Its a secret.

If its a secret, how do you know about it?

I just do.

Is it someone from our class?

Yes.

Its not Robbie, is it? Because I dated that asshole for three months, and Im not putting myself through that again.

Its not Robbie.

Then who?

Like I said, its a secret.

I grinned. It must be you then.

He gave me a puzzled look. Huh?

You secretly desire me.

He shook his head. What are you talking about?

I laughed. Im just fucking with you, brother.

He seemed relieved and smiled. Whew. You had me worried there for a minute.

I laughed again. Seth and I werent natural siblings, but wed been brother and sister since our parents got married when we were both seven. But since wed been family for so long, we didnt really think of each other as step-siblings. He was my brother and I was his sister.

So youre not going to tell me?

Nope.

Is he going to reveal himself?

Probably. Eventually.

Well, hed better hurry up. Im heading off to college in a few months.

He nodded. Hes aware of that. So youre interested? In a relationship?

I shrugged. With the right guy, and as long as he knows its just for the summer. I want to start college unencumbered by a relationship.

He nodded. Yeah, that makes sense.

Tell him to make his move, I said with a smile.

Yeah, okay. I will. Hey, you want to ride something?

No way. Every time I get on one of these carny rides, I get the feeling its going to fall apart.

He laughed. I know what you mean. I feel my life is in the hands of some rusted bolt.

Like I told Mallory, Im done riding for the night.

He was silent for a moment, then said, How about that?

I looked at him. What?

He pointed with his chin. That.

I looked across the walkway to what he was indicating. There sat a large red tent with a sign over the door that read, Madam Zelina, and underneath it read, Fortunes Told - $10.