Written by Jamie Board

If love was doomed for anyone, it was definitely doomed for Felix. It was Valentine’s Day and his senior class went on a field trip to the best amusement park in town. It was the perfect way to break the ice between two people by spending the entire day together and he had a date with the most prettiest girl: Hanna Azalea. 

Felix felt so elated that this day was happening. Hanna was the most sweetest girl he knew and the shyest. He felt like the luckiest guy in the world. 

As their date started, he suggested doing whatever Hanna wanted to do. He told her no ride was too much for them and he would be there right with her. Her eyes seemed to twinkle at the offer.

They loaded up on cotton candy and went on their first rides. The first one was great but the more rides they went on, the more he was sensing that Hanna had the hunger for the craziest rides and even the fastest rides. It was slowly beginning to occur that maybe she didn’t need him to comfort her after all. He noticed she tried her best not to seem too hyped but as soon as they went on the rides, her inner beast let loose. He found it both terrifying and yet strangely adorable. It was a side of her he had never seen and was happy to be spending it with her. 

Ride after ride, he was beginning to wonder if he was even going to make it towards the end of the day. Maybe he needed her to comfort him than the other way around.

Felix didn’t think there could be any ride worse than the ones they had already been on. That is, until Hanna chose The Monster, which was the largest and scariest looking ride in the park. It even had flames! Felix made a promise to himself that if he survives this ride, he needed to confess to her and hope it would be the last ride. It was. 

During the entire ride, Felix went through so many emotions. He almost wanted to beg Hanna to hold him but he held back. He reminded himself that he was supposed to be the strong man. But who was he kidding? He was unraveling piece by piece. He hoped she didn’t notice him crying his eyes out while she was screaming her heart out in excitement. She didn’t. 

When the ride was over, Felix was panting and his stomach was in knots. He felt like he was going to pass out. Before that could happen, Felix called out Hanna’s name. He tried to find the words and when their eyes met; he opened his mouth to say something but instead threw up all over her lap. He didn’t remember anything afterwards because when he woke up, he was in his bedroom and it was morning already.

He replayed what happened in his head and the last thing he could see was Hanna’s horrified face. The only time she had a frown after all of the crazy rides they went on. He was distraught. There was no way Hanna would be into him now! Then something unexpected happened. He heard a click of his door opening and slowly peeking in, was her!

“Hanna?” 

She carefully closed the door behind her and walked towards me with one arm behind her back. “I was going to knock but I wasn’t sure if you were still sleeping and I didn’t want to wake you. I was hoping to sneak in and leave these with you.” She then removed her arm from behind her back and presented a bouquet of flowers.

Felix’s face began to heat up and he had to look away quickly before she could notice. He couldn’t believe she was here and still willing to talk to him.

Hanna started to giggle. “You know, if those rides were too much for you, you should have told me.” 

Felix rubbed the back of his head and said, “Well, I didn’t want to seem like a wimp next to an amazingly brave girl.” He was totally a wimp but he was too embarrassed to admit it.

Hanna set the flowers onto his nightstand and sat on the bed. “When we were about to get off the ride, you called my name. You were about to say something.” 

Felix felt like his heart was stuck in his throat. What was Hanna getting at? What would be the point in bring up what happened if there’s no chance for him.

“Felix, I like you.”

Felix gaped at her. What?!? It felt like someone punched him in the gut. Their eyes locked and Felix started to sputter, “You what?”

Hanna hid her face and whispered, “I like you.”

“But..why?” Felix paused to choose his words carefully. “I mean, I made a complete fool of myself and not to mention I, uh, threw up all over your lap.”

Hanna laughed. “Yeah, that wasn’t so pleasant.” She looked into Felix’s eyes and said, “But I had a lot of fun. Plus, you rode it out rather than ditching me early in the date and I think you are very brave for doing that.”

The back of his neck felt hot. She thinks I’m brave? “Despite my fear, I had fun too.” Felix grabbed her hand and held it. He looked at her and said, “I like you. That’s what I was attempting to tell you before we got off the ride.” 

There was a moment of an awkward pause and Felix spoke again. “There’s one thing I want to know. How did I get here?”

Hanna was confused at first until she realized Felix was talking about waking up in his bedroom. “Oh that! You had to be carried home after getting checked out by the paramedics. They said you were so shaken by The Monster, you fainted. They advised you should stay away from the big rides for now.

Felix felt embarrassed but also relieved. Even though he ruined their date on Valentines Day, at least he knew he still had another chance with her. “Hanna, would you like to go on another date with me. And maybe this time we can just do something normal like go to the mall or something. Somewhere that I won’t be fearing for my life and preferably with my feet on the ground.”

They burst into laughter and Hanna agreed. “I would like that.”