levatating

Teddy laughed, throwing his hands up in surrender before then reaching over and snatching a small piece of the spun sugar for himself. "Okay, so if it's your bear, then how do I explain why I'm carrying it back to her when I meet up with her, are you saying even when we go our separate ways, I still have to tow it around for you," he asked with a chuckle and slight shake of his head. "I mean, I'm sure she won't mind taking an extra big, cuddly friend on the rides, but I don't think it'd fit on the ferris wheel with the two of us. Unless you're planning on tagging along when I do meet back up with her," he paused with a grin, "which is fine if you don't mind seeing your big brother being all cutesy with his girlfriend."

"You just committed candy theft in broad daylight." Charlie said pointedly, her eyes narrowed dramatically before dissolving into a laugh. "And yes, obviously you're the one carrying the bear. You won it." She shrugged like it was the most logical thing in the world. "Besides, if I'm lugging around a giant stuffed animal, how am I supposed to dominate the rest of the games? I'm thinking ahead."At the mention of tagging along, she scrunched her nose with an exaggerated look of horror. "Oh, absolutely not." Charlie laughed, shaking her head. "I like Ana, but third-wheeling your date? That's a level of awkward I don't need in my life, whether PDA is involved or not." She bumped his shoulder lightly as they continued toward the games. "Don't worry, I'll disappear before then."

Quinn was enjoying walking around the carnival while Nick had Beth. She saw the cotton candy and smiled walking over. A cotton candy would be the best way to start off the carnival. Quinn didn't realize how close she got to the girl in front of her because when she turned around she bumped right into her. "Oh god, it's totally fine. I should've been standing further away!" Quinn apologized quickly. "I'm trying to do everything too, but I was thinking of hitting up some rides after this so If you're up for me joining you I'm all for that. I'm Quinn by the way." She smiled.

Charlie laughed, waving off the apology almost immediately. "Then we're both equally guilty." She held up her cotton candy with a grin. "I was way too focused on making sure I didn't drop this to pay attention to where I was turning." At Quinn's suggestion, her face lit up. "Perfect! I was secretly hoping someone would say rides first. People keep trying to convince me the games are the smart choice because we'll have more energy now, but I don't know. I feel like you have to start with the adrenaline." She offered Quinn a friendly smile. "I'm Charlie. Nice to meet you."

Teddy laughed, steadying the cotton candy before it had a chance to become one with his shirt. "I should've known I'd find you at the first place selling sugar," he teased, shaking his head with a grin. He glanced over his shoulder for a second before looking back at her. "I actually came with Ana, but she ran into a few friends so I said I'd meet up with her after a bit so she could catch up with them, so I was just killing some time until we meet back up," he grinned. "Which means I guess I'm available to be your temporary partner in crime." Looking between the games and the rides, he contemplated where to begin. "I feel like the games are the smarter choice to start with while we've still got energy. If we start with the rides, there's a very real chance you're going to talk me into getting on one that immediately makes me question every life decision that led me there. That and I need to save some rides to go on with Ana."

Charlie let out an exaggerated gasp, clutching her cotton candy to her chest like he'd just insulted her personally. "Excuse you," she laughed. "This wasn't my first stop. I showed remarkable restraint, actually. I only walked past this stand... twice." She tore off a fluffy piece of cotton candy, popping it into her mouth before pointing it at him. "Temporary partner in crime, huh? I can work with that. Just don't be surprised if Ana gets you back and suddenly you're carrying a giant stuffed bear you definitely didn't want because I somehow talked you into winning it for me. And yes, you will be carrying it for me."

Blaine laughed, half reaching out to steady Charlie as he took a step back of his own. "Oh believe me, I get it -- there's a lot to look at, and even more to listen to," he grinned. He'd gotten better at making sure he actually participated in community events over the last couple of years, instead of hiding out at Coda and burying himself at work, and the carnival had become something of a personal favorite. Charlie's question made him pause, though, and he looked up at the two different options -- down one path the midway, with its games of skill and colorful prizes, and down the other the flashing lights of the rides and bells and whistles Charlie had laughed about. "Honestly? I'm probably sticking with the games, for now. I got warned about the rides last time, I'm still not brave enough to risk it," he answered with a sheepish grin. His smile softened a bit, going shy. "I was kind of thinking of seeing if I could win something for Finn at some point -- he's better at that kind of thing than I am, though."

"Okay, good. I was worried I was about to be responsible for taking my own boss out at the carnival. That feels like it'd be a really awkward conversation on Monday." She took another bite of cotton candy, following his gaze toward the games before nodding slowly. "I've heard enough horror stories about carnival rides that I know I shouldn't, but I can't help it. I'll be making a bad decision and trusting at least one of them. I just haven't decided which one yet." His mention of Finn earned an immediate grin, being a sucker for romance. And what better example than winning a prize for your significant other? Sure, it'd be a bit more romantic if said significant other was present, but oh well. "That's actually really sweet. And for the record, I think you might be selling yourself short. Half those games are more luck than skill anyway. Worst case, we blame the games for being rigged. That's basically carnival tradition."

No, actually, I really do deserve hazard-pay for these things. Oh my god, when were you going to tell me you're an actual genius? Okay, I'm suddenly really excited for my next shift just so I can implement this and see the look on their faces when I rate them. Did you learn all this corporate lingo working at the bank or what?

I’ve been saving my genius ideas for emergency situations only, don't worry. But yeah, I definitely picked up some of that corporate nonsense working at the bank. You learn real quick how to make stuff sound official so they can’t argue with you. It's also really fun to lowkey insult people in a way that they don't register as an insult at all.

This is why I love having a super smart bestie! Not that it's the only thing I love about you, obviously, but it's definitely up there! I literally couldn't have picked a better plan if I tried. Honestly, depending on how many other cute things we happen to find, we might have to gatekeep that changing room for a lot longer, so hopefully the employees don't get all mad about it. Like, appreciate the business we're giving you! Anyways, maybe Saturday? What do we think? Also, maybe a trip to the food court after for some pretzels?

Um, yes, obviously pretzels. Shopping burns serious calories, Amber, it's practically a sport. If there aren't cinnamon sugar pretzels waiting for us at the finish line, what are we even doing? Honestly, if the employees try to kick us out of the changing rooms, we'll just tell them we're conducting vital fashion research. They should be thanking us for blessing the store, really.

I mean... you told me not to tell you, so I won't. But I've seen things, Char. Disgusting things I wish I'd never seen before, let's just say that. And I honestly would do that if management wouldn't get on my case for being rude. But that second idea right there? That is a novel idea, sis, and I might just have to borrow that straight from your beautiful brain. Plus, I do just really love humbling men in general, so that's right up my alley.

Ewwwwwwww. See, the fact that you didn't deny the sweat print means I am officially traumatized on your behalf. Management needs to hazard-pay you for it at this point. But please, I am begging you to actually use the clipboard method. If management asks, just tell them it's a new 'customer feedback initiative' to track gym member engagement. They love corporate buzzwords like that.

SO not cute, oh my God!! See, this is exactly why I love you, Char! You always come totally prepared with a plan. It is absolutely a date! Besides, I may or may not have a cute little sky blue number I saw the other day that I haven't been able to stop thinking you would look absolutely fab in since.

Say less, you know blue is so my color. Now I’m going to be thinking about that dress until we actually go, and there's no way we're leaving the store without new outfits for both of us. We need to pick a day this week before the mall gets completely overrun. My vote is we go early while the AC is actually keeping up with the heat, grab some iced coffee, and just gatekeep a changing room for an hour.

Can someone tell me why gym bros think it's even remotely okay to come over and hit on me while they're sweaty, gross, and musty? Like, I get it, I'm hot and I'm usually not doing much but tapping away on my phone at my receptionist desk. Go ahead, shoot your shot! But come on, dude, at least have the decency to wait until you don't stink to do it. It's not just me, right? Literally nobody likes that. I mean, feel free to correct me if I'm wrong and you actually like the sweat. I promise I'll try my best to only judge you a little.

You are definitely not wrong, that is absolutely vile. Please do not tell me someone's left a sweat print, because I will genuinely gag. There is a massive difference between "post-workout glow" and "biohazard," and someone needs to print that out and tape it to the front desk. OMG, no. You know what you should do? Just start rating their pickup lines on a scale of one to ten right to their faces. I bet the second you whip out a clipboard and tell a guy his alpha-male pheromones are scoring a solid two, the problem will solve itself pretty quickly.

Anybody else dreading summer a little bit? Don't get me wrong! Love the sunshine and all that, but I can never get fully into it because I hate being sweaty and gross so much. However, one thing I do love about summer? The chance to go summer shopping! Cute new sun dresses, sunglasses, bathing suits... all of that. So! Anybody want to join me in prepping for summer with some shopping? Let a girl know!

I’m torn too because I love summer but the second I step outside I feel like I’m melting. The sweat is NOT cute!! But the shopping?? The sundresses, the cute sandals, the swimsuits?? I’m so in. We need a full summer glow-up day. I’ve been eyeing this pastel yellow sundress that would look so good on you. We can try on a million things, get iced coffee, and make a whole thing out of it.

It´s that one day of the year, April 30th, and our whole generation has one song stuck in their mind. Or at least that one sentence from that song. You know the one I´m talking about. And I know you wanna say it, so let me hear you finish this... 🎼 IT`S GONNA BE...🎤...

I totally read this and replied in my head and forgot to actually go back and reply, rip. Seriously though, every year I tell myself I’m not going to give in to the meme, and every year Justin Timberlake’s ramen-hair wins.

Is it just me or does anyone else have those moments where you, like, mourn the relationships you didn't get to have? Okay, maybe not 'mourn', that sounds super overdramatic, but you get what I mean! Not your exes and people you actually dated, but the people you got close to and flirted a lot with and, for some reason or another, it just kinda fizzled out? That's literally me every time summer starts getting closer ever since a few years back this guy took me out to an amusement park for a date and then we literally kissed at the top of Ferris wheel like we were in a romcom! Not gonna lie, it's stuck with me and I just can't help thinking about it about this time. And, yeah, I know bare minimum since any guy could probably think that idea up on a date at an amusement park, but still!

Oh my gosh, Amber, YES! I know exactly what you mean! Like mourning the almost-relationships is so real. It’s not even the serious ones that get me, it’s the fun flirty ones that just kinda slipped away for no good reason. That Ferris wheel story is actually so cute though! Kissing at the top like a total romcom? I would still be thinking about that every single summer too! I had something sort of similar with this one guy a couple years ago I used to talk to a lot, even went to the Halloween thing with him… then he just ghosted out of nowhere. It’s so dumb to be that upset over since we never even officially dated, but you know how it is... Why do the almost-relationships haunt us more than the real ones? It’s not fair.

Did anyone see that article about raccoons apparently becoming more domesticated, but then some raccoon biologist ended up kind of debunking it and saying it's not accurate? Honestly, I'm kinda bummed, because who wouldn't want a raccoon for a pet, you know? Yes, I'm aware I have two dogs and three cats as it is, but I can't help but love some of those adorable woodland creatures. Like opossums, too! I'd love to have an opossum as a pet.

Okay, but… why? Like, seriously, why would anyone want a raccoon or an opossum in their house? I mean, I love animals, but some of them are meant to stay in the wild. What even would you feed it?

I’ll admit, I wasn’t entirely sure what to expect when I started Anne with an E, but that first episode really pulled me in. Anne’s personality is infectious. Has anyone else watched it?

Okay, confession time: Anne with an E has been sitting on my to-watch list FOREVER—like, it's been taunting me from my Netflix queue for literal years but I've heard SO many people rave about it. One of these day's I'll get around to it, though.