Chapter 3: State Fair

With his naturally bored face, Sven came down the hall and found it odd that his key moved so effortlessly when unlocking his office door. He then scowled and entered the room irritated.

Farara, Lucian, and Naari were hanging out in Sven’s office without permission, acting like it was their living room. Snacks, drinks, and cans were littered around the room. Lucian and Naari were committed to finishing a puzzle on the glass table in the middle of the room. Farara chewed on her hair while needlessly shopping for garbage she didn’t need on her phone.

Sven’s eyes darted suspiciously between his so-called friends. “Who copied my key?” he asked, calm but laced with wrath. The room fell cold as everyone avoided eye contact.

Naari and Lucian pointed at Farara. “Oh, come on,” she said. “Why would it be me? Alright, I duplicated your key. But I figured we hang out here all the time, so why not?”

“Well, the main concern is that it’s my office.” Sven slapped a folder on his desk. “You guys leave the place sticky.”

“I’m sorry, darling. I did my best to prevent them,” Naari explained.

“No, she didn’t!” Farara pointed at her friend. “It was her idea to begin with.”

“I mentioned in passing that I would love a key to this room, not actually manifest one,” Naari said, flustered.

Sven was already tired of their nonsense. “Do whatever as long as you clean up your messes. If you lose it, though...” Sven’s wicked eyes glared at the three of them. “I’ll kill you.”

Sven’s friends became a vacuum of sound, and Farara deeply dug her nose into her phone. Sven sat down and opened his laptop and saw a suspicious black dot on the upper right bordering the screen. He scanned the room, jabbed his thumb between the screen and the edge, removed the dot, crushed it with a crunch, and sprinkled it into the trash.

“Have you two gone to the state fair yet?” Lucian asked.

Naari stared blankly. “The state fair is here?”

“Duh.” Farara tossed her phone aside on the couch she commandeered. “We’re going tomorrow. Can’t wait for all the rides and food. I’m going to destroy so many funnel cakes.”

“That does sound like a satisfactory time,” Naari gushed. She glanced at Sven several times.

Sven didn’t see her glances but heard them as loud as a scream. “We’ll go on Saturday. Later in the day, though.”

“Delightful,” Naari beamed.

“They brought some sick roller coasters.” Lucian was pumped. “I’m going to try them all twice. Or three times.”

“Once is enough for me,” Farara responded, checking her face with a mirror.

“Now,” Sven glared over the top of his laptop. “Unless you want to pay the rent or help me with what you consider ‘boring and lame’ work, leave my office.”

The office was cleared in seconds, and Sven sighed. Looking into the trashcan, he frowned at the tiny bits of wires and microchips.

What are you here for?

Saturday quickly came, and the weather was unusually prickly warm, so people broke out their shorts and tank tops. Naari wore a cute green tank top, a medium blue skirt, and a bow tying her ponytail.

His girlfriend’s energy overpowered Sven when he pulled up to her place. She bounced into the car and was beyond giddy. Sven couldn’t keep up but was glad she was so happy.

“I haven’t participated in a state far and so long.” She blushed. “And now that I’m with a romantic partner, I won’t feel so uncomfortable.”

“That’s good.” Sven goggled and looked over as they drove past an overly dressed woman sitting on a bus bench. Sunglasses obscured her face, but he knew she was staring him down as he passed. He dismissed the interaction and held Naari’s hand, interlocking their fingers.

“Darling?” Naari became hot.

“My hand’s cold,” he replied quickly, trying to hide he was unnerved.

After thirty minutes, they arrived at the fairgrounds. Naari nearly dragged Sven to the ticket line with a dumb smile stealing her face.

They got to the ticket stand; Naari scrambled into her purse, searching for cash, but frowned when she found nothing. “I wanted to pay this time, but...”

“I got you, dork. Next time, though.” Sven was half joking.

They entered, and Naari was immediately drawn to the buildings, leaking the smell of farm animals. The AC blasted their cheeks when they ducked inside.

There were several pens for barn creatures, and hanging above was a sign that read “Petting Zoo.”

“Look at the sheep.” Naari pointed, bouncing like a child. “They’re adorable. Do you wonder if we can touch them affectionately?”

“I have a sneaking suspicion we can,” Sven answered dryly. He stuck a quarter in a feed machine, twisted the knob, and filled his hand with animal pellets. “Want to become popular for a minute?”

Sven dumped half of the pellets into Naari’s expectant palms. Then, he presented his food in the pen, and a younger sheep devoured the treats, grunting as he did.

“That’s so adorable. You have a hidden talent for animals.”

Sven nearly blushed. “Nah. They’re simple-minded.”

Naari followed and giggled when the sheep finished the food and nibbled at her fingernails. Naari fawned over more animals, and Sven noticed bunnies scratching their ears and fluttering their nostrils. He figured Naari would love them and summoned her to the cages.

“Look at those fuzzballs. That’s cute, right? You enjoy cute, I discovered.” Sven was surprised when Naari wriggled away. “Something wrong?”

“I do not desire to be in proximity of those beings,” Naari said clearly.

“Why? They’re just rabbits.” Sven was baffled. “Come on.” He grabbed her wrist. “Give them a look. They’re harmless.”

Naari swallowed hard before approaching the caged beasts. Their round eyes, twitching noses, and flopping ears caused Naari’s lustrous skin to sour and crawl.

“You’re right. They’re up to something.” Sven said after Naari became quiet and ansty. “Let’s walk around a while and check out something else.”