SWNOVELXO Chapter 39: Chapter 37 :Laughter and Rides
The car rumbled along the winding road, the sky above a brilliant shade of blue as sunlight poured in through the windows, casting soft shadows inside the vehicle. The radio was playing softly, the upbeat melody filling the air.
For once, the world seemed to tilt toward a fragile, sweet sense of peace—a moment that felt so different from everything that had come before. The tension between them seemed to dissolve into something softer, something sweeter, like the faint scent of fresh rain.
Luna sat cross-legged on the passenger seat, her face turned toward the open window, letting the breeze whip her hair around her shoulders. A smile tugged at her lips, a real, genuine smile that reached her eyes. Beside her, Alex's fingers drummed on the steering wheel in time with the music, his own smile unguarded and relaxed.
"Okay, my turn," Luna announced suddenly, leaning forward to fiddle with the radio. Alex shot her a playful look but didn't protest as she flipped through the stations.
She paused on one, her eyes lighting up as a familiar song began to play. "Oh, I love this one!" she squealed, the opening chords of Whitney Houston's I Wanna Dance with Somebody filling the car.
Alex raised an eyebrow, amused. "Really?"
"Yes, really!" she retorted, her grin widening as she turned up the volume. Without a second's hesitation, she began singing along, swaying to the rhythm. "I wanna dance with somebody! I wanna feel the heat with somebody..."
Her voice was a little off-key, but the pure joy radiating from her made up for it. Alex laughed, shaking his head, but then he joined in, matching her energy with a grin that seemed to light up his whole face. "Yeah, I wanna dance with somebody, with somebody who loves me!" he crooned, exaggerating his voice just to make her giggle.
And giggle she did, a soft, carefree sound that filled the car and made something in his chest tighten. He glanced over at her, momentarily distracted by the sight of her so unrestrained, so alive. She was swaying, her hands in the air, eyes closed as she sang like she didn't have a care in the world.
"Are you seriously singing a Whitney Houston song?" he teased, still grinning as they both belted out the chorus.
"Are you seriously keeping up with me?" she shot back, her eyes sparkling.
"Only because I don't want you to ruin my car speakers."
"Ha!" She rolled her eyes, but the laughter in her voice was impossible to miss. "Like your voice is any better, Mr. Alpha."
They continued like that for a while—switching between stations, catching snippets of old classics, then breaking into laughter when a ridiculous pop song from decades ago came on.
At one point, they found themselves singing along to Bohemian Rhapsody, their voices a mismatched blend of harmony and chaos as they tried to hit the high notes.
"Mamaaaa, just killed a man..." Alex sang in an over-the-top falsetto, his face scrunched up dramatically.
Luna burst into laughter, clutching her stomach. "Oh, my god—please stop. You're going to break my ears."
"Too late!" he quipped, and they both dissolved into giggles again.
But then, as the last notes of the song faded, the radio switched to something slower, the melody softer, sadder.
It was a song Luna recognized instantly—a haunting tune about loss and longing. She fell silent, her smile faltering as the first lyrics washed over them.
"And I'll be gone, gone tonight..." the singer crooned softly. "The ground beneath my feet is open wide..."
Alex's smile faded too, the energy in the car shifting as if the weight of everything they were trying to ignore had suddenly come crashing back. They exchanged a glance, the moment between them heavy, filled with all the things unsaid—the fear, the uncertainty, the knowledge that this fragile happiness could shatter at any second.
But then Alex, ever the steady presence, shook his head and reached out to change the station.
"Enough of that," he murmured gently. "This is a happy day, remember?"
And just like that, the radio switched to something bright and cheerful—a pop song with a fast, infectious beat. The upbeat rhythm of Car Wash by Rose Royce filled the car, the catchy tune instantly lifting the mood.
Luna blinked, startled, and then a wide grin broke out across her face, the tension in her shoulders melting away.
"You're such a mood-killer, you know that?" she teased, her voice softer, lighter now.
"Just doing my job," Alex shot back with a playful wink. "Now, come on, Luna. Sing with me. Don't leave me hanging."
Before she could reply, Alex threw his head back and belted out, "You might not ever get rich, but let me tell ya, it's better than diggin' a ditch!" His voice was louder than before, dramatically exaggerated, as if daring her to join in.
Luna just stared at him, biting back her laughter as he sang even louder, clearly having the time of his life. "There ain't no tellin' who you might meet—" He paused, eyes twinkling with mischief as he grinned at her. "A movie star or maybe even... a handsome Alpha King!"
She burst out laughing, shaking her head as she realized he'd swapped out the lyrics on purpose. "You're ridiculous!" she said through giggles.
"Ridiculously charming, you mean," he corrected with a cocky grin, and then launched back into the chorus with even more enthusiasm, shimmying his shoulders in time with the beat.
Luna couldn't help herself—his silliness was contagious. With a playful roll of her eyes, she leaned in closer, raising her voice to match his. "Workin' at the car wash, yeah!" she sang, joining in as they both bopped along to the music. Their voices clashed, completely off-key and utterly uncoordinated, but the sound of their laughter mixing with the music filled the car, making the moment feel perfect.
When the next song came on—a goofy pop track that was even sillier—they didn't even pause to catch their breath. They just kept going, singing, shouting, and laughing until they were both gasping for air, their faces flushed with joy.
It didn't matter that neither of them could carry a tune. It didn't matter that they were just making fools of themselves. Because right then, in that tiny car filled with music and laughter, it felt like they were the only two people in the world.
And for a little while, that was enough.
Before they knew it, Alex was pulling the car to a stop, a mischievous smile tugging at his lips. Luna blinked, glancing around in confusion. "Where are we?"
Alex's smile widened as he turned to face her, eyes sparkling with excitement. "You'll see."
He stepped out, coming around to open her door. Luna's confusion only deepened as he led her forward—until she caught sight of the towering Ferris wheel in the distance, its bright lights twinkling against the sky.
Her mouth fell open. "No way."
"Yes, way," Alex said, his grin turning downright boyish. "Welcome to the amusement park."
"Are you serious?" Luna's eyes were wide, a mixture of shock and pure, unadulterated excitement lighting up her face. "I've always wanted to—" She cut herself off, shaking her head as if she couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Alex, I've always wanted to go to one of these, but it was never... appropriate."
"Well, today, it's happening," he declared, the look in his eyes warm and soft. "You're going to experience everything. Rides, games, cotton candy—the whole human experience. And I'm going to make sure you have the best day ever."
She looked up in front of her - Bright, colorful rides stood illuminated under the setting sun, casting long shadows across the empty grounds. The towering Ferris wheel loomed in the distance, and the sound of distant, whimsical music echoed faintly through the cool evening air.
But something was off.
"Alex... where is everyone?" she asked slowly, brows furrowed in confusion as she looked around taking the full view - there were no people just carnival workers . "It's completely empty. Don't humans go crazy over amusement parks? Shouldn't it be packed?"
Alex just grinned, pulling the car into the lot and shutting off the engine. "Oh, they do. But not today," he said, a hint of mischief dancing in his eyes.
"What do you mean, not today?" She turned to him, eyes wide, suspicion dawning.
"I mean," he said, drawing out the words as he leaned back with a satisfied smirk, "today, it's all for you."
Luna blinked, processing his words. "Cmon - you didnt pull that sneaky trick that filthy rich people in movies do " she whispered, glancing back at the deserted park. The sheer emptiness of it suddenly made sense. The rides standing still, no lines, no kids running around screaming with joy... "You—booked the entire park?"
"Yup," he replied casually, looking entirely too pleased with himself.
"When?" She gaped at him, completely floored as she realised he was with her the whole time , when did he do it
Alex chuckled, reaching across to gently tap her nose. "Remember when we stopped for a washroom break earlier? And I was texting someone? and you asked me if i have a mistress hidden ?"
Realization dawned, and her jaw dropped. "You sneaky—"
"Rich, handsome Alpha King?" he finished with a teasing grin. "Yeah, that's me."
She stared at him, torn between laughter and disbelief. "You—" She shook her head, a huge smile spreading across her face. "You're absolutely ridiculous."
"And yet, here you are, loving every second of it," he shot back, his voice light and teasing. "Now, come on." He swung his door open and stepped out, circling around to open hers with a dramatic flourish. "After you , My lady ."
Luna looked at him, a look of disbelief and wonder lighting up her eyes as something seemed to shift in her gaze. A softness, a brightness that made his heart skip. And then, with a breathless laugh, she grabbed his hand, practically bouncing on her feet.
"What are we waiting for?" she exclaimed. "Let's go!"
Alex barely had time to process her excitement before she took off, practically dragging him along as they crossed through the park entrance. The colorful lights of the amusement park spread out before them—a whirlwind of sights, sounds, and the scent of sweet treats in the air. Luna looked like a child seeing magic for the first time, her eyes wide, a grin stretching across her face as they stepped into the midst of it all.
"Where do we start?" she asked, looking up at him with a mischievous sparkle in her eyes.