Aaron climbed in with the others with a smile, still feeling amused by Jackson's small but effective zinger at Dr. Saunders. Seeing that the pale guy was clutching his seat like a life raft, Aaron made a mental note not to rock the ride. After they were all inside, the ride operator closed the doors and double checked them. Soon, they were all moving lazily skyward, the ground getting farther and farther away. Jackson was looking wide-eyed at the scenery below them, and the sight of him made him feel like a kid again. Feeling a little whimsical and not caring who knew it, Aaron whistled a couple of bars from [i]Giants in the Sky[/i]. It seemed appropriate. 

As they neared the top, Aaron decided to stare down at the world below them along with Jackson. The people seemed so small. They also didn't seem as rude and nasty from way up here. Up here they were just people...whose insults wouldn't reach their little group no matter how much they shouted. There was a certain serenity up in this moment, and Aaron wanted to be able to remember it. Searching the floor of their group's compartment, Aaron noticed a penny. No doubt left by a someone who had been contemplating throwing it off the ride. He picked it up and shoved it into his back pocket, deciding to put it to better use. 

Peeking out of the ride again, Aaron saw in the corner of his eye one of the other gondolas near them. In it was a couple kissing. Aaron looked away quickly, face turning red. He had forgotten ferris wheels were popular make-out rides. 

He started to think about the people on the ground again, and about Dr. Saunders. Saunders acted like people like Aaron shouldn't exist. As if he wasn't complete. As if he was lying, or needed to prove that he was the way he was. Nearly every question from the man was a test. [i]'How do you know if you've never experienced it?' 'Why are you giving up on yourself so early?' 'Is there some reason that you choose to be this way?'[/i] He frowned at the memory at that last one. Choice had nothing to do with it. 

Saunders wasn't the only one. The guys on the bus, the jerks picking on Reyna, not to mention the assholes who messed up the pale guy's coat and payed the price. Aaron had no doubt that Amy had caught her fair share of insults and judgements. The thought made him sick, especially for the kid's sake. No one should grow up having to see their mother be ridiculed. 

Suddenly Aaron turned to the rest of the group, not sure why he was asking such a forward question. He just had a feeling they all felt the same way. 

“Am I crazy, or is this town...not right? It's like everyone in it are...” Aaron remembered Jackson, and censored himself. “...meanies.”