This is especially dedicated to my pals, Lee and Sarah…you rock! Enjoy!
PS. Did you guys know that the name Linka is actually Hungarian in origin? Could the producers of this show be more off? I guess I'm just bitter that they never made our favorite couple officially hook up…okay, enough ramblings and on with the story, hee hee…
Disclaimer: I do not own Captain Planet, its themes, characters, etc. If I did, Wheeler would technically be mine, wouldn't he? (wink)
Chapter 11 - Rollercoaster of Love
"Linka, you're so lucky!" Gi half-squealed, half-whined as she released a strand of Linka's hair from the curling iron she was holding. The result was a perfect blonde curl, which rested lightly on the Russian girl's shoulder.
Linka was concentrating on the layer of mascara she was applying to her eyelashes. She did not wear make-up often, opting for the natural look instead, but this was a special occasion: William had asked her out that evening. Linka had not clued in to the supposed importance of the event until Gi had informed her that this was technically their "first date". No matter how hard Linka tried, she could not erase the exuberant-bordering-on-nauseous feeling in the pit of her stomach. This being the first official date she had ever been on, she did not know what to expect, and an unsettling feeling was taunting her usually calm nerves.
"Do you want to go out with William?" Linka asked with a sly smile and sideway glance, replacing the mascara brush inside its tube.
"No, not William per se," Gi rolled her eyes, finishing the last strand of Linka's hair. "Someone like him…you know, hunky, sweet, fun." Gi sighed dramatically and Linka smiled. The blonde girl's heart picked up its pace when the image of William materialized in her mind. Yes, he was all those things, but much more about him warmed her heart with a soft, perpetual glow. His charming boyish grin, for example, or the way his hand fit hers so perfectly, or his touch and the fire it ignited within her, or…
"So where is he taking you?" asked Gi, interrupting Linka's rather lovesick daydreams.
"He said it was a surprise. When I asked him what I should wear, he said to dress casual. What do you think of my outfit? Should I change into something else?"
Gi took a step back to critically examine her seemingly nervous friend. Linka was clad in a pair of denim capri pants that fit her like a second skin, hugging her every curve in the process; a pair of cute black sandals added a couple of inches to her stature, her legs appearing to go on forever as a result; a short aqua cardigan was paired with a lace-trimmed white camisole that reached her hips, accentuating her slim waistline. A few strands of her curled hair had been pinned back with a butterfly hairclip; soft make-up complemented her already striking features, causing her skin to glow.
"Linka, you look drop-dead gorgeous," Gi assured her with a broad smile. "He's going to be drooling over you all night…more than usual, that is!" Linka, caught between a giggle and a blush, brushed off Gi's comments with a wave of her hand.
"GI, PHONE!" came a loud voice from the hallway, Ma-ti's, interrupting the girls' conversation.
"That boy is getting more like your boyfriend everyday," was Gi's comment to Linka, winking before making her way out of the room.
Her boyfriend! thought Linka once alone. William was her boyfriend. She was his girlfriend! All kinds of thoughts were inundating her senses, nearly making her dizzy. There was no rational way to think about the subject, no apparent way to remain sensible in the process. Taking in a deep breath to subside the wave of unusual giddiness coming over her, she picked up a tube of lip-gloss and swiftly ran it over her full lips.
A knock at the door resounded in the stillness of the late afternoon.
"Come in," called Linka absent-mindedly, placing the lip-gloss in her handbag. The knock came again and Linka looked in its direction, furrowing her brows together. She did not remember locking the door, but could not rely on her memory or senses when in such a strange state of mind. She walked the few steps to the door and pulled it open.
On the other side stood the protagonist of her flustered thoughts. A slow smile from him and Linka was falling, deep below the surface of her emotions.
"Hey, babe," voiced William cheerfully, eyes sparkling. He was dressed in a blue sweater atop an untucked, button-down-shirt with vertical blue stripes, matched with a pair of nice jeans and comfortable white sneakers. Linka continued to be astounded by the fact that William could be so sexy in such an effortless manner; perhaps, it was his confidence, or his nonchalance…
"You look beautiful," he added sincerely, leaning in closer to place a gentle kiss on her cheek. The feel of his lips on her skin and the intimate tone of his voice immediately sent her heart in a frenzy, disheveling her rationality in record time.
"Thank you," replied Linka in a low voice, her face heating up. She could not believe the kind of reaction he was able to evoke from her!
"I kinda like the fact that I can make you blush like that, babe. Interestingly, it doesn't take much."
She pouted a little at the amused look in his eyes and lightly smacked his arm for good measure.
"Okay, okay, I get it," said William with a chuckle. "Enough with the Russian street fighting moves already."
A laugh escaped Linka's lips. "Have you come to take me out on a date or simply to aggravate me, Yankee?"
"Both, apparently," beamed William, proudly. "But before I forget, these are for you." Hidden behind his back had been five exquisite roses, one red, one pink, one orange, one white, and one yellow, tied with a sateen ribbon, which he now offered to her with a smile.
"Oh, how beautiful!" exclaimed Linka, bringing the bouquet to her nose, the fragrance sweet and inviting. "You did not have to get me flowers, William," she added, both impressed and moved by his thoughtfulness.
"I wanted to. Besides, it's a good way to show you that I can be a gentleman."
"I never doubted that," Linka shook her head a little, her fingers caressing the velvet rose petals. All along, it had been her insecurity and preoccupations that had kept her and William apart. It had never been a question of doubting his integrity or his goodness of heart.
"You know, a real gentleman would tell me where we are going for our date," teased Linka.
"I guess I'm no gentleman, then," William shrugged in a secretive manner. "But nice try." They smiled at each other a little before he held out his hand and asked, "are you ready to go, darlin'?"
Linka nodded and slipped her hand in his, readier than she ever thought she could be.
"That's what I'm talking about!" was William's comment upon spotting the gravity-defying rollercoaster that stretched to the sky. Pulling excitedly on Linka's hand, he led her in that direction, watching as she took in the liveliness of the carnival around them. Bright lights were set against the soft hues of dusk, along with the sounds of bells, buzzers, music, screams, and laughter. The air smelled of cotton candy, hot dogs, popcorn, mini doughnuts, and all things delicious.
"Are you sure you want to go on that?" asked Linka with a teasing smile, following as William took place in line. "I think you are forgetting your first ride in the Geo Cruiser, da?"
"Ha-ha," William rolled his eyes, knowing that the rest of the group would never let him live down the fact that he had gotten sick on their very first mission. "Gi was piloting that day. Coincidence? I think not!"
Linka bit her lip to keep from laughing and shook her head at her American boyfriend.
"Man, that feels like centuries ago."
"Many things have changed since then," Linka reflected in agreement.
"And some things have remained exactly the same," added William, pulling her a little closer. "For example, you are as beautiful as the first time I laid eyes on you."
"Such lines, William," Linka smiled a little, teasing in order to keep from blushing and becoming completely lost in his penetrating glance.
"It's not a line, Linka," he pouted in contrast, not realizing how adorable he seemed to an amused Linka. She moved to kiss his cheek in a comforting manner, her nearness playing havoc with William's senses. He held her in place to kiss her luscious mouth but noticed that the line had moved considerably, causing the people behind them to scrutinize the young couple with some annoyance.
"Remind me to kiss you later," said William with a grin, as he and Linka closed the gap in the line. "Not that I need to be reminded," he added, anticipating Linka's response. She, in turn, smiled good-humored, caught between the vivid memory of their previous kisses and the unnerving, yet exciting, anticipation of things to come.
After their third consecutive ride on the rollercoaster, William declared defeat. Next came the House of Mirrors, where they laughed at their distorted images, before heading over to the Haunted Mansion, where William complained about its "sissy" factor, since not even the younger children seemed to be at all spooked by it. As a joke and to cheer him up, Linka suggested they ride the Tunnel of Love. To her surprise, William grinned and pulled her towards the ride.
"I like the way you think, babe."
"William, I was kidding! Those rides are so…uhmm, how do I say it?"
"Cheesy? Tacky? Cliché?" suggested William, already offering her his other hand in order to help her into the swan-shaped boat.
"Da," nodded Linka, becoming uneasy under the ride operator's amused glance. Apparently, the ride did not often encounter such resistance.
"Come on, babe, it's no big deal. I promise I'll behave," came the reply, his charming smile winning her over. As if hypnotized, her defenses melted and she gave in to his request.
The swan glided gently over the narrow water canal, as soft violin music played in the background. The tunnel was decorated with red and pink hearts, accompanied by plump cherubs that hung freely from the ceiling.
"See, babe, it's not so bad," William reassured her, casually resting his arm over her shoulders. He let one of his fingers twist around a strand of her hair, admiring the way the curls framed her angelic face.
"Gi helped me with my hair," offered Linka as if he had asked, sensing his gaze on her and suddenly becoming self-conscious. She felt nervous, inadequate almost, perhaps due to the overly syrupy setting or the fact that they were alone, sitting so close to each other…
"I like it," remarked William, scanning her eyes before his gaze fell on her lips, both feeling and fighting the urge to kiss her intensely. He had not forgotten his promise to her about taking things slow and letting her adjust to passion, to love, to him. At the same time, he could not erase from his memory the taste of her lips, the warmth of her skin, the feel of her dangerous curves pressed against the length of his body…
William shook his head a little to regain a sense of the present; letting his imagination take over at such a time would not be wise, he reflected. Linka was sitting with her hands folded neatly in her lap, seemingly deep in thought as she scanned the path ahead. He opened his mouth to ask her something, but quickly closed it again. Perhaps silence was best at the moment, since he could not be sure of her reaction. A slight feeling of panic arose within him as strange thoughts swirled through his mind. What if Linka was bored? Worse yet, what if she really did not want to be there with him?
"So, what are your moves when you are out on a date with a girl?" asked Linka, breaking the silence and the negative flow of his thoughts.
"My moves? Babe, I don't have any moves."
"Really?"
"This ride is almost over and I haven't even tried to kiss you yet. If I had moves, don't you think I would have made one by now?"
Unsure of what to say next and displeased with herself for bringing up such a ludicrous topic, Linka opted for silence. What is wrong with me? she asked herself, frustrated. I just insulted him, on our first date, in the Tunnel of Love, of all places!
"Linka," William turned her face to meet his, "what makes you think I'd put any moves on you, anyway? The reason I asked you out is because I can't think of anything I'd rather do than be with the one person I'm completely crazy about."
Linka blinked against the blue of his eyes and sighed a little. "I cannot believe I managed to ruin this."
"You didn't," came the reply with a shake of the head.
"Sometimes I envy your confidence, William. I wish I could be so composed and in control."
"How do you know I'm not just a really good actor?" challenged William. "Believe me, babe, your incredible beauty and brains really do a number on my confidence more often than I let show."
His words warmed her, calming the wild beating of her heart. How in the world was he able to both send her senses in a frenzy and extinguish her every worry and fear with a simple glance?
"Linka, it's just me, we've been friends for a long time, and you don't have to be anxious or nervous or worried about anything. We're in this together, babe, you and me."
She watched as his fingers intertwined with her own, his hold on her heart of a similar nature. As if in a dream, she felt herself moving closer to him, the need to kiss him becoming overwhelming, persistent as the beating of her heart. His light touch on her face was extinguishing all traces of herself and she became lost in everything he was. Their lips inches apart, Linka closed her eyes, anticipating the feel of his burning kisses and their lasting impact on the fabric of her soul.
"Ride's over, lovebirds!" came the unexpected interruption from the outside world. Annoyed beyond description, Linka opened her eyes and glared at the grinning ride operator, who continued to be amused with the couple.
"Great timing," grumbled William under his breath. How many more times was he going to be denied the pleasure of kissing Linka's perfect lips? Appealing to Patience, he got out of the boat and helped Linka do the same, winning him a brilliant smile from the Russian girl.
"Ohhh, can we get some of that?" Linka asked excitedly, stopping in her tracks and adoringly staring at something in the distance.
"Cotton candy"?" asked William, following her glance.
She nodded happily, her curls bouncing slightly with the movement.
"Pink or blue?"
As she considered this with a concentrated expression on her face, William had never thought her more adorable.
"Hmm, pink," she decided at last with a genuine smile, continuing to lower William's threshold for self-control.
"I didn't know you liked cotton candy so much, darlin'," shared William minutes later, watching as Linka eagerly opened the clear bag containing the fluffy pink substance.
"I only had it once before… when I was four, I think. My mother brought it home for me," she shared, offering him the first piece.
"Maybe later, thanks though. Well, now I know what to get you for your birthday." Fascinated with her abandon, the very real display of emotions Linka often wished to keep private, he watched as she ate pieces of her favorite treat. This, however, drew his attention to her mouth, newly igniting the underlying desire to kiss her. He knew full well that Linka would not be comfortable with such an intimate display of affection in such a public place, however, so he continued to walk alongside her, trying in vain to think of something other than kissing her.
"What do you want to do next?" asked Linka, absent-mindedly licking the sticky cotton candy off her fingertips, oblivious to the torturing effect her innocent actions were having on the young American.
"Having some sugar might not be a bad idea, after all," decided William, bringing Linka closer in one swift motion. Resisting the obsession of kissing her was proving to be futile.
Linka offered him the bag of cotton candy, unaware of his internal battle.
"There are better ways," was his seductive reply, as he neared his lips to hers.
Linka did not know whether to pull away or lean in; there were people everywhere around them, but William was so close and she was already moving instinctively to meet his every step. Again, her ability to reason was being betrayed by her yearning heart. Besides, it seemed as if William had already made the decision for her anyway…
The imminent kiss was once more halted, this time by two rambunctious children who ran into the couple at full speed, causing Linka to nearly lose her balance in the process. Dazed, she watched the children racing; an older child who was holding a yellow balloon was being chased by a younger, squealing child. Linka turned to William beside her and nearly laughed at the aggravated expression on his face.
"I guess cotton candy will have to do for now," was her sassy comment, newly offering him the bag.
The line for the Ferris wheel ride was lengthy and William's only consolation was that, at last, he and Linka would get some privacy. Night had fallen and the ride would provide a very romantic outlook on the rest of the carnival and its many lights. As fate would have it, though, when it was the couple's turn to get aboard, it was decided that the seats would all have to be filled because of the growing line-up.
The five seats of a pale blue car were filled by William and Linka, along with a woman and her two children.
"This is getting ridiculous, you know," William whispered in Linka's ear, just before the car stopped at the very top of the wheel to let more passengers on.
"What is?" asked Linka, watching as the woman pointed out various other attractions below for the children to see. The children, in turn, smiled excitedly, and one of them started humming a tune.
"The fact that I am this close to kissing you in front of this happy family," he continued in her ear.
"You cannot do that!" gasped Linka, slapping his leg and capturing the woman's attention in the process. William chuckled and said nothing, pleased that Linka's hand continued to linger on his leg.
"Either way, we will definitely have some privacy on our next stop."
"Where are we going?" asked a curious Linka, moving a little to look him in the eyes.
"Another surprise," was all William would disclose, admiring the gentle breeze playing in Linka's hair.
Unnoticed, the woman stole a glance at the attractive couple and smiled at the intense love reflected in their eyes.
"William, you are being very mysterious," commented a blindfolded Linka, holding on to his hand as they walked up a gentle hill, the rustle of leaves on trees audible over the fading carnival scene.
"You know I like to keep things interesting," mused William, looking back at the lovely girl. "We're almost there."
He had led Linka on top of a secluded hill overlooking the lights of the carnival below; in the sky above, a crescent moon accompanied by shining stars completed the idyllic picture. Technically, the place was off limits according to the "No Trespassing" sign posted on the metal fence at the bottom of the hill and the heavy chain William had melted off with his fire ring the previous day, when he had explored the area. Being a bit of a rebel by nature, something that his mother was forever worrying about, he shrugged it off and did not give much thought to the situation (although, he was glad Linka was blindfolded, as he was not entirely sure she would approve of his furtive actions). Their walk came to a halt and William spun around to inform Linka they had arrived, letting go of her hand and explaining to her that he had to set up a few things before he could take her blindfold off. She nodded, filling her lungs with a breath of fresh air, all the while wondering about William's surprise. The night so far had been filled with much amusement, and for the first time, Linka had experienced a sense of belonging, as if she were meant to share the experience with William alone. He had made her feel at ease, and even though it could be argued that he was not exactly a perfect gentleman, she both adored and envied the fact that he could be so open and vulnerable about his emotions and desires. His eyes were pools of truth and diving in was proving to be as thrilling as it was frightening at times.
William had worked quickly and was back by her side, feeling proud of himself for having thought up such a fantastic idea and …
One look at Linka and his thoughts became incoherent, like a radio station lacking clear reception. All he knew was that at that precise moment, with her hair oscillating in the summer breeze and the splendor of her face, Linka reminded him of Botticelli's Venus. In a speechless daze, he moved to wrap his arms around her, feeling her relax in his embrace. He was about to take off her blindfold, but as if possessed by an outer force, his hand decided to caress her cheek instead, before his fingers traced the contour of her lips. The desire he felt for her was suddenly overwhelming and uncontainable, taking on a life of its own, awakening his senses in the process. He placed gentle, unhurried kisses on her lips, paying careful attention to the corners of her mouth and her bottom lip, unsure of where his sense of calmness had surfaced from, since only minutes earlier he had wanted to simply ravish her pretty pout.
Linka breathlessly leaned into him, melting a little with each tender, teasing kiss. Rendered still by the unfamiliar feelings of desire taking over her entire being, she let William gradually deepen their contact until the kisses were no longer playful, but saturated with unprecedented passion. She felt his hands on her waist before they traveled to her hips, pressing her against him, her only response one of compliance. It was impossible to remain passive to his very skilled art of kissing and even though such a realization should have made her at least a bit anxious, Linka trusted William too much to let herself worry. His love for her was genuine and undeniable and she suddenly found immense comfort in that.
In fact, William was the one to slowly pull away, the accelerated rate of his breath matching her own. In no way did he want to move too fast and make his lady uncomfortable. As difficult as it was to put a physical distance between them when all he wanted to do was pull her closer, Linka simply meant too much to him to allow room for foolish mistakes.
"Despite what you might be thinking, that wasn't the surprise," said William, hugging her close to him and wondering how in the world it was possible that he was not merely dreaming. He saw her smile, a hint of pink on her cheeks, and gently turned her in his arms so that her back was resting against his chest. He removed her blindfold before wrapping his arms securely around her waist.
Linka blinked her eyes open, her breath nearly catching in her throat as she took in the surroundings. The lights of the carnival were vivid against the dark blanket of night, and she could make out the flashing ones of the Ferris wheel. Below, the rushing of waters from a stream lulled her senses, a sliver of moon reflected on the surface. William had placed a woven picnic basket on top of a blanket and soft candlelight illuminated the details.
"This is wonderful," she finally let out, her voice filled with wonder and emotion. She had never dreamed that anyone would ever go to such lengths to express his love for her, but it was suddenly as real as the man standing behind her, the warmth of his embrace breaking down the walls of her fortress.
"I thought you might like it," he smiled, now moving to take her hand, leading her to take a seat. She watched as he reached into the basket and took out a bottle of champagne (non-alcoholic, of course) before filling two tall flutes with the sparkling liquid.
"I had no idea you were so romantic," smiled Linka as he offered her a glass.
"I'm just full of surprises, I guess."
"Da, I am beginning to see that," replied Linka, unconsciously falling harder for him, each passing moment adding to theintensity of her feelings.
They consumed a delightful dinner - chicken, pasta salad, a veggie and cheese platter, Italian baguette, and fruit salad - before they curled up together to enjoy the view and the tranquility of the night.
"William, this evening has been perfect," shared Linka, leaning into him. His arms were wrapped around her waist and she covered his hands with her own.
"It's just about to get better," he replied, looking at a Tupperware container beside them and hinting that she should open it. Curiously, Linka picked it up and smiled in delight at the contents.
"Your famous cookies!"
William laughed and watched as she took a bite out of one, contentment animating her features. Oddly enough, he enjoyed baking and seemed to have a knack for it, forever delighting both Gi and Linka with his concoctions. By far, his triple chocolate and macadamia nut cookies were the most popular among the Planeteers.
"Instead of cotton candy for my birthday, can I get the recipe for these cookies?" Linka joked, offering him one out of the container.
"No can do, babe. I already told you it's a Sloane family recipe. My great-grandmother passed it on to my grandmother, who passed it on to my mom, who passed it on to me. The secrecy is like an additional ingredient."
Linka rolled her eyes with a pretend pout, mirroring his amused expression.
William winked at her and casually added, "don't worry, babe, it will all be revealed to you when you become a Sloane."
Linka nearly choked on the cookie she was enjoying. She could not have heard what she thought she had heard him say, right? Her cheeks were heating up, her heart hammering away in her ribcage at the implications of his sentence. Not if, the conditional conjunction that would have at least taken away some of the weight in the statement, but when, which implied a confidence in things to come. When you become a Sloane…
She jumped a little at the unexpected colorful explosions that suddenly burst in the sky above them.
"Cool, fireworks!" exclaimed William, seeming oblivious to her flustered reaction. He settled Linka back in his arms and they watched the spectacle in silence. As the impressive display lit up the dark sky, Linka's mind was caught in a strange net of daydreams mixed with critical thoughts. Ever since she had been a little girl, she had wanted to get married and raise a family, planning everything from her wedding dress to her ideal groom. As the years had passed, however, with life as hard as it had been in Russia, her mother's illness and death, and the loneliness growing up with her father, there had been little time for the fairytales that had once made her smile. Remnants had recently began to resurface after all these years, perhaps because her life was gradually stabilizing, her sense of family had been restored by the rest of the Planeteers and Gaia, and well, obviously William and her feelings for him. Nevertheless, it was silly to think of marriage, wasn't it? she reminded herself. Neither of them had a real job (AN: ha-ha!), a house, or even a car they could call their own. She somehow did not think that the Crystal Chamber would make an appropriate room for a newborn baby…
Shocked at the progression of her thoughts, Linka bit her lip and ordered her mind to keep off such outrageous subjects, all the while glad that William was not able to see her face.
"Babe, you're pretty quiet all of a sudden," interjected William, once the last of the fireworks had disappeared into smoke in the distance, his head resting on her shoulder so he could examine her profile. "What's up?"
"Nothing," she quickly replied, as if to reassure herself. "I was just… lost in thought. Can we stay a bit longer or do we have to go right away?"
"We can stay as long as you want, babe. I'm afraid that was all the surprise I was able to muster up for one evening."
Linka shook her head a little and affectionately kissed his cheek. "It was lovely, all of it." She could not make sense of the weakness she felt when they were this close, sharing such tender moments together. However, as William leaned in to kiss her lips, Linka decided that some things were better left unexplained.
The End? Maybe. Maybe not. Muahahhaha …
