I drag myself into work despite my dad's earlier phone call, informing the park that I wouldn't be making it in today. The crisp morning air bites at my cheeks as I trudge toward the main entrance of the sprawling theme park, my hands tucked snugly into the pockets of my fleece jacket for warmth. As I approach the reception desk, I notice a guy sitting at a computer, engrossed in whatever's on the screen.
"Hey, I called in sick, but I've come in anyway," I say with a chuckle, trying to sound light-hearted.
He glances up, his expression shifting from concentration to recognition, then back to the screen before meeting my gaze again.
"You must be Eden," he replies, a warm smile spreading across his face.
"Yeah, here in the flesh," I reply, attempting to mirror his enthusiasm.
"Awesome! Come with me—I'm due for a shift change now," he says, standing up from his chair with a burst of energy.
I shuffle over to the counter and steal a glance around, my stomach tightening with nerves about being here. The park, usually buzzing with laughter and music, feels overwhelming. Suddenly, before I can collect my thoughts, the guy is standing next to me, having appeared almost out of nowhere.
"Jesus!" I exclaim, startled as I jump a little.
"Sorry if I scared you," he says, offering an apologetic grin.
"It's fine," I reply, still feeling a flutter of unease.
"My name's Mitch, by the way," he introduces himself, flashing a shy but inviting smile.
"Nice to meet you, I suppose," I reply, trying to sound casual.
He nods, his demeanor clearly a blend of excitement and nervousness. We begin to stroll through the park, the vibrant colors and sounds surrounding us only heightening my anxiety. After a moment of silence, I gather enough courage to speak.
"So, have you just started this season?" I ask hesitantly, breaking the ice.
Mitch's face lights up with a smile. "Nope, I work here as a supervisor. Been here two years now."
"Oh, so you're not in college then?" I ask, cringing internally at my prying question.
Mitch lets out a short laugh, then gazes toward the ride ahead with a thoughtful smile. "No, I'm twenty-one. It's been a few years since college."
Awkwardness plunges back between us, and I curse my curiosity. I steal a glance at him and find he's already looking back at me, which makes me turn away quickly, hoping to hide my embarrassment. Out of the corner of my eye, I see him smiling again, and it's disarming.
"Come on, Pup," he chuckles, breaking the stillness as he leads the way toward the ride we've been assigned to. I feel a rush of warmth at the nickname he's just casually given me, even though it's barely earned.
As we walk to the ride, I catch my reflection in one of the dark glass panels. I look… normal. Not dead. But something's shifted. I can feel it.
As we approach the control panel area, I catch sight of Lollie and her friend already operating the ride.
"Lollie!" I call out enthusiastically, a wave of relief washing over me.
"Eden! You're finally here! How are you? I heard about the accident," she exclaims, her voice tinged with concern and excitement.
"Err, I'm okay… yeah, I'm recovered. We're all fine," I reply, a little taken aback by her sudden worry.
Mitch turns to me, surprise etched on his face, clearly caught off guard by the news. "Wow, sorry to hear that," he murmurs, his concern genuine.
"I'm fine now, honestly," I quickly reassure him, not wanting to dwell on the past.
Mitch steps into the control booth, busy with the ride's operations. Lollie smiles and waves before stepping down from the platform, and I wave back, uncertainly. I glance at Mitch, then at the controls—overly complicated buttons and switches that look a bit daunting.
"Start letting people onto the ride, and we'll go from there. Twelve at a time," Mitch instructs, his tone confident.
I nod, steeling myself as I walk over to the entrance gate, a strange tension curling in my chest. I open the gate and start counting the eager customers as they file in, excitement bubbling over. As I count to twelve, I swing the gate closed with a satisfying click.
"We were so close!" a disappointed teenage girl complains from behind the gate.
"You're next at least," I reply with a reassuring smile, locking the gate to keep the order.
Feeling the weight of the responsibility, I drag my feet back to Mitch at the control panel. He acknowledges me with an encouraging nod before brushing past me toward the coaster. Together, we approach the tracks, checking that all the overhead bars are secure.
"Come on, Pup, I'll show you what to do," he encourages, gesturing for me to follow him into the booth.
I step into the booth, a strange rush building in my chest as I watch him closely. He presses a button, and a voice begins reading out a series of health and safety instructions, commanding attention. He flips a switch before hovering his finger over a large green button.
"Seems simple," I say in a low whisper, a smile creeping onto my face.
Mitch glances over at me, and his smile returns, brightening his features. There's something captivating about it—warm and infectious. I find myself grinning shyly back, just as he presses the green button, launching the coaster into motion.
"Yup, that simple," he laughs, his voice mixing with the rumble of the ride.
I settle into the booth, taking control of the operations while Mitch checks the safety bars again. I can't help but let my gaze linger on him, almost daydreaming as he moves with practiced ease. He gives me a thumbs-up—assurance and camaraderie in one simple gesture—as he returns to my side. I focus intently on following the instructions he detailed to me earlier, aware of him close by, ensuring everything is running smoothly. As the warning message wraps up, he approaches the booth, and I hit the green button to start the ride again.
"You're doing awesome, Pup. Keep it up!" he encourages, a sparkle in his eyes, and a rush flares through me—flustered, pleased, maybe even a little bit dazed.
The hours fly by as I acclimate to the rhythm of the ride—counting heads, checking the overhead bars, pressing buttons, and interacting with excited riders. The tasks become repetitive, yet oddly calming amidst the vibrant chaos around us. Before I know it, it's lunchtime.
As I sit in the bustling food court, scrolling through my phone, Mike and Lollie arrive, trays in hand, their faces beaming with energy.
"How are you finding it?" Mike asks, placing his tray down across from mine, his eyes sparkling with genuine curiosity.
"Great, not too bad, to be honest," I respond, trying to keep my tone upbeat.
Lollie takes a seat beside Mike, glancing at me before looking at the empty spot across the table.
"Why haven't you got lunch?" she asks, raising an eyebrow in sincere concern.
"I ate before I arrived," I reply, waving off the concern, though it feels inadequate.
Mike and Lollie exchange a knowing look, and Lollie pushes her tray toward the center of the table, followed by Mike doing the same.
"We've got a long day, dude. You need at least a nibble," Mike insists with a playful grin.
"Err…" I hesitate, suddenly nervous under their scrutiny.
Just then, Mitch appears at the table holding a tray of food.
"Room for one more?" he asks cheerfully, laughter lacing his voice.
Heat creeps up my neck as I smile shyly at him, glancing down at the table, suddenly feeling self-conscious. Lollie looks between me and Mitch, her expression betraying the beginning of a playful suspicion.
"Sure, the more the merrier," she giggles, her eyes sparkling with mischief.
Mitch slides into the seat beside me, and I can't help but sneak a glance in his direction before quickly refocusing on the window, as though it might ground me.
"Why the red face, Pup?" he teases, that familiar smirk playing on his lips as he leans closer.
"Don't know what you're talking about," I mumble, my gaze still fixed outside, even as a ghostly warmth rises through me—something flickering where a heartbeat should be.
Without warning, Mitch slides his hand under the table, resting it casually on my thigh. Something stirs deep within me—an echo of life, of nerves, of something else entirely—as I blush again, a mix of flattery and embarrassment flooding me. Slowly, I turn to face him, surprised that he seems so relaxed, as if it's the most natural thing in the world.