The Chasez family and Lexi ate a leisurely breakfast, and when they were done Lexi and JC got in the rental car to go into the city.
“So where are we going this fine, sunny, unreasonably cold day, Mr. Chasez?” Lexi asked once they were on the road.
“Well, I thought that we’d start out at the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden and then make our way to the National Air and Space Museum. Lunch will fit in there somewhere.”
“Awww…no tour of the White House?”
“Actually, I talked to Bill this morning, and he told me that he’d be expecting us at around 1:30 PM. It was supposed to be a surprise!” JC said with sarcasm.
“No one forced you to tell me, if my memory serves me correctly,” Lexi answered just as sarcastically.
“Oh, my bad.”
By about 12:15, JC was parking the car by the Hirshhorn. They observed the 19th and 20th century’s sculptures but were particularly enamored by the garden. By 1 o’clock they were in the Air and Space Museum, and at 1:30 they were taking their seats in the IMAX theater to watch Mission to Mir.
“Mission to Mir?” Lexi asked quietly. “What the hell is this?”
JC picked up his program and began to read aloud. “Mission to Mir was filmed in space by the astronauts. This 40 minute giant screen tour of Russia’s space station Mir gives viewers a unique look inside the weightless home in space that has been occupied by international teams of scientists since 1986. Blending historical footage with ambitious and breathtaking live action shots…”
“Ok, ok! That’s really more than I needed to hear,” Lexi interrupted with a laugh.
About fifteen minutes into the movie JC and Lexi began to get restless. They started laughing at things that really weren’t funny. They would poke and tickle each other and got louder each second. After five minutes of this, they realized that they were pissing people off and decided to leave the theater.
They looked at the other exhibitions and features, but today they had the attention span of a six-year old. After 45 minutes of poking around they got bored and left the museum.
“So were are we going now?” Lexi asked as she put her jacket back on before they headed outside.
“Are you hungry yet?”
“Not really. You?”
“Nope.” JC thought for a moment. “Is there anywhere else you’d like to go?”
“Do I remember an aquarium being around here?”
“Yeah, the National Aquarium is right around the corner. Ya wanna go?”
Lexi grabbed JC’s arm and began to walk quickly. “Yeah!”
Lexi and JC made it to the aquarium in record time. They were met by an old woman in a ticket booth at the entrance.
“How many?”
“Two,” Lexi answered.
“That’ll be $4.00, hun.”
Lexi reached into her purse to retrieve her wallet, but JC beat her to the task.
“Ya know, Josh, believe it or not, I do have money.”
JC just chuckled at her. “I know, Lex, but the guy should always pay.”
Lexi paused. They guy should always pay? First of all, Lexi didn’t think that was true, but even if she thought it was true that would only happen in relationships. Yet again, JC let his feelings for Lexi slightly slip, and yet again Lexi simply ignored his comment.
“Here ya go, sugar,” the old woman said as she handed JC the two tickets. “You two love birds enjoy.”
“Oh,” Lexi interjected, “We’re not…” But the woman wasn’t listening. “Never mind.”
Just as JC and Lexi entered the aquarium a middle aged, peppy woman was starting a tour, so they quickly joined the group.
“Hi, and Merry Christmas!” the tour guide said, “Welcome to the National Aquarium! I hope you guys are enjoying your stay here in the wonderful city of Washington DC. If any of you have any questions throughout our tour, feel free to raise your hand and ask it! You did pay to get in here!”
Genuine laughter came from the group of tourists while JC and Lexi gave their sarcastic, drawn out laughs. The tour guide gave them a dirty look and continued.
“Well let’s get started! This was the nation’s first public aquarium. The 70 tanks house sea turtles, American alligators, sharks, piranha, and over 1,200 specimens of marine life…”
Needless to say, JC and Lexi were already bored. They instantly went off on their own having more fun than they ever would on a tour. They came even closer, if that’s possible, and were enjoying every minute of it. Little did they know, their friendship wasn’t become stronger…their love for each other was.
Chapter Seven
Ya know the drill: HOME!!!