I had always hated roller rinks.

I mean, sure they're fun and all, but maybe if it wasn't for the fact that I can't actually roller skate without falling flat on my butt, I'd actually enjoy them. And it didn't help that I literally knew nobody in Seattle, since I had just arrived there a few days prior. So why I went to The Carousel, while my sister was off at a college class, was a mystery. I guess I was just looking to make some friends.

That day didn't start out like every other Seattle day. Meaning, it wasn't dreary and raining. In fact, it was actually kind of sunny, with the sun poking out from between the clouds every now and then. But that's not how Seattle typically was, and I think that's what made everything so difficult.

You see, the rain was killer.

Well, the rain itself wasn't killer. It's what's in the rain that kills. But of course we didn't know that at the time. In fact, none of us did. We didn't even know it was the water that was deadly. Until our dad called my sister, that is.

I'm still not fully aware of what all he told her. The only information I had at the beginning was from her, and she forgot half the stuff he told her since she'd panicked so bad. Of course we tried to call him back later, but by then the telephone lines were down.

But this is what I do know: My father, Klyde, had called her in the middle of class. It'd taken him several tries 'till she finally picked up, and by then they didn't have much time. Dad had told Kristy, my sister, that he'd called as soon as he found out from his higher ups about the space bacteria.

Basically, an asteroid had entered Earth's atmosphere, just like they always did. Nothing major, right? Wrong. This asteroid had been a one way flight for a bunch of little space germs who, when burnt up in the atmosphere, released all those little buggers all over the troposphere, successfully contaminating the clouds. And when the rain fell out of those clouds...

All Dad had gotten to say about that was, "It kills you," before the line went dead. That was it. We didn't know how it killed you or how to avoid it killing you.

It was terrifying.

But I'm sure you're well aware of that.

The Carousel, in all honesty, was trashy. I would never have been caught dead in a place like it if I'd been home in Pennsylvania. The carpet was stained and didn't look like it'd been washed in years, the whole building smelled of B.O. and old pretzels, and there were holes in the wooden rollerskating floor that made people fall when they rolled over them.

I was sitting at a table eating one of those previously mentioned old pretzels while sipping my Pepsi, laughing at the various people that tripped over the holes. It was pretty funny to see them sprawled out on the ground and cause other skaters to trip over them, creating a giant pile of limbs and skates. I knew I shouldn't have been laughing at them, though, considering I probably would have  been the one to cause the whole pileup in the first place with my questionable skating skills.

"It's pretty entertaining, isn't it?" A boy slid into one of the chairs on the other side of the table, pulling my attention from the skate floor.

"I... uh... who're you?" I asked rather awkwardly.

He just smiled widely, completely oblivious to the fact that he had caught me off guard. "I like to sit here and watch everyone fall too. It's like a hobby of mine." When I just stared at him, he added, "Oh, yeah. My name's Bailey. What about you?"

"I'm Jackson." I said, still kind of awkwardly. "Come here often?" After I said it, I kicked myself in the shin in my mind for saying something so cliché. I hated that I was bad with people. I didn't know what I'd expected coming here. I wanted to make friends, but I wasn't actually good at doing that.

But Bailey breezed right over my stupid question. "I sure do. I mean, yeah, the place is rundown and nasty, but it's got character. Kinda like me. But hey, what are you doing here on a wonderful day like the Fourth of July? Don't you have family you can cook out and watch firework shows with like everybody else?"

This boy wasn't awkward around people, and definitely wasn't scared to ask questions. "I'm actually from Pennsylvania. I'm here visiting my sister, and since she's a college student, she can't really afford a huge cook out. But I think we're going to microwave some hotdogs. It's alright, though, neither of us are really that festive anyway."

"I don't normally trust people who say they aren't festive, but since you've come such a long way, I'll give you a chance."

Ha. How considerate of him. "Thanks, I guess. You know, I could ask you the same question. How come you're here on the Fourth?"

"What?" He'd lost focus and was watching the most recent pileup of skaters. "Oh. It's kind of a tradition for me and my parents. We can't really be together for more than a couple of hours without breaking into a fight, so on a day like this, I go someplace else for most the day so we can enjoy ourselves later."

Wow. This kid was so eager to spend quality time with his parents that he left for half a day just to be able to. And here I was, two-thousand miles away from mine, because I was tired of being around them. "That's kinda sad." I mentally kicked myself again for being inconsiderate.

Bailey shrugged. "It works." We watched the falling people again in stuffy silence. Suddenly, Bailey was all bright and happy again. "Do you want a tour of the city?"

"That's really nice of you, Bailey, but my sister has already shown me it."

The light-haired boy rolled his eyes and smirked. "But you haven't gotten one by me, Jackson. I hate to break it to you, but there are just some things locals can do better. What do you say?"

I bit my lip in thought. This guy had spunk, and I think spunk was just what I needed in my life. "I guess it wouldn't hurt."

"So you're telling me, that you went to a skating rink full well knowing that you can't actually skate? Why on Earth would you do that?"

"I'm bad at making decisions, okay?" Me and Bailey walked down the busy sidewalk. I guess everyone was taking advantage of the sunshine, or doing some last minute Fourth of July shopping, because people were everywhere. The smell of grilling hamburgers and hotdogs mingled with the exhaust from the cars. "Where are we going again?"

"Nice try, but it's still a surprise."

I rolled my eyes. "For all I know, you're gonna kidnap me or something."

"Is that really what you think?" Bailey asked.

"Well, no, but-"

"Then shut up and walk."

I knew he did not just say that to me, so I kept my mouth shut and followed him. Eventually, Bailey led us down to a subway station. It was just as busy down there, with subway cars loading and unloading a bunch of passengers.

"We have to take the subway?" I asked. "I don't know if I have enough money."

"No, we don't. It's just a short cut."

We walked along the platform, intertwining between the people and pillars. I almost lost Bailey when a subway train unloaded and passengers swarmed out.

"So, Jackson. Where do you live in Pennsylvania?"

I almost didn't hear him over all the noise. "Punxsutawney."

"Hmm. I've never heard of it."

"It's some stupid little town centered around a groundhog."

"A groundhog?" Bailey asked.

"Yup." I said. "You know Groundhog Day? Where if the groundhog sees its shadow, we'll have six more weeks of winter? The groundhog that decides is from there."

"I know all about Groundhog Day, I just didn't realize it was one specific groundhog that does it. I guess it'd make sense though. People can't just go out and find a random groundhog every February." He smirked at me. "I'm gonna call you Groundhog."

The nerve of this boy! Not only was it a stupid nickname, it wasn't even a creative one. I mean, come on! Anyone could have come up with that one! "Please do not call me Groundhog."

"Why shouldn't I?" He asked.

"Because I don't like it."

"Well too bad. It'll help me remember where you're from."

Another subway train unloaded.

"And why do you need to remember where I'm from?"

"Because." Bailey said.

"Because why?" I asked.

"Because I said so."

I glared at him as we waited for a group of men in black business suits to pass in front of us. Once they were gone, we walked to a set of stairs leading back out of the subway. Outside and across the street was the ocean. Waves crashed against the shore, sending plumes of mist into the air. I was glad we were far enough away from it to not get wet. It was starting to get cold and the wind was making me chilly.

The ocean water was choppy, and in the distance black clouds were marching landward. It looked like it wouldn't be sunny for much longer.

"This way." Bailey nodded his head to the right. At the end of the sidewalk, we took a crosswalk to the opposite side.

Bailey pointed down the beach. "See that boardwalk?"

I nodded my head and looked at it stretching out into the water. There was a ferris wheel at the end of it.

"That's where we're going."

The beach wasn't the kind of fine, yellow sand you normally think about when you hear the word "beach." It was mainly black pebbles and tiny grey rocks. It probably would've hurt to walk on if you weren't wearing shoes. It crunched as we walked across it.

The boardwalk was little compared to the other major ones dotted along the coastline. There were a few places to eat at, and a couple souvenir shops, with the ferris wheel looming over them like a rickety old giant. I could feel the floor of the boardwalk shake every time a wave crashed into the support beams underneath.

"Do you give all your friends nicknames?" I asked him. "Specifically ones they don't like?"

Bailey shrugged. "I don't really have a lot of friends."

If he gave everyone crappy nicknames like he did me, I could see why.

"Not a lot of people come here. They know it exists, but why would they be interested in some rusty old ferris wheel? Especially when there are the other boardwalks not too far away? I'll tell you why. Because this ferris wheel has a story. Don't worry, I'll pay for yah." Bailey added when he saw me reach for my pocket.

He turned around and handed some money to the conductor, then we climbed into one of the carts. It surged forward, rocking back and forth as it gained height.

"So what about that story?" I asked.

Bailey smiled. "Just look at it. Look at the chipped paint and listen to the way it creaks."

The higher we rose the windier it got and the more the cart shook. I looked out across the city, saw the glinting of the sun off the skyscrapers. Even at the highest point of the wheel, we still weren't tall enough to see over all the buildings.

In the other direction was the frothing sea, and let me tell you, it wasn't getting any calmer. As if to prove itself, a crack of thunder rolled across the water.

I turned back to see Bailey red in the face. He coughed into his fist and asked, "I know it's real early to be asking this, and I hope I don't offend you or anything, but-"

And that's when my phone went off in my pocket.