{02.}

W I S H E S 

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❝Today's special moments are

Tomorrow's memories❞

-- Genie ( Aladdin 2: The Return of Jafar )

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- not edited -

Stepping through the tunnel at Orlando International Airport was a tad less spectacular than Marlee could have guessed four hours ago. By the time the plane landed, and she had scarfed down several bags of peanuts, she only felt the urge to get to the hotel buffet. Her stomach was growling, and Holden laughed at its screams. 

"Over here," he said, pointing a finger upward at a sign with directions for the tram. The arrow pointed left to an elevator. "You're taking the Magical Express, right?" His excitement was amusing. Holden held his backpack over one shoulder, and a folder in the other. He flipped through the contents of the folder before the plane landed, double-checking that all paperwork was in order and easily assessable. It was cute actually - how organized this boy was. Marlee wondered if he was in college too.

Marlee's tickets were shoved somewhere in her backpack. She searched the bottom of the bag while on the elevator, finding the booklet folded between a coloring book and her wallet. "Where are you staying?" she asked.

The elevator doors pinged open and they stepped out together. The space opened up into a sea of restaurants. She saw a Panda Express and her stomach did a flip. The smell of tangy sauce filled her senses. She would pay anything for a bowl of orange chicken right now.

Holden scanned the overhead signs, following the arrows to the tram and ignoring the temptation of food. "The Grand Floridian. You?"

"Wait, are you serious?" she couldn't hide the astonishment she felt. "You're staying at the Grand? That's my dream." She said a little too excitedly. At this, Holden laughed. Marlee wondered how he scored the most expensive resort on property.

"Yeah, my parents are club members." He shrugged. "It's more affordable that way."

Marlee nodded and pretended to read the signs. She must have sounded lame, but the Grand Floridian is a beauty. She's only seen photos, but the Victorian style and elegant details were stunning. She hoped to at least step foot in the lobby, see the grand chandelier and have tea with a princess at the Garden View Tea Room.

"Over here," he said, and pointed to a hall of expanding glass doors overlooking the greenery of the airport.

Outside, Marlee could see palm trees. The wind pushed the leaves together in a way that made the trees appear to be waving a hello. Houston had palm trees, but they didn't match the size of these. The trees towered over the track and reached high into the sapphire-blue sky. Unlike Houston, Florida was sunny and cloudless.

Marlee stood with Holden on the platform, waiting for the next tram to come through the glass gates.

Holden took off his jacket and put away his folder. When a tram stopped at the doors, they got inside. Marlee sat along the wall, and Holden grabbed onto a pole.

"Who are you meeting when you get to the resort?" Marlee questioned, her eyes focused on her lap. She played with a loose string on the hem of her shirt.

Marlee wouldn't be meeting anyone. When she got to the resort, she planned on heading for the room and channel surfing until it was time to see the fireworks. She had no official plans for attractions or character meet-and-greets. Her afternoon would be spent indoors in a pair of yoga pants.

"My parents are there right now. The last time I checked, they were playing crochet." He laughed at this and it made her giggle.

Marlee may be spending her afternoon locked-up in her room, but at least it was better than playing crochet. "Really? My mother wouldn't be caught dead playing crochet."

"My parents are retired. Pretty stereotypically retired actually. My dad likes golf and my mom's started baking. Like, weird crap. Have you ever heard of Cherpumple?"

"Never in my life," she laughed. "and thank God I've never tried it either. It sounds horrible."

Holden smiled. His face transformed when he did. When he smiled, Marlee felt like she won a prize. It felt exceptional to be gifted a smile by Holden. His eyes squinted below thick brows, and his cheeks appled.

All this talk about parents had her thinking about her own. Her father would be in a meeting no doubt. She wouldn't bother him with this anyway. Marlee pulled her phone from her pocket and opened Messages. With quick fingers, she sent a text to her mom.

Made it. On my way to the bus now. Call you when I check in.

The train stopped, and Marlee existed in front of Holden.

Just a minute walk from the train was the Magical Express entrance. A sign with Mickey Mouse was at the front of the queue. Marlee's first glimpse of Disney had her feeling giddy with excitement. She was so close.

Marlee and Holden scanned their magic bands across a machine. The machine pinged and lit-up green. "Thank you for choosing Disney's Magical Express." A woman in a mustard-yellow button down smiled. "Bus number 3 to The Grand Floridian. Bus number 6 to All-Star Movies." She waved toward the queue area.

Once outside, she felt the cool wind whip through her hair. It smelled like exhaust and rubber tires. Buses lined the curb with various paint-jobs. Bus number 6 was painted with the Disney Cruise Line logo and showed Mickey Mouse in a captain's uniform.

"Well," she said, approaching the sidewalk. "It was nice chatting with you. Thanks for walking with me, too. I don't think I would have found it as quickly." She ran a finger through her hair and looked down at her shoes. It felt weird to say goodbye to someone that you just met, someone who you shouldn't feel attached to, but also wanted to see again.

Holden's lips curved, but they didn't make it into a smile. "Where did you say you are staying?"

"Oh-Uh, All-Star Movies..." Almost the complete opposite of his fancy resort. Holden would be at the luxury spa, and Marlee would be at the Fantasia pool surrounded by screaming toddlers and greasy burgers. The two couldn't be any more opposite.

"Are you seeing the Magic Kingdom fireworks tonight?"

"How can you miss the Wishes fireworks on your first night?" Marlee teased.

"Cool," Holden said, holding back his excitement. Marlee caught the hitch in his voice. "I'll text you if I can find a spot. Can I have your number?"

"Oh-" she struggled to get off her backpack and fumbled around the insides for a piece of paper and a pen.

"I'll just put it in my phone," Holden said, opening up the Contacts page on his phone.

"Oh-yeah. I'm sorry-I thought-" Marlee could feel her cheeks turn pink. She was always doing the wrong thing. Marlee quickly recited her phone number and started to move towards her assigned bus. "I'll see you later. I gotta go."

"See you tonight, Marlee." Holden waved as Marlee turned her back and jogged to the bus.

She climbed the stairs and took a seat near the back. Then she watched Holden board the number 3 bus to The Grand Floridan.