Love Song by Jaz Johnson Page A

Look at me. Just look at me.”
    Song sighed, trying to steady her breathing to comply with the request to calm down. She gasped, her hand gripping the bar that held them in the cart when it swayed in motion again. She wanted to cry, the anticipation of the ride starting almost being too much to bare. Her eyes watered, and Marceline’s hands immediately went to cup Song’s face, pulling it towards her. She let her forehead rest against her collarbone, one hand coming to wrap around her back.
    “Shh … Okay. Close your eyes,” Marceline cooed as the ride finally kicked into gear, sending them higher and higher. Her chin came to rest at the top of her head, her hand rubbing her back soothingly as she felt her tremble. “I got you.”
    Song’s arms wrapped around Marceline’s torso with everything she had, making Marceline grunt from the pressure. But she took it, knowing that it would comfort her. About five minutes later when the ride began to slow and Song had coaxed herself enough to remain calm, Marceline decided to try again.
    “Song … Look.”
    Song’s head shook against Marceline’s chest, her grip on Marceline’s shirt tightening from the request. Marceline chuckled, rubbing Song’s back.
    “Please? This is what I wanted you to see.”
    Song whined, but slowly started turning her head to comply. Peeking through one eye, Song allowed herself the start of the view she had been dragged up to see. And immediately, her attention was captured. Her head turned towards the opening of the cart, her body slowly joining her as she gazed out over the amusement park. Her lips parted in awe as she was taken in by the view, drenched in the breath-taking colors of the setting sun.
    After their day spent in the park, trying everything and leaving the Ferris wheel for last, the sun had just started to set, coating the entire area in a brilliantly warm golden glow. Slowly, Song’s hands left Marceline’s torso to grip at the safety bar in front of her, her body actually leaning forward to get a better view.
    She’d forgotten how high she was in the midst of her captivation. A smile tugged at the corners of her lips until it was wide enough to see. Being able to see a view like this, it was almost surreal.
    “I told you,” she sighed victoriously.
    All Song could do was nod as she leaned back against the hard plastic of the seat, not even bothered when the cart swayed in response.
    But the process was almost abruptly interrupted when they felt the cart kick into motion again, rotating them until they were back near the ground. Feeling as though she’d been ripped off, Marceline complained to the conductor of the ride.
    “Hey, what gives? We barely had any time on it.”
    “Sorry, kid. Thunder’s rolling in. We can’t have people on this thing in the rain. Safety hazard.”
    “But it’s not even –“ Marceline was cut off by the smack of a rain drop against her forehead. She blinked, looking up at the nearly cloudless sky with skeptical disbelief. “You’ve got to be kidding me. Of all days for the devil to beat his wife,” she scowled, looking over at Song, who was looking confused by her phrase of choice. Marceline shook her head dismissively and tugged Song along towards the food court. “Never mind. Come on. We can still get some food before it starts to really rain.”
    Song pointed at the sky in almost worrisome question, but Marceline waved it off.
    “Nah. It just started drizzling. We have at least like … fifteen minutes. The next bus doesn’t leave for another ten, anyway.”
     
                  Eight minutes later, both Song and Marceline were rushing to get to the bus stop in the downpour. Song was holding onto Marceline’s hand for dear life, fearful that if she wasn’t able to keep up, she would be left behind. Marceline was considerably faster, even in the rain. And she was determined not to have them miss the bus.
    “Stupid rain – I can’t believe this,” Marceline