“Thank you for helping him. You're good with kids.”

Aaron blushed a little at Amy's observation. He never would've imagined that he would be good with kids, then again he never had the chance to find out before. He was an only child and his parents didn't really have any siblings, except for an uncle who Aaron barely knew because he moved away to start his family. Aaron acknowledged to himself that goofing around with Jackson was definitely a lot of fun. 

“Well kids,” Aaron said to the group, despite the fact that some of them were the same age or as old as he was. Farcical as usual. “If I'm not mistaken, that large lit up circular thing is the ferris wheel. Anybody who wants on, just follow me.” Aaron began striding towards the ride, arms swinging exaggeratedly.

Leading them, Aaron took a sharp turn around a popcorn stand. He wasn't quite looking where he was going, however, and ran directly into a familiar face. A bolt of panic shot through him at the sight of his therapist, Doctor Charles Saunders. Aaron had intended to hide his face and pray that he wouldn't notice him, but it was too late. 

“Hey! Watch where you're...oh, hello Aaron. I didn't expect to see you here.” Dr. Saunders said, leaning over Aaron with his square jaw and his tight expression. 

“Uh, sorry Doctor Saunders. I wasn't paying attention.” Aaron prayed that the others wouldn't notice this conversation, at the same time it all felt so absurd, seeing the man who knew his dark secrets buying a bucket of popcorn. 

“I guess not.” The doctor observed. “Enjoying the festival?” As Aaron mumbled and shifted his feet uncomfortably, the man scanned the group following Aaron dissaprovingly. “Not taking my advice, I see.”

Aaron stared at the lights on the ferris wheel, refusing to acknowledge that this was even happening. He grunted out a short, “Nope.” and shuffled past Saunders, wondering frantically if this sort of situation was covered by doctor/patient confidentiality. 

As if to rub in it, Saunders called out to Aaron as he wandered away. “I'll see you Monday, like always!” 

Aaron ignored him, just kept his eye on the prize. He homed in on the lights on the ferris wheel, not even realizing that he was kicking a rock as he went along.