Thanks to Devir Ginator for his assistance with all the editing. All errors found are mine.
Thanks to you, the reader, for voting, commenting and sticking through with this story. More New Girl once this wraps.
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"They're following us in." Michelle said as discretely as she could as we got closer to the ticket office.
I reached down and held her trembling hand then gave it a squeeze.
"We expected that, it'll be all right. They won't be able to make a move on us as long as we're in a crowd," I said soothingly. "Just stay together."
We reached the ticket counter while our two new friends stalked us from behind a family of five.
"Hey, Cheryl, how are things?" Michelle asked a dark haired lady that was behind the ticket window.
"Michelle, hey girl! Hot and busy is how things are. What are you doing using this entrance?" She asked with a genuine smile on her face.
"Just wanted to see how the other half lives I guess. Can I get a couple of guest passes for my friends here?" Michelle asked.
"Anything for you, sweetie, especially if you bring me some more of that banana pudding you make," Cheryl told her.
"I'll make a batch just for you and your husband next week. I remember how much he raved about it at the company picnic," Michelle smiled.
She smiled and handed Michelle the passes.
"Raved about it? The man was all set to divorce me and marry you when he tasted it." She giggled then looked me over. "Cutie pie, you have got your hands on a keeper. She's sweet, kind and she can cook so don't let her get away."
I smiled and glanced at Michelle who was desperately trying to hide the fact that she was blushing.
"I'm going to try my best to hold on to her," I smiled.
"You do that and ya'll have a nice time today," She told us.
"Thanks, Cheryl." Michelle said and quickly grabbed the passes.
"So when were you going to tell me about this banana pudding of yours?" I asked as we stood in line to get in.
"Not while we are running for our lives that's for sure. And you didn't have to go along with that you know?" She remarked.
"Who, your friend Cheryl," I asked innocently.
"You know damn well I mean Cheryl," She sighed.
"True but it was so much fun to see you turn red for a change," I chuckled.
"Uh guys, we're supposed to be running for our lives here." Karly prompted us.
Michelle had gotten so flustered she had almost forgotten we were being followed.
"Fear is the enemy." I explained. "The more fearful you are the more apt you are to make a mistake and we can't afford mistakes. I figure that if I got you pissed at me then you'd let go of the fear."
"That almost sounds logical. I'd almost believe you if I didn't think you were full of it," Michelle smirked.
"The only thing I want to be full of is that banana pudding I just heard about," I commented.
She shook her head while Karly stifled a giggle.
"You're impossible," Michelle whispered.
"I've been told that." I nodded I passed through the metal detectors.
"How are you doing, Karly?" I asked.
"Just a little spooked is all," Karly answered honestly.
"Don't worry. Nothing's going to happen to either of you, just keep a hold onto Michelle's hand and follow her wherever she leads. If anything happens to me the both of you are to run like hell," I told her.
"Running isn't a plan Kenny." Karly pointed out.
"Every plan has running involved in it somewhere. They'll call it something else like advancing or maneuvering or retreating but it's all running as far as your body is concerned." I shared.
She conceded my argument as we made our way through the turnstile. Once we were inside the park I grabbed a map for my own sake since Michelle knew her way around already and gave it a once over while they huddled close.
"What's the best way to get to this security office you mentioned?" I asked Michelle.
She pointed to the stingray exhibit that was off to our far left according to the map.
"The door I mentioned is here behind the touch pool. It leads back to the offices where security is," She shared.
I glanced back and saw that our two friends had made it through the turnstile when one turned and said something to the guy behind him.
I got a cold feeling in the pit of my stomach and hoped that my face didn't register it as I saw them nod in our direction and started moving toward us.
"We've got to move. Now," I said in a hushed but hurried tone.
Michelle noticed my tone and glanced toward the gate.
"Kenny, there's..." She started to say.
"I know. I saw them. Just keep moving, this doesn't change anything," I said.
"What doesn't change anything?" Karly asked as she tried to glance around but we were moving through a crowd so she couldn't really see our pursuers. The bad part was that neither could I.
"The two guys from the car just joined up with five others," Michelle shared. "Don't worry though, we can lose them. I know a couple of things we can try."
She grabbed a hold of Karly's hand. She sounded more confident than I felt but maybe I had lost some of her voice infliction in the crowd noise.
"Lead the way." I told her as I glanced back.
I tried to see how close our pursuers were but I had lost them in the crowd. I had to hope they didn't have a clue as to where we were trying to get to otherwise they could cut us off and we'd be screwed.
* * *
"Have you seen my sister anywhere?" Addison asked Alex as she entered the kitchen.
She was clad in a silver bikini top with her lower body covered in a near transparent wrap. For a moment Alex had a problem formulating a coherent thought as his eyes scanned every bit of her exposed flesh but he recovered enough to answer her.
