Coming Thro' to Rye PV Clifton Troublefield Fin

The Troublefields led the way into the Park where they got passed the ticket booth, walked passed the souvenir stand, and headed off to the left of the path way. She could hear the racing of various machines, cheering, screams, laughter. People were calling out to each other and music was playing from a speaker high in the air. She looked around to see everything painted brightly colors and moving in one direction or another, or all which way!

"Bumper Cars?" she turned her attention back to Clifton. Bumper made her thinking of bumping and it didn't seem wise for cars to bump into one another or any other object for that matter. His dad hurried his pace and went to get in line at one of the nearby attractions and she followed Clifton to do the same. There she saw people attempting to steer little cars, slamming them into one another and laughing.
"Bumper cars, right," she repeated, only this time she made herself sound like she knew exactly what was going on - even if she still didn't really get the jist of it because she hadn't been in one before.

She watched. Adults and kids alike where sharing in the experience. "...Does it hurt?" she leaned close to Clifton to whisper, not wanting to draw attention to herself from her silly question. Even the little ones seemed to be having a good time so it didn't seem so...but she wanted to be sure before she got inside one.

The moving vehicles came to a stop as the music slowed down and everyone seemed to realize that indicated the end of that round of the ride. They unbuckled their safety harness and hopped on out of each car, heading to the exit of the ride. Alina wondered if she was the only one there that had never been to an amusement park before.

It was the one and only time he'd seen Alina even a little bit nervous. He wondered if he should've started with something like the Carousel, though that seemed kind of slow. Or maybe the swings so at least they could sit together.

"You better get up here, Cliff, before someone steals your lucky green one,"[/color] his dad grinned, already past the ticket booth.

"No, it doesn't hurt," Clifton whispered back as they walked over. "I mean, I guess it can knock you around a little if you get going really fast, but that's the fun part."

He smiled and gave her a quick peck on the cheek. "And it is fun, I promise."


They showed the man their paper bracelets and then climbed the steps to the ride. He let go of her hand so she could choose one of the cars and then found the one with the same deep scratch and flame decorations that he'd probably rode in since he was six. Within a few moments, the speakers burst to life and the ride began. Clifton smiled at Alina and then tore off after his dad. The two jostled each other around probably harder than was recommended until other kids got in the way. Then he cruised over to Alina and slightly bumped the side of her car.

"What do you think?" he yelled over the music and the laughter.

The ride began and it was pretty easy to figure out that you pushed down on the pedal below and steered the wheel to make the car go. She was maneuvering it around when a little girl, about five, bumped her car into hers, startling Alina. She looked up to the girl who was giggling like crazy and then bumped Alina's car again. This time Alina too smiled and began laughing, starting to realizing the fun in this.

By the time Clifton had pulled up his vehicle to hers, she had it down. "Better watch yourself, Clive..." she said, letting her voice linger out a little because his father was coming up behind him. She no longer had any apprehensions over allowing mechanics to induce fun because they did! In fact, she wanted to go on one of those rides she could see from the distance that seemed to climb up higher than a mountain - the one that everyone was screaming on.

The music died down and the cars died down and from the last round Alina knew that was the indication to depart. She gave a small curtsy to the little girl, as if telling her that she won the battle and Alina succeeded, and then she joined back up with Clifton. "I want to go on one of those really big rides while we're here. The ones that go high in the air." Roller coasters, only she didn't know what they were called.

She pointed up high. "Like that." It was probably one of the tallest coasters at the park, one of the tallest coasters in the country. "We need to go on that. Can we?" She wanted to go on that and everything else. "Well, if others want to...." she paused, looking over to Mr. Troublefield. There was no reason to be selfish here and dictate what they did. This was a group trip. Clifton's dad only smiled kindly though, not minding her direction one bit. "Why don't I leave you two be for awhile?" he had a favorite hot dog stand he wanted to find and would give the two some time alone.

They went on that big roller coaster and when she got strapped inside next to Clifton she only smiled and it was when it was making it's slow climb up the tallest hill bit by bit that she looked over to him, took his hand to give it a squeeze, but then smiled. They got to the top and some of the people in the cars ahead of them put up their hands so she did the same and they raced down the hill.

Clifton showed her the swings and then they went for some cotton candy and some other treats and enjoyed those while on the ferris wheel. She loved every bit of it, but one of her favorites had to have been the scrambler ride because she got to be right up against Clifton due to gravity without even so much as needing any kind of excuse to be so close to him.

They caught up with his father, mother, and little Clover for a meal before heading out, going to the train station where she first met the Troublefields. It was sad to say goodbye but she hoped to see them again soon. She'd be seeing Clifton shortly, as his visit to her house was only a short ways away.

The end of an epic week with @Alina Rosier

That year, the ferris wheel--the rideClifton always thought was the most boring--became his favorite. His family would always go on it last as a sort of wind-down, but every round seemed to take an hour. But with Alina leaving in less than that, slow was exactly what he wanted.

They enjoyed their snacks and talked about some of the other rides for one of the rounds, then fell into a natural silence as their passenger car hiked up toward the top again. Alina watched the park shrink below them the second time, a content smile on her face. Clifton smiled too and moved across the seat closer to her. He slid his arm around her and felt her easily rest against him.

He still hadn’t figured out how he’d gotten lucky enough to meet her in the common room that day. Still, it was funny how he’d been so excited for summer so they could visit each other and now he just wanted school to pick again so there wouldn’t be so many goodbyes.

For the first time, Clifton ventured playing with her hair, not at all surprised to find it as soft as he’d always thought it would be, even after all the crazy rides. It was something that seemed to calm both of them as they descended back down toward the noise and mysteries that still awaited them.


It was a cheerful ride back to the train station, with all of them chatting about the week’s highlights. His parents even made up a new list of muggle things they wanted to show Alina for the next time she visited and Clover kept giggling at the little games Alina would play with her every so often. Clifton only grinned. It was like his family had always been missing a puzzle piece and just hadn’t known it until she showed up.

But his mood dampened a little when he actually had to say goodbye. He offered to carry her suitcase, mostly as an excuse to say goodbye to her on his own. Even if he would be visiting her in a little while, he didn’t like the idea of what he knew would be facing him once she left.

“Well,” he smiled. “I guess I’ll see you soon. I can't wait to visit that many swimming pools at the same time."

Then, not caring if his parents saw, Clifton set the suitcase down and kissed her.

“Thank you. For everything, Alina. You…” then he laughed and shook his head, again not sure how to say it all the stuff jumbling in his head. “You’re just amazing.”

He handed her the suitcase. “Bon Voyage, Mademoiselle Rosier.”

Clifton didn’t know if that was even French. And he was pretty sure it had something to do with boats, not trains. But she grinned anyways, came up for another quick kiss, and then hurried off before the train left.

She gave him one last wave and Clifton grinned, waving back. And then she was gone, leaving him to figure out a very, very long list of soccer moves he’d have to perfect. Otherwise, the next couple weeks or so were going to feel a lot longer than the ferris wheel.