Chapter 29

It had been a few days since my dinner with Macklin, and somehow, my life had settled into something I hadn't felt in a long time—normal. Well, as normal as it could get when your ex-boyfriend-turned-stalker kept popping up like an unskippable YouTube ad.

School had completely absorbed me again, drowning me in assignments, deadlines, and the occasional existential crisis. But amidst all of that, there was one thing that had been making my days a little brighter: Macklin. We'd been texting every day, our conversations so easy that I found myself actually looking forward to my phone lighting up. It felt...nice. Like, really nice.

Except for the aggravating little bug in the back of my head. That bug's name? Jackson.

He was relentless. The texts kept coming—pleas, guilt-tripping, and, my personal favorite, the one where he said, "I've changed, I swear." Right. Just like how a raccoon swears it won't go through your trash again.

Two days ago, he even had the audacity to approach me and Gabi at the library. Before he could get a word out, Gabi yanked me by the wrist and pulled off an escape so fast we could've qualified for the Olympics.

This morning, I was going to enjoy my chai tea latte from my beloved gorgeous pink Keurig and pretend my life wasn't a walking Netflix drama.

I curled up on the couch, inhaling the cinnamon-spiced goodness, when my phone buzzed with a message from the group chat with Will, Macklin, and Gabi.

Will: Alright, children. Macklin and I are officially off practice duty. Let's do something fun before we all lose our minds from stress.

Macklin: I second this. My brain is officially fried.

Lex: Your brain was already fried, Macky.

Macklin: Wow. This is the gratitude I get for trying to plan a fun day?

Will: ANYWAY. Great America? A little adrenaline to shake off the stress?

Before I could respond, I heard a door swing open behind me.

"DID SOMEBODY SAY GREAT AMERICA?!"

Gabi came barreling out of her room, practically vibrating with excitement.

"Oh my God," I said, nearly spilling my chai. "Were you lurking in there just waiting for a reason to sprint out like that?"

Gabi ignored my accusation and grabbed my phone, scanning the texts.

"We have to go," she said, already typing a response for me.

"Hey! At least let me say yes myself."

Gabi gave me a look. "Lex. You need this."

She wasn't wrong. Between school, the stress of ignoring Jackson's never-ending texts, and overthinking my entire existence, a day of roller coasters, junk food, and screaming my head off sounded...kind of perfect.

I sighed and grabbed my phone back.

Lex: Let's do it.

Macklin: Took you long enough.

Will: Meet at the entrance at 1?

Gabi: Yes!!

I set my phone down and stretched, already feeling lighter.

"Alright," I said, standing up. "Let's get ready."

Gabi clapped her hands. "Finally, some enthusiasm! Let's go before Will starts roasting us in the chat for being late."

With that, we both rushed off to get dressed, the excitement finally settling in.

(A/N idk what season they're in and ik it's only open in the summer or holidays but pls don't mind the timeline— for the plot)

———

The sun was high in the sky, casting a warm glow over Great America as we made our way through security without a hitch. The air buzzed with the sounds of excited chatter, laughter, and the distant screams of people plunging down roller coasters. The smell of fried food, cotton candy, and sunscreen lingered in the air, making the whole atmosphere feel like pure, chaotic fun.

"I feel like I can already hear my soul leaving my body on those rides," Gabi muttered, watching a coaster zoom by overhead with a chorus of terrified shrieks.

"Oh, that's just the beginning," Will said, stretching his arms above his head. "We're going all in today. No cowardice allowed."

Lex scoffed. "Says the guy who almost threw up after riding the drop tower last time."

Will pointed at her. "That's slander. I didn't throw up. I almost did. Big difference."

Macklin chuckled. "And yet, here you are, talking the most."

I grinned, already feeling the stress from the week start to fade away. "Alright, where to first? We hitting the coasters or warming up with something easy?"

"We're starting strong," Macklin said, nodding toward Flight Deck, the massive, looping inverted coaster nearby. "None of this 'warming up' nonsense."

Gabi groaned. "Straight to the chaos, huh?"

"You'll be fine," I said, nudging her. "And if not, Will can hold your hand."

Will smirked. "I charge for emotional support."

Gabi rolled her eyes but couldn't help laughing before grabbing his hand and swinging them back and forth.

Macklin leaned down slightly at me, his voice teasing. "What about you? Need me to hold your hand?"

I laugh slightly, ignoring the way my face immediately heated up. "Definitely not." — yet he ignored what I said and still grabbed my hand as we walked further into the amusement park.

With our fate decided, we made our way toward the line for Flight Deck. The closer we got, the louder the whooshing of the coaster filled the air, followed by the deafening screams of people being flipped upside down at ridiculous speeds. The line moved surprisingly fast, and before we knew it, we were strapping ourselves into the seats.

"This is such a bad idea," Gabi muttered, gripping the harness.

The ride operator checked our restraints, gave the usual safety spiel, and then just like that- the ride jolted forward.

The slow ascent up the first hill was filled with nervous energy.

"This is fine," Will said, feigning confidence.

"This is not fine," Gabi shot back.

I turned my head toward Macklin, who was sitting beside me, looking way too calm. "Not even a little nervous?" I asked.

He shook his head, smirking slightly. "I live for this."

I deadpanned. "So fearless."

And then before I could throw another sarcastic comment his way— we dropped.

The wind ripped past us as we plummeted down, twisting and turning through loops, feet dangling freely beneath us. Midway through the ride, I felt a warm hand slip over mine, steady despite the chaos around us.

I turned my head to find Macklin, grinning like this was the best day of his life. "Having fun?" he shouted over the wind.

I couldn't help but laugh. "I hate you so much right now."

"Liar," he teased, squeezing my hand before letting go as we twisted into another loop.

By the time we pulled into the station, my hair was a mess, my heart was pounding, and I was grinning so hard my cheeks hurt.

As soon as we got off, Gabi grabbed my arm dramatically. "I survived," she gasped.

"You were literally laughing the entire second half," I pointed out.

"Because at that point, I accepted my fate."

Will patted her shoulder. "Proud of you, champ."

We spent the next few hours bouncing between rides, each one leaving us more exhilarated than the last. We tackled gold striker, the rough and ridiculously fast wooden coaster that made us feel like we were about to be thrown off the tracks at any moment. We rode 'the demon', screaming extra loud just for fun.

Between the rides, we indulged in all the essential theme park snacks; corn dogs, truffle fries, and the biggest funnel cake I had ever seen.

At one point, Macklin reached over and wiped powdered sugar off my cheek with his thumb "You're a mess."

I rolled my eyes. "You literally just ate an entire fried Twinkie. Don't judge me."

He just grinned. "You're cute when you're flustered."

I shoved a piece of funnel cake in his mouth before he could say anything else.

After regaining our strength, we made our way toward the drop tower, the infamous ride that shot you up high into the sky only to drop you straight down without warning.

"You sure you're up for this, Will?" I teased.

Will sighed dramatically in response.

Gabi snickered. "Let's see if history repeats itself."

We climbed into our seats, the ride locking us in before slowly lifting us toward the top. The higher we went, the more the park below turned into a miniature version of itself.

"Wow," I muttered, taking in the view. "Kinda pretty up here."

"Yeah," Macklin said, glancing toward me instead of the view. "Really pretty."

I turned my head, caught off guard, but before I could even react—

We dropped.

The scream that came out of me was not my proudest moment, but judging by the equally loud yells from Will and Gabi, I wasn't alone. By the time we hit the bottom, my stomach felt like it was still somewhere in the sky.

Macklin turned to me, smug as ever. "Admit it. You loved the drop tower."

I glared at him. "I will never admit that."

"You screamed the whole time."

"You held my hand the whole time!"

He shrugged. "You didn't let go."

I opened my mouth, but no comeback came. He smirked, obviously pleased with himself.

After riding the drop tower, my heart still racing from the adrenaline rush, I turned to Macklin, who was practically glowing with excitement. We both laughed, still catching our breath from the wild ride.

"Alright, you," I grinned, grabbing his arm and tugging him toward a photo booth in the corner of the park. "We're getting pictures in the booth."

Macklin raised an eyebrow but smiled. "You're really serious, huh?"

"Absolutely."

He shrugged, a mischievous twinkle in his eyes. "If you insist then!"

We squeezed inside the small booth, barely fitting together. Macklin ended up sitting on the seat, and I sat down on his lap with a soft laugh. The booth was cramped, but in a way, it was kind of perfect. I could feel his chest against my back, the warmth of his body making the space feel a little less tiny and more comfortable.

The first camera flash went off, and we both just smiled, our faces bright with genuine happiness. I could feel the soft brush of his hand on my waist, the closeness only making the moment feel sweeter.

"Okay, another" I said, unable to stop the grin spreading across my face.

The second flash went off. This time, we both stuck our tongues out at each other, making the silliest faces we could muster. I let out a laugh, our eyes locked in a goofy stare. Macklin's tongue was in full display and I followed suit, pulling a face that matched the silliness of the moment.

As the camera flashed again, Macklin, ever the prankster, reached over and placed his hands above my head, making bunny ears behind me. The instant the photo clicked, I let out an exaggerated gasp, covering my mouth in playful surprise. My face showed a cute and pretend shocked expression, like I couldn't believe he'd just done that to me.

The last camera flash caught us in a different moment, one that felt a little quieter. Macklin gently cupped my face in his hands, leaning in close. I could feel his breath on my skin, warm and soft. Our noses brushed before he leaned in fully, his lips meeting mine in a gentle, sweet kiss.

The flash went off at the perfect moment, capturing the connection between us. I melted into the kiss, my heart racing all over again like how it was on the rides, but this time for a completely different reason.

When the last photo was taken, Macklin pulled back just enough to look at me, his eyes soft.  We stayed in the booth for a moment longer, just looking at each other, our laughter and playful teasing fading into the background as the last photo strip slid out.

"Alright, alright, let's see how badly we really look," I said, reaching for the strip.

We both leaned in as I pulled it out, our heads nearly touching as we stared at the silly, goofy, and sweet photos.

Just then, the sound of footsteps approached, and I looked up to see Will and Gabi coming toward us, both grinning like they'd been up to something.

"You guys ready for our turn?" Will asked.

Macklin leaned back, a small, content smile tugging at his lips. "Let's see what you two have got."

Gabi nudged Will as she playfully pushed him toward the booth. "You're going to have to work hard to beat this one," she teased.

Will shrugged, chuckling. "Challenge accepted."

I leaned into Macklin, my heart still fluttering from the photos and the fact that, for once, everything just felt... easy.

"Those were fun," I said softly, my hand resting against his.

Macklin looked down at me, his smile a little softer than before. "Yeah. They really were."

And for a moment, everything felt just perfect.———As we neared the game booths, the colorful lights illuminated the evening sky, making everything feel even more alive. The sounds of bells ringing and people cheering filled the air, drawing us in.

"Ooooh, let's do one of these," Gabi said, tugging at my arm. "I want a prize."

"Don't you already have a lot stuffed animals?" I teased.

"There is never enough."

Macklin smirked. "Alright, challenge accepted."

Will cracked his knuckles dramatically. "Ladies, prepare to be wowed."

Gabi raised an eyebrow. "You do realize these games are rigged, right?"

"Then I guess I'll just have to defy the odds," Will said, flashing a confident grin.

We wandered up to a booth where players had to knock down a pyramid of bottles with a single baseball.

Macklin stepped up first, grabbing a ball and rolling it in his hand. "Alright, what do I get if I win?" he asked, looking at me with a playful glint in his eyes.

"A stuffed animal?" I said, pretending to think about it. "Or eternal bragging rights."

He smirked. "Both, it is."

He wound his arm back and threw the ball with the precision of an athlete—because, well, he was one. The ball slammed into the bottles, sending them flying in every direction. The game attendant barely had time to react before they declared him a winner.

Macklin turned to me with a grin. "Pick your prize."

I scanned the wall of stuffed animals, my eyes landing on a ridiculously cute plush penguin. "That one," I said, pointing.

Macklin grabbed it and handed it to me. "For you," he said, his voice softer now.

I took it, my fingers brushing against his for a moment longer than necessary. "Thanks," I said, suddenly feeling very aware of how close we were standing.

Macklin smiled. "Worth every throw."

Before I could respond, Will stepped up, determined to win for Gabi.

"Alright, watch and learn," he said, grabbing a baseball.

Gabi crossed her arms. "If you miss, I will laugh."

Will threw the ball—completely missing the bottles.

Gabi burst out laughing.

Macklin and I didn't even try to hold back our chuckles as Will groaned. "That was a practice throw."

Gabi wiped a tear from her eye. "Yeah? Practicing what? Humility?"

Will shot her a playful glare before grabbing another ball. He took a deep breath, focused, and this time, nailed the shot, knocking every bottle over.

He turned to Gabi with a smug smile. "Guess I won't have to practice humility after all."

Gabi rolled her eyes but was still smiling as she picked out a plush bunny. "Not bad," she admitted.

Will handed her the bunny. "For you, my dear critic."

She took it, but I didn't miss the way her fingers curled around the soft fabric or how she smiled before saying, "Thanks, Will."

He smirked. "Anything for you."

I glanced at Macklin, who also seemed to be watching the exchange with amusement. It wasn't exactly new to see Will and Gabi flirt like this, but something about tonight made it feel a little different.

As we walked away from the booths, I hugged my penguin to my chest, sneaking a glance at Macklin. His eyes flickered to me, catching me in the act, and I looked away quickly.

"You like it?" he asked.

I nodded. "Yeah. It's adorable."

Macklin grinned. "Good. Because I was not going to let you leave this park without a win."

"Awfully determined," I teased.

He shrugged. "Only for things that matter."

My heart definitely skipped a beat at that.

Meanwhile, up ahead, Will nudged Gabi's shoulder. "So... where's my 'wow' reaction? I did win, you know."

Gabi hugged her bunny closer. "You get a solid not bad."

Will clutched his chest dramatically. "Not bad? That's it?"

She smirked. "Don't push it, champ."

Will grinned, and I could swear he looked at her a little longer than usual.

We start walking towards the exit as the stars begin to come out. I excuse myself to go to the bathroom before we leave the park. Everyone decided to sit on a nearby bench to wait for me as their legs were killing them.

Trigger warning: Violence

I stepped out of the bathroom, exhaling as I adjusted my shirt. It was a perfect night.

Or at least, it was until a hand yanked me back, hard.

My body jerked as I was pulled behind the building, my back slamming into the cold brick wall. My breath hitched as I registered who it was.

Jackson.

His grip on my arms was strong, pinning me in place. My heart dropped.

"Lex, please," he whispered, voice low and desperate. "Just hear me out."

Panic surged through me, my fight-or-flight instincts kicking in. I struggled, twisting against his hold, but he wouldn't let go.

"Get off me, Jackson." My voice was sharp, demanding. But inside, my stomach churned.

He didn't budge. His dark eyes searched mine, full of something twisted—something obsessive. "I just need to talk to you," he pleaded. "You keep ignoring me. I—I love you."

A sharp wave of anger cut through my fear. "This isn't love. This is obsession. You're insane."

I pushed against his grip, twisting my arms to break free, and for a moment, I did.

But Jackson was fast. Too fast.

His hands snapped back to me, yanking me forward and slamming me harder against the wall. The impact sent a sharp sting through my back.

"Jackson, stop!" I yelled, my voice cutting through the noise of the amusement park. But we were far enough from the crowd that no one turned. No one saw.

His grip on my wrists tightened. "I won't hurt you, I swear—I just need you to understand," he begged. His breathing was uneven, his fingers pressing into my skin. "We belong together. I'll make you happy. I'll be better."

My stomach twisted with disgust. "You think this is making me happy? You won't let me go. Physically. Emotionally. You're hurting me."

His eyes darkened. "Not if you just say yes," he muttered. "Just say you'll give us another chance, and I'll let go. Please, Lex."

I clenched my jaw, my pulse hammering in my ears. "I found someone else," I spat. "And you need to leave me alone." I was debating on saying that or giving into it and saying yes to secure my safety so I can leave his grip. But I didn't want to give him the satisfaction of me saying yes, he could possibly see that as an invitation to furthering his obsession.

Jackson's expression flickered between hurt and rage. His grip on me loosened but then his voice dropped, venom curling around his words.

"No one will be as good as me," he muttered.

A bitter laugh slipped out of me. "Oh, you mean the guy who controlled my every move? Such a catch."

His jaw tensed. And then, his voice dropped even lower, his words laced with something cruel.

"You never even let us go past third," he muttered. "You held that back from me."

My stomach curdled. I felt sick.

"Maybe because you were a control freak," I shot back, forcing my voice to stay sharp even as my skin crawled. "Which, by the way? Total turn-off."

His grip faltered just slightly but then his expression shifted. The next thing he said made my blood run cold.

"Let's see if I'm still a turn-off now."

His hands moved downwards.

I didn't even have time to react as before he could do anything, he was gone.

A force ripped him away from me, and the next thing I knew, Jackson was on the ground.

I gasped, my breath catching in my throat.

Macklin.

He stood over Jackson, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. His chest rose and fell with barely controlled rage.

His presence alone sent a wave of relief through me, but I barely had time to process it before Macklin moved.

"Don't. Fucking. Touch her," Macklin growled, his voice lethal.

Jackson barely had time to roll onto his side before Macklin swung.

The punch landed with a sickening crack.

Jackson groaned, his head snapping to the side, but Macklin wasn't done. Before he could even lift his arms in defense, Macklin lunged again, landing another brutal punch, this time to his ribs.

My breath came in short, panicked bursts. I had never ever seen Macklin like this.

"Macklin!" I shouted, stepping forward, my voice laced with urgency.

His muscles were flexed, his jaw clenched, his breathing ragged. He was pure rage, raw and unfiltered, a side of him I had never witnessed before.

Macklin raised his fist again—

I lunged, grabbing his arm. My fingers wrapped around his forearm, gripping tightly.

"Macky, stop."

At my touch, he froze.

His breath was ragged as he turned toward me, his fury stopping when his eyes met mine.

He was still breathing heavily, his shoulders rising and falling. But slowly, the anger faded, replaced by something softer. Something almost terrified.

"I'm sorry," he whispered. His voice was rough, uneven. "I just—I couldn't control my anger. He was going to hurt you, Lex."

I swallowed hard, my heart still racing.

I clutched the stuffed penguin he won for me earlier, pressing it to my chest as if it could steady my heartbeat.

"It's okay," I said quietly. "Let's just go." I reach out my hand to hold his, reassuring him that I'm not mad at him.

Macklin exhaled sharply, running a hand through his hair before nodding.

Jackson was still slumped against the wall, groaning in pain.

We didn't look back as we walked away.

-=+=-

MY GOD THIS TOOK SO LONG~ thank the lord it's spring break and I have nothing other than work 🤭🤭 I hope u guys like long chapters uhm— lmk I can break it up shorter too whichever is preferred..

Loveeeee seeing your comments and votes makes me so happy as the interest for this is increasing 😭😭😭❤️