The Masquerade - Part 17
"So let`s see… We practically run over here… With you attempting to pull my arm out of the socket I might add.. Get two speed passes and STILL end up having to wait an hour before we can get on the ride. I`m not sure my arm can forgive you for this." Nicole said as they stood in line, behind a particularly large family from…Minnesota apparently.
Looking down at Nic from the handlebars she was currently sitting on, Sam gave Nic a sly smirk before pulling her between her legs and giving her a brief and teasing kiss. As she slowly pulled back from the kiss, she leaned forward again, this time to quietly whisper in Nic's ear… "At least it won`t be two hours."
After recovering from the kiss, Nic sent a powerful scowl at the mom from the large Minnesota family who had up until that point been sending disapproving looks at them and slight pout to Sam.
Which of course caused Sam to laugh.
-------
As they got off of the ride and walked towards the next ride destination, Nicole couldn't help the unguarded grin that had taken residence on her face. Sam was bouncing just as much as, if not more, then all of the little kids around them with an excited smile covering her face. Nic couldn't help but think that Sam looked just like Mackenzie did hopped up on candy… Or rather She looked just like she did when they were kids.
Unbeknownst to her, Sam was looking at her with that huge smile of hers thinking that Nic looked just like she did when they were kids as well.
"Wow! How much has this place changed since we were little! I mean, Space Mountain has always been one of the best rides at here, but now! It's just brilliant, I can`t even describe it. And how cool was it that they were playing actual music in the background? Red Hot Chili Peppers, no less! I`m sure there`s a soccer mom somewhere that doesn`t approve" Sam said with a laugh, still very much bouncing on the balls of her feet.
"Well..." Nic started slowly, as if she was going to disagree with the new and improved Space Mountain, only to give a genuine grin of excitement. "You`re right it was pretty great. Though, it`s weird that the Michael Jackson 3D movie thing isn't right next to it anymore."
"Oh I know!" Looking around at all of the little kids and their parents in line to see the `Honey I shrunk the Crowd' show. Sam thought some more about all the changes Disneyland had been through since they were younger and said, "It`s crazy to think about. Most of these kids probably weren`t even alive back when that was showing here."
Smiling at Sam, whose eyes kept looking over everything as if seeing it for the first time Nic asked, "Hmm, `Mantha are you starting to feel old?"
This time Sam's first response was a quick grin, before replying with, "Never! I'll never grow up!"
Rolling her eyes Nicole, simply pulled Sam from the wall she was leaning on. "Alright Peter Pan. So…." Pausing as she took in their surroundings again and noting that they were outside of the Starcade. "Where to now? Do we go straight to the Matterhorn or do we do…."
"Star Tours of course! Come on Satan, no skipping!" Sam laughed and started leading them to the Star Tours line that from the looks of things was promising to be a quite shorter line even with out the speed passes.
Once again finding herself being pulled along, Nic realized that she'd need to have the short legs versus long legs talk with her girlfriend.
--------
After getting of off their second ride for the day Sam was once again bouncing and Nic was of course still grinning.
"I`ve always loved that ride!" Sam exclaimed.
"I`m not surprised, you probably fancied yourself to be quite the Jedi Knight when you were little." Nic said, then laughed at the slight tinge of pink that covered Sam's face. "Oh god you did!"
"Yeah yeah! At least I never ran around pretending to be one of the Princess' for almost a year " Sam countered with her own laugh at the twin dustings of pink on her girlfriends face, still remembering the tiara she had worn for almost all of kindergarten.. "Do you still have the…"
At this Nic`s blush deepened, causing Sam to laugh harder.
"No!"
"I think you do!" Sam said while still laughing at Nicole and the memory of her little princess self. After a few minutes, Sam's laughter died down to simply a smile as she stared at her girlfriend. "I used to have a one of those glow in the dark extendable light sabers… My dad bought it one of the times we went to Disneyland. I broke it of course, before we even left the park. I had it for a while until my mom threw it away one day while cleaning…"
Nic watched as Sam's mood quickly sobered while her mind drifted back to happy times before her father died.
"Hey…" Nic started, while placing a hand on Sam's cheek in order to bring her back to the present and get her attention. "I need to go to the restroom and I figure since we're so close to one there`s no sense in holding it. Why don`t you wait for me over there?" Nic finished while pointing at a bench not to far away.
Giving a weak smile Sam merely walked to the bench and sat. Further confirming her drastic mood change.
--
"Back"
When Nic announced her presence, Sam did not immediately turn her gaze before she started to speak. "What took you so long? Was the line in the restroom that lo…Nic?" Once Sam fully took in her girlfriend and in particular what she was holding she couldn't help the slight sheen that covered her eyes. Because standing in front of her, was her girlfriend, holding a brand new green extendable Light Saber.
Pulling at Sam's hand until she stood in front of her, Nic first wiped the sole tear that fell before handing Sam the toy she bought for her. "No Jedi Knight should be with out her Light Saber…Especially those that consider themselves my girlfriend.. I mean how would you protect me if the need arose?" Nicole finished with a slight smile, hoping to draw one out of Sam.
The response she got was, a small choked laugh as a couple more stray tears fell before she was pulled into a tight hug.
Burying her face in Nicole's neck; Sam took a moment to breathe in the sent that through some fusion of expensive perfume, sweet lotion and shampoo, was uniquely Nicole before murmuring her thanks.
After a small kiss and a moment for Sam to collect herself Nic brought them both back to the situation at hand…
"So… The Matterhorn or the Teacups?"
******
Sam tried to keep her laughter under control as she gently rubbed soothing circles on her very green girlfriends back.
"That… Was absolutely horrible" Nic stated, looking completely shell-shocked and ashen faced.
"It was.." Sam agreed solemnly.
Nicole shuddered as she envisioned the scene again, before placing her head in between her legs. "That was horrible! I mean he.. He."
As Sam thought about the whole situation again, she agreed that as funny as her twisted humor found the whole thing… It was quite horrible….
"I mean…As soon as we got off the ride he just THREW UP!" The expression on her face clearly showed how revolted and horrified Nicole was by the whole thing. Clearly trying to keep her own bile from rising up after viewing such a thing.
And unfortunately for her, that look was also the hole that broke the damn holding Sam's laughter in. The whole thing was absolutely horrible, but the look on Nic's face when the man threw up merely inches from where she was standing and the still shocked state she was obviously still in was to much.
However the glare she got for her laughter came across loud clear… "I`m going to get you cup of water, `Kay babe? Just… stay here… yeah.. Keep your head down…"
******
"Oh!"
They had just gotten off of the Haunted Mansion ride and were currently simply walking and holding hands while contemplating where to go next when Nic's sudden outburst caused Sam to nearly have a heart attack…. Or at least close to one, according to Sam's racing heart.
"What?! Nic? Jesus…" Sam asked, her breath still slightly labored from the shock. However, seeing the blush quickly laying claim to Nic's face caused Sam to laugh. "What is it?"
Looking away to try and calm down from her sudden an immediate burst of excitement. "Oh.. It`s just.. The Disney Marvels Main Street Parade is about to start and well…"
Seeing that the blush currently residing on Nic's face was getting darker, caused Sam to chuckle while gently leading her towards the Main Street where people were already starting to congregate. All trying to find the best place to see the parade. "Well come on then…we need to make sure we get a good spot."
--
They had been sitting on the curb right in the heart of Main Street waiting for the parade to start for the past twenty minutes. Time well spent if you asked Nicole, because not five minutes after they found their spot the rest of the sidewalk filled. Making it impossible for anyone not at least 5'8 to see the parade.
Seeing the growing excitement on Nicole's face and how it was reflected in all the children around them, but especially the little girls gave Sam an idea.
"Hey.. Babe? How about a Popsicle or something to drink? I`ll go get it of course so you can save our spots, but that little kid over there is making me crave one of those huge Popsicles."
"Hmm… A frozen lemonade would be great actually, but hurry back the parade should be starting soon!" Nic exclaimed absently, nearly shivering with a level of excitement she hadn't really felt since shortly after kindergarten.
After giving Nic a quick nod, Sam was off.
-
Sam all but ran back and had to all but push people out of her way in order to get back to where she and Nicole were sitting. And she came back with not a second to spare, because as soon as she sat down music could be heard alerting everyone to the fact that the parade was starting.
Nicole watched as Sam sat down while holding a Popsicle and her frozen lemonade in one hand, while holding a small bag in the other. And immediately wanted to know why Sam would risk missing the start of the parade to stop in a shop. "Sam you almost missed the beginning of the parade, why`d you stop? You know we could have gone to the shops after the parade, especially since I want to get a few things as well."
After handing Nic her Lemonade, Sam took out the object in the bag and placed it on Nicole's head with a smirk. "I stopped, because it would be unbecoming and it would set a bad example, if one of the older and definitely the prettiest Princess here didn't have her very own crown." Pausing to take in the blush and the smile covering Nic's face, she finished with, "Don't you think?"
Looking up at Sam with a huge smile while lightly touching her crown, she gave a small nod before leaning in and giving her an appreciative kiss. "Thank you, Sam."
Still smirking, Sam extended her Light Saber before replying. "Of course it was no problem. It`s my duty as a Jedi Knight to take care of you remember?"
Laughing Nicole agreed and placed her head on Sam's shoulder while they watched the parade begin.
*****
Once the parade ended Sam and Nicole decided to get on a few more rides. However, it was after getting off of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad ride that Nicole realized that the growing darkness meant it was most likely time to leave.
Unfortunately, they both came to very different ideas at the exact same time.
"We should get on the It`s a Small World Ride!"/"Sam I think it`s time to go."
"No!"/"God No!"
"Nic Come on! We can`t go to Disneyland and not get on the It`s a Small World ride! I`m sure that`s a sin that could get you banned from the park!!"
"Sam it`s 6 and if we want to get to your sister`s high school reunion we need to be leaving now."
"Nic…"/ "Sam…" They both started, once again at the same time. For a moment, neither spoke or made any movement outside of staring at each other.
Nic gave in first, simply because she honestly wasn't in that big of a rush to get Brookie's little shindig anyway. "All right let`s go, but this is seriously the last ride. Traffic is going to suck as it is. And we`re going to have to go straight to the party/dance/reunion-whatever."
With a triumphant grin, Sam simply nodded her confirmation before taking off in the direction of Fantasyland while once again dragging Nicole behind her.
---
tbc