Free The Kissing Deadline by Emily Evans Page A

one foot in, and attempted to lift the bar to join her. The bar
refused to move. Cassie shoved at the black foam padding to no
avail. Tiny black foam pieces came off, but the bar wouldn’t
budge.
    The attendant filed up and down the lanes,
double-checking the restraining bars while reciting rules in a
monotone voice. “Hands in the vehicle at all times. Don't throw
anything on the tracks.” He reached them. “No food in the cars. No
sex in the cars.” He bent and tugged on the black bar. It remained
locked into position. “It’s stuck.” He made a rolling motion with
his hand at the control booth. “You'll have to go on through.” He
pointed at David then at row five. “You can take the next one.”
    Proud car number four jolted into motion with
a metallic clank, sending Cassie into the tunnel of
love--alone.
     
     

Chapter Nine - Tunnel of Love

    At first, there was only darkness and the
continued clank of wheels against the track. Cassie tightened her
left hand on the bar and her right hand on her penguin to orient
herself. The darkness kept her from seeing the couple in car number
three, but now she could hear them--not their words, but the
distinctive smacking sounds of kissing.
    Fiery number four struggled up a small hill.
Cassie half-hoped it couldn’t make the climb. At the top, Cassie
was blinded by an onslaught of twinkle lights. When the lights
dimmed to a bearable glow, she saw new and increasingly romantic
decorations: hearts, bowers of flowers, cardboard cut-outs of
couples kissing, and wedding scenes. Every time she thought the
ride would end, the cart chugged around another turn to show her a
new display: toasting champagne flutes, couples dancing. The car
veered left.
    Cassie ducked as a sequin-clad cupid emerged
and shot an arrow her way. The arrow arced over her, raining red
and silver glitter onto her bent head. The final five minutes was a
repeat of the trip through dark silence. Proud number four lurched
to a halt at the end of the ride. With fear of an encore, Cassie
threw all her weight at the bar and pressed up. Click. The
bar popped open, and she jumped out, darting for the exit with the
penguin in her hand and embarrassment in her heart.
    Her body relaxed as she reached the cool
night air. She sucked in a breath, relieved to be free. She watched
the carnival goers, and up ahead, spotted Spencer and his group of
little friends. They paused in their stroll. Despite the darkness,
she could easily see Spencer’s smirk, thanks to the glow of an
overhead sign, Now Exiting the Tunnel of Love .
    Spencer pointed her out to his friends.
“Look. My sister took the love ride alone.”
    His friend said, “What a loser.”
    Spencer elbowed him.
    His other friend said, “Hey, it’s not her
fault they don't allow pets on rides.”
    Cassie stepped toward them with clenched
fists, and the cowards ran. Clank. Cassie stopped at the
sound of the car behind her squealing to a halt. David’s footsteps
crunched on the path. “Man, I don't know if I'd call that the
lowest point in my life, but…”
    “Yeah, when cupid started with the
glitter…”
    David shook his head. “Cupid was lucky I was
locked down by the bar.”
    Cassie tugged on his shirt, and red and
silver glitter flew off the fabric. David took her hand in his and
twined his warm fingers with hers.
    Clank. The clank heralded another
car’s arrival. Mike and Sierra stumbled free, leaving their car
with a longing look. On their way past, Sierra utilized their
stealthy note passing skills and slipped a Listerine pack out of
her bag. She shoved it at Cassie, who tucked the small green pack
into her back pocket.
    “Catch you guys later.” Mike pulled Sierra
close with an arm over her shoulders and urged her toward the
Ferris Wheel.
    David pointed at the Tilt-a-Whirl ride.
“Let’s try that one.” When he helped Cassie into the whirl car, he
made a pointed showing of keeping the bar up until he got in. Ha.
The second he looked away, she