Kristy paused on the Hollywood-themed street to readjust one of her butterfly clips. Today she had 6 or 7 of them holding back sections of her honey-blond hair twisted away from her face. Butterflies were sort of her trademark. Bright, feminine, and cheerful, they fit her personality. She finished with her hair as she continued to gush about the "Tower of Terror." "Isn't it cool how all the details are so perfect? Makes you think we were actually in a 'Twilight Zone' episode, doesn't it?"
"You mean more so than usual?" replied Jessica, a petite woman who appeared much younger than her nearly 28 years, with her long curly black hair and outrageous style. Very few people could get away with the outfits that girl put together, but somehow they worked on Jess. No one would ever guess she did pharmaceutical research, at Harvard no less. "Why is it that whenever you and I are together Kris, the most unbelievable things tend to happen?"
"Just lucky, I guess!" Kristy smiled mischievously at the girl with whom she'd had some of her best adventures. It was true. Things happened to Kristy and Jessica when they were together that would never happen to either if they were on their own. The two girls, and Chris, had gone to under-grad and grad school together. Kris and Jess had had many fun experiences during their years in Oregon and in travels to Las Vegas, New Orleans, and around Europe. Wherever they went, good times usually followed.
By outward appearances, the blond-haired, blue-green eyed woman was usually conservative and professional... a must for an almost 27 year-old Doctor of Pharmacy, trying to make her way in the medical community. But on mini-vacations, such as this pharmacy conference being held at one of the Walt Disney World Resort convention centers, Kristy could let her hair down and her outgoing personality shine. Her fondness for butterflies was appropriate, considering her reputation as a "social butterfly." Kristy had a large, eclectic group of friends, whom she loved to gather together for Bar-B-Q's, game nights and holiday parties.
Even without the butterfly clips or hairpins she frequently wore when not at work, she always had the butterfly she'd gotten in college. On days like today, in her long royal-blue and white floral skirt, white sweater set and white sandals, her brightly colored butterfly tattoo could be seen on the inside of her left ankle. A gentle breeze stirred the girls' skirts and hair as they made their way down one of the theme park's streets.
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"So, Kev, whatcha got planned for tonight?" Brian asked his cousin. "Gotta hot date?"
"Not hardly. I'm going to go visit my old stompin' grounds and see some friends." Kevin stood in the middle of a large walk in closet filled with a mix of designer suits and casual duds, looking for the right thing to wear while he spoke with Brian on the phone.
"Any of those friends female?" Brian pushed.
"Ya know, just 'cause you're practically an old married man, doesn't mean ya have to force it on the rest of us." Kevin loved his cousin and knew he meant well, but he wasn't exactly subtle in his efforts to see Kevin as part of a couple. Not that Kevin was resistant to the idea, but the right girl just hadn't come along yet, and he wasn't ready to lower his standards.
"Watch who you're callin' old, Old Man." Brian and the other guys in the group loved teasing Kevin about being the oldest of the group at 28. Kevin had established himself as the father figure of the group early on, and the role stuck, even though they were all legally adults now. "And I'm not trying to force anything on you, I just think you'd be more likely to have a girlfriend if you weren't so darn picky."
"Excuse me for having high standards. Besides, I date. I just haven't found the Right One yet." Kevin continued to pick through his closet, dismissing outfits. If he was this choosy in selecting his clothes, shouldn't he be more so when looking for love?
"Kev, you are the only guy I know looking for Princess Charming," Brian sighed with frustration. "Do you really expect to find someone who fits your ideal? 'Cause, I think those people only exist in the movies... ya know the kind that are usually animated, start out 'Once upon a time...'," he paused. "In fact, now that I think about it, even fairy tales aren't ending with 'and they lived happily ever after' any more. The girls are deciding to get jobs and the guys are usually too stubborn or dense or...wait, maybe you should be in those movies after all!"
"Ha, ha, ha. If you're finished harassing me, I have to figure out what I'm going to wear and get over to see Jeff play. Talk to you tomorrow?" Kevin just wanted to go out and see an old friend, he didn't want to worry about his romantic future, or lack thereof.
"Yeah, I'm done harassing you....for now. Ya know, Leighanne has a friend..." Brian added.
"No B-Rok. Goodbye B-Rok." Kevin said with a voice that Brian knew meant business.
"Bye Cuz." Brian said before the phone clicked.
