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  Laurel found her way over to the couch to wait as a small woman stopped her in her tracks, “Hi, Laurel. My name is Lila, with TIBC magazine. I am so excited to interview you, especially after the recent events.” Laurel had no idea what she was talking about, but she figured it had something to do with the final shoot.

  “Thank you for coming. It’s nice to meet you, as well.” Laurel shook her hand and motioned for her to take a seat and begin. She wanted to get her flight booked and haul ass out of here as quickly as possible.

  Lila cleared her throat before addressing Laurel, “Normally, my interviews are casual. I have a number of questions that I would like to ask; most of which your agent has already cleared. I need to know if there are any questions you will not answer?”

  Laurel thought through the questions that Mark would have approved and trusted his judgement, “I am open to any questions you have to ask.”

  “Oh, that’s great!” Her excitement should have been alarming, but she wrote it off as fan-girling.

  The cameras roll into place, the boom mic sways above Laurel as Lila stares at it in awe, “It’s a mic. We use them on the set, makes for better sound quality than your recorder,” Laurel felt like she had to explain.

  “Of course, I am new to this position, but I really wanted to interview you; I am such a fan of your work,” Laurel giggled at her correct assumption of Lila, “Can we get started, I have somewhere to be shortly.”

  The lights dim as the recording lights flicker on the face of the camera, alerting us that it’s go time. Lila fingers through a few pieces of paper while Laurel sits patiently awaiting the onslaught of questions that she has answered a million times before. The interview started as every other one has. She discussed her career, her choices as an actress, the preparation needed to get through the ‘sex’ scenes, and her upcoming trip to Milan.

  As the interview was coming to an end, Lila asked one more question, “Are you related to any of the casualties in Crater City?”

  Laurel knew she should answer, say something, but she was reminded of a time that she left in the past. She hadn’t thought about that day in years; a decade. “What did you say?” Laurel was sure she heard Lila incorrectly.

  “You are from Crater City, are you not?” Lila was going too far, and she had no idea.

  Laurel swallowed hard before forcing the words from her throat, “Umm… yes.” The memories of that night replay on repeat, the roller coaster full of decapitated bodies, the swings falling from the sky as the chains that was meant to keep them connected, whipped against the bodies, splitting them in half as they fell to the ground. There was The Scrambler; they were supposed to be on it, but they were stopped. Her only thought was how it could’ve ended so much differently for her. Her life wouldn’t exist.

  Lila nods and continues cautiously, “You must have heard, it is all over the news, today. There was a construction accident while finishing the renovations to the carnival. Crater City Carnival is reopening for the Twenty-year anniversary.”

  “My God. They can’t reopen it,” she whispered into her lap as Lila tried to pry for more information, “This interview is over. Thank you.” Laurel tuned to her room and ran.

  It all happened so fast; she wasn’t even sure when the shock wore off. She was sure she had lost her mind, because she had not booked a flight to Milan for a week of fashion and mojitos. No, she was boarding a small plane in route for Crater City.

  Chapter Two

  Rory

  The bar was busy today. Hell, it had been busy for the last week. Our usually quiet town was buzzing with activity since the construction crews rolled in. It had been twenty years. Twenty years since this town, and most of the people in it, died. Now some dumbass rich boy thought he could profit off from our misery. He thought about that day every day since it had happened. The crashes, explosions, the chains pulling apart from the swings and snapping back. When those bodies finally fell, some were shredded, and some split right in half. That was the worst day of his life; the first time he killed somebody, and the day he couldn’t save his mother. He did save Laurel. Laurel was another memory that no matter how many women filled his bed, he couldn't get rid of.

  "Rory, earth to Rory." Dale waved his hand in front of Rory's face, bringing him back to the present.

  "Get your hand out of my damn face." They were down a bartender tonight, so Rory was pulling double duty.

  "Man, I have been calling your name for at least ten minutes. Where the hell did you go?" Dale was Rory's best friend and co-owner of the Cliff.

  They bought The Cliff four years ago, they needed a legitimate job to cover up the fact they took care of people on the side. Couldn't pay your loan? That bet you made and came up short on, or the husband that couldn't keep it in his pants; these people received a visit from them. It was a small town, but they made good money because their reputation preceded them, and business came from all around. The Cliff was now their real job, and even though they still got calls to take care of an undesirable, Rory wanted to make something out of the bar. Especially if they were stuck in Crater City, he wanted to make the best of it.

  "Rory, the girls at the end of the bar want two beers and asked what we are doing tonight," Dale said.

  He looked to the end of the bar. The blonde reminded him of what he thought Laurel would look like now. She was cute with a big rack, but wore too much makeup, turning him off. The girl with her had jet black hair, had on a skin tight dress, and fuck me heels. He could bend her over the bar and fuck her at closing and send her on her way. No feelings, no exchanging numbers, just fuck and go.

  "I'll take the one with black hair. She could be fun," he told Dale.

  Dale went back to chatting them up after taking their beers. The bar kept him busy enough that before he knew it, it was last call. Everyone started paying their tabs at once, which took forever. They needed new equipment, and hopefully the job this weekend was enough to get it, and take care of a little more of the expansion project that they had worked on since they bought the place. They had officially closed thirty minutes ago. Then the last people left, leaving only the whores at the end of the bar, him and Dale. He threw a finger up to Dale letting him know he'd be right back. He went to the office and looked at the mess. He put the cash in the safe from the register that night; they could figure out tips tomorrow. He went to the small bathroom off the office that held a tiny shower, a sink, and a toilet. He splashed some water in his face, and stared at his reflection. He was tall, over six foot, his dark blonde, almost brown hair, was cut close to his head. His body was hard and tan from years of physical work. For the hundredth time that night, he thought of Laurel and wondered what had happened to her.

  After the accident, as it was ruled, Laurel's mom took the insurance settlement from the carnival and got the hell out of dodge. He was happy Laurel escaped. He knew she was meant for more than this town and what it had to offer, but he always wished he would run into her. It was one of the reasons he started taking jobs outside of town. It never happened, and he never actively looked for her. He would never be enough for her, even with the bar now, he was still from the town that had changed her life and gotten her away.

  Rory sighed and went back to meet his fate for the night. They still sat at the bar, and Dale had the blonde in his lap already, with his hand up her shirt. He went behind the bar out if habit. He leaned over resting on his arms and getting an eyeful of her cleavage.

  "So gorgeous, what can I get for you?" He flashed her his perfect smile. If ladies had any reservations about him, he could smile and they’d drop their panties.

  "Kim." She leaned into him, inches from his face. "I need a shot of you." She winked at him and licked her lips.

  He closed the gap and bit her bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth, eliciting a moan from Kim. He pulled back and motioned for her to follow him to the end of the bar. She met him stride for stride until they rounded the end. Her long legs, made even longer by her fuck me heels,
stopped at her round ass that begged to be slapped. He pulled her towards him roughly and kissed her. His hands wrapped in her hair as he tugged back to get to her neck. He kissed his way down her neck and to her tits that were spilling out of her top. He grabbed her under her ass and lifted her up to sit on top of the bar. He pulled her top down to take her nipple in his mouth. They were fully aware they weren't the only ones in the bar, but it didn't matter. Dale would be inside the blonde before long, if not already. He slipped his hand under her dress, and was met with no obstructions on the way to her slick fold. She was soaked for him, and his fingers slipped in her. She threw her head back and moaned loudly. Pushing two fingers inside of her, he used his other hand to undo his pants. He pulled his dick out, which was barely hard. He ran his hand up and down, slow at first, and then faster and harder. It wasn't until a flash of blue eyes and blonde hair flooded his mind and he thought once again about the girl he had loved for so long, did his dick fully harden. Seizing the opportunity, he pulled his fingers back and pushed her back so she was laid across the bar. He kicked off his shoes and pulled his pants off, making sure to grab the condom out of the pocket. Tossing his shirt to the side, he crawled on the bar and straddled her. He tore the wrapper open as Kim sat up. She took the condom from him and pumped his dick before sheathing him.

  He watched her lie back, her fake tits stood at attention even after she laid down. He slowly rubbed his dick against her swollen click and her eyes rolled, back arched and she simply said, "Fuck me now!" He took direction well and slid into her. He rocked back and forth taking his time. Reaching up and grabbing his neck, Kim moaned and told him again, "Fuck me hard." Picking up the pace, he slammed into her. She tried to meet him thrust for thrust, arching into him, moaning, screaming. It should have been enough to make any guy come, but as she started shouting that she was coming, he knees started to ache. But he knew he needed to finish or deal with blue balls the rest of the night. Her orgasm calmed, and he took the opportunity to pull out and flip her over. He slid back onto the ground, pulling her with him until she stood bent over on top of the bar. Without warning, he shoved into her pussy. Her juices ran down her leg as he fucked her. She had to hold on tight, because there wasn't any time for ‘slow down’ or ‘be gentle’. He just wanted to come, and the only way it would happen is to fuck her as hard as he could. Panting and screaming fuck, Kim held on. Finally, the muscles in his legs started to tighten. His balls were tight and sensitive as he reached his climax. He held her with one hand wrapped around her throat and the other grabbing her ass. Three more; his dick slid in and out three times before he came in her. Slowing down, he pulled out and her legs started to buckle. He moved quickly to grab her and sit her on the bar stool.

  "I'll be right back, and I'll grab you a bottle of water." Still out of breath, all she could do was nod in response to Rory. He went to the bathroom to get rid of the condom and clean up. Walking back, still naked, he went behind the bar and tossed her a bottle of water, which she gulped down greedily. He gathered his clothes and got dressed.

  "Lock up, I'm out," he yelled to Dale before grabbing his keys and jacket, and headed for the door.

  The only response from Dale was a grunt as he got his dick sucked. "Wait, that's it, you're just leaving?" Kim pouted and tried to bat her eyes seductively at him.

  "Yeah, that's it. I'll see you around." He walked out and took a breath of fresh air before grabbing a cigarette from his pocket.

  He looked at the hustle and bustle that was unusual for their town. Normally, it would be almost silent at this hour, nothing but stars and sky. Now, there was headlights and construction trucks headed towards the old carnival site. Tossing the cigarette, he hopped in his truck and headed home. Well, not his home, his grandma's. He moved in with her after his mom passed away. He took care of her more than she took care of him. She was his only living relative that he knew of, so if it wasn't for her, who knows where he would've ended up. Even after his grandma passed a few years back, he stayed. Looking around, he realized he hadn't been driving home after all, but driving to Laurel's home. The last place he saw her before she left forever. No one had lived there in years, and he had secretly bought her childhood home after his grandma passed. He sat outside on the porch after he had bought it, and got drunk. He debated on burning it down, but decided to wait. Would she come back one day and want to see it? Or would she come back and want to help him? He sat outside now, asking the same questions over and over. The sun started to rise over the mountain, and he knew he needed to get home. Putting his truck into drive, he made a decision. He was going to find Laurel. He may never talk to her, but he needed to know she was ok and happy.

  Chapter Three

  Laurel

  As she takes the first step on to the plane, she has an overwhelming feeling that she is making a huge mistake. She isn’t even sure why she has decided to make this trip in the first place. Maybe it’s to see the new carnival. Maybe to put her mind at ease, knowing that it all really was an accident. There was also the possibility that she wanted to see Rory again. She had no idea what she would find when she got there. Laurel allowed her imagination to take over, co-piloting her actions and thoughts.

  Visions of a burning town, left for dead alongside of the mountain was the devastation that plagued her nightmares for years after the ‘accident’. She wanted nothing more than to show up to Crater City in awe by the town that time wouldn’t touch. She could also picture an over populated tourist destination, complete with a Hooters and an Ihop. She started to laugh as she took her seat in first class. There would never be an Ihop anywhere near her little town.

  Before she could sit down, there was an attendant at her side, “Would you like something to drink?” His demeanor was pleasant, and she thanked him, “I would love a bottle of water and the strongest liquor you have.” She wasn’t in the mood for flying, and slightly buzzed makes the air time feel shorter. She has never been one to sleep on a plane, so she knew the six-hour flight was going to be a killer.

  She tucked her carry-on into the designated spot for her bag, sat down, and finally relaxed. Laurel had become more and more exhausted. She needed to rest, and there’s nothing else to do in Crater City. Everything shuts down at five o clock, aside from the bars. Laurel thought about the alcoholic dependency her father had, and the amount of time spent in the local bar before he died. She was grateful for his demise, as well as devastated. He wasn’t a good man, but he was still her father. Rory didn’t know what he was doing at the time, and he did her a favor without ever knowing the gift he gave her.

  Her drinks were delivered with a smile from the attendant. He obviously recognized her from one of her movies, but she wasn’t one to scream from the rooftops that she was the Laurel Blackwell. I guess, to anyone that has been to the movies in the last decade would know who she was, but she managed to stay humble. There were things her mother taught her growing up; temptations that she would find difficult to avoid. Drugs, sex, and pills were available around every corner, but Laurel was able to continue to avoid them at all costs. She has yet to succumb to the fate of so many that subject themselves to the needle and pill method of keeping up a false sense of happiness. The men were beating down her door, but there was no use in trying to get wrapped up in a relationship while her career was at its peak. She was happy with her life, she had everything she had dreamed of.

  She relaxed against her seat, thankful for the larger, more comfortable seat, and closed her eyes. She wasn’t sure what she was going to find when she landed, but she knew she had to go. Convincing herself, for the hundredth time, that she was making the right decision was becoming easier with every doubt her betraying imagination was giving her. She drifted off to a dreamless sleep before the plane had even taxied the runway.

  “We will be landing in approximately 25 minutes. Currently, it is cloudy and sixty-eight degrees.” The pilot announced the arrival, while Laurel tried to figure out how she slept for the entire flight. Her drinks, u
ntouched, in the cup holders in front of her were begging for her to drink it. She passed on the shot, downing the bottle of water. She wanted to be sober if she was expected to navigate through a town she hasn’t been to in two decades.

  Tossing away her cups, she followed the annoying directions of locking the tray away and pulling her seat into the upright position. She couldn’t help but think it was nonsense. If the plane was going to crash, the seat and tray were the last of her concerns. What was she going to do once she landed? Her new list of things to do were compiling data in her head. Rent a car, buy a map, avoid anyone from her past. She was sure she was making the right decision, but why would she not want to see anyone?

  Ugh. There was nothing for her here. Crater City was part of her past, and definitely not her future. Her future was Hollywood and Milan. Fuck, she traded a trip to Milan for this shit hole. She laughed as her ears popped in descent. She had to get herself together; it wouldn’t be long before she was thrusted back in to the life that she wanted to avoid. Then there was Rory.

  Rory was the only boy that liked her. He didn’t care that her father was a drunk, he never commented on the bruises on her arms, and he took her on her first date. Without Rory, her life would be so different; so mundane. She wasn’t the Hollywood party girl, so maybe that wouldn’t have been a bad thing, but thanks to Rory, she was able to live her dream. For that, she was indebted to him. Sometimes she thought about him, his smile, his shaggy hair, their wedding, their two point five kids, and a picket fence surrounding the house that they turned in to a home. Of course, that was far-fetched, being her mother never gave her the chance to tell him where they were going.