Love is a Rollercoaster

“I’m SO old!” Carson Shaw groaned, bursting into her best friends room and dramatically flopping backwards onto the bed.

"Hello to you too." Max Chapman chuckled, pulling her legs out from under the small brunettes surprisingly heavy body.

Having lived together since a dorm mix up in college, she was unphased by her roommate's abrupt entrance, used to the other woman's quirky yet lovable tendencies.

“I’m SOO old!” Carson repeated, lifting her arms up only to theatrically drop them back down onto the mustard yellow comforter with a dull thud.

"You are not old." Leaning back against the headboard, Max made herself comfortable, settling in for whatever emotional ride she was about to be taken on.

"Yes I am! I turn thirty in less than a week! THIRTY!"

"That's kind of what happens on Birthdays Shaw. You get older."

"Smart arse."

Grabbing one of the plush decorative cushions that added a feminine touch to the otherwise minimalist room, Carson whacked Max half heartedly across the chest.

"That's why you love me."

The grumblings of a protest rose from the forlorn looking woman sprawled across the bed, but they both knew the truth. They were platonic soulmates, their bond unbreakable, no matter how much they annoyed each other.

"So why are you freaking out? I'm already thirty and I don't see what the big deal is."

"Its alright for you. You have your dream career as a sports journalist, an amazing girlfriend and everything figured out! Im going to be thirty and what do I have to show for it? A failed engagement? A benched dream? -"

"An incredibly smart and handsome best friend?" Max grinned playfully nudging Carson's shoulder with her sock covered foot in a blatant attempt to make her laugh.

Not in the mood to be messed with, Carson batted away the offending extremity. It was easy for Max to make jokes when she had the life that Carson had always imagined for herself; and it wasn't like she was unhappy but the closer it got to her birthday the more she was beginning to realise just how far away she was from that being her reality too.

Having plans were all well and good when they worked out, but if they didn't they had a tendency to hang over a person like a dark cloud riddled with scars and laced with the poisoned potential of what could have been.

Realising her friend was in a bleaker place than she had initially thought Max shifted her position to give the small brunette her full, undivided attention. She needed her to see just what she had achieved beyond her perceived failures.

"Firstly, nobody has everything figured out, even though we wish we did. Secondly, so maybe you're not a pro ball player, but don't you love coaching the kids?"

"I do..." Carson admitted as she stared up at the ceiling. There was no doubt that she had found her calling as a coach, inspiring the next generation and sharing her passion for the game. It wasn’t the dream she had spent her youth striving to achieve but it some ways it was better. The purpose those kids gave her, the joy, she wouldn’t change that for the world.

"And would you have figured out you're as queer as fuck if things hadn't happened the way they did with Charlie?"

"Probably not..."

"Exactly! So maybe we're not in the same place, but you are precisely where you're meant to be."

Damn! Much to Carsons annoyance Max was right.

Of course she wasn't going to be living the life she had picture for herself as a straight naive teenager. Things had changed, she had changed, and all because she'd strayed from that predetermined path.

She hadn't failed, she'd found herself!

Visible cracks began to splinter across the surface of Carsons forlorn facade, letting in a sliver of light like the winter sun peaking between the mountains of her home town. Even so she was reluctant to admit she had been overreacting.

"Doesn't mean I don't feel old..."

“Fine, I guess, since you’re so old, I"ll have to find somebody else to take on your annual birthday trip. I’m sure Clance would love a break from Penny. You don’t mind babysitting right?”

“Noooo!” Carson cried sounding more like the toddler in question than a women about to enter her third decade of life. "I've been looking forward to apple picking for weeks!" Flipping onto her stomach she prepared to plead her case.

"Then you need to turn that frown-" Reaching out, Max gently poked the deep ravine between Carsons furrowed brows. "-upside down."

Without missing a beat Carson contorted her face into an over exaggerated, teeth baring grimace like grin, the type that would give even a seasoned horror fan nightmares. The expression was completed with the wide wild eyes of a woman possessed and bore zero sign of her signature dimple.

She looked psychotic!

“Ahhh!! My eyes! My eyes! Put it away!”
Feigning terror Max retrieved the once weaponized pillow which had laid discarded at her side and proceeded to hide behind it, burying her features into the sweater like knit fabric. "I take it back! I prefer the frown!"

Entertained by the reaction Carson let out a snort of genuine laughter, the last of her doom and gloom finally fading away.

"Too bad! This is what you wanted, this is what you're gonna get!"

Scrambling to her hands and knees she attempted to wrestle the cushion from Max’s clutches, wanting to continue her reign of torment the way an annoying younger sibling would.

That was the thing about their friendship, they were family, and no matter what, be it the highs or the lows, they were there for each other, and if that was the only thing she had going into her thirties, Carson was  more than okay with it.


〰️


"Turn left at the next exit." Carson instructed, consulting the paper map spread across her lap.

Today was the day of her birthday trip which meant cracking out the old fashioned method of navigation just like they had done their very first road trip, and yes, they could have used the cars inbuilt GPS but where was the fun in that. She had spent the last week meticulously planning their journey, from taking the scenic route, to their mandatory bathroom break but now, at long last, the end was in sight and Carson's excitement was palpable.

"Sure thing." Max hummed, only to entirely ignore the directions and drive straight past the orchard entrance.

"Dude! What are you doing! That was it!"

"No it wasn't."

"Yeah! It was!!"

Panicked by the unexpected diversion Carson started shuffling through her maps, attempting to figure out an alternative way to their destination. Up until this point she'd had a contingency plan in case of such a situation, however, she hadn't anticipated needing one so close to the end, presuming, wrongly so, that it would be the easy part.

“Okay, if you take the upcoming service road on our left I think we can get there using the backroads.”

Her suggestion was met by silence from the driver, something that wasn't abnormal for when Max was concentrating, which she presumed was currently the case.

Patiently she waited, watching the hedgerows for the opening and listening for the tell tale tick, tick, tick, of the indicator, except they never slowed and all she could do was sit in bewilderment as their second chance came and went, quickly disappearing into the distance till it was just a blur in the rear view mirror.

“Max?”

Silence.

"Are you okay?"

Growing concerned Carson turned to look over at her friend, worried that something was seriously wrong, only to be greeted by a devious smirk.

Suddenly everything clicked.

“Maxine Chapman! Where are you taking me?!”

A cheeky laugh filled the car as Max cracked, her deception exposed. "It's a surprise!"

Carson's heart sank.
"A surprise? You know I hate I surprises!"

"You'll like this one I promise."

"Maybe, or you could just tell me!"

"If I told you then it wouldn't be a surprise would it?!"

"Fine..." Carson conceded, only to start speculating anyway in the hopes that if she bombarded Max with enough suggestions one would stick.

"Are we going to a baseball game?"

"Nope!"

"The theatre?"

Max makes an obnoxious buzzer noise.

"Ooo what about an escape room?"

"Wrong again! If I were you I'd just stop guessing! You're never going to get it!"

The way she was relishing in her floundering guesses made Carson weirdly suspicious.

“I swear, if you’re taking me to that lesbian strip club you’ve been going on and on about!”

It wasn't that she had anything against strip clubs per se, they evidently had their audience, she however, was not it. Since coming out she had grown a lot, becoming more comfortable and confident in her queerness, but that didn't mean she was ready to come face to face with a lingerie clad performer gyrating salaciously infront of her. She was awkward enough as it was without having to worry about where to look, how to act, or heaven forbid, what to do with her hands.

“I wasn’t but now you mention it...” With a brief glance in her mirrors and a swift twist of the wheel, Max merged onto the highway travelling in an altogether different direction.

“Maaaaax!!” Carson squealed impulsively seizing the other woman's bare forearm with complete disregard for the fact that she was driving.

"What?! You mean you don't want to be given a birthday lap by a sexy scantily clad vixen?"

"Yes! No! I..."

Momentarily taking her eyes off the road
Max glanced at her passenger who looked like a rabbit caught in the headlights of a 10 ton semitruck.

“Chill Car! I’m kidding! I wouldn't do that to you, even though I know you'd love it!

"Thank god!" Filled with relief Carson finally let out a breath she hadn't even realised she'd been holding. "For a moment there I thought you were trying to kill me! I mean I know I've been moaning but surprisingly I would actually like to survive to see my thirties!"

"Hey, there are worse ways to go than death by boobs!"

The rosey blush already colouring Carson’s cheeks deepened, clearly picturing the morbidly erotic scene despite her best efforts not to.
"I guess that's true... but still..."

"Good thing that's not something you have to worry about today then."

Although it wasn't the definitive answer she had been hoping for it was a weight off Carson’s mind to be able to eliminate the more risqué options from her ever growing list of potential activities. Now to just narrow down the rest.

"Are you seriously not even going to give me a hint?"

Max shook her head, staying strong against the expected interrogation. "All will be revealed in due course. For now just sit back-"

Keeping her eyes firmly planted on the road ahead she reached into the backseat, blindly searching for something she had stashed there earlier.

"Relax-"

Locating her target she retrieved her arm and threw a bag of Carsons favourite old lady candy onto her, still, map covered lap.

"And enjoy the ride."


〰️


Rockford and Roll Amusement Park had been an integral part of Carson and Max's college years. Whether it was for team building, celebrations or just simply a break from their studies, the pair would never miss an excuse to spend even a couple of hours at their answer to the happiest place on earth. Since graduation however, neither had returned to the site of so many memories, that was until now.

As they came into view of the familiar multicoloured spectacle that was the towering sign, Carson gasped.

"No way!!"

Never in all her persistent yet futile guesses did she predict this was where they were going to end up.

"Surprise!" Max grinned, pulling into the parking lot which was reasonably empty thanks to the last dregs of Winter that clung to the early Spring morning. "You said you felt old, well where better to make you feel young again than the place of our misspent youth."

"This is going to be so much fun! I'm sorry I ever doubted you!"

"Yeah! you should be! When have I ever led you astray?"

Usually such a comment was an invite for ridicule but currently Carson was far to distracted thinking of all the things they could squeeze into their day to concoct a clever retort. She was beyond excited! So much so that she was practically vibrating as Max parked in one of the copious free spaces.

They'd barely stopped, the keys still in the ignition, when she leapt from the vehicle, unable to sit still any longer.
"Come on! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!"

"Woah there tiger!" Laughing Max climbed out the drivers side. "Slow your roll. There's no rush! The gates have literally only just opened and we can stay until they close. I mean why do you think I made sure you took tomorrow off work?"

Visible realisation crossed Carson’s face as the request, which had felt weird for a day of apple picking, suddenly made sense.

"See, I've got it all under control. Now lets get in there and enjoy ourselves like we’re carefree teenagers again!"

Together, they made their way towards the entrance, which, asides from a fresh lick of paint here and there and a little technological modernisation, was exactly as they remembered; even down to the rousing instrumental soundtrack that played on loop.

Once inside the nostalgia intensified despite the glaringly obvious changes that had occurred over the last nearly 10 years.

That feeling continued throughout the morning as it was spent hopping from ride to ride, from rollercoasters to the carousel, only pausing in-between to sample the delicious array of sweet treats and snacks on offer.

It was perfect!

They didn't properly stop until lunch, agreeing they needed to refuel on something more substantial than ice cream and pretzels before embarking on an adrenaline filled afternoon.

Carson was just enjoying the last mouthful of her cheeseburger when Max's phone was unceremoniously thrust into her face.

"Oh my god! Look!"

"What?" She mumbled with her mouth full, reaching out to steady the screen infront of her which appeared to be opened at the theme parks app.

"Crashendo only has a 20 minute wait!!*

Crashendo was Rockford and Roll's biggest and most popular rollercoaster. It was the main event for any thrill seeking guest which meant wait times often extended well past an hour, even on the quietest of days. An opportunity like this felt like a birthday miracle.

"No way!"

"Way!" Max jumped to her feet, too thrilled by her discovery to wait. "If we hurry we can make it there before anyone else notices!"

"You're on!" Standing up Carson quickly, gathered and disposed of their trash, her conscience not letting her litter whether they were in a rush or not, before grabbing her backpack and leaving the picnic area.

The pair jogged across the park, weaving in and out of family's, around dawdling kids and through groups of rowdy college students until they reached the imposing structure of the attraction.

Finding the entrance point they high fived before slowing their pace to a walk as they meandered through the empty lines until they met the back of the queue, which, as promised, was significantly shorter than usual.

After a few minutes of waiting, giving them a chance to catch their breath, the line gradually shuffled forward, and, as it did, one women, a few people ahead, became bathed in a golden ray of midday sun.

It was as if the universe had given her a spotlight and Carson couldn't look away.
All she could do was stare, slightly slack jawed, at the definition of beauty that stood mere feet away. Never before had she seen anyone so breathtakingly gorgeous.

The woman was a goddess. A goddess with hair that cascaded over her shoulders in loose copper curls like a waterfall of liquid Amber. A goddess dressed in high waisted black pants that hugged her curves and a cherry red cropped varsity jacket that sat open above a vintage band tee.

Of course Carson had developed crushes on strangers before but something about this felt different, it felt.... inevitable.

"Hmmm, so you have a thing for red heads, do you?” Max teased, lightly nudging her friend in ribs.

Instantly Carson's cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Shhhh, keep it down!" It was bad enough being caught by Max, the last thing she wanted was to be caught staring by the woman in question. “You saw that...?”

“Of course I did Car, you're about as subtle as a hot pink elephant on roller skates.”

Carson couldn’t argue with that. She was well aware that her face had a tendency to give away her every thought and emotion  with Max in particular being able to read her like an open book.

“Okay, stupid question. But have you seen her!”

"Yeah she's pretty."

"Pretty?! Just pretty?! You're telling me you don't hear a choir of angels singing when you look at her!"

Despite keeping her voice barely above a whisper, Carson shot a cautious glance over at the beauty who thankfully appeared blissfully unaware.

"If that's the case you should ask her out."

"No way!"

"Why not?"

Max had never has any trouble talking to girls. For her it was easy. She was a natural charmer, oozing with a self-assured confidence, but Carson struggled to make conversation with people in general without her anxiety taking over, let alone someone she fancied.

"Because I don't even know if she's queer!"

"Fine then at least go talk to her."

"I'm not doing that either!"

Leaning in close Max rested her chin upon Carson’s shoulder and began whispering in her ear, acting like the devilish side to a cartoon characters conscience, trying to tempt her into approaching the stranger.

“Dooo it! Doooo it!”

“Nope!" Folding her arms across her chest, Carson side stepped away the best she could within the confines of the queue. "It's not happening!"

"Come on!" Max goaded undeterred by the adamant protest.  I know you want to!"

"What I want and what I'm going to do are two entirely different things. Especially when it's going to result in me making a complete and utter fool of myself."

"You don't know that will happen."

"Have you met me?!"

"Touché."

"Besides-" Carson fixed her gaze back on the enchanting redhead. "-No-one that stunning would ever give someone like me the time of day! She's Aphrodite and I'm-"

"Cute?! Hilarious?! A total catch?!"

"I was going to say awkward, but thanks."

"Awkward or not I still think you should shoot your shot with her. What's the worst that's going to happen?"

"Didn't you hear what I said about making a fool of myself?"

"So? What if you do?" Frustrated by her friends complete lack of pluck, Max threw her arms out in an exaggerated shrug. "Chances are you'll never see her again. But, here's the crazy thing, what if it goes well? I just don't want you to regret missing out on someone you look at like that."

"I'm not going to regret it because it's just some stupid fleeting crush. It's not like she's my soulmate or anything."

"But...."

"But nothing." With a sigh, Carson leant back against the railings, her gaze lingering a little longer on the breathtaking woman before tearing herself away. There was no point pretending anything would ever happen between them, not in this lifetime. "Look can we just leave it?"

"Fine. But only because today is your day."

Max may have been willing to move on, but there was one person who wasn’t about to let it go quite so easily.


〰️


"So you have a thing for red heads, do you?"

Greta Gill's ears pricked up as the sound of a nearby conversation caught her attention. It seemed to cut above the typical theme park hubbub of adrenaline induced screams and excited chatter that almost drowned out the distant cries of a toddler throwing a tantrum, as if it was meant for her. Well it probably was, Greta thought, running her fingertips through the ends of her crimson curls, unless there was by some coincidence another red head in the vicinity. It also explained why she felt like she was being watched, a sensation she was unfortunately all too familiar with. Some men just couldn't help themselves. If they weren't mentally undressing her they were making their advances known through one display of toxic masculinity or another.

Too bad they were barking up the wrong tree. She was gay! Queer! A lesbian! Whatever they wanted to call it she was in no way attracted to men. Not that the majority of them seemed to understand nor care about the concept.

"Shhhh, keep it down!"

Wait! Was that? No, surely it wasn't.

Overcome with curiosity, Greta's head swivelled round to search for the source of the hushed voice.

She looked straight past a group of unnaturally quiet teenagers absorbed in their phones, past a young couple sharing a huge family sized pretzel and towards a short brunette who's flushed cheeks said everything Greta needed to know.

The person talking about her was a woman!! She hadn't been imagining it! Suddenly she was incredibly invested in what this petite stranger dressed in a green and orange check shirt had to say.

"You're telling me you don't hear a choir of angels singing when you look at her!"

Now this was the type of attention she could get behind.

Realising she was staring, Greta, not wanting to get caught, snapped her head back around to face forward. She tried to appear as casual and nonchalant as possible while simultaneously continuing to listen to every word the woman and her companion shared. The more she heard, the more Greta couldn't resist messing with this human definition of gay panic. As she began to formulate a plan, a mischievous smirk tugged the corners of her waxy red lips. This was going to be fun!

"Ahem."

The abrupt sound of her life long best friend, Jo De Luca, clearing their throat pulled Greta from her plotting.

“You didn’t hear a word of what I just said, did you?”

Trying to act as innocent as possible, Greta simply shrugged in response, after all it wasn't exactly like she could deny it.

“I knew it! You see a pretty woman and you just can’t help yourself.”

“Technically this time she was the one looking at me.”

"Yeah, sure she was."

“Hey! It’s not my fault! I’m just that hot!"

Partially to prove her point and partially in the hopes that the women behind was still watching, Greta flicked her flowing hair over her shoulder with a flourish.
"You say that-" Jo smirked, bumping their shoulder teasingly against their taller friends arm. "- But I have photographic evidence that proves otherwise.”

“And if those pictures ever see the light of day you never will again!”

"Worth it!"

Pulling their phone from their pocket, Jo hid the screen and pretended to swipe through their collection of embarrassing Greta content.

"You choking on a gummy bear? Hmm nope not quite embarrassing enough. Greta the lobster in Mexico?"

"I thought that lotion was sunscreen." Greta muttered making a half hearted attempt to snatch the device.

"Ooo no I've got it! Two words - Smurf Greta!"

"Bitch! I was blue for a week!"

Grinning, Jo reached up to affectionately squish Greta's cheeks, acting as though it wasn't them who had dared Greta to paint her face for the sake of team spirit.

"Luckily you made a cute Blueberry."

Letting out a burst of laughter Greta batted the hand cradling her face away, before slinging her arm lovingly across Jo’s broad shoulders.

Stories from the past aside she was relieved that they didn't appear too invested in her secret admirer. The last thing she wanted was to make the brunette aware of her scheme. After all, what fun would that be.


〰️


A couple of minutes and a few rounds of friendly bickering later, the queue had progressed to the point where Greta and Jo were next in line to board Crashendo. The air was abuzz with anticipation but Greta's attention was elsewhere. Was it wrong that she was more excited about the prospect of putting her plan into action over the ride itself? Probably. But she didn't care. The type of adrenaline that went along with flirting with a women outside of a queer space was like nothing any rollercoaster could ever replicate. Not even the one which was currently grinding to a slow stop on the other side of the barrier. 

Once all movement had ceased and every passenger had disembarked, the gate was swung open to allow the new riders to board. People swarmed onto the platform, racing towards the carriages to claim their preferred seat, well all but one.

Greta hung back, her attention locked on the brunette and her companion, so much so she barely noticed Jo chivalrously take her purse to the safety box. She watched as the pair hurried through the entrance and towards the empty front row. It was now or never!

With her sights firmly set on her goal, she quickly made her way over to where Jo was just settling into a row.

"Come on! Let's sit at the front!"

Not giving her friend the chance to protest, Greta grabbed Jo's hand, pulling them from the seat and through the stragglers yet to claim their place.

It didn't take a genius to work out why she was suddenly so insistent on sitting at the front.

"The farm girl?" Jo muttered under their breath. "Seriously Bird?!"

But the comment fell on deaf ears.

Greta was focused on one thing and one thing only, getting to those empty seats before anyone else had a chance. She practically elbowed someone out the way, just about avoiding body checking them, as she pushed forward. She didn’t stop until she was stood directly in front of the first carriage and the stranger who had caught her eye.

This was it. It was now or never, and with their time together limited she was going to make the most of every single available second to flirt as outrageously as possible.

"Ooops!" Greta giggled, flashing a thousand watt smile as she accidently bumped their knees together while slipping into the middle seat. "Sorry."

"Don't worry about it, it's fine..." The woman's voice faded away into a squeak of gay panic as she turned to look at her new neighbour.

Suddenly, now face to face, Greta's meticulous plan went out the window. She was even cuter than she could have ever imagined.

Eyes like deep pools of rich melted chocolate shone beneath a wild mop of chestnut curls tamed only by a singular gold clip pinning it out of her sun kissed face which was dotted with freckles like constellations in the night sky, and that dimple. So sweet and inviting. It made her weak at the knees.
“Damn!” Greta breathed, loud enough for everyone around to hear.

It never occurred to her that she would be the one knocked for six by their first encounter, nor that she would be blushing like a schoolgirl.

The sensation of the safety bar being lowered and locked into place by a rather bored looking attendant snapped Greta out of her trance. What was happening?! She was Greta Gill, she didn't get flustered!

Channelling her inner enchantress, she pulled herself together, turning on every ounce of charm she could muster but it was too late, the carriage juddered into motion. Damn it! Her plan would just have to be postponed.

All she could do now was sit back and enjoy the ride.


〰️


Click
Click

The gears beneath the rollercoaster car whirred as Crashendo began the ascent to its highest point.

Click
Click

Carson took a deep breath, screwing her eyes tightly shut.

Click
Click

Her fingers tightened around the lap bar.

Click, Click
Click, Click
THUNK!

She waited apprehensivly for the drop that never came.

All was still. Too still.

With an uneasy feeling settling in the pit of her stomach, Carson cautiously opened her eyes to survey the situation.

The ride had come to a complete halt balanced precariously at the very pinnacle of the climb. Those new to the park might have thought it was a unique feature, a pause to admire the skyline before the plunge, a trick to lull you into a false sense of security, but Rockford and Roll veterans knew better. This was not normal!

Somewhere far below a tannoy system crackled into life.

"Ladies and Gentleman, the ride has temporarily stopped due to technical difficulties. Please be patient as we try to rectify this issue."

Stopped! Technical difficulties!

All the air suddenly felt like it was being crushed from Carsons lungs as she began to hyperventilate.

"Fuck! Fuckedy fuck!"

"Hey, It's going to be okay." A soft voice sooth, accompanied by a hand being draped over her own to provide a reassuring squeeze. "They're going to get us down in no time."

Carson stared, wide-eyed, at the long, perfectly manicured, red tipped fingers that gently caressed her knuckles as fireworks surged through her body like the Fourth of July.

Between the adrenaline still lingering in her system and the anxiety of their current predicament, she had a nearly forgotten just who she was sat next to.

Slowly her gaze trailed up the length of the woman's jacket clad arm, across her shoulders partially hidden beneath a shroud of auburn curls, and settled to look into the most beautiful of faces.

From a distance she was stunning but up close she was positively ethereal.

Carson wasn’t sure how long she had been staring, seconds, minutes, maybe even hours. Time seemed to lose all meaning within the depths of those amber flecked hazel eyes. It wasn’t until she felt the familiar touch of Max's calloused hand against her own did the spell finally break.

"It's true Car, we're going to be okay. Just breathe."

Doing as she was told Carson took a few deep breaths. Whether it was from fear or electricity the last few minutes had knocked her for six and she was grateful for her friend's calming presence.

"That's it in and out, in and out."

After a few rounds of guided breathing Carson felt slightly more centred, although she didn't dare release her death grip on the lapbar.

"This is my worst nightmare!"

"I know, but your not alone. We're all going to get through this together." Leaning forward in her seat Max addressed the redhead. “Right?”

It wasn’t that she needed to help, she’d dealt with many a freak out on her own before, but knowing Carson’s crush, what sort of friend would she be if she didn’t use the opportunity to play matchmaker

"Of course!" The stranger smiled, giving the hand still beneath hers another gentle squeeze. "And since we’re going to be stuck up here for god knows how long, why don't we distract ourselves by getting to know each other. I'm Greta and this is Jo." 

The masc individual who, up until this point had been silent, gave a casual salute. “Wat up.”

“I think that’s us!” Max quipped back, earning a chuckle from two of her three companions. The third, Carson, didnt laugh, instead she sat with her mouth ajar as if about to make their introductions, however, in a true display of gay panic, the only sound that came out was a high pitched squeak.

Once it became clear that she wasn't able to formulate any sort of coherent speech Max took over, stepping in to save them all from the human equivalent of TV static.

"It's nice to officially meet you both although I wish it was under different circumstances. I’m Max and thi-“

"Carson Shaw!" Carson blurted out finally finding her voice. She felt so stupid. No woman had ever made her melt the way Greta did. Greta. God even her name was perfect. And here she was acting like a total weirdo barely able to string two words together.

Embarrassed by her own behaviour she wanted to hide, wanted the ground to open up and swallow her whole but the best she could do within the confines of the carriage was avert her gaze. That was all well and good except for the fact that the only two options were to look up or down and, against her better judgment, she chose the latter. Perhaps they weren't as high as she imagined? However the sight of her Doc's swinging above the abyss sent her recoiling back against her seat in terror as her arms shot out, instinctively grabbing onto her neighbours for security.

"Bad Idea!! Bad idea!!!"

"I could have told you that!" Greta giggled as Carson took a few deep shuddering breaths trying to stop the bout of vertigo which was making the world spin uncontrollably. At least the fear seemed to shock her nervous system back into regulation. Gradually coming to her senses, Carson became hyper aware of her hand, clinging to Greta's thigh dangerously close to where it shouldn't be.

Flustered and trying not to draw attention to the inappropriate contact she quickly pulled her arms back into her lap, locking them together so she couldn’t do it again.

Only she could overcome one type of awkwardness and fumble headlong straight into another. Fortunately though it seemed Greta was either unaware of her faux pas or was graciously ignoring it, something which Carson was eternally grateful for.

Now she just had to make sure nobody else lingered on her blunder.

"How are you guys all so calm?"

"Well you know why I am." Max said, grinning like a smitten Cheshire cat. “After skydiving with Es this is a doddle.”

“And the view is incredible!” Jo added far too enthusiastically given their current situation. “I just wish I had my professional camera with me! Those pictures would be to die for!"

If her feelings weren't already obvious by the poorly disguised expression plastered across her face, Carson shuddered in horror. "You're both absolutely insane!! I can't seriously be the only one losing my shit up here!!"

Searching for validation she turned to Greta who simply shrugged.

"I mean i'm not exactly going to be looking down any time soon, but I'm fine."

Her at ease demeanour was convincing right up until their friends simultaneously leant over the edge to watch the people far below milling around like ants. Without warning, their already preciously balanced carriage suddenly began to violently rock back and forth, tipping them into a near vertical position before settling back on the tracks. Surprised and equally alarmed by the movement, Greta let out a yelp, grabbing Carsons forearm arm to ground herself as the other women clung the lapbar for dear life.

"Okay, so maybe fine was an exaggeration. This is hell! Let's just say I'm very glad I'm sat in the middle with you."

"Me too."

"I would however be even more glad if these two idiots we call friends didn't try and kill us!" With her free hand Greta yanked Jo upright by the back of their jacket collar. Even just watching them made her anxious, she'd rather they all stay perfectly still in the relative safety of their seats.

"What?" Jo said playing innocent as they made eye contact with Max. "Are you saying you don't want us to -" Together they pretended to lean forward again.

"NOOO!!" Carson and Greta yelled as they braced themselves, making the mischievous duo cackle with laughter.

"You're too easy!" Max smirked, receiving a middle finger from each traumatised woman in response. Under any other circumstance it may have been funny, but not here, not now.

"But now we've learnt what happens we will be on our best behaviour, we promise."

"You know somehow I don't believe that." Carson countered, sending a ripple of amusement through the group. For people who had been complete strangers not that  long ago, they had settled into each others company extraordinarily well.

“Oi bitch! How dare you presume such an accurate thing! You don’t even know me.” Clutching their non-existent pearls in fained offence, Jo decided to change the subject, giving scardey pair a little reprise. "Speaking of, I'm curious, what is it that you guys do when you're not hanging out?"

Greta rolled her eyes at the wordplay, however it seemed to be enough of a distraction to bring her back to her senses and reinvigorate her flirtatious need.
Picking up where she left off she tilted her head inquisitively.

"Yeah, what is it that Carson Shaw does? Wait. Let me guess." Sliding her hand up the arm she was still holding, Greta curled her fingers around the impressive, shirt covered bicep, giving it a slight squeeze. "Is it something physical?"

"I-I'm-" Carson stammered flustered by the electric tingle of her skin beneath the lingering touch. "-I'm a baseball coach."

"You're not just any baseball coach!" Max added proudly. She was her friends biggest fan, taking any and every opportunity she could to boast about her revolutionary work. Carson may be humble when it came to her achievements but that didn't mean she needed to be. "She's one of the leading voices in getting women into the major leagues. And has the only championship all girls youth baseball team in the Midwest!"

There was something incredibly hot about idea of Carson all fired up on the field, but whatever impish thought Greta was thinking quickly evaporated as she listened to Max. "Wait seriously?! That's the stuff of our dreams!"

She looked over at Jo who was equally as impressed by the revelation.

"We would have killed for an opportunity like that growing up!"

"You guys play?"

What Carson didn't know was that the pair had played ball together for near enough their whole lives, although playing softball was never quite the same as baseball. It was an adequate enough substitution, but baseball was in a league of its own.

"Hell yeah! And we still step up to the mound when we get the time. Can’t let DeLuca the Bazooka here get rusty!"

"Rude!" Jo scoffed, punching their friends arm. "I'll have you know I don't get rusty! Unlike some people!"

"Oh don't go counting your chickens just because you won last time!"

The competitive bickering gave Carson a moment to process her surpise and wipe the undisguisable shocked expression from her face. She had never expected Greta, beautiful, stylish, ultra feminine, goddess Greta to like baseball let alone play it! Could she get any more perfect?!

"Well maybe I will just have to get Carson the professional to help me thrash you!"

"Oh its on Bird! Max, please tell me you play!" Craning their neck to get a better view of the woman sat at the opposite end of the carriage, Jo watched as Max let out a deep reverent sigh.

"Not anymore... Tore my rotator cuff a few years outta college which pretty much put an end to my pitching career overnight..."

A brief silence fell over the group  signifying a distinct shift in the tone of their previously light hearted conversation.

"I'm sorry..."

"Eh, it is what it is." Max shrugged. She had spent years coming to terms with her injury, gone through all the stages of grief, and was finally at the point of accepting that this was her fate. There was nothing she could do about it now. "I may not be able to play but that doesn't mean i'm finished with the game, instead I've turned my hand to being a sports reporter."

"That's dope! I wonder if you've written anything I've read?" With their tough and rugged appearance they may not look like it but Jo was a pretty avid read. There was nothing like settling down in their favourite armchair at the end of a long, day with an ice cold beer and catching up on the latest sports news.

"Probably not. It's hard to make any big strides as a queer woman of colour in the industry, but I try. Baby steps as they say."

"Dude!" Carson exclaimed,, not about to let Max get away with putting herself down. "Give yourself the credit you deserve! Your work practically singlehandedly saved my team from the scandal!! That wasn't nothing!"

"A scandal you say?" Propping her arm up on the safety bar and resting her chin on her closed fist, Greta leaned in closer, her interest piqued. "Pray tell."

"Don't even." Carson near enough growled, the memory still raw in her mind like a fresh scar that would never truly heal. "To make a long story short, boys are idiots who cannot handle losing to girls!"

"Why am I not surprised?" The statement wasn't exactly revolutionary news to Greta. She and Jo had experienced their fair share of issues with the opposite sex while playing back in the day, but had it really progressed so little even after all these years?   

Despite not wanting to overstep and reopen old wounds, she couldn't help but let curiosity get the better of her. "Dare I ask what happened?"

Carson quietly pondered the question for a moment, watching as Greta tilted her head like an inquisitive puppy. How could she say no to a face like that.

Training her gaze on a single point along the skyline, she let out a deep contemplative sigh.

“During our final qualifying game last year, a game we only played out of courtesy because we’d already made it through to the championship, the boys on the opposing team decided to do everything they physically could to antagonise my girls. They used every dirty tactic in the book to try and make us look incapable! They taunted, insulted, made lewd gestures. They were even encouraging their friends in the stands to shout abuse at my teenage girls who have to work 3 times as hard as they ever will in a lifetime just to get a look in!”

Carson forced herself to take a deep breath, trying to calm the anger which was bubbling to the surface all over again.

"They were doing everything in their power to ignoring them until one of those weasels decided to grab my fastest players braid to stop her running bases. That was the last straw for my pitcher and, rightfully so, she punched the him square in the face!"

"Broke his nose in two places! I was so proud!" Grinning, Max tapped her fist twice against her chest in a sign of solidarity. She had been in the stands watching as everything had gone down during that fateful game and the misogynistic idiot deserved what he got!

"The problem was after that it descended into an all out brawl for the ages! Think drunken bar fight meets WWE!"

Carson couldn’t condone the teams use of violence but secretly she was in awe of those young women. They had done something she had always struggled to do and stood up for themselves.

"Never underestimate the wrath of a scorned woman and her friends!"

There was something about the glint in Greta's eye and the look she shared with Jo that made Carson wonder if she was speaking from experience.

"You can say that again! It took 8 adults well over 5 minutes to finally break it up! Once everything was back under control they instantly disqualified us for the rest of the season! No first warning, no player suspensions, no way to redeem ourselves! All because for some reason being girls means they're held to a higher standard!"

"What is this?! 1943?!"

Filled with a burst of second hand frustration, Jo slams their hands down on the lapbar, making the carriage quake disconcertingly.

"And their Coach just let it happen?! What the hell was he thinking?!"

"What he was thinking was that we, as women in a male dominated sport, are inferior. Not only did he ignore his teams behaviour but he was encouraging it!! Anything to get us out of his league."

"THAT-!!!"

"Don't worry." Carson interjected, cutting Jo off before they could spout whatever undoubtedly creative insult they had concocted for the offending coach. "I may or may not have used his precious classic car as pitching practice."

"Way to go Shaw!" Leaning across their friend, Jo high fived the surprisingly feisty farm girl.

Within the confines of their seats, the invasion of her space forced Greta closer to Carson.

Nose to nose. Warm breath mingling between them. Eyes locked in a moment of breathtaking chemistry. It would be so easy to close the gap and....

A sharp wolf whistle pierced through their besotted bubble, jolting the pair apart as if they had been electrocuted. A bright blush bloomed across their cheeks and Greta toyed sheepishly with her bottom lip.

Typically she kept a clear distinction between flirting and feelings, but the longer she spent around Carson the more those lines began to blur. There was just something about her, something she couldn't quite put her finger on.

God! What was she doing?! This was simply supposed to be some harmless, no string attached fun. Nothing more. Nothing less.

She had to a grip!

Clearing her throat Greta picked up where they had left off, attempting to continue as if nothing had happened. "It sucks that after all your hard work you didn't get to compete in the championship."

Still buzzing as though her veins ran with television static, it took a minute for Carson to process that their intimate encounter was over. She thought they had shared a moment but Greta was seemingly unphased by their close proximity. Maybe it was all in her head? A manifestation of what she wanted it to be rather than what it actually was. An accident. After all they were trapped in a confined space with limited room to move, incidents like this were bound to occur.

Shoving her feelings deep down, Carson composed herself. "Actually we did!"

"How?! What happened to make them change their minds?"

"That was all down to Max. She posted the raw game footage along with our highlight reel and a scathing article on, not just our case but the continued sexism in sport."

Knowing full well she wasn’t the hero Carson made her out to be, Max shook her head.

"I only did what hopefully anybody in my position would have done. I saw an injustice and I reported on it. Just so happened I was more invested in it than perhaps another story.”

"You did way more than that!!" Carson would be forever grateful for her friend and she wasn't about to let her minimise just how crucial her actions had been in salvaging not only the girls season but their reputation.

To her, to the team, to the future of women's baseball, she was a hero.

"Thanks to you, our story went viral! And the phenomenal outpour of support pressured the League principles to retract our disqualification, reinstating us with only a team warning and a 3 game suspension for Lu for throwing the first punch!"

Completely invested in the teams success, Jo couldn’t resist asking the inevitable. "Please tell me you guys went on to win?"

"Not quite. We came fourth, which, after everything it took to get there, I class as a win."

It didn't matter to Carson where the team had placed, she was unbelievably proud of what they had achieved. To her even simply being there, competing in a recognised league, was enough. For now at least.

"Don't worry though the loss didn't stop us! We're going to come back fighting this season!"

"And when you win I will be right there to report on your victory! I can see it now-" Max stretched her arms out as if imaging the headline. "- A Shaw path to victory."

Batting the splayed hand nearest her out of the sky, Carson wrinkled her nose in amusement at her friends ridiculousness. "It’s a good thing you have time to work on that!"

Listening to these women and everything they had done to make an impact in the baseball world, Greta was seriously impressed. Something which, only a few years ago, would have been nothing more than a pipe dream, was suddenly becoming a reality for these youngsters thanks to them. The only problem was it did nothing to deter her ever growing attraction towards Carson.

"You are both are quite literally living legends! When we get down from here I’m going to need both your autographs so in the future I can tell people I met you way back when."

"Don't be ridiculous!" Max laughed, waving a hand dismissively. The compliment was obviously flattering but she was a realist, and it didn't quite have the same effect on her as it did on Carson who had suddenly become crushingly shy all over again.

Deciding to give her friend a reprise, Max turned the attention back on Greta and Jo. "So now you know what we do I wanna know about you two."

"Nothing as impactful as you both that's for sure. I work at Hughes Cosmetics."

"I knew you were pretty enough to be a model!" The thought slipped from Carson's mouth before her brain had a chance to catch up.

"Well aren't you a little charmer." Greta cooed, trying to pretend her stomach wasn't doing somersaults and her heart wasn't pounding at a million miles per hour.

It was one thing to overhear Carson talking about her like that, but it was another to be told it directly. Truthfully it wasn't uncommon for her to receive such compliments from suitors, but never anything meant so earnestly. There was no ill intent behind it, no ulterior motive, just genuine sweet naivety.

"That's sweet but I actually work in advertising and media."

"Work in?" Jo prodded, knowing full well there was more to her friends role than just mere employee. "More like runs it!"

"Okay, yeah, I'm the Regional head of the department."

Although the extent of Carson's make up knowledge was limited to a dab of daily concealer and the occasional swipe of mascara, she was impressed. However apparently not as impressed as Max.

"No way!! My girl is going to be so jealous! She is obsessed with Hughes!"

"Well I'm glad to hear it! To be honest I am too but unfortunately I don't tend to work with the products themselves asides from during photoshoots. My job is more advertising, so things like posters, billboards, commercials and promotional material. None of which would be possible without my crack team."

"And are you part of said crack team by any chance?" Max asked, tilting her head inquisitively in Jo's direction. There had been enough context clues to suggest that asides from being lifelong friends, this dynamic duo worked together.

“Technically I’m a freelance photographer but I do end up spending the majority of my time working at Hughes. I wonder who’s fault that is.” With a playful roll of their eyes, Jo gestured accusatorily at Greta.

“Excuse me! I don’t see you complaining when you get to spend all day surrounded by beautiful women.”

A smirk tugged at the corner of Jo’s mouth. “True. It's definitely a perk.”

"I bet it is!" Max teased, waggling her eyebrows suggestively. "Well, if you ever fancy branching out, and think you could tear yourself away from the models, I could always do with a reliable sports photographer."

"No way! Seriously! That would be dope!"

As Max and Jo talked business across their friends, Carson cast her gaze over the successful woman beside her. As she looked at the beauty who’s face was framed like an artists masterpiece by curtains of fiery red, it gradually began to dawn on her that her response to Greta’s achievements had been somewhat reserved. Greta had been so enthusiastic about her baseball career so why, now the roles were reversed, wasn't she being equally as attentive. Was it due to admiration? Ignorance? Or downright stupidity? She wasn't sure but whatever the reason Carson couldn't help but feel a little guilty.

"Sorry I’m, um, not more familiar with your work... as you can probably tell I’m not exactly a makeup guru."

"No worries. It isn’t everybody’s thing. Plus you don't need it. You're naturally handsome."

Greta took a calculated risk calling Carson handsome, hoping the phrasing would resonate with her more than being called beautiful or pretty. It was a risk that appeared to pay off.

Despite bashfully protesting the compliment, Carson seemed to sit a little taller, smile a little broader, exist a little easier. It was almost as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders and she was being seen for the first time in her life.


Deciding to go all in, Greta once again closes the gap between them.

"Although...-" She whispered, flitting her gaze down to Carson's slightly parted mouth and back again. "- I do think this lipstick would look good on you..."

"I don't wear lipstick..." Carson shook her head, completely oblivious to what was actually being insinuated.

Realising they weren't on the same page Greta tried again, this time being a little less subtle.

"I can change that..." Winking, she sexily ran her tongue over her crimson lips before teasing the bottom one between her pearly whites.

For a split second her flirting seemed to have the desired effect. Carson’s eyes appeared darker, her breathing heavier, and she shifted in her seat as if considering the implied suggestion. However, in an unexpected turn of events, she pulled back to grab her friends attention.

"Max! Tell her I look like a clown in lipstick."

Greta could have screamed! How was Carson not getting it?! Was she genuinely so oblivious that she couldn't see what was right infront of her!

She was talking about kissing her! Talking about seeing her lipstick smudged across Carson's supple lips!

It was infuriating!

Never, in all her experience with women, had Greta ever been in this position and all it was succeeding in doing was further blurring those lines between feelings and fun. The harder she had to work to get a carnal reaction the harder it became to deny how much she wanted her.

Good thing she wasn't one to back down without a fight.


〰️


As time ticked by, minutes turning to hours, the new group of friends grew closer than they could have ever imagined.
They talked about everything and anything from the mundane to the personal, sharing secrets and stories, discussing their friendships and their futures. All of which was punctuated by a good amount of laughter. It was intense but also felt surprisingly natural.

So much so Carson had began to relax, almost forgetting about their precarious situation stuck teetering over the abyss. She could near enough pretend that it was like any normal hangout with friends, albeit while sat on a rather rickety bench.

That was until the motors on the track below sprang to life for the first time since they initially stopped.

"Is that..? Are we..?"

"It's working!" Greta cheered excitedly. She hadn’t intended to sound quite so enthusiastic but to tell the truth she couldn’t wait to get her feet firmly back on solid ground.

It wasn't that she hadn't enjoyed getting to know Carson and Max but enough was enough! They could continue bonding somewhere where it didn't feel like the slightest movement was going to send them plummeting to their doom.

Needing to confirm her suspicions Greta turned to Jo, knowing her soul sibling would give it to her straight.

"Somethings definitely ha..."

Before they could finish a male voice, seemingly different from before, crackled through the sound system, cutting them off.

"Passengers of Crashendo, we are sorry for the extended delay. We believe we have now resolved the issue and will be executing the first attempt to get you down momentarily. During this process we ask, for your own safety, that you keep arms and legs inside the carriage at all times. Thank you for your cooperation."

Almost as abruptly as the announcement began, it was over, leaving an air of suspense hanging in its place.

This was what they had all been waiting for and it was finally happening! The hours of stagnation had been disheartening, each passing minute gradually sucking the spirit from the passengers, but with an end in sight, they were filled with a restored sense of optimism.

It didn’t sound particularly healthy as the cold cogs creaked and groaned into reverse, but although disconcerting, nobody was about to protest the descent.

Instead Carson leant flush back against her seat, bracing herself for the impending unknown, all the while her knee bouncing anxiously. Of course she wanted to get down, that wasn't in question, but what she had failed to consider was quite how that was going to happen.

Slowly the intrusive what ifs began to roll in like the first rough waves crashing against a soon to be storm beaten shore. What if they accidentally went forwards instead of back? What if there was only one speed and they were going to travel backwards at 60mph? What if the breaks didn't work?! What if? What if? What if?

Without a word needing to be said, Greta instinctively reached out for her hand, tenderly entwining their fingers as Max took ahold of the other.

They both knew, one through experience and the other observation that Carson's mind would be spinning out control with catastrophic possibilities, but, although neither would openly admit it, the comforting gesture wasn't solely for her benefit. Turned out being rescued was decidedly more nerve wracking than being stuck.

They clung to each other, their grip only tightening as the rollercoaster started to inch backwards. The slow stilted motion gradually pulled them away from the overhang they had grown oddly accustomed to and began to tip them back over the edge of the steep incline.

Suddenly, a concerned shout sounded from the ground, triggering the engines to cut abruptly. Still carrying momentum despite no longer being powered, the ride rocked forward, returning to more or less exactly where it had begun.

"Apologies folks. It appears it’s going to be a little while longer. Please remain calm and thank you for your continued patience."

The announcement caused a collective groan of frustration to rise from the rows of carriages like a sad siren song. They had dared to get their hopes up, dared to believe that their ordeal might finally be over, but here they were still stuck. A solemn cloud of melancholy descended over the ride, casting a shadow which seemed to suck the spirit from its occupants.

“Nooooo!” Carson cried, dropping her forehead to rest against the safety bar in defeat. She knew it wasn’t the workers fault, they were doing their best in a shitty situation, but why did they have to mess either her emotions like that!

"It's going to be okay..." Max mumbled, although this time her reassurance was less than convincing.

“Yeah it’s going to be okay...” A second somber voice reiterated.

Great, even Greta seemed to have lost her mojo. The only one who appeared entirely unaffected by the news was Jo. They were more annoyed by the tension that now hung in the air. These women needed a moral boost! And fast!

Contemplating their next move, they leant over the edge to watch the maintenance crew milling around like neon yellow ants far below. As they did the muffled clank of metal again metal caught their attention. Wait that was it!!

"I know what might make this slightly less awful!" Reaching into their jacket, Jo rummaged through one of the internal pockets before triumphantly holding aloft an old fashioned hip flask. "Tequila!"

"Hell yeah!" Max cheered, her mood instantly brightening. "That's what I'm talking about! I knew I liked you for a reason!" In her excitement she accidently rocks their seats, much to Carson's horror. "If I could reach you I would kiss you right now!"

"Don't worry, I've got you covered!" Without hesitation Greta took Jo's face in her hands squishing their cheeks together slightly to force them to pucker up before pecking their lips with an over dramatic mwah! "Now hand it over!"

Jo let out a burst of raucous laughter, batting away the toddler like grabby hands that were reaching for their flask.

"Back off! I've got to wash the bird out my mouth first!" Ignoring the middle finger waved in their direction, Jo unscrewed the cap and took a shot of the neat liquor. As they did they could feel three pairs of eyes boring into their soul. "Fiine!"

Faining reluctance Jo handed the vessel to Greta who instantly took a much needed swig. The slight burn at the back of her throat and subsequently warmth that radiated through her chest were oddly comforting. Or perhaps that was just the alcohol going straight to her head. "Car?"

Carson looked between Greta and the burnished metal flask and back again. "Um... I'm good... but thanks..."

“You don’t drink?!” Greta couldn't disguise her surprise. She thought Carson would be the first to want to drown her sorrows.

“Oh, don't get me wrong, I do, beers mainly.. it’s just..."

"The last time Carson drank Tequila things got a little peachy."

If it wasn't for being suspended 200 feet in the air Carson would have killed Max for exposing her, instead settling for a murderous glare.

"Peachy? What does that mean?"

Between the strange wording and Carson’s reaction, Greta knew there had to be a story there. One that she desperately wanted to hear.

"It's nothing..."

"Oh come on! You can't leave me hanging! No pun intended." Greta waved her hands about in reference to their current predicament.

"If you don’t tell her I will." With a audacious smirk plastered across her face Max reached across her scowling friend to retrieve the alcoholic offering still in Greta’s outstretched hand.

“Please?" Greta pleaded, batted her eyelashes. “Pretty please. For me?”

Pouting, she created the most irresistible puppy dog expression she could muster, the one that worked every time on Joey. And, if she wasn't mistaken, it seemed to be having a similar effect on Carson

"Promise you won't laugh at me...?"

"My lips are sealed."

"Jo?"

Without saying a word Jo mimed zipping their lips and throwing away the key. They wanted to hear the story just as badly as Greta did. There was no telling what this quirky little farm girl had gotten up to with a helping hand from señor tequila.

"Alright...."

Slowly it began to dawn on Carson that she was about to tell Greta, of all people, her most embarrassing secret.

Dear god what had she agreed to. If she was going to do this there was something she needed first. Before she could talk herself out of it she snatched the flask out from under Max’s nose and took a large gulp of Dutch courage. The liquid fire made her wince as she swallowed it, her face contorting in disgust until the burn became a pleasant buzz.

Summoning all her courage Carson trained her gaze on her knotted fingers and took a deep steadying breath.

"Throughout college I wasn't exactly a party animal. Don't get me wrong I went to bars and stuff but I was more focused on softball and my studies than getting drunk. That was until my final year when the team convinced me that I would regret not experiencing it. So, against my better judgement I let them take me to an off campus rager. As soon as we arrived they starting plying me with mainly Tequila shots and things got wild pretty quickly. I went from challenging the guys to an arm wrestling competition, to making out with every single one of my teammates before I proceeded to drunk dial my boyfriend and tell him they would all be a better lay than he was!” She physically cringed at the memory. "I blacked out soon after. That was when it happened. When I got the tattoo."

There were a few parts of the story Carson tactically left out. The events of that night were embarrassing enough without delving into the consequences of her actions, like how her ex berated her for making dumb decisions, or the fact it triggered her first real queer crisis.

"That’s not too bad." Greta reassured thinking of all the foolish things she had done in a drunken fugue over the years.

"Depends on what and where it is." Jo pointed out half coughing to bury the glee that peppered their voice. "Are we talking weird design or weird place?"

Regretting that she had even made this into a topic of conversation, Carson covered her flushed face with her hands, hiding behind them in an attempt to follow the theory of if I can't see you, you can't see me.

Beside her Max, who had bore witness to the entire Tequila fuelled shitshow, snickered. "There’s no hiding from us up here Shaw!"

Stubbornly Carson shook her head, mumbling something inaudible into her palms.

"We can't hear you."

Teasing her in the way only a best friend or partner could, Max took ahold of Carson's wrists and gently pulled her hands away from her face, uncovering her rosey cheeks. She wasn't about to let her get away with being shy. There was no hiding from the truth.

"It's a Peach..."

"On?" Max prompted, motioning for her to continue.

"On my hmmmm." Purposely being obtuse Carson muttered the last word making it practically unintelligible.

"Pardon?" Cupping her hand behind her ear, Max leant closer as if trying to hear better.

"It's on my butt okay!" Carson hadn't intended to shout but the response came out louder than she had been expecting.

As her admission filled the air the whole world seemed to stop as if to listen. The birds stopped tweeting, the wind carrying the sounds of joy from below stilled, and even the other people stuck in the carriages behind fell quiet. It felt like all eyes were on her. The very idea of which made her wish a black hole would open up and swallow her just to end the humiliation.

In total the silence lasted barely a few secondly but to Carson it felt like forever as she spiralled.

"Hold up! Hold up! You have-" Greta's expression contorted as she attempted to contain her glee. "You have a Peach, on your Peach!!"

Unable to hold it together any longer she burst like a balloon under pressure. Laughter exploded from her chest with such force that it could have been mistaken for rouge clap of thunder. She threw her head back with complete gay abandon, all grace and decorum being forgotten in favour of unbridled joy.

Under any other given circumstances it probably wouldn't have been nearly as comical but everything had come together to create the perfect side splitting storm and now she'd started there was no stopping her hysterics.

"Ha. Ha. Yes it's very funny." Carson grumbled sarcastically although she couldn't hide the traces of amusement that laced her voice. Not that anyone was paying enough attention to notice as Greta’s contagious laughter began to spread. First to Max then to Jo, until the three were shrieking like a pack of Hyenas.

Usually in this situation Carson would begin panic ramble or want to curl into a ball and disappear, but this time something was different.

They weren’t laughing at her they were laughing with her and she couldn't stop herself from joining in. Despite her initial embarrassment it was impossible not to see the funny side to her one and only night of rebellion.

Perhaps the Tequila had gone to their heads, or maybe madness had officially set in, but whatever the cause of their delirium the group laughed and they laughed until they were clutching their chests, gasping for air.

"What's worse-" Carson wheezed once some resemblance of calm had been resumed." -Is that I didn't even know until we were in the locker rooms after our next practice and the whole team started laughing at me!"

"You should have seen her face!" Max howled, slapping her hands to her cheeks in an exaggerated recreation of Carson’s reaction. 

Despite sticking her tongue out in protest Carson couldn’t deny it was a pretty accurate depiction of her shock. After finally sobering up the last thing she had been expecting was to discover a permanent fruity reminder of her drunken mistakes.

As they all chuckled at the mental image of Carson's surpise, Jo quirked their brow in bewilderment. Having a fair amount of ink themselves, they didn't understand how a person, no matter how intoxicated, could be stabbed thousands upon thousands of times with a needle and not know!

"How didn't you notice! Fresh tats can be tender as hell!"

"Honestly I don't know! I was suffering with theworst hangover of my life and i guess I just thought I'd bruised it falling over or something. I mean even now my memory of what happened that night and the following days is hazy at best. Although-" a self-conscious blush bloomed across Carson's face as she once again diverted her gaze to all eye contact. "-I do have a faint recollection of dropping more than just my pants for the artist.."

"Lucky...' Greta mumbled louder than intended, earning herself a playful nudge to the ribs from a smirking Jo.

"I think G wants a taste of your Peach Car!"

Acting innocent Greta shrugged, but she couldn't resist shooting a flirtatious wink at the flustered woman beside her. "What can I say I'm a Peach woman."

Unable to believe her ears, Carson's jaw fell slack in shock at the insinuation which, this time, wasn't lost on her. However what she didn't know was whether the comment was designed specifically to make her pulse quicken, or if it was simply Greta's naturally flirtatious personality shining through. Of course she hoped it was the former but she wasn't about to get her hopes up. They were friends, that was all they were, and all they were ever going to be. Saying anything that suggested otherwise would only make things uncomfortable and without an escape her awkward self wouldn't be able to handle that.

Making the executive decision to ignore the comment entirely and avoid destroying what they had created, Carson composed herself, releasing the breath she hadn’t realised she was holding, before changing the topic back to the original point.

"That’s why I swore off tequila, well, until now." She held up the flask which had somehow made its way back into her hand.

"What I'm hearing-" Jo smirked, reaching out to take back the offending vessel. "- Is we better finish this off without you!"

"Oh no you don't!" Gripping the leather bound metal tighter, Carson took another gulp of the fiery liquid, which, this time, fortunately felt slightly less like drinking molten lava. Once it had settled as a pleasant warmth in her chest, bringing with it a wave of out of body confidence, she passed the drink back to Jo to continue the cycle of shots. "But if I wake up with another tattoo I’m holding all of you responsible!"

Gasping, Greta dramatically clutched her heart. " What, even me?!"

"Especially you! You're not as innocent as those big, beautiful, brown doe eyes lead people to believe!"

Before she could defend herself Jo piped up. "She's got you sussed Bird!"

They pat the top of Greta's head as if she were a small child. "This one here is the reason we're banned from Columbus, Ohio!"

"Excuse me! We were 18 and I don't remember getting high in the County Fair Funhouse alone!"

Squabbling like siblings, fighting over who got who in trouble, the pair didn't realise they had captivated Max's interest with the tantalising promise of a juicy story.

"Oh! My! God!" She gasped with delight, leaning as far forward as the safety bar would allow to get a better look at the mischievous faces of the nations most absurd criminals. " Now this I need to hear!"


〰️



It wasn't a surprise when the early spring sun began to set long before night was even a thought in anyones mind.

The crystal clear blue skies which had graced the seasonally abnormal sunny day, gradually began to change before their eyes. Bold vibrant bands of pink and orange streaked across the horizon like the first brushstrokes of an artists masterpiece and the sky was their canvas.
Cottoncandy clouds, which looked almost as delicious as they did heavenly, drifted lazily across the brilliant background riding the slight breeze which seemed to arrive with the fiery golden suns departure.

It was breathtaking!

Almost like mother nature knew she had a captive audience and was putting on a show.

“You know-" Greta pondered aloud, breaking the awestruck silence. "-If it wasn’t for the whole being stuck up here thing, this would actually be kinda romantic.”

She glanced over at Carson who looked positively radiant bathed in the colourful hues of dusk, to see if the feeling was mutual. Truth be told, despite what she said this was quite possibly the most romantic thing she had ever experienced, situation be damned. If only Carson could see what was right infront of her.

However, to Carson, the comment came like an expected punch in the gut. It was a brutal reminder that Greta wasn't hers. That the fairytale she had begun to imagine, filled with early mornings and late nights watching the sun rise and fall across her lovers divine features, was nothing more than a fantasy. A fantasy that had just been shattered into a million reality shaped pieces. What had she been thinking? Of course Greta didn't feel the same.

"I'm sure it still would have been if your boyfriend was here."

"Boyfriend?!" Unable to contain herself, Greta let out a snort of disbelief. "Car. I'm gay!"

"You're gay? Oh my god! You're gay!"

Carson was completely and utterly dumbfounded. What she knew, or at least what thought she knew about Greta had suddenly been turned on its head in the best possible way and it changed everything.

"Duuuh!" Max exclaimed, throwing her hands up in exasperation at the fact her friend was only now catching on.

“You knew?!”

“Yeah dummy! I have eyes!”

Confusion knitted across Carson's face as she tried to figure out what she had missed.

“Oh sweet innocent Carson, she’s been flirting with you since before she even sat down.”

“She has?!" Snapping her head around at whiplash speed, Carson stared in disbelief at the woman who was now grinning from ear to ear like the Cheshire cat. "You have?!"

Without skipping a beat, Greta held her hands aloft, palms exposed in a gesture of surrender. “Guilty as charged.”

The confession rendered Carson speechless.

This couldn’t be real! Surely it had to be some sort of fever dream! There was no way someone like Greta would actually be attracted to her! Carson was a stadium hotdog and Greta was caviar. She was Converse and Greta Louboutin. She was a Jack and Coke in the back of a sports bar and Greta was a fine red wine at a fancy restaurant. They couldn't be anymore different yet somehow she was the one this goddess in human form had been flirting with!

"W...Why?" Carson stammered, unable to wrap her head around why she was worthy of such attention.

The question as harmless as it seemed brought with it a sudden weird tension that hung heavy between them like the impending shroud of darkness that was beginning to creep from the shadows. Not liking it one bit, Greta, turning on her charm, shot a playful wink in Carson's direction in an attempt to lighten the mood.

"Fishing for compliments are we now?"

"What? No! I mean...! I just...!"

"Car relax. I was joking."

Realising she couldn't deflect with humour the way she usually would to avoid feeling her feelings, Greta sighed, looking out over the horizon to where the purples of twilight now dominated the sky. Carson wanted to know why but how was she supposed to explain that what had started as a bit of flirtatious fun had turned into so much more.

After things soured with her ex, she locked her heart way behind a fortress of pain, convincing herself she wasn't the girlfriend type and that love simply wasn't made for her. It was easier than reliving the agonising alternative. But then, out of nowhere, Carson had come waltzing into her life, busting through her defences and tearing down her walls as if they were made of nothing but paper.

Suddenly emotions that she hadn't allowed herself to feel in years were bubbling back to the surface, and, much to her surprise, she didn't entirely hate it. Maybe now was the time to put her relationship hangups to one side and focus on what, or more importantly who, was right in front of her.

"It's because you don't look at me like a piece of meat or some prize to be won, instead you care about who I am beyond just my looks. You're sweet and funny and kinda dorky and I meant what I said before about you being handsome. You're not cocky or arrogant even though you have every right to be, but let me tell you when you are confident it's fucking hot! I mean the image of you on the field coaching!-" Greta fanned herself. "I guess what I'm trying to say is I like you because you're like nobody else I've ever met."

Releasing a deep breath she hadn't even realised she'd been holding, Greta turned her gaze towards Carson, nervously awaiting her response. She didn't know what to expect, good or bad, but the silence that greeted her was deafening.

After pouring her heart out such a complete lack of reaction was torturous.  She had never felt more vulnerable and she desperately needed to know what was going on inside Carson's head.

Biting her lip, Greta studied the brunettes expression, searching for the tiniest twitch of her lips or the faintest glint in her eye but to no avail.

"Please Carson, say something. Anything."

Having momentarily blacked out, hearing the sound of her name snapped Carson back from the parallel universe she was certain she'd slipped into. A universe where Greta liked her, like liked her, and where her once impossible crush was mutual. It felt like fantasy, like a figment of her imagination, but it was in fact entirely real.

This was her reality.

To say she was floating on cloud nine would be an understatement, it was a total pinch me moment.

So much so that the task of putting those emotions into words felt insurmountable, especially considering she was awkward enough without the fate of their potential relationship weighing on her shoulders. She wanted her response to be meaningful, something that said I've been in love with you since the minute I first saw you without it being too intense or creepy, but it seemed her mouth had its own, slightly less eloquent plan.

"I like you too!"

"Again Duh!"

Max was of course happy for her friend, Carson had come a long way in her queer journey since almost marrying a man, but that didn’t mean she could handle having a front row seat to the mush fest, at least while it was unescapable.

“We know you like each other! Usually this is the point where id tell you go get a room but-!” She kicked her legs, purposely making the carriage rock back and forth to remind them of their current predicament.

As expected the pair yelped and blindly grabbed for each other, their hands meeting in a mess of fingers. They were no strangers to physical contact but this time felt different. It was electrifying!

Fireworks zapped through their bodies from the top of their heads to the tips of their toes, energy surging up and down their spines like nothing either had ever experienced before. Their fear quickly became a distant memory as they stared into each others eyes, loosing themselves to the sparks of pure attraction.

That was until a voice cut through their happy little bubble like a knife through butter.

"Ooooo Birdies got a girlfriend!" Jo sing songed, mischievously nudging Greta who couldn't disguise her irritation nor the rosy warmth that coloured her sun kissed cheeks.

On the most part Jo was incredibly proud of Greta. It had been a long time since they had seen her open up and let someone new into her heart, but it also made them uncharacteristically nervous. Carson was nice enough but things were moving to fast and the last thing they wanted was for Greta to U-Haul herself into a situation she wasn't entirely prepared for. They wanted to protect her and if that meant playing the annoying sibling card that was what they were going to do.

"Josephine Ann Deluca!"

"What? Not my fault you’ve had more relationship success up here than at any gay bar!"

"You know what they say!-" Max smirked joining in with the childish teasing. "-Love is a rollercoaster!"

"Oh don't go thinking you're exempt from the full name treatment Maxine Bernice Chapman!" Carson scolded, attempting to deflect from the fact that it was far too early for anyone to be casually throwing the L word around; even if it wasn't entirely inaccurate.

Seemingly having the same idea Greta leant closer in the manner of someone about to impart a juicy secret only doing so at a volume all could hear.

"Remind me again why we're friends with these idiots?"

Taking the insult as some sort of challenge Jo and Max shot each other a look and as if sharing one telekinetic thought, they both began to chant.

"Greta and Carson sitting in a tree! K.i.s.s.i.n-"

"AAAHHHHH!"

Everybody suddenly screamed as the coaster lurched backwards without warning, sending them flying in reverse over the edge of the incline. The cold brakes screeched like banshees as they fought against gravity to control their fall which seemed inevitable with the way the motors were clattering and clanking unhealthily beneath them. However, despite the disturbing noises, they were actually only travelling at a snails pace, descending inch by inch down the vertical tracks, not that that was particularly reassuring to the passengers.

Amongst the carriages, hands shot out in all directions, Carson and Greta latching onto their friends as they continued to cling to each other, forming a chain of emotional support.

For something they had chosen to do at roughly 88mph, moving slowly was disproportionately terrifying. So much so that the only thing stopping them from entirely freaking out was the prospect of finally getting off this god forsaken ride!

Gradually they drew closer towards safety until eventually the rails plateaued out and they were bathed in the blinding fallout of the recently switched on floodlights that now illuminated the theme park.

From there on out it was pretty much smooth sailing, the occasional twist or turn only building their anticipation.

Then, finally, it happened.

Carson could have cried with relief as she listened to cheers of celebration erupt from the back row quickly proceeded by the apologetic voices of stressed workers and the tell tale ping of the safety bar being manually released.

They'd made it! They'd actually made it! Hours of uncertainty had led up to this moment.

Thankfully the staff wasted no time in getting the passengers disembarked before moving onto the next carriage. They worked like a well oiled machine, rapidly repeating the process over and over till finally they liberated the front row.

Freed from the restraints Carson leapt from her seat like a bat out of hell, only for her legs to buckle on impact as she was struck by a sudden crippling case of pins and needles.

Beside her Greta struggled similarly, her long limbs having turned to jelly after hours of being cramped in one position, and even Max and Jo appeared unsteady on their feet as they collected their long discarded belongings. None of them however, were about to let a few pesky trapped nerves put a stop to their great escape.

With more sorry's said and refund tickets issued the slightly stumbling group were ushered quickly through the exit and out into the main portion of the park.

"Sweet sweet solid ground!!" Carson cried dropping to her knees in worship of what she'd previously taken for granted. Never in her life had she been so pleased to see concrete, to feel the roughness against her palms and the sharp grit beneath her shins but here she was one lapse in judgement away from kissing the ground like a shipwrecked sailor. "Remind me to never go on a rollercoaster again!"

"You're so dramatic!!" Max laughed, extending her hand out to help the human puddle at her feet stand up. "At least you can't say your birthday trip wasn't memorable!"

"Excuse me, what?!" The revelation caught Greta by surprise. "It's your birthday?! Why didn't you say anything?"

Unable to think of a reasonable answer asides from the fact it hadn’t even crossed her mind, Carson simply shrugged.

"Well then I'm buying you both drinks to celebrate!"

"I would love that G, like really love that... but sadly we're supposed to be driving home tonight..."

"What if you didn't?"

Greta wasn't ready to say goodbye just yet. After all there were no guarantees when or even if she would see Carson again.

"We have two rooms at a nearby hotel and, if you want to, you’re more than welcome to spend the night."

If it was down to her, Carson would have leapt at the proposal. It wasn’t every day she got invited to spend the night with the women of her dreams. However the decision wasn’t soley hers to make.

"Max? Can we? Please?"

Not above using the oldest trick in the book to her advantage she theatrically pouted her bottom lip and widened her already doe eyes, batting them in the most compelling puppy dog expression she could physically muster.

“Its okay with me if it’s okay with Jo.”

They all cast their gaze upon Jo, the only one left with the power to veto their plan.

“You had me at drinks!”

"Yay!!" Carson cheered, not even attempting to conceal her excitement as she did a dorky little happy dance. "This is going to be so much fun!"

Bounding away from Crashendo's exit with a spring in her step, she acted as motivation to get everybody else moving. However, they'd barely made it a few paces when a small kiosk like building caught Greta's attention, sparking an idea that made her stop dead in her tracks.

"Wait! Hold on a minute!"

Doing as they were asked everyone spun round to look at her, wondering what was so important.

"There's just something I need to do real quick."

Giggling to herself Greta ran inside the gift shop, disappearing in a flurry of red only to return a few moments later with something clenched tightly in her fist.

"Happy birthday!"

Slowly she unfurled her fingers to reveal a circular purple pin badge resting in the palm of her hand with the words I conquered Carshendo blazon across it in a silvery graphic font, however, conquered had been roughly crossed out in black sharpie and replaced with a handwritten alternative.

I survived Crashendo.

"You're ridiculous." Carson shook her head in disbelief, faining annoyance, but her tone told of her genuine gratitude. She was touched by Greta’s kindness, the sentiment of the small personalised gift not being lost on her. They may have started the day as strangers but they were ending it as friends, if not more.

"May I?"

Holding aloft the now separated pin, Greta waited for a nod of conformation before securing it to the collar of Carson's check shirt. Her fingers worked aptly, only straying off course to accidentally on purpose brush against the enticing delicate skin of her neck under the guise of sweeping her windswept curls over her shoulders.

"Perfect."

Before Carson could express her thanks she was interrupted by the whiney voice of an overgrown toddler, also known as Jo.

"Can we go yet or are you going to keep being disgustingly cutesy?!"

With their back arched and head tilted towards the sky they half swung half twisted their arms around their body, acting like a bored child waiting for their mother to stop talking to their cousins  cats neighbour in the middle of the grocery store. And they claimed Greta was the dramatic one in their friendship!

"I'll have you know we're adorably cutesy!"

Jo raised an unamused eyebrow.

"Okay, okay, fine, message received loud and clear. I'm done. We can go."

"Halle-fucking-lujah!! Come on then, what are we doing still standing here? Last one to the bar buys the first round!"

Turning on their heels Jo and Max took off in the direction of the exit, however Greta remained rooted to the spot, not even budging as Carson attempted to follow their friends. She patiently waited until they had disappeared out of sight before grabbing Carson's hand and lightly tugging her back into her orbit.

"G, what are you doing?"

"Something I've been wanting to do all day."

Taking full advantage of their close proximity, Greta hooked her index finger beneath Carsons chin before capturing her lips in a soft, sweet yet heated kiss.

It was a kiss like neither had ever experienced before, one that had seemed impossible outside of fiction, but here they were, their bodies melding perfectly together like two halves of a whole.

Raw electric chemistry surged through them like a lightning storm, igniting the fireworks which exploded into a billion shimmering stars across the back of their eyelids before cascading through their nervous system. Their connection was undeniable but what they didn't lack in passion they were beginning to lack in oxygen.

With their lungs burning the couple reluctantly separated, settling, instead, for tenderly resting their foreheads together. That was how they stayed, staring deeply into each other’s eyes as they struggled for air, until eventually, between raggedy breaths, Greta found her voice.

"Now that, was most definitely, worth the wait."

"Uh huh..."

Hungry for another taste, Carson, having semi recovered, chased the taller women's mouth who pulled back to avoid the advances, staying just out of reach.

"Later..." Greta whispered against Carson's addictive lips, sealing her promise with the ghost of a kiss.

Not trusting herself to resist any further temptation she straightened up, putting a little distance weren't them. "Come on, we better catch up with our so called best friends before they abandon us completely."

Pretending as if nothing had just happened, Greta entwined their fingers before beginning to follow the route Jo and Max had taken a few minutes prior.

Carson, to dumbfounded to protest, trailed beside her like a little love sick puppy. Her heart was racing faster than any rollercoaster, even a fully functioning Crashendo, ever could.

Greta had kissed her! HER! And she clearly intended to do it again!! How was she supposed to be normal about that?! Especially considering that the very idea sent a Kaleidoscope of Butterflies fluttering to pit of her stomach.

It was like a Hallmark Movie only better, and to think if it wasn’t for Max’s surprise she would have spent her birthday trip picking boring ol’ apples instead of meeting the love of her life.

Maybe, just maybe, 30 was going to be her best year yet.