Author's Note: Once again thanks for the reviews.
Disclaimer: You know the drill.
Chapter 9
I quickly went through my checklist one last time. I was putting my book in my trusty grey backpack when the doorbell rang. I grabbed my suitcase and backpack and ran downstairs.
Phil was petting our German Shepherd and arguing with Doug about something.
"Let's see then," Phil said gesturing to me but looking at Doug, "Sam you're ok with taking the middle seat on the plane right?"
"As long as I don't have to sit next to you." Phil clutched his heart in mock horror and all three of us burst out laughing. "Why do you guys even ask anymore, I always end up in the middle anyway."
"Well yeah, but I sound nicer if I ask," he replied flashing me a smirk. "So I guess Stu gets the seat across the aisle." Doug rolled his eyes but smiled. "Do you want the window or the aisle seat?" Phil asked turning to Doug.
"I don't care, you can pick."
"I don't care either, Sam, you pick."
"Um, alright. Doug gets the aisle and you get the window. I think you and Stu should be separated 'cause you'll just annoy him and I don't want to start our vacation with a cranky Stu."
With that Stu's little sister announced it was time to go. We all piled in the cars and headed to LAX.
Getting through security felt like it took hours. Phil and Stu got sidetracked on the way to our gate when they smelt the Cinnabons in the food court. We made it to the food court in record time, which wasn't surprising for three starving teenage boys.
We each got a cinnamon roll and a bottle of milk. The three boys immediately dug into their breakfast.
"Did anyone tell out parents where we were going," Stu asked concerned halfway through his cinnamon roll. Both Phil and Doug shook their heads.
"Damn it, guys," Stu said a little louder, "we're probably gonna get in trouble now."
"Relax man, we can just find the gate ourselves," said Phil shrugging.
"I told my mom where we were going, calm down," I said rolling my eyes.
"See Stu, Sam knows what she's doing."
"Yeah, I also said we wouldn't be long, so let's go."
We were finally taking off. Stu and Doug were talking animatedly about which ride was the best. Phil was looking out the window clutching the armrest so tightly his knuckles were white. He wasn't too fond of the taking off and landing part of a plane trip. I pulled his hand into my lap and patted his arm in an attempt to calm him down.
About two hours into the flight I decided it was time to eat my Cinnabon. I pulled my tray table down and opened up the box. Doug and Phil turned to me. I took a few bites and noticed Doug and Phil were still staring at me.
I looked between them and sighed, "take it."
"Thanks!" beamed Doug.
"Love you girl." Phil said ruffling my hair.
We finally touched down in Orlando after a five hour flight. Phil immediately let out the breath he had been holding for I don't know how long.
My prevention of ending up with a cranky Stu Price failed thanks to Phil who spent the last hour and a half throwing pieces of popcorn at him.
We finally made it to our hotel after 45 minutes of listening to Phil bitch about how he didn't get to drive the rental car. It was now 4:30 and about to rain so we opted to explore our Hotel, The Beach Club, and the surrounding boardwalk instead of going into one of the parks.
Doug, Phil, Stu, and I met by the elevators on our floor. We decided to explore the gift shop in the lobby and then check out the pool.
"Hey, look at this!" Stu said coming up next to me. He was holding a bright court jester's hat with Mickey Ears sticking out of it.
"That's ugly," I chuckled and pulled on a Mad Hatter's Hat.
Doug and Phil found us and put on their own crazy hats. We took a few pictures in the mirror with our hats on.
The next day as a group, including the parents, we decided to go to MGM Studios. We had to take a ferry from our hotel to the gate.
The three mothers made the five kids gather just outside the gate and take a picture.
Sophie, Stu's sister, wanted to go on Rock N 'Roller Coaster.
Mr. Price said we can go on that and Tower of Terror and meet them at the Sci-Fi Diner Theatre for lunch.
We made our way to the corner of the park where these two rides are. We got in line behind three teenage boys about our age.
"Hey," the tall one with black hair said, "where are you guys from?"
The question seemed to be directed toward me so I answered, "California."
"Wow, so do you like live next door to a movie star and surf every day?"
"No," I laughed, "I don't live by any celebrities, at least that I know of, and I don't go surfing every day. I surf, but mostly during the summer. Most people don't go to the beach every day, actually."
"So basically what you're saying is everything that I thought about California is wrong?"
"Oh, of course not, just most of it."
Phil stopped playing 20 Questions with Sophie and came up next to me. He put his arm on the hand rail behind me.
"What's so funny up here?" he asked.
"Apparently I'm dumber than I thought I was," said the black haired boy. Phil flashed a fake smile.
"Made a friend, Sam?" he asked not taking his eyes off the boy.
"Yeah, this is…" I looked at the boy waiting for him to say his name.
"Danny. And this is Mike and Oren."
"Hi Danny," I said smiling at him, "this is Phil, Doug, Sophie and Stu," I said pointing to each of them.
"So where are you from Danny?" I asked trying to break the awkward silence.
"We're from Montana and yes we each live on a ranch," he said chuckling. Phil snorted behind me.
"Do you raise animals?"
"Yep, we raise sheep. We also have chickens, horses, and a shitload of dogs."
"You raise horses? I rode a horse once in fifth grade and at a birthday party and loved it, but I haven't gotten the chance since."
"It's great right," Danny replied hopping up to sit on the railing.
"Oh, yes, you feel so free with the wind blowing through your hair. I miss that feeling."
"Well, if you're ever in Montana, you can stop by the ranch and I'll really teach you how to ride." Mike and Oren snickered.
"Sam," Phil said stepping between Danny and me, "Sophie wants to play Slide with you."
"Oh ok," I elbowed Phil in the side to keep him in check.
I got back to Stu and Sophie, "Phil said you wanted to play Slide, Sophie?"
"No, but we can," she said smiling ear to ear.
So Phil just wanted to get me away from Danny? Typical.
Sophie and I played Slide and Lemonade, Crunchy Ice for a while. The whole time I was watching Phil out of the corner of my eye. Doug had joined the group so I wasn't too worried about Phil's less than friendly behavior towards Danny.
After 45 minutes of waiting in line we were finally near the front of the line.
Phil called me over, "who's sitting with who?"
"Stu is sitting with Sophie so one of us will have to sit alone."
Danny who was listening to us, spoke up, "why don't you sit with me, Sam, that way no one has to sit alone. Oren and Mike are gonna sit together, so I would be left out." He gave me puppy dog eyes and jutted out his bottom lip.
"That's a good idea, Danny," Doug finally spoke.
"Thanks. Why don't you stand next to me since we're next in line," he said grabbing my wrist and pulling me next to him.
"You can let go now," Phil said looking at my wrist still in Danny's grasp.
I shot Phil a warning look as one of the workers asked us how many people were in our party.
"Eight," Doug said when we all looked at each other.
All eight of us went on Tower of Terror and then met back up with the adults. Danny, Mike, and Oren were staying at the same hotel as us. So we made plans to meet at the pool at 3:30 and went our separate ways.
We went back to our rooms around 2:00 after lunch and a little shopping. After a few hands of Five Card Draw I announced I was going to go swimming.
I came out of the bathroom and Stu and Sophie were both in their pool attire, too.
"You guys aren't coming?"
"No, I don't feel like it," Phil replied.
Stu turned back to me, "what time are we meeting Danny?"
"3:30, so we better get going."
Phil got off the bed he was laying on, "come on Doug, we're going swimming."
I rolled my eyes and prepared for an awkward day at the pool.