~August’s point of view~
“Where to next?” I asked. Brian, Carmen, Nick, and I were in Tomorrowland, all eating our ice cream cones. They were our release from the intense heat. Oh, yeah, Cassie was there, too.
“Spaceship Mountain again?” Michelle said.
“We’ve ridden it twice today!” Nick looked at her incredulously.
“I know, but it’s my favorite ride!” Michelle said.
“How about that?” Carmen pointed to the “ExtraTERRORestrial Alien Encounter.”
“Sure,” Cassie agreed. She saddled up next to Brian. After waiting in line for a half an hour, we went in to get our seats. She managed to be on the other side of him.
Brian, of course, didn’t notice anything of it. But I could always count on Carmen, and we exchanged looks. The ride was fun. Nice effects and we got some water sprayed on us, which we truly appreciated later when we were back out in the hot sun.
When we exited the ride, we were led into a gift shop.
“Aww… here ya go!” Carmen placed a hat on Brian and my heads. I glanced into a mirror. I was wearing one with Mouse ears and a viel, and Brian had mouse ears with a top hat.
“Minnie and Mickey getting married, that’s so sweet!” Michelle said.
I started looking around. I picked up the most beautiful frame I had ever seen in my life. It had sparkly fairtydust around the edges and read “Happily Ever After.”
That is one of those phrases that never get old. And never loses its meaning. In my opinion, anyway.
“That’s cute, too!” Michelle admired it. “Hey, Carmen!” she went off to talk to her.
~Brian’s point of view~
“Remember that Christmas party we went to last year? At the Romeraz brothers’ house? That was great!” Cassie said, center of attention.
“That was a huge house!” I commented. “They were dancing on the tables though and broke that really expensive vase. I think they are still both sitting in the basement grounded.”
I noticed the look on August’s face. Distant, trying to look interested in the discussion Nick and Carmen were having.
I couldn’t really blame her. Here Cassie and I were, talking about old times, and none of them included August. She hadn’t entered the picture until this month. She probably felt left out. Especially since it was Cassie I was talking to.
“Do you want to go for a walk, August?”
“Sure,” she said, politely. But I knew she was secretly grateful.
“She wasn’t intentionally trying to leave you out or anything,” I informed her. “But I’m sorry that’s sort of how it ended up.”
“I think she was, and that she’s still plotting against me because, first of all, you picked me over her. And second, my kind beat her kind. Which isn’t something that happens often.”
“ ‘Your kind?’ I’m not even going to ask… girls have such strange theories.”
“At least we have theories. Guys just choose to stay in the dark,” August said.
“I never thought I’d enjoy bantering with someone so much,” I smiled, slipping my hand into hers. We started to circle the castle, enjoying the atmosphere.
“Are you feeling all right?” she asked.
“Yeah, why?”
“Because you were pretty bad off yesterday. I just didn’t want to run you ragged in the park again today and get you sick again.”
“I’m fine. And it wasn’t your fault I got sick. It was the Chinese food… you were the reason I got well.”
August blushed. We walked through a gift shop inside the Cinderella Castle.
“Cool,” I looked at a display with small swords and daggers. The price, on the other hand, wasn’t small at all.
August must’ve seen me looking at price tags. “It’s Disney. You have to pay more for the extra quality.” She was looking through the glass on the counter at jewelry.
There was a collection of rings. She was eyeing one. We moved on to the postcards and then the miniatures.
“Oh.. look, it’s Aladdin! How cute…” she gushed. “I wish I hadn’t spent most of my money earlier,” she said. “Oh, well… we’d better get me out of here.”
The center walk through had six scenes depicted from Cinderella. They were done in detailed mosaics.
August stopped to stare at each one. “I think I’m going to have to get Michelle to take a picture of each one… aww… look, it’s Prince Charming!”
“Uh-huh,” I looked around, not as impressed as she was. Well, it wasn’t too bad a story, I thought, as we walked back out front of the castle.
“The sun’s setting,” August looked at the sky. “I guess the Disney World trip is pretty much over.”
“So is the cruise, almost,” I said, sadly. “Look, thanks for staying with me yesterday. I know how much Disney World means to you. And the fact that you missed a day of it just to check on me was a huge thing. Especially from you. I just want you to know, that if it had been you, I would have done the same thing.”
August laughed. “You would have gladly gotten out of going to Disney World. You think it’s for little kids!”
“No, I don’t think that anymore. I’ve had a great time with you. Disney World has gone up in my book. And even if it had been… a Boyz to Men concert, or we were in Australia or somewhere… you’d come first.”
“Thanks,” August smiled, eyes sparkling.
The last speck of light disappeared from the sky. I took her hands in mine. “I don’t want the end of the cruise to be the end of us.”
“Me neither.”
“I know its only been almost two weeks… but you mean the world to me. It was like everything in my life led me to seeing you that first day on the cruise. And at the party.”
August didn’t say anything. Just smiled at me.
I took a deep breath. “I love…”
That’s when I saw Nick in the background.
“…parties,” I finished lamely. “That teen club place was really nice, wasn’t it?”
“Yeah,” August said, unenthused.
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Eighteen
Drowning
Frick's Fairytales