of choice

Later that night after I had finished my homework I opened the old redacted file. It made for a good distraction as it kept me from thinking about Jason. Or worse, Whitney. Most of what wasn't redacted had to do with chemical diagrams and the name Crater lake.

There was a quick knock at my door followed by a, "Hey," and mom opened the door, "there's a boy here to see you."

"Who?"

"He says his name is Blake."

I didn't know anyone named blake? I stood at the door and peered at the stairs trying to get a view of this mystery boy. "What does he want?"

"He says it's about some chemistry project you're working on?" I still couldn't recall any boy named Blake so I went down stairs hoping in my dizzy haze today I didn't screw up my grades in the process.

Stepping into the living room I immediately regretted it. Blake was not Blake. He, or rather she, was Whitney in her short boy wig and what looked like something from Jerry's closet. "Blake, huh?" I looked back and saw Brian in the kitchen so continued to play her game, for now. "What are you doing?"

"I thought this might be easier for you to do our experiment."

"There is no experimenting with us."

"Trust me it'll help."

"Whitn-"

"No, not Whitney. Blake. I spent all day working on my backstory." She pulled out her phone from one of the many pockets in her ill fitting cargo pants. "Ah, ok. I'm Blake Asherbey. I like sports like...basketball, hockey, baseball. I'm not into pop music cause that's totally chick stuff and I'm definitely not a chick. My father was eaten by werewolves and my mother was kidnapped by vampires."

"Oh what the hell! That last bit doesn't connect at all!"

"Yeah but it got you to smile." Sure enough my lips had broken into a smile without my permission.

"I guess I have a thing for idiots."

"Ah so you have a thing for me."

"No! I-" I saw Brian again in the kitchen and grabbed Whitney/Blake's hand and took them both outside on the porch.

"I know, the boyfriend. But he's not here and I thought I could take you to the harvest carnival."

"Pretty sure going on a date would be cheating. I don't do that."

"It's not a date. It's just two friends hanging out, maybe at the movies?"

"You won't try anything?"

"You have my word as a bro."

I kicked at imaginary dirt as I thought about it. Why did she have to be such a cute dork? And that smile…."Fine. But no funny business mister."

"Bro's honor."

After a quick drive and a long awkward wait in the line at the carnival we were on our nondate. "So what do we do first, Blake?" There were rides and games galore that lit up the sky, while somewhere in the distance a live band played.

"Lady's choice."

I thought for a moment as I scanned for just the right ride and finally settling on one with multiple twists and loops. "That one!" Yes I was being a little petty but I was enjoying the look of fear in his eyes as we stood in line beneath. Taking pity I asked, "So your mother was killed by vampires?"

"No, my dad was killed by the werewolves. Mom was just kidnapped by vampires." I suppressed a laugh when I saw the man in front of us turn and give us a strange confused look. "They want me to find the sword of Aucard for them deep within the ocean." I couldn't tell if this was something he had prepared or if he was just that good at improv.

"Then why are you here with me?"

"There's always time to spend the night with a pretty girl." The man in front turned around again and smirked his approval giving Blake a fist bump. Why were guys like this? I had to stop and remind myself that Blake wasn't actually a guy. Just a very good actress.

Finally it was our turn to take our seats and the look of terror returned to her face, but in true 'bro' fashion she tried to play it off as no big deal. We were locked in our seats and the ride lurched forward before beginning a steady incline upward. The slow crawl at the beginning of roller coasters are meant to get the adrenal glands pumping to heighten anxiety and fear and so far this ride did it's job perfectly.

Stalling at the top of the climb I realized this ride went around the entire fairgrounds. What I thought were multiple rollercoasters was one extremely long one with at least a half dozen loops that I could see. And I knew I had made a terrible mistake.

We suddenly dropped straight down so fast I could feel my butt lifting from the seat, the only thing keeping me in place was the back of the seat as my back tried to **** itself further into it. We suddenly lurched right and I was thrown into Blake. We passed the first spiral and immediately went into the first loop, I clung to Blake for dear life wishing I had just suggested the Ferris wheel instead.

After the second loop the ride slowed as it made it's next climb. I wanted to apologize to Blake for being a bitch and picking this stupid ride. If I was this scared he must be terrified. But before I could shout my apology we plummeted once more spinning as we fell. After the twists we were on the longest straight away allowing for an entire overview of the festival. Blake wrapped his arm around me and tried to move closer to me but he couldn't due to the safety harness.

One eternity later, the ride was finally over and we were released from the torturous ride. I went to step out but my legs were too weak to stand under their own strength. Blake acted as my crutch as we walked away from the ride. "I gotta say that was awesome."

I stared up at him in shock, "What?! That was terrible! Muggings are less traumatizing!"

"No, I was scared at first but...man when we hit that first loop and my heart leapt out of my chest that was awesome!"

"You can drop the act, tough guy."

"I'm not. I was scared but it was kinda fun." I glared at him as I found a table to sit at until life returned to my legs. "Are you hungry?"

I shook my head and he looked like a wounded puppy. "I could use a drink though."

"Okay, wait here." He hurried off and as I watched I realized Blake imitated the walk of a boy perfectly. She must be really dedicated to her cosplays.

As I waited a muscular guy approached me. "Hey, are you doing ok?"

"I'm dying but otherwise fine."

"I saw you yelling at your boyfriend a minute ago and I wanted to be sure."

"Oh, s... he's not my boyfriend. We're just friends and I think I overreacted."

"I'm sure that's not the case." He sat on the bench seat next to me. "I know this sounds like a pickup line but haven't I seen you somewhere before?"

"Maybe at school? Do you go to Keys?"

"Oh that's it you're in the play." He laughed, "I must say you look so different out of your costume."

"Thanks?"

"Sorry, I meant that as a compliment."

"It's fine." A moment of silence passed between us before I thought to introduce myself, "I'm Michelle."

"Harry." He smiled.

"I'm sorry but I don't remember seeing you in rehearsals."

"You wouldn't have. That's usually when I have practice, but my sister is in the play and I give her a ride home afterwards most of the time."

"Ah, who is she?

"Sarah. Sarah McClure."

"Oh, yeah she's a good actress."

"She should be, I taught her everything she knows." He puffed up his chest in a way that reminded me of Jason whenever he wanted to impress me. I couldn't help but smile.

"Uh, you said you had practice?"

"Yeah, I'm on the wrestling team."

"Explains all the muscles I guess." I laughed nervously, what the heck was I even saying? He simply smirked and flexed his bicep. I hate to admit it but what first attracted me to Jason were his muscles. So even though I felt guilty as all heck I couldn't resist touching Harry's arm.

"Am I interrupting?" I jumped and saw Blake had chosen that moment to return with our drinks and funnel cake.

"This um, I wasn't….This is Harry."

"I'm familiar." Blake sat down with the drinks and plate and handed a cup to me along with one of the cakes. I felt the increasingly familiar feeling of guilt but not because I was feeling up another guy behind Jason's back but because I had done so behind Blake's.

"We've met." Of course they had. "Are you two on a date?"

"No!" I jumped in and felt even guiltier than before. Judging by the look on Blake's face, I had hurt him. "I mean, because I already have a boyfriend…."

"Oh."

"We're just friends. Hanging out."

"I guess I should leave then."

"No, you can stay." Overwhelmed by guilt already I refused to add more to it by brushing off Harry. I looked to Whi-Blake and still felt more guilt, "If everyone's okay with it, of course."

"I'm good with it. If Whitney is."

"I'm fine." He clenched his jaw, "and it's Blake Asherbey I'll have you know."

Harry rolled his eyes, "Okay. Blake."