~Brian's point of view~
The next morning I groaned when I heard the alarm clock going off. August wanted to be at the park right as it opened again. Today we were going to MGM Studios.
It wasn't dawn or anything. More like 9 o'clock. But I hadn't gotten back to the hotel last night until midnight. And I had had a little trouble getting to sleep. Something I had eaten at the park hadn't agreed with my stomach.
So I was tired. When I sat up, I had a sudden head rush.
"Can you turn the alarm off?" Nick said, grumpily.
I fumbled with the buttons until the incessant "BEEP" stopped.
Nick sat up slowly and dragged out of bead, his hair going every direction. I was glad my hair was shorter than his so I didn't have to deal with that every morning. Although my hair was somewhat wavy so it was still sometimes hard to control.
"Man, your chick's love for Disney has spread to Carmen. Why'd you have to drag me into getting up early in the morning, too?"
But I wasn't listening to his complaining. My head was swirling.
A minute later Nick returned from the bathroom. I had laid back down again.
"Are you okay, dude? Your face looks like Snow White," he said, sounding somewhat concerned and somewhat clever because of his Disney allusion.
"Yeah, I'll be fine. I just don't feel that great," I went into the bathroom next.
I wasn't too happy when some of my food came right back up. I washed my mouth out.
"Are you sure you're okay?" Nick asked again when I came out. I probably looked even paler now. "Did you just throw up?"
"Yeah, so maybe I'll be better now. I just won't eat anything today," I grabbed my suitcase and started to find some clothes to wear. But it hurt just to stand up. I grimaced.
"Bri, why don't you stay here today? You look terrible."
"Thanks a lot," I said. "I'm fine. This is the most important place in the world to August. I can't miss it."
But I went into the bathroom and threw up again.
"She's going to kill me..." I said, coming back out and lying down on my bed.
"She'll understand. I don't really think she wants to risk you puking on her on Spaceship Mountain," Nick pointed out.
"Spaceship Mountain is in the Magic Kingdom, not MGM Studios."
"Okay, it's final. Your staying here. You've been spending way too much time with this girl!" Nick said.
He got ready and soon left.
I turned on the TV and settled for music videos on MTV. There was a knock on the door.
"Man, Nick, what did you forget?" I wondered, annoyed that I was going to have to get up. "Did you forget your key?" I answered the door.
"No, I have a key. Funny thing, though, it doesn't work on all the doors. There goes my idea of stealing some TV's and selling them at black market prices in Downtown Disney..." August said with a smile.
"August?" I asked incredulously, suddenly becoming aware that I was standing there in my boxers, socks, and I looked like crap.
"I heard you were sick," she said, as I let her in the room.
"Yeah... look, I'm sorry. But have fun at the park. Everyone else'll be there to hang out with."
"Nah, I've been to MGM. It's the most overrated park in the area," August said down.
"You are the worst liar in the world."
"Okay, so it's just as great as everywhere else. But I'd rather be here looking after you. What if you get really sick, and need to get to the hospital or something?"
"I don't think its that dramatic," I sat down on my bed.
"Well, I'd be worrying all day just the same. So it looks like you're stuck with me."
"Thanks," I said moved. "I'd kiss you, but my breath smells like that Chinese food I had for lunch yesterday," I said.
A few minutes later I went back into the bathroom and threw up again. It was much more embarrassing throwing up in front of her than in front of Nick.
"Sorry," I managed.
"It's okay," she said soothingly. "Some regurgitated foreign food isn't going to scare me away. I came prepared for the worst. And even though this is probably as bad as you ever look, you still look adorable. So I consider myself lucky."
"See! Those are the kind of lines I'm talking about... how do you all come up with those?" I asked, rhetorically.
"So, what are we watching?" August narrowed her eyes at the rock band on the TV before switching the channel. "Much better."
"Disney channel, I should've known," I laughed, as she put a blanket over me.
We watched “In A Heartbeat” and then the movie, “The Lion King” came on. Later, I drifted back to sleep. When I woke up, two hours had passed. I looked over, expecting to see August, but I was alone in my hotel room.
I sat up. My head and stomach still hurt, but I didn’t think I’d be “losing my lunch” anymore.
“Thank you, God!” I looked upward. On the nightstand I saw a note from August, saying that she had gone to get lunch and hadn’t wanted to wake me up. She should be back soon.
I couldn’t believe that she had missed a day at MGM just to make sure that I was all right. She had been that worried about me. Of course, Nick had probably exaggerated my condition. I laughed, thinking of the unique story he had probably told them. His overactive imagination was a result of too many comic books.
It was a nice feeling, waking up to a note from the woman that I…
That I what?
Before I had time to think about that further, the door opened.
“Hey,” August greeted. “Do you think you are up to eating anything?” She was carrying a bag in her hand.
I looked at the clock. It was around 4 o’clock in the afternoon. She must've been starving. But so was I.
“Yeah, I think so…”
“Sorry… It’s not the real thing, but I didn’t have a can opener so Campbell’s was out,” she pulled out an imitation brand of Chicken Noodle Soup with one of those lids that peel off. August put it in the microwave.
“Thanks,” I said, truly grateful.
“Just don’t eat too much! Your 24 hour flu better be gone by tomorrow. No disease is getting you out of going to the Magic Kingdom, understood?"”
“Yes, mommy,” I smiled.
“Here you go, baby,” she gave me the soup and a fork and kissed me on the forehead.
I felt much better. August had that effect on me.
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Seventeen
Drowning
Frick's Fairytales