High Atop the Ferris Wheel

Evening sunlight was casting shadows on the well-trodden grass beneath the carnival rides and midway stations. Wind ruffled Trent's hair as the roller-coaster took a deep drop, and there was a sudden pain in his hand, from where his girlfriend was digging her nails into his palm. His other hand went to his pocket, holding the small velvet box tightly.

"Uh, Marce?" he groaned out over the rush of wind from the roller-coaster. The compact seats were making him slightly uncomfortable, and her nails in his palm weren't helping.

"Oh, sorry!" Marcie screamed, as the car made a sharp turn and then slowed to a stop. "Are you okay?" she asked suddenly, turning to see his grim face and the red welts in his palm.

"Fine, perfect actually." Trent replied, clapping a hand over his mouth.

"Let's get you out of here," she sighed, leading him out of the roller-coaster padlock and over to where the port-a-potties and garbage cans were. Gently, Marcie stroked his hair as he threw up in the trash can.

"Thanks Marce," he smiled awkwardly, accepting a paper towel.

"No more small spaces then. I won't force you on anything," Marcie promised, thrusting some hand sanitizer at him. He took it gratefully and smeared it over his hands, the sickly clean smell infusing the air around them.

"Uh, there is one ride I can stomach that we haven't been on," Trent added, as she took his hand. He checked his watch and began to steer her towards the ferris wheel.

"Are you sure? Those cars look awfully small..." she trailed off, stopping them to look him in the eye. He popped a mint into his mouth with a smile, and kissed her forehead.

"I'll be fine." he assured her, taking off with large strides towards the ride. Marcie had been right of course, the cars were awfully small, but they were less cramped then the seats on the roller-coaster. Marcie had taken her seat first, while Trent nodded to one of the conductors, who grinned under his hat. The other one, a girl with a long ponytail clapped her hands and held the door for him.

"Good luck," Addy whispered, as Reed winked and rotated the wheel. Marcie however, didn't notice the exchange, and was sitting on the far side of one of the benches. Clearing his throat, Trent took a seat next to her, and she immediately, rested her head on his shoulder.

"This isn't so bad," he said softly, as the wheel began to rotate slowly and surely.

"Not bad at all." Marcie sighed happily, taking his hand in hers. Trent rubbed her knuckles, pausing on her left ring finger for only a moment. Then the car stopped quite suddenly, rocking back and forth. "What happened?

"Um, Marcie?" Trent said, climbing out of her embrace. The brunette raised an eyebrow, tossing her curls over her shoulder as she regarded him, kneeling in front of her on the metal floor of the shaking ferris wheel car.

"Trent?" she replied questioningly, leaning forward. Trent took a deep breath and took her hands in his, before saying anything.

"You probably don't know this, but I've liked you ever since you first called me an idiot when you arrived at Camp Half-Blood," he began, and she let out a strangled laugh. "And since then, even if I dated other girls, and I did like them, but there wasn't quite the same feeling in my stomach when I was around them, then when I was with you. You make my do weird things, like try baking, and learn French, but I do it because I like making you happy, and I love you."

"Trent," Marcie interjected, tears pricking at her eyes. He averted his eyes for a moment, but squeezed her hands. Finally, Trent lifted his eyes to meet hers.

"And, I was wondering, and thinking a lot, and I did ask, a lot of people. I asked my mom, your mom and step-dad, and our, uh, other parents. I don't know if they heard, but I did pray, and all my projects have been working, and I think I'm more tan then usual, so I'm gonna say we've got the okay from Olympus." Trent laughed, as Marcie let go of his hand to clap it over her mouth, stifling her sobs.

"Are you, Trent, what's going?" she bawled, squeezing his hand tighter when his now-free hand dove back into his pocket, pulling out a small, green velvet box, glinting in the evening light.

"Marcie Bouchard, since I like seeing you happy, and I'll do anything to make you happy, would you consider making me happy, and um, saying yes?" Trent asked, opening the box. As if by magic, the sunlight struck the ring perfectly, igniting the stones set in the gold and celestial bronze band.

He'd forged it himself, almost six months ago, and had been carrying it around in his pocket ever since. It was a single ring made of gold, with winding flat designs of celestial bronze wrapping around it. Laid in the center was a single ruby, surrounded by gold and white diamonds, giving it the appearance of a sun.

Marcie choked on a sob and nodded her head once, before nodding again and again. "Ouais, yes, Trent, yes." she said, holding her hand out for him. He fumbled with the ring before sliding it onto her finger.

"Yes?" he repeated happily, green eyes shining.

"Yes." she confirmed. "I'll marry you Trent Baker."

Trent climbed up off his knees to kiss her soundly, wrapping his fingers in her hair. When he pulled back, he leaned over the side of the car. "She said yes!" he whooped, and Marcie came to look over the side with him. She was shocked when she saw Reed whip his 'Fun Fair Extraordinaire' hat off, yelling happily, while Addy looked up and waved, Kai grinning by her side. The wheel began to move, and Marcie took a seat on Trent's lap.

"We're getting married." she murmured, holding the ring up for both of them to see.

"We're getting married." he grinned, kissing her ring, then her mouth. "And I love you so damn much."