Chapter 80 - The Emotional Rollercoaster (2/2)
”Go ahead,” he says, smiling. ”
”Don't be a party pooper, Gabriel,” Miguel says, with that mischievous grin on his face; of course, Miguel knows he never rides the rollercoaster. ”This is a group date, right? We don't want anyone to be left behind, do we?”
”But I…” Gabriel begins, but his brain is not fast enough to make up a good excuse.
”Come on,” Claire says, taking his arm. ”Let's at least try everything once.”
Gabriel looks at her for a moment. Hey, that sounds meaningful. Let's try everything once. But even as he mulls it over, they're already trooping down to the rollercoaster booth.
Miguel takes all the stuffed toys and deposits it with the booth attendant. This is so rich, he thinks. This would be the perfect excuse to get physically close to Claire. He can just imagine what's going to happen up there, as the rollercoaster zips on the convoluted track. Claire would hold onto him for dear life. Claire would…be vulnerable.
”Guys, I'm not really sure about this,” Gabriel protests. He's standing like he's afraid to even go near the platform.
”Aw come on,” Miguel says, already holding the tickets. ”Keep an open mind. Nobody has died riding a rollercoaster, so we should be perfectly safe. It's all just fun!”
Hell no, a LOT of people died riding rollercoasters, Gabriel wanted to say. But he doesn't want to be the person who mentions the word ”death” in a situation like, in a ”date” like this. He does that, Miguel would resent him.
Miguel takes the first cart, and waits for Claire to settle beside her. But as soon as he sits, he realizes his mistake: he should have acted the gentleman and let Claire to board the cart first. In that way, Claire wouldn't be able to say no. Because now, it's too late to change that, as the attendant approaches them with another girl. ”Sir, can she sit here beside you?” The attendant says. ”So she doesn't have to wait for the next ride.”
Miguel looks at the girl, then looks at Claire standing on the platform. ”That's okay,” Claire says. ”I'll just sit with Gabriel.”
Gabriel says nothing; yet inside, he's torn: he's rejoicing the fact that Claire ends up with him; but he's deathly terrified of riding the rollercoaster. He's starting to get tunnel-vision, as though he's seeing everything through a long and dark tunnel.
Miguel sighs. He says nothing as the girl meekly takes the seat beside him. He looks on helplessly as Gabriel and Claire take the cart right behind him.
”Please make sure you've properly fastened all the straps, will you,” Gabriel snaps at the attendant.
”Yes, sir,” the attendant says. He also checks Claire's straps, spending a few minutes checking it closely.
Gabriel says nothing. Ahead of him, Miguel's sitting there, taking it coolly. Only now he realizes how much he wants to put his hands around Miguel's neck, and strangle the shit out of him.