The Happiest Place on Earth

So I'm writing a new story, focused on a new pairing, while leaving my other fic hanging high and dry. This may make me a terrible person, but I honestly just couldn't make myself write Naomily whilst my mind was completely enamored with Cophine. So, let me know what you all think.

—

When I'd told Tony, my best friend since high school, that I was moving to Florida, he nearly shit a brick.

Not that that'd be possible, scientifically speaking, without extensive anal tearing and all, but really it's just a phrase and I seriously need to get out my head, Jesus Christ.

Anyway… originally hailing from San Francisco, I'd decided early on in high school that I didn't want to leave my beloved California for college. I was making quite the name for myself in the science department of UC Berkley, but I felt myself growing bored as I got closer and closer to my senior year. Eventually, I just felt like I needed a change of scenery.

Actually, I guess that isn't totally accurate... my reasons for leaving, that is, I still totally needed a change of scenery. The fact of the matter is that Beth, the once love of my life and girlfriend of three years, suddenly had a change of heart and ran off to fucking Canada with Big Dick Paul, a mutual 'friend' of ours. I don't know which hurt the most- her leaving me, her leaving me for a man, or her leaving me for a man as boring as Paul.

Regardless, the campus I'd grown to love was suddenly overridden with memories of what I no longer had. I had to leave.

So… I spent a solid week researching the logistics and being grateful for the fact that I'd just made the deadline for transferring out next semester to the University of Central Florida.

Once I had confirmed that I had a place to stay and a school to attend, I decided to break the news to my closest companion. I told Tony, who quickly calmed down after hearing me out, and then boom- the two of us were on the stuffy, toddler-laden, five hour flight to Orlando.

Leaving was easier than I'd expected. My parents shed a bucket of tears, naturally, but other than that it wasn't too big of a deal. Thankfully, Tony had nothing keeping him in Cali other than me, so he was more than happy to completely uproot himself as long as he could keep his 'sister' close. I'd never been to the east coast, the farthest I'd traveled being Chicago, so I figured that transferring somewhere with similar weather couldn't hurt.

When we landed, Tony and I made our way out of the metal bucket of misery, commonly known as an airplane, as quickly as possible.

The first thing I noticed after escaping the terminal gates was the complete and total overwhelming presence of Disney World paraphernalia.

I stood with my mouth open in a mixture of silent laughter and horror. How could I overlook the fact that transferring to UCF would mean being in direct proximity with Disney World, 'the happiest place on Earth' and the polar opposite of everything I'm interested in. When my presence returned to my admittedly scattered head, I was greeted with the view of Tony wearing Mickey Mouse ears and shouting excitedly.

"Aw shit, Cos! We've totally gotta go to Disney World!"

—

Delphine

Finishing my undergraduate degree should have made me indescribably happy. Unfortunately, happiness wasn't on the list of emotions that passed through me upon receiving that diploma. What was on that list was decidedly more negative.

Stress, worry, fatigue.

So what, I'd gotten a degree in immunology… I still had years of schooling ahead of me before I could really pursue my dreams. I wasn't dreading the thought of more school, quite the opposite really… I was completely enamored with the idea of continuing to learn. My issue was with the financial responsibility that grad school came with.

I thought Mark, my boyfriend, was joking at first when he suggested moving to the United States for work as some kind of 'cultural representative' in Florida.

I soon learned that he was serious, however, and that he'd already taken the liberty of signing me up. To say I was upset would be an understatement.

Out of the blue I was expected to leave my home, leave my country, and skip off to the states.

That was how Mark became my ex-boyfriend, actually.

Alas, I still decided to go through with the big move. Never having been close with my family, Mark was the only thing keeping me in France. In a wine-induced haze it suddenly seemed like the best idea; move somewhere with beautiful weather, get payed for basically just being French, and maybe even apply to the graduate program at the closest university I could find.

In retrospect, having already been in Florida for nearly four months, my rash decision wasn't really the best I could have made. That's not to say I regret it, however.

The glamorous life of being a 'cultural representative' at the France Pavilion in Disney's Epcot more or less translated into wearing a campy outfit and speaking first grade level french to tourists as I took their meal orders. Still though, I've managed to make a couple of great friends, and I was accepted into the graduate program at the University of Central Florida.

I was sure things were starting to look up for me.

So, I'm not sure if anything is gonna come of this story, but I had the urge to write a quick chapter to set the scene. If I do decide to go somewhere with this, it's gonna be at a slow pace! Let me know if anyone is interested in the idea :)