Fanny's got her head on straight most of the time, but boy, can she be an ostrich, burying her head in the sand over things she's never even tried., That's where we part ways, but to each their own, right? Everyone's got their own way of thinking., There's this saying that no one can meddle in someone else's life, not even when you're as close as Fanny and I are., I crashed at Fanny's place for a night before heading back and didn't run into Ernest., The lady downstairs asked if I'd been off on a trip with my boyfriend, saying she hadn't seen us in days. That's when I realized Ernest hadn't been around either., Even though Deborah mentioned he's been swamped, it's crystal clear to me that Ernest staying here was all about being close to me., When I'm here, he finds excuses to come back every day. When I'm not, he can't be bothered to show his face., But if he won't come to me, I can always go to him., The moment I showed up at the amusement park, Deborah sprinted over, not saying a word before wrapping me in a hug and then playfully punching me in the shoulder,

"Felicia, you've got some nerve, not dropping by to check on me for so long.

", Her punches left my shoulders aching, making me feel like I'd let her down big time.,

"Here I am, aren't I?

" I pat her back, my gaze drifting towards Ernest., He was up high, strapped into a safety harness, helmet on, doing some checks., But now, he was looking right at me, and I waved at him., Ernest hit a button beside him and started descending slowly. I turned to Deborah with a grin,

"So, what's Mr. Collins done to make you sulk this time?

",

"It's not that. He's actually become more humane lately,

" Deborah said, looking at me.

"Felicia, you've changed, you know? You're not the same as before.

" Her words caught me off guard,

"How so? Uglier, or darker?

", I've been downright frolicking in nature these past few days with Susie, whether it's basking in the wind, soaking up the sun, or splashing around in the river.

"Not at all, you just seem more carefree,

" Deborah continued with a laugh,

"Prettier, and more captivating.

", As she finished, Ernest made his way down from his lofty perch, his long legs catching my eye first., Dressed in his work gear, he was the epitome of rugged charm., For a moment, the urge to rush over, wrap him in a hug, and plant one on him was overwhelming.,

"Mr. Collins,

" Deborah's formal greeting snapped me out of my inappropriate thoughts.,

"Check the lights in section D3-6, they're acting up. And grab the footage of the dynamic lights from last night for me,

" Ernest commanded her straight away., I could see Deborah's lips twitch, her eyes filled with a mix of reluctance and longing as she looked at me., Right then, I wanted some alone time with Ernest, so I gestured for her to go ahead.,

"Felicia, don't leave. Let's grab lunch together,

" Deborah seemed genuinely keen to spend time together, inviting me again., She's enthusiastic alright, but completely oblivious to the tension between Ernest and me. She used to be sharper than this.,

"You get on with it; we'll catch up later,

" I brushed her off.,

"Felicia, you go ahead and chat with Mr. Collins. I'll check things out,

" Deborah said, nodding at Ernest before reluctantly walking away, looking back every few steps. With Deborah gone, acting like a third wheel, Ernest and I were left in silence, just staring at each other, our gazes interlocking in a way that needed no words.

"Tired?

" Ernest finally broke the silence.,

"Not really,

" I replied, just as a gust of wind blew by, sending my hair fluttering into my face., I brushed my hair aside, and when I turned back to Ernest, I caught his gaze, deeper now, and watched as his Adam's apple bobbed., My eyes locked on his throat,

"Isn't there anything you want to say to me?

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