Chapter Seven — The Night Everything Sparkled
If happiness had a sound, it would've been the buzz in Room 214 that morning. Everyone was laughing, showing off poster boards and PowerPoints, while Mrs. Devon tried (and failed) to maintain order.
"Alright," she said finally, clapping her hands. "Next up — Elias Rowan and Inara Solace."
My heart skipped. Elias grinned, bumping my shoulder as we walked to the front.
"You ready?" he whispered.
"I was born terrified," I muttered, clutching our cue cards.
He smirked. "Perfect. Let's be iconic."
Our project — 'The Rhythm of Change: Music Through the Decades' — started with a slideshow, old vinyl photos spinning across the screen. But the real highlight came when Elias pulled out his guitar.
He strummed a few chords from "Here Comes the Sun," and somehow the whole class quieted. I started reading my lines, but my voice softened somewhere in the middle because he kept looking at me like the rest of the world didn't exist.
When we finished, the room erupted into applause. Even Mrs. Devon looked impressed.
"That," she said, smiling, "was pure charm. Excellent work, you two."
Elias bowed dramatically. "Thank you, thank you, we'll be signing autographs later."
Tess rolled her eyes from her desk. "You're unbearable."
At lunch, she flopped down next to us, still pretending she wasn't smiling.
"You know," she said, "for two people who claim they're not dating, you have disturbingly good chemistry."
Elias grinned. "It's called teamwork."
"It's called denial," Tess shot back. Then she turned to me. "Fair tonight. You're both coming."
"I have homework," I started.
"You have no life," she corrected. "Come on. It's the Hallowridge Spring Fair! Cotton candy, bad music, questionable rides — your natural habitat."
Elias laughed. "She's right. You can't miss the questionable rides."
I sighed. "Fine. But if I die on that Ferris wheel, I'm haunting you."
By sunset, the fairgrounds were glowing — fairy lights tangled in trees, the smell of popcorn and caramel in the air, and laughter spilling everywhere.
Tess immediately disappeared into the crowd with a group from drama club, leaving me and Elias wandering between stalls.
He stopped at a dart booth. "Winner gets a stuffed animal. How hard can it be?"
Ten darts later, the booth owner looked like he was reconsidering his life choices.
Elias handed me the tiny crooked bear he'd finally won. "For emotional support."
I laughed. "He looks traumatized."
"Perfect match for us, then."
We walked aimlessly, sugar dust on our fingers, laughter on our lips. Every once in a while, our hands brushed — not by accident, but not on purpose either.
At one point, he stopped by the Ferris wheel, tilting his head. "Wanna?"
"I told you—"
"C'mon. Trust me."
I hesitated, then nodded.
From up there, Hallowridge looked unreal — tiny lights scattered like fallen stars, the air warm and soft. I leaned back, clutching the railing.
"Okay, this is actually beautiful," I admitted.
"Told you."
He was quiet for a while, then said, "I like this town. Not because it's exciting — it's not. But because of the people in it."
I turned toward him. "That's cheesy."
"It's true." His voice was gentle, almost lost in the hum of the fair. "You make it feel like home."
My breath caught.
Before I could answer, the ride jerked to a stop — we'd reached the top. The cabin swayed slightly. Elias laughed nervously.
"Guess we're stuck for a minute."
"Great. Now I am haunting you."
He looked at me, smile soft. "At least you'd stay close."
I stared at him — his messy hair, the sunlight fading behind him, the curve of a grin that had somehow become my favorite thing in the world.
For a heartbeat, I thought he might kiss me. Or maybe I just wanted him to.
But then the wheel moved again, and the moment slipped away like the last spark of summer.
When we climbed off, Tess was waiting near the funnel-cake stand.
"Well?" she asked.
"Well what?" I said, cheeks still warm.
"Did you confess your undying love?"
"Ha-ha."
Elias tossed her a spare ticket. "Your turn, drama queen."
Tess smirked. "Please, I have standards."
But she was smiling when she said it.
Later, when the lights dimmed and the crowd started thinning, Elias walked me home.
"You had fun, right?" he asked.
"I did."
"Good. Because next time, I'm winning you a bigger bear."
"I don't need more emotional support."
He grinned. "Yeah, you do."
At my door, we paused. The porch light buzzed, and Naomi's laughter floated from inside.
"Night, Elias," I said softly.
"Night, Solace."
He turned to leave, then stopped. "Hey—"
"Yeah?"
He hesitated, something unreadable in his eyes. "Nothing. Just… glad you're in my story."
And then he was gone.
That night, I placed the tiny crooked bear on my nightstand. The moonlight caught its button eye, making it gleam faintly.
I didn't know it yet, but I would keep that bear long after everything else was gone.
End of Chapter Seven
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I just have to warn you all this story might be a bit.....sad?