Nate gazed to the ginger boy beside him. Beck seemingly felt like a real friend now; Nate's first real guy friend. He tugged his beanie lower on his head and pondered on the phrase 'good girl'.

Nate supposed Elise was good, all she did was clean. He didn't know much about her further than that. Sure, they conversed occasionally, but usually nothing deep.

There was something enticing about getting to know her under her shell of shyness. Maybe it was trouble, and maybe Nate wanted it.

But he was rusty on the whole flirting thing, he thought after his high school girlfriend he might not even date again. And Elise was so sweet, what if he fucked it up? He couldn't bare doing that to her

"What do I even do?" Nate implored.

"She'll come to you," Beck insisted, "once she becomes more comfortable. You gotta make her feel safe with you."

"You think?" Nate inquired.

"I know," Beck affirmed while looking forward as they weaved through the crowd. "You got this, Harcroft.

"I'm hungry," Peyton whined at Beck's side, tugging at his arm. "Beck, I want a cupcake."

He offered a tightly forced grin her way, and twisted to his friends to signal he was leaving with her. Peyton snatched Beck's wrist and seemingly sprinted away with him to get food.

"I'll shove something up her cupcake," Hadley grumbled, arms folded.

"What was that?" Aurora repeated in surprise, peeling in laughter as she tilted Hadley's bottle to take a chug. The alcohol warmed her chest as she all but grimaced at the taste, peering towards her friend.

Hadley's eyes rolled as she stood frustrated, which was quite comical in her sixties look: Her ginger hair teased high in a 1960's beehive, a mod printed dress with a matching headband and gloves, large floral drop earrings and electric blue Go Go boots.

"She's fucking annoying, I need another shot."

Aurora was quite surprised, she thought Hadley had liked Peyton but now that Hadley was clearly four or five shots in, the truth was spilling out.

"Annoying?" Aurora couldn't help but subtly provoke more answers from Hadley. "You don't like her?"

The redheaded girl squeezed her eyes closed as she downed another Fireball nip. She winced hard and hissed, then wiped her mouth.

"Ohhh, sweet Jesus of pumpkin-spiced-fuck," She shook her head agressivley, recovering from the shot. She exhaled, slightly sticking out her tongue, before remaining her composure.

"No," She said in a constrained voice, sticking her tongue out again. "I don't like her. Does anyone?"

Beck, Aurora thought to herself. But did he even...?

"Cmon, let's go to the photobooth like we always do, govna!" Hadley squealed, her horrendous accent coming out. She grabbed Aurora's wrist and lead her, the two giggled as they dashed off. That left Nate and Elise alone.

The two walked silently for a bit, observing everything around them. The music had evolved overtime and was now in the sixties, a crooning sweet love song playing. 'She Loves You' by the Beatles.

Nate could see the goosebumps lightly lining Elise's pale white arms. A contemplative feeling crossed him. Should he offer his flannel? She's cold, she could sure use it. But is that too forward? Usually, a girl would look at his flannel, and then back at his eyes, hinting she wanted to wear it. Elise hadn't done that.

But also, she was so shy and demure, she probably wouldn't hint. He was going back and forth in his mind to the point it gave him a headache. Man, he hadn't flirted in a while, and was so rusty. He bit his lip, ready to ask if she wanted it.

"Oooh, what's this, Nate?" She squealed excitedly, pointing. Her voice was so joyful and full of life all the sudden, he wasn't sure what got into her but liked it. Nate quickly shut his mouth and gazed in her direction.

It was an Apple-bobbing contest, fresh Red Delicious and Macintosh bobbing in barrels full of water. "Bob for Apples!" A sign above read with a googly image of a cartoon apple smiling.

"Bob for apples," Nate replied, looking to Elise who was lightly bouncing on her toes. He peered down to her tiny feet and laughed softly in amusement. Then, she was tugging his arm and he looked up in surprise, following her lead.

Two football players were manning the station.

"Can't believe we have to do this stupid shit just for volunteer hours," One blonde mutters, in his football hoodie. He lifted a fist to his mouth to suck his Juul, before exhaling an obnoxious cloud towards the sky. His burly arms crossed, and he coughed slightly.

"Hey, man, we need it stay on the team- hi," His brunette friend grins at Nate and Elise as they approach. His eyes blatantly fall on her breasts and figure before meeting her eyes again.

"Hi," Elise giggles, twirling her hair.

"Hi Pumpkin," One guy drawled with a smirk, his flirtations a nod to her orange hair.

Elise paid no mind to their flirting, suddenly emboldened and confident. "I wanna play, how do I play?"

A creeping suspicion that Elise was tipsy grew into Nate's mind, he watched the shorter girl with growing concern. She was acting way too comfortable in the span of ten minutes, to be sober.

The two football players grinned at each other, sinful smirks engulfed their features. It clear to them, too, that Elise was getting drunk. This made Nate feel more concerned, but he didn't want to act up.

The football players gazed back at Elise, their eyes burning with gross, teenage horniness.

"It's bop for Apples. But...I don't think you could do it, Pumpkin," Blonde boy teased.

Elise frowned quickly, looking offended and confused.

"Yeah, you have to get low and open your mouth really wide," The brunette continued, covering a fist over his smirk as he concealed dirty laughter.

Elise pouted, tilting her head cluelessly. The boys snickered at her and she frowned.

"But I can go down and open wide,"-

"Okay, enough," Nate scolded the snickering football players and quickly swooped in. He took hold of Elise's glove-covered arm, tugging her gently. "Elise, let's go somewhere else," Nate muttered, guiding her away from the game.

Nate grimaced over his shoulder as he lead her away and the blonde boy cheekily waved goodbye, Juul in hand.

He can take that watermelon fruit salad nicotine flash drive and stick it up his ass, Nate infuriatedly thought to himself, biting his lip hard.

Elise was stumbling slightly with Nate's fast pace which caused him to turn back to her and control his anger, walking them at a slower pace.

"Nate, I wanted to do it," Her voice was becoming a little slurred now as she spoke in disappointment, the strap of her dress slouching at her shoulder. She was quickly becoming a mess, Nate's worry inched slightly further but he tried to put it past him. He wanted to fix her dress strap but also didn't want to appear like he was coming onto her and make her uncomfortable.

"How 'bout a caramel apple instead?" He offered, "Hm?"

He gestured straight ahead of them trying to lift her spirts. A red and white striped food vendor had a large blinking sign that alternated between, 'Get it hot, corndogs! Kettle Corn! Cotton Candy! Caramel Apples!'

Elise planted her feet, pouting. "I wanted to do it. Why don't they think I can do it?" She crossed her arms.

Damn, she was a headstrong drunk girl, Nate thought. It was a little annoying, yet Nate secretly liked that she wanted to challenge them, in all honesty. It was amusing and admiring, even turned him on - but he didn't want her being taken verbally taken advantage of again. He didn't trust those punks.

"I'm sure you can do it, and we can go back later," Nate patiently, but half-heartedly, reassured Elise, rubbing her arm lightly. She picked at the buttons on his flannel

"I like your flannel. It's super huge on you."

"Thanks, it's my brother's," Nate paused, chest tightening, "well, was my brother's."

He awkwardly coughed into his fist.

"I think it's cool," Elise babbled.

Nate cocked an eyebrow.

"You do."

"Yeah," Elise folded her arms and squinted her eyes, cross-examining Nate's appearance.

"But not as cool as your hat!" She tore his beanie and ran giggling.

"Hey!" Nate chuckled in defense, helplessly palming his hair and then jogging after her.

Elise waved his beanie around like a flag in her hand as she dashed through the fair, weaving through crowds of people. Nate found himself breathless, but effervesently amused, jogging to catch up to her. This excited him, he felt like a little school kid chasing a crush on the playground. He hadn't felt anything remotely close to this in ages - happy, silly, carefree. He loved that Elise brought it out of him.

Finally, his large hands gripped her waist, making her gasp. She shimmied against his grip as she ran up a hill. Through their wrestling, he gently tackled her to the ground. Pinning her wrists lightly above her head, he took the beanie. Her chest heaved heavily up and down as her eyes lit up like Christmas lights, grinning in sheer amusement. She was such a playful thing, he secretly loved it.

"I think this is mine," Nate said tamely, reaching for his beanie.

"Hmm, I don't know," Elise teased as she coiled her hand with the beanie back and stared at his eyes breathlessly. "What's the password."

"Password?" Nate snorted.

"For the hat."

"Oh," he playfully realized. Nate pretended to think, rubbing at his chin. Then, he peered down to Elise.

"You're beautiful."

A blush spread hot like a wild fire to her face her smile enlarged.

He half-smiled shyly and his eyes seemed to soften, staring intently, until they seemed to drift out of focus and fell to her red lips. Her grin slowly seemed to drop as well as she looked to his lips, then his eyes.

Suddenly, the young girl stuffed the beanie over Nate's eyes.

"It was actually 'Nate's a dork', but I guess it'll do."

Nate laughs nervously, immediately getting off, giving her a hand and readjusting his hat off his eyes. Truthfully, he was glad she cut it off. He would've regretted kissing her. Though he was tempted, he knew how drunk she was.

Still, he was invigorated by her flirtatious playfulness, it helped bring him out of his shell.

"Cmon, let's get you that apple," He reached for her hand, when she slipped from his grip.

"Mm-mm," She shook her head, springing up and down on her feet. " I wanna go back to bob a 'pull," She slurred, and Nate's concern slowly seeped back in.

"Come on, head strong girl," He mused, taking her hand more firmly. "Let's walk a bit before that, hm? I know you've got a lot of energy, let's get some food in you."

He led her to the food vendor as her wide-eyes watched the neon blinking food sign above it.

"What kinda apple do you want? Look, there's lots to choose from," Nate spoke excitedly and pointed towards the display.

Elise wistfully peered over, ooohing and aaahhing in awe as curtains of raspberry hair fell over her face. Nate stifled a chuckle to himself.

Caramel glazed apples covered in pecans, shredded coconut flakes, fruity pebbles, drizzled white chocolate, and more lined the counter.

"That one," Elise finally decided, pointing to an caramel apple with white chocolate drizzle and dark chocolate pecan crunch.

"Can I get number seven, please?" Nate asked, reaching into his pocket for an orange ticket.

"Gotcha, boss, that'll be two tickets," An older man nodded, heading to retrieve one.

Elise eagerly waved an orange ticket in her hand towards the man and bounced on her toes. Nate glanced over his shoulder and noticed.

"Hush, no," Nate gently insisted, covering her ticket and lowering her hand. Innocently, Elise met his eyes.

"Are you sure?" She blinked, eyes glimmering with a glassy look.

"Positive, peanut."

She giggled loudly as she twisted on her toes shyly back and forth. Nate looked down with a small smirk of amusement as he stuffed the rest of his tickets in his pocket.

As the man handed Elise her apple, she stood on her tallest tippy toes to retrieve it, before standing flat on the ground, licking it.

"Mmm, let's walk!" She said, making a grabbing hand for Nate's.

Nate's face tinged soft red again. He hadn't held a girls hand in years, the concept seemed so foreign and intense to him now. But he remembered Beck's words to push himself, so he did, gently taking her hand. He hardly laced his fingers through hers when she strongly interlaced hers through his. Nate swallowed softly and the two began walking, Elise licking her caramel apple.

"Sooo good, wanna lick?" She rose her arm all the way up trying to reach Nate's mouth. His blush quickly returned, he felt so foolish.

"I'm okay, but thanks."

"Suit yourself," She shrugged, bringing it back to her mouth and devouring the sweet treat. "Mmm," She moaned.

"It's good?"

"Sooo good. I never got to eat food like this growing up. No sugar, no nothing."

"What?! That's outrageous. Sugar's, like, a right of passage as a child. It goes bottle, formula, sugar."

Elise snickered amusedly, she liked Nate's humor.

"Because, I was a ballerina. We have to keep our figure, y'know? I started dancing as soon could walk!" She theatrically formed an 'en haut' with her arms. Nate was taken aback, wistfully, by the effortlessly graceful nature of her arms, captured by her beauty. It should've been no surprise that an angel like her was a ballerina.

"Do you miss it?" He wondered aloud.

Elise nodded solomnly.

"I do, but a lot of it was kinda sucky," She shrugged. "My mom always pointing at my toes, screeching at what I did wrong."

Nate winced. "Sounds like your mom was a hard ass," He murmured.

Elise shrugged.

"I guess. She died when I was twelve. Cancer."

Nate's throat tightened as a familiar, nostalgic grief overtook him. He looked down to Elise.

"Mine died too."

"I'm sorry," Elise blinked mournfully at the boy. He told her he was sorry for her mom, too.

"You've been through a lot," Elise observed, licking her apple as she pitifully looked to Nate.

"Builds character, no?" He dryly joked, lightly kicking a pebble on the ground with his shoe.

"I think you're really strong, Nate," Elise sincerely said, stopping in her tracks. He did as well, peering down at her with slight confusion. "Really strong. And that's cool."

The two continued walking, Elise was nearly done with her apple as she swung their hands lightly back and forth.

"What else did you do?" Nate inquired. "Were you in school, or anything?"

"Private schools, all girl schools," Elise answered and Nate's eyes widened. That explained a lot.

"I had lots of friends, I was always a social butterfly. And busy with dance competitions. I worked at a butterfly and plant store."

So basically, she was a fairytale character in real life, he gushed to himself.

"You?" She innocently peered up to him.

He shrugged a shoulder.

"I played basketball a little bit, nothing really else. Usually just distract myself with school work."

A late seventies song came now, it was Queen's 'Don't Stop Me Now'. Elise immediately halted her feet and stood still, gasping.

"Tonight, gonna have myselffff," Elise dramatically sang along, throwing herself and Nate's arm around theatrically.

He had a coy smirk on his face as he looked down.

"You know this song?" Nate implored. "This is Queen, my favorite band."

"My papa used to play Queen when he worked on his bike!" Elise babbled, continuing to sing the lyrics.

Nate paused, impressed.

"Really?" He implored, admittedly intrigued. He didn't think a strict ballerina young girl with a stick-up-her ass mother would have some rough around the edges biker dad.

"Yeah!" Elise nodded. "I'd be practicing my ballet in our home studio when I'd hear it from the garage! My papa would be working on his bike and I'd come in a dance around. Then mama would yell and say it's not lady-like."

"Sounds like you and your dad were close," Nate marveled.

Elise nodded at the taller man before her.

"I'd do anything to protect him."

Before Nate could ask any further, she gripped his wrist and tugged forcefully.

"Dance with me!!" She begged, bouncing on her toes.

Nate laughed dryly.

"Oh, no, I'm no ballerina like you,"-

"Come on!" She clutched his hands and brought him to a circle of dancers before he could continue. "HAVIN A GOOD TIME, HAVIN A GOOD TIME!" She sang loudly, swinging their hands around.

Before Nate could object, a surprising rush of adrenaline filled him. He bounced and danced clumsily with Elise, the two surely having two left feet, and he felt giddy. Admittedly, he felt embarrassed for bouncing up and down with her, but he loved Queen, and it felt good to let loose and dance, so he just let himself. Everyone around him was drunk, so who gave a shit anyway?

"Like Lady Godiva!" Nate found himself singing emphatically, eyes closed. "I'm gonna go, go, go," He leaned towards Elise with each 'go'.

She giggled wildly at his theatrics, even found him spinning her, her raspberry locks fanning around her in a flurry of red. Then, he pulled her to him and leaned her down, before tipping her body back up.

The two ended up dancing to two more songs, invigorated by the music, the crowd, and the sheer blissful energy, before they were breathlessly panting and needed a break. The two decided to walk again, holding hands, with Nate exhaustedly using the back of his other to wipe sweat off his forehead.

Elise peered up at him and eventually he looked down to find her gaze. She was amused by his sweat and he grinned coyly. Her eyes were like molten chocolate, they melted him in her gaze; Yet, they held a slightly mischievous glint, irises glossy. He was intrigued by the glint in her ears. Elise smiled a docile grin. Then, her soft, cherry tongue took an overelaborate, long lick of her caramel apple while staring directly at Nate. His face fell and he gulped subtly, blood rushing downwards.

Good lord, Nate thought to himself, unconsciously squeezing her hand tighter as they walked forward.

***

"I swear to God, I should've let my dad put me in basketball as a kid," Hadley shook her head in disappointment, losing the game she was at.

"Hadley...this is a darts game," Aurora's forehead crinkled in confusion. "How would that help?"

"I don't know," Hadley blabbered with a shrug." I can't 'sport', I can't parallel park...I'm sure basketball woulda helped for some of that."

"You're wasted."