Chapter 8: Feelings Laid Bare
High above the skies above a small coastal town simply called Small Town, the air was peaceful. Despite the name, Small Town wasn't actually that small. It's no metropolis, but it is a rather bustling town. But from up here, you could see everything. From the rich neighborhood where all the important people lived, to the shady government building that houses weird scientific experiments that should be top secret but everyone kinda knows about them already, to even the long stretches of beaches, water parks and other such aquatic activities that Small Town is really known for.
When summer rolls around, this is a great spot for all types of fun in the sun. From up here, you could see everything. You could even see a hot air balloon rocketing up into the sky carrying two screaming naked people inside it.
...wait what?
"aaaaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAA
AAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!
"
Eventually the balloon came to a stop. Diego and Rina were hanging on for dear life as through a series of very absurd events caused by Rina and indirectly by Rina's best friend Kiki, Diego and Rina were now trapped in a specially designed hot air balloon with no way down.
The basket was large enough for them to move around in, but if they moved around too much, they were in danger of tipping it over. Diego shakily got to his feet and took stock of the situation. "Wow...we're so high up."
He looked around and saw nothing but sky around him. They weren't in the clouds, but rather 500 feet above the street. He looked down and got a little scared but calmed himself. He had to think rationally. He wasn't scared of heights but still, he needed to find a way to get both of them down without getting hurt.
He looked around the balloon, but he had no clue how to fly one of these. He assumed the burner was still going due to the remote that Kiki attempted to give him to control it. Why would someone invent a remote controlled hot air balloon anyway?
That's when he noticed that Rina was currently huddled in a ball on the floor of the basket, currently having a panic attack.
"Uh...Rina, you ok there?"
"...H-heights..."
"What?"
"Heights...I'm scared of....h-heights."
"Of course, why wouldn't you be?"
As he looked at her hyperventilating and trying not to burst into tears, he thought to himself, "
Why couldn't she be afraid of nudity? Then at least none of this would be happening.
"
He looked around and tried to find a place to land this thing, so when/if he eventually figured out how to so, he could do so in a safe and preferably, deserted location. As he did, he looked back at Rina. She looked like she was genuinely about to pass out.
She was rocking back and forth and wasn't saying anything. Diego started to feel bad. Even after everything, something about her being in this panicked state made him feel like he needed to comfort her.
He thought about it really hard and of course that voice piped up to give his two cents. "
Wow...she's pathetic. I think we finally done it.
"
"
Done what?
"
"
This
is
the perfect revenge. Remember how you felt? How you were in the bush before you streaked all the way home? You were forced to confront your fear head on and you cried and panicked like a little baby. WELL,
LOOK WHO HAS TO DO THAT NOW!! HAHAHAHAHA!
"
Diego winced as he saw her, in a fetal position, much like he was back near the beach. She was helpless. As that voice kept laughing at her pain, Diego did something that even he couldn't believe he'd ever do.
He pat Rina on the back. She immediately looked up at him and was stunned by this gesture. "Rina, I need your help with this."
"W-what?"
"I...need a second pair of eyes here. So we can find a better place to land."
She was shivering and breathing a bit fast as she tried to process this. "Please, Rina....I need you."
He reached a hand out for her to take, so she could stand. She blushed a bit as she looked at his hand, Diego started to blush as well as he then quickly added, "To help me look out and stuff, obviously. Don't worry, I'll be right next to you. Just stand up for me."
She grabbed his hand and started to stand, but the basket swayed a bit, causing her to scream and wrap her hands around Diego. As he felt her chest touch his, he tried to ignore the feelings going through him and attempted to reassure her once more.
"It's ok...I'm here. Just...hold on to me for stability."
Soon she was standing upright, but still shivering and her eyes were shut. He gently pushed her away and grabbed her hand. She squeezed his hand as tightly as she could. He then walked her to the side of the basket.
Now looking out into the distance, Diego started to look around at all the sights of the city. High above everything, he could see that there were a few buildings in the path of the balloon.
He pulled the burner cord again to take them higher, but in doing so, Rina stumbled a bit and opened her eyes due to the shock. She looked down at the ground as she stood near the edge of the basket.
She went pale and almost fainted, but Diego caught her before she fell. "I got you! It's ok, Rina....Rina look at me!"
She did so and as she looked into his eyes, she stood up. "Let's try going back to the edge again."
"D-Diego...I...I want to get down."
"The sooner you help me, the sooner we can find a safe spot. 2 pairs of eyes are better than one."
Soon they were standing near the side of the basket once more. Rina still had her eyes shut tight and her hand was still holding Diego's.
"
What the hell are you doing!?
" cried that voice in Diego's head.
"
She...she needs help.
"
"
Even the best therapist in the world probably couldn't fix whatever's in her brain!
"
"
I meant, she needs to calm down in order to be helpful to us here.
"
"
All you're doing is looking out for buildings. You could do that on your own!
"
"
Yeah, but...it would be more...efficient with her.
"
The voice was silent for a few moments before he said, "
You're full of it. Look at you holding her hand. She's got you under her spell, wrapped around her finger. You know for a fact that you don't need her and she definitely doesn't need you.
"
Diego felt her get closer to him, shivering a bit as her eyes were still shut. He slowly brought his arm over her shoulder. "What are you doing?" she asked him.
"Uhh...it's cold up here. We need to huddle for warmth and stability..."
While she still had her eyes but, she smiled a bit at that. "Yeah...it's pretty chilly up here."
"Very cold."
They huddled together a bit as Rina leaned her head on Diego's shoulder. Diego felt very warm now as this was happening. It was a rather nice feeling.
"
ABORT ABORT, DO NOT CONTINUE!
"
"
Will you shut up please?
"
"
I CAN SEE YOUR HEART. SHE'S GONNA BREAK IT. YOU'RE GONNA FALL BECAUSE OF HER AND NOTHING WILL BE THE SAME AGAIN!
"
"
This is just to get her calm enough to help...there's nothing...romantic about this. Just a friendly gesture is all.
"
"
You'll be sorry....I know you. "She loves me? Wow? Me? That's incredible! I finally matter!"
AND THEN SHE JUST TOSSES YOU TO THE SIDE OR USES YOU OR JUST NEVER MEANT THAT IN THE FIRST PLACE.
"
"
LET ME JUST DO THIS. OK!?
I'm tired of you making me think these things! I'm not falling for her, I just want her to stop crying and be useful. She put me into this mess and I could do without her if I wanted to!
"
"
