We had docked in Baltimore ten minutes ago. Everybody was getting their things and heading out. I was the only one not packing. I walked out of my room, and into the hallway. The hallway was crowded with people. I felt claustrophobic. I walked down the hallway and to the moon pool. Darwin swam up to me. "Penny play," He said. I smiled.
"Not right now, maybe later," I replied, rubbing Darwin on the head.
"Everyone leaving," He stated. I nodded my head. Lucas came walking in with Tailor on his heels. I scowled. Tailor looked around the room, with a weird look on her face. Then her expression changed, and I turned my head to see what she was looking at. I saw Tony headed towards us. Gah. What is with these two?
"So what were you guys planning on doing for Christmas?" Asked Tailor looking up at Lucas.
"Well I was going to work on my paper," I replied, looking at my little desk in the corner.
"And I was gonna stay here and make sure she didn't waste her Christmas working on some stupid paper," Lucas said. I smiled. So he didn't forget his promise to spend Christmas on Seaquest with me. Tailor frowned, but just for a second.
"What were you guys gonna do?" Asked Lucas.
"Well we were actually headed on a trip, when the Seaquest found us," Tony said, walking up next to me.
"Well then why don't you guys stay here for Christmas?" Asked Nathan.
I turned around to see Nathan standing behind me.
"You know that sounds like a great idea," Said Tailor. I glared at Nathan giving him my best death glare. He gave me a funny look then turned back to Tailor.
"Yeah, I'm going to be spending my Christmas on board Seaquest as well this year. What do you think Penny?" Asked Nathan looking down at me.
I glared at him, then said through my teeth, "Yeah that would be great."
"Well then it's settled. You just gotta ask your dad," Nathan said.
"He won't mind," Tailor stated. I rolled my eyes. Just then James, Nickie, Lenny, and Tom walked in.
"Hey dad can we spend this Christmas on the Seaquest?" Tailor asked her dad. He smiled at her.
"Sure why not," He replied. I sighed. Great I get to spend Christmas with her.
"I'll be back I gotta do some shopping," I exclaimed, walking out of the room, and heading for the docking bay. I heard someone following behind me. I turned to see Tony following after me.
"Hey you mind if I come with you I still have to get my dad something?" He asked. I nodded my head, and we both walked to one of the launches. I had almost forgotten that it was snowing. I smiled as I stepped off the launch, and onto the snow covered dock.
"Man I haven't seen snow since I was 8," I mumbled, looking up at the sky…
…Christmas was a very special thing for me and my parents. We'd lived in a small house in Baltimore my entire life. My mom was a karate instructor, and my dad was a marine biologist. They'd both taught me everything they knew. I looked out the window and watched the snow fall to the ground. I turned back to look at our Christmas tree. There were presents in front of the tree. Christmas morning. Mom and dad came into the living room with three cups of hot chocolate. "Morning Penny, ready to open your presents?" Asked mom. I nodded my head, and ran over to the tree and started opening my presents.
I found a small red box lying on top of one of the bigger boxes. I picked it up, and opened it. Inside was a necklace with a silver dolphin charm attached to the chain. The dolphin had blue gems for eyes. I smiled. "I love it. Thank you," I exclaimed, running over to them and giving them a hug. My dad took the necklace and put it on me. I smiled and went back to the tree. Suddenly the lights flickered. I looked over at mom and dad.
"Probably the snow storm," Dad stated. The lights flickered again, then suddenly one of the bulbs on the tree shattered. I saw a small spark come from the shattered bulb, and suddenly the tree was on fire. I screamed, and fell backwards trying to get away from the flames. The tree tipped over on its side, and landed next to me. My dad grabbed me, and pulled me away from the tree. The flames spread across the floor, blocking the path to the kitchen (where the door was). Dad ran to the window, and opened it. Dad shoved me through the window, and I landed on the soft blanket of snow. I stood up, and looked back through the window.
"Mom, dad," I yelled. I saw dad turn back to help mom. She was stuck on something. I watched as dad tried to help mom get free from whatever she was stuck on. But a thick cloud of smoke blocked my view of them.
"Mom, Dad!" I yelled. I could hear the sirens of the fire trucks getting closer. I waited for mom and dad to come out of the house. I watched as the flames got closer to the window. I heard someone talking behind me.
"Mom, Dad," I yelled. I moved to go back into the house, but a fireman grabbed me, and held me back. I screamed for my mom and dad, but they never came out…
…I felt a tear run down my face. I wiped it away, and continued to walk down the dock with Tony next to me. I hailed a cab, and me and Tony got into the cab. "Where to?" Asked the driver.
"The mall," I replied. I looked out the window, and watched the snow fall.
"What you thinking about?" Asked Tony.
"Nothing really," I mumbled.
"I like your necklace. Where'd you get it?" He asked, looking down at the necklace around my neck.
"My parents gave it to me several years ago," I replied. Tony nodded his head. After a couple of minutes the cab stopped in front of the mall. I paid the man, then me and Tony walked into the mall.
"So what do you have to get?" Asked Tony.
"Well I have to get something for Nathan, Lucas, and Kristin. But I'm not quite sure what exactly to get them," I said, walking towards one of the stores. The first store was a book store. I looked through the book shelves. Finally I found the book I was looking for. A Night to Rememberby Walter Lord, this was for Nathan. Then I moved on to the next store. Hm what to get Lucas and Kristin? I looked through the display cases. I saw a pocket knife sitting in one of the display cases. I looked at the price tag. Hm 20 dollars. I think Luca might like this. After he saw my pocket knife, he had been talking about getting one of his own.
"Can I help with something?" Asked a man behind the counter.
"Yeah I'd like to buy that pocket knife," I said, pointing to it. The man pulled the knife out of the display case, and handed it to me. I handed the money to the man, and he put the knife into a plastic bag. I looked through the jewelry. I found a beautiful necklace with a butterfly charm attached to it. This would be perfect for Kristin. I bought the necklace, then walked down to the food court where me and Tony were supposed to meet. About five minutes later Tony came walking towards me.
"Did you get everything?" He asked. I nodded my head, and we walked outside. We hailed a cab, and rode back to the docks. Then we got on the launch, and headed back to Seaquest. When we got back to the Seaquest I went to my room so I could wrap the presents. Again Tony walked me to my room. I smiled, and thanked him for coming with me to the mall, then went into my room. I sat down on my bed, and started wrapping the presents…
