Hey guys! So, I actually got this up faster than I thought I would, but that's not a bad thing. Anyways, I would just like to take a quick second to thank the people who left reviews for the last chapter.
Unknown (and I mean that literally): Thank you for the review. Well, here is the next chapter.
Meow139: Thank you. I am glad that they don't seem like Mary Sues. I really hate those kinds of characters. Hopefully this chapter is to your liking.
Disclaimer: I now, nor will I ever, own The Chronicles of Narnia. They belong to the one and only C.S. Lewis.
Careful What You Wish For
Not In Canada Anymore
"I give you, the graduating class of 2011 from Gilbert Planes!" announced the master of ceremonies, our grade twelve Biology teacher, Jody Flanderson. As the crowd whooped and hollered, we all looked at each other and threw our hats in the air.
"Okay, everyone! Look this way!" yelled the photographer, Lucille Samson, making sure that we were all looking before snapping the picture.
Well, that was all she wrote. After thirteen years of school, including kinder garden, I, and my classmates, had graduated. Looking around at all my classmates, at the people who had become like a second family to me, I couldn't help be feel a pang of dread. This was it. This was the last time that we were going to officially be a class. My class had been small, with only fourteen graduates, but when you come from a town of maybe seven hundred people, the R.M. included, this was a fair sized class.
"Hey, Tina, come over here! Mom wants a picture of us with our diplomas!" shouted my best friend, Jennifer Puchilo.
"Okay," I yelled back, tucking my diploma securely under my arm before making my way towards her. Now that was easier said than done since I was rather short, only 5'3, so people kept knocking me off course when they bumped into me. Finally, I reached the place where Jenn was standing with her mom, Laurie. "Jenn, your dress looks amazing."
Jenn had gone with a short dress that fell to just above her knees and was a shiny purple color, and when the sun hit it a certain way, the fabric looked blue. Now, I never thought about wearing a short dress to grad, but since Jenn was even shorter then I was, standing at 5'1, it looked really great on her. She also wore heels that had to be at least three or four inches in height. Honestly, I give her all the credit in the world for being able to walk in those. I wasn't even able to stand in them, and believe me, I tried. I ended up doing a face plant right onto the floor.
"Thanks! Yours looks great too!"
I had gone with a simple dark purple dress that fell to my feet. The only decoration was that the single strap had a purple flower on it. Since my dress was floor length I was able to get away with wearing flip flops.
"Can you believe that we're graduated? It feels like just yesterday we were starting kinder garden!" she said excitedly, pushing a piece of her dark brown hair behind her ear.
"I know! It's all so crazy!" I said, "It also seems like just yesterday when we started to plan for our summer vacation to England!"
"Okay, girls!" Laurie said, trying to get our attention. "I'll quickly take the picture then you can keep talking."
Grinning so big I felt like the Cheshire cat, I wrapped an arm around Jenn's shoulder while holding up my diploma with the other, so that my name was displayed. Christine LeeAnn Elis. Jenn copied my pose. Just as Laurie was about to take the picture, I felt someone lean in between us. However, we just stayed like that and Laurie snapped the picture.
After she lowered the camera, I turned towards the person that had decided to make this twosome a threesome. Placing my hand on my hip, I tried to give him the best condescending look that I could, which really wasn't that great considering I was fighting not to smile. "Really, Cody, I think you just ruined the picture."
"Actually, Christine, I think I made it ten times better," he replied before turning to Jenn and giving her a kiss on the cheek.
"Wow, it's amazing that your baseball cap is still able to fit with a head that big," I said, grinning.
Cody Sanderson was like the brother I never had. The first time I met Cody was after he and Jenn had been dating for a while. I think she wanted to make sure that he really cared about her before she let us meet, and that probably would be my fault. I tend to be protective of her, especially when it came to her seeing someone since that made you rather vulnerable. He had told me that that would never happen, and he had been true to his word. Two years later, and they were still going strong.
Glancing over at them, I noticed that they were looking deeply into each other's eyes. As I watched them, I couldn't help but feel a little jealous. I had never had a steady relationship, and my first kiss was with a random guy at this party, and that was only because I had had a little too much to drink, so it doesn't really count. I guess I could blame my lack of love life on the fact that it wasn't really that high up on my priority list. Well, that and the fact that all the guys in this town, plus the surrounding towns, had minds shallower than a kiddie pool. They all wanted tanned, talk supermodels, and I did not fit that bill.
Standing only at 5'3, like I had mentioned before, I had been the second shortest in my class. With light brown hair, pale skin and green eyes I was almost the complete opposite of what the guys here wanted. Not like I really wanted to date any of them anyways. We were all just fine as friends.
"Think you guys can break your gaze long enough to walk over to my place? My dad invited you guys over for a post-graduation barbeque," I said, smirking and raising an eyebrow.
"Don't worry, Tina, we'll find someone for you," Jenn said, walking over to me and linking her arm through mine.
"We will?" Cody asked, looking less than impressed as he linked his arm through Jenn's and tugging us out towards the school's entrance.
"Of course! I think it's about time you found someone. Maybe you'll meet someone in England!" Jenn said. To this I gave a very unladylike snort.
"Jenn, long distance relationships aren't really my thing and neither are one night stands. So, those the chance of that happening in one in a billion. Besides, I'll find someone when I'm ready," I said.
"Or you could just become a cat lady," Cody said, "I think that would just make everything easier."
"A cat lady?" I asked, raising my eyebrows at him, "Really? Do you have that little faith in me?"
"No, it's just that you're like my little sister and I'll be damned if someone hurts you. If you become a cat lady then you won't get hurt and I won't get sent to jail," he replied matter of factly.
"Aw, I didn't know you cared that much," I said, putting my hand to my heart and pretending to tear up.
"Yeah, well you two are my favorite girls. Well, after my mom that is," he said before stepping between us and slinging an arm over our shoulders, "Now come on, I'm starving and you're dad makes the best hamburgers, Chris. Have to get our fill in before we leave for England in two days."
"I'm sure they have hamburgers over in England," Jenn said, while I just laughed.
"This is going to be one awesome vacation," I said, grinning.
"Now, grandma said that she would meet you guys at the airport, so just wait for her," my mom said, before going through my suitcase, again. "Do you have everything?"
"Yes, mom," I said, trying not to sigh. Honestly, I love my mother, but sometimes she can be a real worry wart. "Don't worry. Plus, I can just buy whatever I forgot there."
We had arrived at the airport in Winnipeg an hour and a half ago, and it was almost time for us to board. My mom decided that this was a good time to go through my carry on again.
Now boarding flight 35F to London, England announced the speaker.
"Okay, be good for your grandma, and don't do anything stupid," my mom said, while pulling me into a hug.
"Don't worry, mom. We'll be fine," I said before stepping back to give my dad a quick hug before grabbing my carry on and walking over to where Jenn and Cody were waiting in line.
""You guys ready for an adventure?" I asked.
"Oh yeah," Cody said while Jenn nodded. "This is going to be epic!"
After giving my ticket to the lady to check, I quickly gave my parents a final wave before walking onto the link that would get us onto the airplane.
So many hours later
"I would like to welcome you all to London, England," the captain said, "Please keep your seatbelts fastened until the plane has come to a complete stop and the seatbelt sign is turned off. Thank you for flying with Air Canada."
I felt my body bounce a little as the plane touched down before it smoothed out and then came to a complete stop.
"Have a good stay," said a flight attendant as we waited in line to step off the plane.
"Thanks, you too," I said before stepping off of the plane and onto another link.
"Well, that was a pretty good flight," Jenn said, stretching as we walked down the link.
"Speak for yourself," Cody said, running his back. "This little brat behind me kept kicking my seat."
"Well, why didn't you tell him to stop?" I asked, before laughing at the look he gave me. The kid's father looked like one of those guys who take steroids or something. That wouldn't have ended well.
"Christine Elis! Is that you?" I heard a voice yell from behind me. Grinning, I turned towards the voice to see my grandma, all 5'6 of her, standing there in her usual blue track outfit.
"Grandma!" I yelled before running up to her and giving her a big bear hug. Now most people wouldn't do that to their sixty-five year old grandmother, but mine was as strong as a horse, and I'm not exaggerating. She walks a mile every day. Sometimes I think she's in better shape than me.
"Hey, Grandma," Jenn said as she and Cody approached, Cody carrying my bag that I had dropped in my rush to greet my grandmother.
"Hello, Jenn. Hello, Cody. How was your flight?" Grandma asked as we walked to where the luggage pickup was.
"It was good," Jenn said before Cody could start complaining again.
"So, bunny," Grandma said, looking at me, "Hooked any boys yet?"
All I could do was groan while Jenn and Cody snickered. "Not you to, Grandma!"
"What? Just thought I would ask. After all, I haven't seen you in over a year."
"So, you think I would get a boyfriend in that time span?"
"Well, I thought you liked that one boy. Oh, what was his name again?" she asked, while scrunching her face up in thought.
"Jake Smiths?" Jenn asked, in a more stating a fact kind of way.
"Ah, yes! Whatever happened to him?" Grandma asked.
"Ugh, don't remind me. Let's just say that I went on one date with him and it never happened again," I said, before spotting my suitcases and grabbing them.
"Why what happened?" she asked as Jenn and Cody went forward to grab theirs.
"Let's just say that I may have slapped him after he tried to kiss me," I said, trying to look a little sorry but failing miserably.
"Slapped him? More like punched him," Cody said, "He came to school the next day with a nice black eye. Told everyone that he got into a bar fight."
"Well, normally I don't approve of violence, but if he was trying something that you didn't like, then good for you, bunny," Grandma said. "Now come. I parked the car in metered parking and I think my two hours is almost up.
"Hey, Grandma, why do you call Chris bunny?" Cody asked. I just slapped my forehead.
"Because when she was little, she couldn't sit still. She kept bouncing all over the place," she replied, smiling.
Grinning, Cody turned to me. "Too bad we didn't have that for the grad memories."
"She is the only person that is allowed to call me that," I said, glaring at him a little so that he knew I was serious.
"Okay, okay," he said, holding up his hands in a mock surrender. "Bunny." I just flipped him the bird when grandma wasn't looking.
"So, what do you kids have planned for today?" Grandma asked as we all sat around the breakfast table.
"We're going to hike some of the trails in the woods," Jenn said.
My grandma lived in a small country house that was about an hour's drive from London. When she first bought it, my mom and dad tried to convince her to move somewhere closer to the city, or even in the city itself, but she would have none of it. She told them that there was no way she was breathing the city air, and that she was as fit as a fiddle so she could live where she wanted. Needless to say, my parents ended up giving in in the end. My parents always told me that I got my stubborn streak from her, and I'm starting to think they're right.
"That sounds wonderful. You might even see some wildlife. I would come with you, but I have a meeting for the Red Hatters today at Linda McGills house," she said.
"That's okay, Grandma," I said, "You've been going with us none stop since we got here. Go visit with your friends. Don't worry about the dishes, we will clean up."
"Why, thank you, bunny," she said, smiling at me. "Well, I better be off then or else I will be late, and heaven forbid that someone is ever late to those meetings."
"Bye, Grandma, have fun," I said, before she grabbed her keys, gave one final wave and left.
"Okay, let's clean up, and then we can get ready for our hike!" Cody said, starting to clear some plates.
"Sir, yes, sir!" Jenn and I said, together while mock saluting him. He just rolled his eyes.
Two hours later, we were pulling on our runners to go outside. The weather was a little cool, so we all wore sneakers, blue jeans and hoodies.
"Alright!" Cody said, jumping down the front steps, "Let's go do some exploring!"
"Did he put sugar on his cereal again?" I asked Jenn, as I locked the house.
"Unfortunately, yes," she said. Great. A hyper Cody was not a good Cody.
"Well, at least he will be able to hike it off," I said as we followed Cody around the house and into the woods that were behind the house.
"Cody, you are the biggest idiot I've ever known!" I said in annoyance.
We had been hiking for just over an hour when Cody decided that he wanted to go explore off the path. Well, Jenn and I didn't think that was a good idea, but he didn't listen to us and took off. Not wanting to lose him, we took off after him. However, by the time we finally caught up to him, he had gone quite a ways. When you're two five foot nothing girls trying to keep up with a six foot giant, the odds aren't in your favor. After we caught up to him, I had slapped him upside the head and Jenn had told him off, but all he did was laugh.
"Relax, I know the way back to the trail," he said before starting to make his way back the way we had come. However, after five minutes of walking, he didn't look so sure anymore.
"Sure you know the way back?" I asked in an annoyed tone.
"Yes!" he snapped back, "It's just taking a little longer to get back."
"I don't remember chasing you this far into the forest," Jenn said, looking around in hopes of seeing the trail.
After another ten minutes of walking, we still hadn't found the trail.
"Cody, if we ever go on another trail hike, I am just going to leave you if you take off again," I said, even more annoyed now.
"Yeah, well-"
"Shush!" Jenn said, stopping so quickly I ran into her. "Did you guys hear that?"
Pausing, we all stopped and listened for a minute. Sure enough, the sound of rustling could be heard in the bush on our left.
"It's probably just a small forest animal," Cody said jokingly, but since he had stepped closer to us, that made me think that he was a little nervous too. After a few seconds of watching the bush move, out jumped a badger.
"Aw, look at it," Jenn said, "It's so cute!"
"I'm sorry, but did you just call me cute?" the badger asked in a polite, but somewhat offended, tone."
I felt my jaw drop and my eyes widen. I didn't need to look to know that Jenn and Cody probably had the same reaction. Actually, Jenn did. After hearing a thump, I turned to see Cody had passed out cold. I quickly pinched myself a few times to make sure I wasn't dreaming. It hurt so I deduced that I was indeed awake.
"S-sorry," Jenn squeaked.
"Y-you can talk? How?" I stuttered. I was completely lost. Since when did animals start to talk?
"Simple really," I heard a voice above me say. I glanced up to see a little tiger cub sitting on a tree branch. "You just open your mouth and words come out."
Okay, now I was completely confused as well as freaked out. There weren't any tigers in England, well, except the ones at the zoo and they were all there.
"Uh, yeah, I kinda figured that out," I said, somewhat embarrassed. I just got owned by a tiger cub that could talk.
"Rollio, who are you talking too?" asked a deep voice before another tiger, a fully grown one at that, appeared from behind the tree the tiger cub was in. Feeling more than a little bit afraid, I took a step back. Upon seeing us, the tiger bared his teeth. "Who are you?" Before I could answer, however, Cody woke up.
"Okay, I just had the weirdest dream," he said as he got up, not noticing the tiger behind him, "There were these talking animals and it was completely crazy." Not being able to say anything, Jenn just pointed behind him. Turning, Cody finally noticed the tiger, and gave a rather girly shriek.
"Was the really necessary?" the tiger cub, Rollio, asked, shaking his head.
"Uh….." was all that came out.
"We should take them to the kings and queens," the badger said to the tiger. He then turned to us. "They will have a better idea on what to do. Come along then."
When none of us moved, the tiger snapped at our heels, and we took off in a hurry. I heard something hit the ground and turned to see the tiger cub following as well.
"Guys, I think it's safe to say that we're not in Canada anymore," Cody said to which he just received two glares.
This was not what I had in mind when I said that I wanted to go on an adventure.
Well, there you have it! The first official chapter of the story, and it's definitely longer then the first one. Let me know what you think. I hope that I am not going to slow in the story. Anyways, this is goodbye until next time.
Sweet Country Girl