Brookstone's annual Fall Festival brought music, booths, and bright orange leaves. Jeremiah walked through the crowd with his friends but kept glancing toward the carousel where Zoey and her friends lingered.
When she spotted him, she waved. Minutes later, they were eating caramel apples together. He felt more relaxed in the cool air and warm noise. When she tugged his sleeve and pulled him to the haunted house, his fear of jump-scares dissolved beside her laughter.
By the end of the night, they had shared a slow ride on the Ferris wheel, and Zoey leaned her head briefly against his shoulder. Jeremiah barely remembered the ride down. He only remembered her.