The moment my eyes met theirs, my heart dropped.
Not fluttered. Not skipped.
Dropped.
Like something inside me had given out without warning.
I didn't know why I suddenly felt scared. I wasn't doing anything wrong. I hadn't promised anyone anything. And yet, standing there under the bright fair lights, laughter and music buzzing all around me, it felt like I'd been caught in the middle of something I didn't know how to escape.
Ben stood near the game booths, frozen, his expression open and wounded in a way that made my chest ache.
Simon was farther back, half-shadowed by the flickering lights, quiet and unreadable—but his eyes were locked on me. Not angry. Not accusing.
Just… intense.
Jason noticed my hesitation immediately. "Hey," he said, lowering his voice. "You okay?"
I nodded too quickly. "Yeah. I just—thought I saw someone I knew."
He followed my gaze.
And his jaw tightened.
I felt it happen beside me—the shift in him. The confidence sharpening into something else. Something protective. Something possessive, even if he didn't want it to be.
Before Jason could say anything, Simon moved.
He didn't hesitate. He didn't overthink it. He just walked straight toward us, hands shoved into his hoodie pockets, shoulders tense but steady.
My stomach flipped.
"Hey," Simon said, stopping in front of us.
Jason straightened. "Hey."
Simon nodded at him briefly—but his eyes never left mine.
"Didn't know you were coming tonight," Simon said. His voice was calm, but there was something underneath it. Something tight.
"I didn't know either," I said honestly.
And that was true. I hadn't planned on any of this.
Simon glanced at the Ferris wheel behind us. "You like heights?"
"Not really," I said.
He gave a faint smile. "Yeah. That tracks."
Jason crossed his arms. "We already went on it."
Simon nodded again, still looking at me. "Figures."
The air felt thick now. Heavy. Like something fragile had been placed between us, and no one knew where to set it down.
Then Ben appeared.
"Laura."
I turned, relief and guilt crashing into each other all at once.
"Hey," I said softly.
Ben looked from me to Jason to Simon—and froze when he realized who was standing there.
"You," he said to Simon, surprised.
"You," Simon echoed.
They stared at each other for half a second, both clearly unprepared for this, before their attention snapped back to me like magnets.
Jason exhaled sharply. "Wow. Okay."
None of them laughed.
None of them stepped away.
It felt like being pulled in three different directions at once.
Ben cleared his throat. "I didn't know you were here with—" he gestured vaguely, then stopped himself. "I just heard people talking and thought I'd come see."
"I'm glad you did," I said automatically.
Jason's head snapped toward me.
Simon's jaw tightened.
I wished I could rewind the last five seconds.
"Well," Ben said gently, "since we're all here… do you want something to eat? I was about to grab funnel cake."
Jason scoffed lightly. "I already got her one."
Simon spoke at the same time. "There's a stand near the back that sells churros. They're better."
Three voices.
One choice.
My head started to spin.
"I—" I laughed weakly. "I don't think I can eat three desserts."
Jason smiled, but it didn't reach his eyes. "You don't have to. We can go on another ride."
"She doesn't like rides," Simon said quietly.
Jason turned to him. "She went on one with me."
Simon didn't look away from me. "I know."
Ben shifted closer. "There's a game over there," he said. "The one where you throw rings. I could win you something."
Jason snorted. "I already did."
Ben flushed slightly but didn't back down. "Doesn't mean she can't have more than one."
That hit harder than it should have.
Because that was the truth, wasn't it?
More than one.
I stood there, the lights blurring together, their voices overlapping. Jason on my right. Simon in front of me. Ben just to my left.
If someone had looked at us from above, I think they would've seen it clearly.
Me in the center.
Three points around me.
A perfect diamond.
A love diamond.
The realization made my chest tighten.
"I need air," I said suddenly.
They all stopped.
"I just—too many lights," I added quickly. "I'm okay. I promise."
Jason nodded immediately. "Let's walk."
Simon said, "I'll come."
Ben said, "Me too."
I closed my eyes for half a second.
"Okay," I said. "All of you can come. Just… don't make it weird."
That lasted maybe thirty seconds.
As we walked, Jason stayed close to my side, subtly steering me away from crowds. Simon walked just ahead, occasionally glancing back to make sure I was okay. Ben stayed near my other side, asking me questions in that calm, gentle way that always made me feel grounded.
It should've felt flattering.
It felt overwhelming.
Jason pointed toward a food truck. "We could grab water."
Simon countered, "There's a quieter spot near the back."
Ben said, "You look cold. Do you want my jacket?"
I stopped walking.
They all stopped with me.
"I'm still just one person," I said softly.
Silence.
Jason ran a hand through his hair. "Sorry."
Ben nodded. "Yeah. Sorry."
Simon looked at the ground. "We didn't mean to—"
"I know," I said quickly. "I know."
That was the worst part. None of them were being cruel. None of them were being careless.
They just all wanted me.
And I didn't know how to want anyone without hurting the others.
The night wound down after that. Slower. Calmer. We stayed together, but the tension never fully disappeared. Jason won me another stuffed animal anyway. Ben bought fries "for everyone." Simon walked beside me in silence, close enough that I could feel his presence without it pressing in.
Eventually, the lights began to dim. Music softened. People started leaving.
Jason checked his phone. "It's getting late."
Ben nodded. "Yeah. Same."
Simon shifted his weight. "I can walk you home."
"I can drive," Ben said at the same time.
Jason's voice was firm. "I brought her."
Three offers.
Three expectations.
My heart sank again.
"I should go with Jason," I said slowly. "It just… makes sense."
Logic.
Simple. Safe.
Ben's smile was polite—but it didn't hide the disappointment in his eyes.
"Yeah," he said. "Of course."
Simon nodded once. "Okay."
But neither of them looked okay.
Jason walked me to his car, hand brushing mine. "You alright?"
"I think so," I said.
As we drove away, I glanced back once.
Ben and Simon stood under the fading lights, not looking at each other—just watching the car disappear.
My chest ached.
At home, I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling again.
Saturday night.
Fair lights.
A diamond that had formed without my permission.
And all I could think was—
Monday is going to be unbearable.