To Trust or Not To Trust (MysticXTraveler)

[MysticalRose]

Caroline Monroe stood in line with her fiancé and friends waiting to get into the carnival that arrived just the night before. Her brown eyes dancing at the lights and sounds coming from within the fenced in area. Antsy with excitement she held onto his hand barely keeping herself together. She was a true kid at heart, and that is what most people loved about her. Having decided to spend the night living out their childhood memories and entertain themselves outside of the busy day to day lives they all had. The group of five moved through the line at a steady pace. They chatted amongst themselves deciding what rides and games they were going to indulge in. Caroline mentioned the beer tent she saw the signs for and the band they could hear playing. "Tonight will be amazing!!" she squealed.

Caroline stood no taller than 5'7 with flats, her long brown hair made its wavy appearance and sat upon her middle back. Her dark brown eyes gazed upon her fiancé with love and admiration to the fact he dealt with her personality way beyond any person should have to. Jacob made her life seem so much more than it really was, his recent proposal made her glow. Her friends teasing her as she held onto him. It did not take long for them to cross over inside the fence and receive their wrist bands, heading straight for the bumper cars they stood in line for a brief time.

"I am taking you down Jacob!" she squealed climbing into her car and lowering the waist bar. "Be warned!" she teased. It was moments later the bumper cars came to life and began moving. While being bumped and ran into from every side she laughed trying to catch up to him.

 

[Traveler]

Jacob Brandt had always been a serious person. He was born with a scowl, according to his parents, and took everything with a solemnity that belied his age. All that had changed when he met Caroline, and she opened his eyes to true joy. Maybe it had been the way she had smiled into her book at the coffee shop, or the way her long, brown hair had draped over her shoulder and captured the light. Whatever it was, from the moment he laid eyes on her, he knew his life was forever changed.

Now as they stood in line together, he couldn’t imagine himself with anyone else. He looked down into her eyes and grinned. It was easy to do. Standing a bit over six feet, his chin was just at the right height to nestle her underneath it when they stood in the rain. She was the beauty to his beast. The Cinderella to his Prince Charming. She was everything he wanted in a partner, and more.

She was his soulmate. He knew this to his core as surely as he knew that he breathed.

His eyes slid over to their friends. Her friends, really. She was outgoing and so charismatic that her circle quickly became his own. He laughed at Caroline’s squeal of happiness, and when they finally got their wristbands and ran for the bumper cars, he felt his unexperienced childhood bubbling up for the very first time.

“Not if I take you down first! Be warned,” he said, testing the steering wheel on the bumper car. “I’m deadly behind the wheel.” He grinned at her as they surged forward, bumping and dodging each other while trying not to ram the ‘actual’ children in the bumper car field.

They bumped and crashed, laughed and teased, as their five minutes ran through its timer. It ended much too soon. Once the music faded and they were allowed to get out of their cars he went to catch her up into a hug. “I take it back,” he laughed. “If anyone is deadly behind the wheel, it’s you!” He gave her a quick kiss as the track cleared in preparation for the next bunch of drivers.

 

[MysticalRose]

Caroline managed to get him a few times before the timer ran out. Watching Jacob coming at him she hugged him back while laughing. "That was nothing." she teased. Holding his hand as they made their way off the platform, her friends rejoining them as they exited. All of them trying to talk over each other trying to navigate which ride they would go on next. Leaning into his shoulder she nudged him a little "I love you" she said with a smile spread across her face.

They rode rides, and enjoyed the company of everyone for hours. A few of her friends parted ways, Caroline hung around to play a few games before they walked around aimlessly. "Shall we stay or head home?" she questioned as they walked away from the basketball toss game. A giant teddy bear hitched to her hip.

The love Caroline felt for Jacob could not compare, she was always reckless and living life on the edge of her seat. He managed to tame her for the most part, while letting her be who she was without the chaos that always followed her decisions. Having moved out to the city to escape the small town life, she let herself enjoy the company of wild nights and days resting in a coffee shop reading her books.

 

[Traveler]

When she leaned into him and declared her love, he smiled quietly, taking in the perfection of the moment and filing it away with all the other moments he cherished with her. “I love you too,” he said, leaning down to kiss her.

The rest of the night passed too quickly. Looking back on it, he wished he could have held on to those moments forever. Their friends took Instagram ready shots, posting their evening’s events (one wanted to be an influencer) and enjoying the night where they could embrace having fun without worrying about jobs, bills, or other ‘grown up’ concerns.

As Caroline and Jacob walked through the lit aisles of the carnival’s game alley, she asked if they should stay or head home. He grinned at her. “Well, my favorite ride is the Caroline Roller Coaster,” he teased, “and we only get seats for that at home.” He reached over, dabbed a bit of the whipped cream from his funnel cake on her nose, and grinned. “If you think that teddy bear is tired, we should go.”

As much fun as this was, they had a day to themselves before the mad rush to Monday, and then another long week ahead of them. Tomorrow night they had the drive to her parent’s house for dinner. It would be the first time she had seen them since the proposal, and he knew that it meant a lot. Not that he had anything against her parents, but the drive was two hours each way, and though he would do anything for her, sitting in freeway traffic wasn’t his idea of a restful Sunday evening.

“Come on,” he urged. “Let’s get a bag of kettle corn and call it a night.” That, and cotton candy – two of his three favorite carnival foods, would make their trip complete. It just didn’t taste the same unless you bought it from some grimy, dirty, little booth in a cheap city carnival on a hot summer’s night. “Hey, you think June and Luke would want to go out to the lake with us next weekend?”

Of their friends he liked them the most. He never felt like he was on the outside of an inside joke with them, and though June could mix a strong drink, they never got as shit-faced as they did with others they sometimes hung out around. Besides, Luke enjoyed casting a fly line just as much as Jacob did, and it would give them something to do that didn’t involve race cars, talking about politics, or talking about work.

 

[MysticalRose]

Caroline smiled and squinched her nose as the whipped cream sat there. Goofing around she tried using her tongue to make it go away, but to no avail. Wiping her nose off while giggling she nodded. "Teddy is exhausted." She teased as they walked to fetch his favorite carnival snacks.

Caroline gasped. "Oh my god that's a wonderful idea, I mean June has this big project at work this week!" "I'm so sure she would be down to relax and get away!!" She stated as she pulled her phone out while they walked towards their car. Texting June to find out and make plans. Before she could get her phone away she received the answered that the date was set. "Done deal!" She rreplied.Taking his hand and wrapping it around her body.

"Let's go ride the Caroline Coaster and get ready for our day trip!" She said laying her head against him as they walked, the sound of the rides and games becoming quieter.

 

[Traveler]

“I always wanna ride the Caroline Coaster,” he said, sliding his arm around her waist and walking with her out into the parking lot. His burnt gold Nissan 350Z coupe sat a distance away. Even though it wasn’t brand new, he liked to steer away from door dings and scratches from other vehicles. He opened the back of the car to let her stuff the giant teddy bear inside, then walked around to hold her door for her.

Song in Car

“Your carriage awaits, my lady,” he teased. Once she was in, he went to the driver’s said and activated the Bluetooth. ‘Afterthought’ came on, the speakers sending the base into their spine as it wrapped them up in its sound. He smiled across the cabin at her as he pulled on his seatbelt and pulled out of the parking lot. It had been a good day, and they had the rest of their lives together.

The lights of the city streaked by as they drove the freeways home. He reached over and took her hand in his, bringing to his lips. “I love you,” he whispered into the kiss. The night flew by them, the sparkle of the city glimmering as brightly as their future, and nothing to do but enjoy their life together. He took the offramp onto the city streets and threaded through the one way streets until he reached their apartment, where he drove between the buildings to their underground parking lot.

“Home sweet home,” he said, feeling settled now that they were back in their familiar environment. Their two bedroom apartment was just the right size for them, and was sleek and modern, while putting them right smack in the middle of town. He loved it.

 

[MysticalRose]

Caroline bit her lower lip in a teasing matter. Stuffing her bear into the rear end of the car, finally managing to get it in she laughed at the scrunched looking bear before walking over to the held open door. "Mhmm, I will never get enough of this..." she whispered as she stole a kiss sliding into the car. Watching him walk around and get in, the music consumed her. Laying back into the seat she hummed along to the songs. They did not always agree to the music choices every time they rode together but this had become one of her favorite by a long shot.

The freeway was pretty clear compared to how it was most nights, which gave her a sigh of relief. It just meant their ride home would be enjoyable and not jarring in traffic. The lights passing by them had her tranced like it did every night they drove across the city . Jacobs lips against her hand caused her to look over a smile spreading across her lips "I love you more, for ever and ever." she whispered back. Once the lights faded and the dimmed lights of their underground parking lot consumed them she sat up straighter getting ready to get out of her jeans and slip into something comfy.

"Home Sweet Home." she repeated as the car parked and she slid out and closed her door. "Leave the bear, we will grab him tomorrow." she called out as he climbed out. The ride up the elevator to their apartment was quick, just enough time for her to wrap her arms around his neck. "It wont be long now Mr. Brandt." she whispered teasingly against his lips. Not only was she referring to the roller coaster, but to the fact she would soon be Mrs. Brandt and their life would be a whole new journey. As the elevator started to slow she pushed her lower lip out pouting "Carry me?" she teased trying to get him riled up.

 

[Traveler]

“I like the way you are thinking,” he said when she suggested they leave the bear. He couldn’t fathom making love to her with that teddy bear watching them. In the elevator he smiled as she whispered against his lips. “It won’t be long at all, future Mrs. Brandt,” he whispered back.

His hands ran down her body when she asked him to carry her. “Oh, yeah…” He scooped her up into his arms, newlywed style.

Their apartment was sleek and modern. The ceilings were industrial, the walls painted in cool colors, and the floors were all hardwood and linoleum. He kicked the door shut behind them and went to the bedroom, laying her on the mattress, then leaning over to kiss her before backing away and dimming the lights. He turned on the Bluetooth in his phone and connected to the Bose speaker, and a “Quiet Beasts” came on.

Quiet Beasts

Smirking, his stormy blue eyes fixed on hers, Jacob began to unbutton his shirt. His body swayed with the beat of the music. He began to strip the shirt off, revealing the lean, athletic body beneath. As he pulled the shirt free he swung it in the air and sent it flying across the room with a grin, then reached for his belt buckle before pausing and raising a brow at her. He curled a finger at her as he stepped to the edge of the bed, beckoning her closer.

 

[MysticalRose]

Feeling his hands run down her body, she bit her lower lip arching into him. Raising on tip toes to steal another kiss before her swooped her up. "Your supposed to do this on the wedding day, not before." she giggled kicking her feet a little. Resting her head on his shoulder, she let him carry her through the door and around the apartment until she felt the bed beneath her. Caroline could not wrap her legs arounds him quick enough before he back away from her.

Leaning up on her elbows, she watched him turn the speaker on and his eyes refocus on her. Giggling she bit her lower lip, watching him start to strip to the music and move to the beat. Her eyes never wavered from his body as he slowly unbuttoned his shirt, and swinging it somewhere in the room. She was a lucky woman to have him by her side, always able to surprise her in his every day effort with her. Shifting her eyes lower to where his hand hovered over his belt her eyes dancing with delight she whimpered some enjoying the show when he beckoned her closer. Rolling so she was on her knees, she crawled to the edge of the bed. Kneeling on the bed, she was still short enough she had to look up at him.

Her hands raised and rested on his collarbones before softly and slowly her fingers grazed across his bare skin. Moving across his chest and down his abdomen, her lips leaving a damp trail as she moved herself lower. Her hands finding his belt buckle, slowly she undid it and began working on his button and zipper, the whole time her deep brown eyes never leaving the stormy blue eyes that were watching her every movement.