As I was driving out of the city limits, I was excited to be able to spend some more time with Ben. We hadn’t seen each other for a little while. Our schedules had been a little hectic lately. With me working a lot of over time and him with work and matches.. there was just no time.

But hopefully tonight would be all about us… I was looking forward to walking around the carnival. I hadn’t been to one in years. Hopefully, my aim had gotten better since then. I met him at his work and we took his SUV down to the carnival.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As we clambered out of my SUV, I put my arm around her, kissed her forehead lightly and we strolled round the carnival. We stopped off at the hot dog stand and both had one with everything on it. When she couldn't finish all of hers, I offered to finish it for her.

"Well...you can't waste food" I protested innocently

"No, I guess not.." giggling

We get in line for the Ferris wheel and as we start our ascent, I turn to her

"Natalie, we have to talk" I say in a serious tone

At those words, my smile fades and suddenly I was filled with dread. Oh god, he's going to break up with me.. I try to push my nerves down as I gear up to hear whatever news he's about to tell me.

"Ok.."

"I got offered a promotion at work"

Quietly, I let out a breath of relief. It wasn't what I had thought at all. Thank god.

"You got promoted... well that's great! I'm so happy for you! " Giving him a hug

"Yeah it's fantastic...but it's in Syracuse"

"New York? But.. that's so far.."

"I know...it's a dream come true and I want you to come with me"

He wanted me to come with him to NY? I lived here my whole life. It would be a whole lifestyle change for me. Was I willing to give up everything I had here to go and live with him in New York? I didn't know. I would have to start all over... This was too much to think about right now. ...

"I.. umm... I don't know, Ben. It's a lot to think about. When do you have to leave?"

"In 3 weeks"

"3 weeks! That's not every long." taking a breath. "I.. I don't want to ask this but... what.. what if I choose not to go. What will happen .. to us?"

Hold on...Am I hearing right? Natalie has to think about it? I'm shocked that she can't give me an answer straight away.

"Babe, what's there to think about? It's us...we'll be together. We'll have a great income. We can buy a house. It's not like there's anything keeping you here"

His arrogance pissed me off and I let it show..

"How dare you! Do you know me at all? Apparently not, or you wouldn't have expected me to drop everything and go with you. Ben, I have a job. I have friends, I have family here. Apparently, means nothing to you" and I scoot away from him

"Woah...it does mean something to me, but you can start over. You can get a new job and you can still keep in touch with everyone. What matters is that we'll be together"

"It's still a lot to think about... Just give me some time okay?"

"What? You have to think about being with me?"

"What is it with you? I thought this was about us and now all of a sudden it seems to be all about you. Do you always have to have everything go your way? What about what I feel about this? You must be used to moving, but I'm not.. I've lived here all my life and you just expect me to instantly say yes, let's go and make a totally new life, without thinking about it first? I do want to be with you, but if this is how your going to be, I don't know... "

“Dammit Natalie, what is your problem? You've lived in Florida all your life. Don't you want to try something new? This isn't a high school fling. We're two adults in a serious relationship...or I thought we were"

"The only problem I have is you assuming that I'm going to immediately do whatever you want. So, what,... you think I'm being a child now?"

"Yeah, I do. You're not prepared to give us the chance or take the risk"

"I never said that" I say in a low firm voice. "Just take me home"

"Fine, if you wanna be like that" I say, shoving the wheel door open and storming off through the crowds

He made me so mad I wanted to scream. Why was he being such an ass? Err! And he is calling me a child? Well… he needs to look in the mirror! And one thing I will not be, is controlled. If that’s what he is trying to accomplish, he can forget it. Hell, I’m not going to have him take me home. He can go home alone for all I care. Suites him right. And today was supposed to be fun... ha!

I walked over towards the restrooms and decided to see who I could call to come and get me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I was leaning against my car, when after what seemed forever, she appeared. I was still upset and angry at how she was behaving. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for me and she had to think about being with me? We'd grown so close over the last few weeks. I had to make her see that it was the right thing to do

"Finally...Are you ready?"

"Yeah, but I'm not going home with you"

I scoff at her. "Yeah, right. How are you going to get home then?"

"I'm having one of my friends come and get me"

"Oh, fine. Whatever" I snap "Give me a call when you've grown up"

"When I've grown up? I think I'm the only one of us that is grown up. And don't forget your show of childishness back there at the Ferris wheel. So, don't talk to me about growing up! And let me tell you, I’m not a child that you can order around. I am a grown woman and I can do whatever the hell I want. And that includes making my OWN decisions! I don’t need you to make them for me. My advice to you right now, is to go home and find out what you really want. Because if you really want me, then you will realize what an arrogant ass were being and treat me with the respect that I deserve! So, just go and I’ll come and get my car later. “ with tears starting to cloud my eyes

"Oh don't start the crying... It's not gonna work... If you can't give me an answer now, then that's us finished. Pick your car up whenever you want or will that be another tough decision?"

I couldn't believe he was giving me an ultimatum. This isn't fair! Why was he all of a sudden being like this? Was it a part of his true nature? Or did he just really want me to go and didn't care about much else? What if I got up there and he was like this? I couldn't do it.. I would be miserable... Well.. I guess I had made my decision then... And with that said, I guess we were over. Even though I loved him, I guess it never really mattered in the first place.

"Then... Then, I guess it's over..." as a stray tear started roll down my cheek as I looked back up at him

"Yeah, it is"

Just hearing him say those finalizing words, were crushing. I couldn't believe this was happening. But then, maybe it was for the best, not that it made it hurt any less. I decided, in the mist of his over bearing arrogance, that I wanted the last word.

I leaned towards him and placed a soft yet passionate kiss on lips and as I pulled away:

"I hope you know what you'll be missing" taking once last look and walking away