Irregulars

Tower Of Anxiety

Heiro gazed out of the window of the black four-door midsize SUV, he stared at the large attractions and roller coasters as they entered the private roads owned by the company. To have that much power that people accept your standards as the norm. For the happiest place on earth, all the large attractions and families pulling into a park parking lot just reminded him of his family… were all people like that? He was confused about how his family could love him more than the world but were so quick to turn on him for something he couldn't control. And that man… his brother… was quick to act… military heroes are known for their quick thinking and actions, he’d need to be more ready to fight for his life than ever. They made it a shuttle service and parked. The mini-bus called a shuttle took them to a fairy which they rode to the island. The group went on several rides together and visited several attractions, like riding a log through a wet dark mountain, talking to heroes and princesses, and buying expensive but moderately good food. 

After a few hours, Jayna and Heiro split off from the group. She took his hand, “Follow me.” He didn’t understand what she wanted, but Heiro had never been one to really question his friends unless it was about their well being. His curiosity began to fade as he became enamored with the decor of the cobblestone paths and the beautiful trees that led to some sort of creepy hotel building, “Tower of Terror”, she called it as she pointed up at it. Just before they even entered the hotel attraction she turned to Heiro, her face beet red as she tried to give a warm smile, but it just came off as anxious or possibly excited. Heiro couldn’t be sure but she didn’t seem to be in a bad mood. “I have something to tell you when we get on okay?”Heiro nodded in affirmation, although he was now extremely curious… he wouldn’t push it because he knew Jayna, she was the most confident person until she wasn’t and trying to hype her up only seemed to always make matters worse, he’d let her sort herself out. She led him to an elevator where there were monitors in each upper corner of the large elevator. The screens were all airing the same “lost”episode intro from the black and white 1960s Twilight Zone. The room was rowdy and boisterous but Jayna was quieter than usual. He knew she was building the courage for something, but what exactly, he wasn’t sure. After leaving the elevator, she held on to his arm, warping her arm around his, pulling it to her chest, glancing up as if to verify if it was okay. He didn’t mind, but she wasn’t normally this intimate or shy. They walked through a boiler room into one of six lines for each cart that would hold the riders. 

“Next in line.” They were up next and oddly no one else joined their line and the attraction staff didn’t seem to care… they got on the ride alone. It was a spectacle that almost wiped his curiosity away again, the visual effects and ghosts were realistic and as the ride took them through the entire hotel, the retro 60s vibe of the hotel was ominous and mysterious, but something about ominous and mysterious things always seemed to attract him. After finding out werewolves existed and they felt strange sensations different than what normal people can feel. Anything could be connected to his wolf's side. He had many questions for Blaze when he saw him, but for now they’d have to sit on the back burner.  

“So Jayna, what’d you want to say?” Heiro asked her with a beaming smile, even with so much on his mind, this day was turning out to be really fun, the calm he needed before the storm. 

Her cheeks turned rosy, her darker completion made it harder to notice for the average person, but Heiro was now noticing things he had never picked up on before. He could hear her heart racing, feel the heat from certain areas of her body; her pupils dialated and he could smell the natural pheromones being released… he didn’t understand why he was suddenly picking these things out or why could feel his own heart began to race, as the beast within was trying to claw its way out… it wasn’t hungry or outright agression like he had felt before but some sort of primal lust, “Well I wanted to say um basically I’m here for you, I know what it’s like to have bad parents, kids never really grow up life just makes them act more mature to keep the world spinning some people just don’t have what it takes to be an adult or parent at all times, my parents were abusive so I moved in with my aunt… I don’t know what it’s like to have a parent attack you like that, I wont pretend I do… but I got your back.” Her voice got a little softer and gentler, “And um I really like you Heiro.” 

“I like you too.” He actively tried to fight this overwhelming sensation so he hardly paid attention to the context of his situation. 

“No I mean more than friends.” The ride began to come to a close with it’s final section… the drop.“Heiro I love you!” She began to lean in her face inching closer to his and Heiro didn’t move. Something paralyzed him, she planted her soft lips on his own and he didn’t pull away. The strangeness of the situation was so alarming to him that the rush of adrenaline cleared his head, still he didn’t pull away even as the ride fell and pictures were taken as they dropped to be sold in the gift shop. 

Did he really have a reason to deny her feelings, would it be better to tell an amazing woman that he doesn’t love her or would it be better to learn to love her? He decided that what ever feelings he may have for someone else she was brave enough to put her heart and friendship on the line… don’t you want someone willing to go that far for you? He made up his mind as the ride came to an end… “I Love you too Jayna.” As soon as the ride was over she dragged him to the counter to buy the photo of them kissing while falling, she hen took him to a photo booth her excitement and joy bubbling over as she ran to a photo booth. They took several photos, a few of her kissing him all over, a few with them doing weird poses and one of them making out, although the lust hadn’t completely vanished it wasn’t enough to over power how uncomfortable the situation made him. For some reason he couldn’t stop thinking about what Luna’s reaction would be. 

Luna and Pyo walked by as Heiro and Jayna got out of the photo booth. Heiro didn’t notice them so they attempted to call out his name and wave him over until Luna heard him speak, “Jayna will you go out with me?” 

Jayna’s heart nearly exploded with passion and happiness, “REALLY?” She shouted and he nodded, “I genuinely thought you’d never ask.” Just then something about Jayna seemed off, her smell shifted as he felt some sort of energy from her, like standing next to a blast furnace. 

Luna walked off leaving Pyo confused, so he followed after her as she sat on a bench nearby. Her eyes began to water but she didn’t cry, she wouldn’t let herself cry over small things like this again, it wasn’t like she had asked him out or explicitly made it clear she liked him, but he didn’t hide that he liked her even if he was respectful of those sorts of boundaries. So how could he ask her out, especially with what he's going through. She was the only one so far he could rely on. Did he tell her too?

Suddenly, a man that resembled Heiro, but with much shaggier hair and a cool air to him, walked up to Pyo and Luna. “Hey what’s got you so depressed?” His voice deep and smooth. 

“Well my friend Heiro just asked out some girl, and he never just goes with something that big without question, and he normally comes to me first when in situations like these. He always came to me…” 

“I see, afraid she’ll take him from you, sounds like both of you waited too long to make a move.” he crossed his arms and nodded to himself contemplatively. 

“Yeah, but we’re best friends and we stick together always and forever.” 

“I’ve never heard that one but only once. My dad used to say it to me when I was a baby.”

“Well because you probably don’t have many friends. I’m Blaze, I’m here for friends and family. I think I’ve already found a friend, don’t you?” He smirked as he gazed at her, up and down like a predator. It would have been creepy but the guy himself radiated an aura of calm and safety. 

“I’m Luna, I’m not interested in friends right now, looking for something more than friends to get my mind off of this.” 

He nodded, “Let me take you back to my room later. It’s an in-park hotel with some killer amenities that stay open even after the park closes. Not sure how long you plan to stay, but they have a spa and a nice sauna there for you to relax in. I can get you a drink or two unless you plan on driving tonight. I plan on going for a ‘walk’ and it would be nice to know that you won’t be on the road recklessly driving.”

She narrowed her eyes, “I’m 17.”

He chuckled, “Look if you can drink at 16 and 18 in other countries, then I don’t care. Plus, I just turned 20. I’m not able to drink legally yet but that’s never stopped me.”

She chuckled, as he walked them over to a bar ordering drinks for the two, leaving Pyo very confused and alone. “How do you even become the only lonely person in a group with even numbers? I gotta find Heiro.