In the following weeks, Nora explored. Sometimes, she tried meeting up with Disney groups, but the groups were big and made it difficult to do anything, or the people were too close to really let anyone else join and made her feel awkward, which wasn't something she was used to. That, or they boasted of how "Disney" they were. How often they came, how much Disney knowledge they knew, and they seemed to treat her a bit like a toddler for being such a noob. Not all the groups were like that, but the few people she did like were overpowered by the ones she didn't, and it wasn't a good enough experience for her to keep meeting up with them. Especially right now, when she wanted to experience everything for herself, without everyone's opinions and facts drowning out the experience of simply, well, experiencing.

She dabbled in each of the parks, trying to bring her own snacks with her in a little backpack to save money, or eating before she came, though she normally did try a new snack each time. It's not like she went every day. A few times a week, sure. Usually whenever she had a few spare hours after homework, she'd go. It wasn't far away, after all. And she'd earned it. And it was less time to be around her obnoxious, judgmental sister.

Nora began comprising a list of all the things she liked about Disney, from obscure to obvious.

She liked the way the trees loomed over the AT-AT right in front of Star Tours at Hollywood Studios. The painting of Jack-Jack breaking through the wall at the Pixar Place. How shiny Slinky was, the color of everything in Toy Story Land and how it popped against the baby blue sky. The way the Hollywood Tower lobby music drifted like a ghost out of time, somehow classy yet disjointed, foreshadowing the thrill to come. She loved the magic of Fantasmic and how Cast Members bopped around to super old Disney classics sung by old Disney Channel songs decades ago, before her time. And, oh, the way the snake's eyes flashed out of the pure darkness as its entire body illuminated onstage. Yes, yes, yes.

And Epcot. Epcot was sleek. Efficient. Colorful. She loved the smooth exterior of the monorails looping around the park, their design so futuristic yet modern. The Innovations music was optimistic, inviting you to have a magical day. The Fountain of Nations was constantly in motion, and Spaceship Earth dwarfed everything, its silvery, moon-like surface forever gleaming and glowing, even at night. Technology, nature, world, all in one.

She liked standing with one foot in each country, especially the ones that weren't close to each other at all, so that she could say why yes, she has been to Japan and Morocco at the same time. Nora wasn't much of an actual world traveler, but she was mesmerized by the stores, the food, the people.

Japan held all of her anime girl dreams, her Pokémon, while Italy hit on her artistic, carb-loving side. France was romantic, Canada was beautiful, Germany had whimsy, and the UK was the perfect opportunity to speak in a British accent for no reason. Mexico had the best indoor shop, making her feel like a wild teenager set to fiesta all night, Norway gave her a respectful historic vibe for things of the past, the United States, well, hit on her patriotism, especially with the Voices of Liberty's gorgeous singing and funnel cakes. Definitely the funnel cakes.

Morocco was in itself something so foreign and exotic that it felt like a secret new world and China? China was her favorite. The circular architecture of the theater. The honor and respect of its Cast Members. The adorable marionettes she desperately wanted to buy. And the Chinese Acrobats—so talented. And flexible.

IllumiNations tied it all together each night. If she was at Epcot at night, she saw IllumiNations every single time. And it was forever and always amazing.

Animal Kingdom was like a safari, but so much more. She loved Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo the Musical, watching their gorgeous performances. She liked the rumble of the safari truck, the crackle over the speaker as their Cast Member told them all about the animals they drove by, each time learning new facts. She liked finding the giant flower that spits on people in Pandora, the quiet boat ride through a foreign, alien planet, those little sea anemone woodsprites floating in the air, the movement of vegetation as animals jumped from leaf to leaf above your head, the ingenuity of the shaman. The pump of wings and lungs of your banshee, the spray of water and gusts of wind. Everything, so perfectly beautiful. The park was a celebration of life and she felt alive there.

And how could she leave out the Magic Kingdom? This was where the magic shined most. Each land was unique, each ride seamless and different in a way that somehow matched the park. She loved becoming a space ranger, canoeing, having talking birds serenade her, flying to Neverland, visiting ghosts, launching into space, and so much more. It was everything to her.

She loved Disney in the sun, no matter how hot, and she loved Disney in the rain, no matter if it was down-pouring down the side of the geosphere or a slight drizzle. She liked standing there in it sometimes, knowing she could walk back to her car and go home if she was soaked. And it was times like those that she was the only one along a path because everyone else had run for cover. It made her feel special, like she would be there for the park no matter what, unlike everyone else. Which wasn't true, but in that moment it kind of was.

One thing she hadn't summoned the courage for was character meet and greets. Her awkwardness had thrown her off to the point that she felt stupid to even meet Mickey Mouse. Mickey Mouse! Oh, the shame of not even introducing herself to the Mouse himself after all this time. She was a grown adult and, as much as she didn't think it was weird for grown adults to meet characters, it was an undignified loss of pride, almost, to go up and want a hug from either a Cast Member in a large mouse suit or a Cast Member dressed as some famous character, especially when that adult was alone.

She figured she'd get over her fear eventually, but she had a lot more on her plate before she was ready to face the gallows on that one.

She had been halfway through a cinnamon roll inside Gaston's Tavern, staring at it with miserable longing considering how full she was while still having a bit to go, when fate decided for her.

"Hello there."

Nora looked up from her sugar to find none other than Gaston himself leaning on her table.

The misery sank like a lump into her gut. Not this again. "Hi."

He raised a very black eyebrow. "Can you tell me why no one is in my line?"

Gaston pointed outside to where his line normally was.

"Well, I'd say since it's a Wednesday in which it is raining cats and dogs, it's surprising you're out here at all to even have a line right now."

That was bold. She'd been bold. Oh dear.

Gaston harrumphed. "I don't see how the weather has anything to do with it. Look at me. I'm like the sun."

He struck a pose. Nora's lips pressed together. "You didn't keep the rain away though."

"I'm still like the sun," he said, clearly hinting at the sun's most known feature.

"I didn't realize the sun was so muscular."

"It definitely is. That's good, huh? Best in the kingdom." Gaston nodded to the cinnamon roll. "Sweet, like me."

Nora couldn't help her lips tugging up at that one. He was acting. This wasn't an actual guy. Well, he was, he just wasn't actually Gaston.

He wagged a finger at her. "You know, I've seen you around. You never come to my line. Are you scared I'll propose?"

To her? Hah! "Nah. You're too focused on Belle."

"What's your name?"

Was she going to regret this? "Nora."

"That's a pretty name. Not as pretty as mine though." And then he went into a very long explanation of how the tavern belonged to him, pointing out his antler decorations and throne draped with pelts from all his kills.

It felt like listening to a toddler babble. Yet again, her lips turned up. "You really do well for yourself, Gaston."

"Yes I do. If only Belle saw that."

"I mean, she has herself a prince."

Gaston leaned his head back. "Don't mention the Beast in my tavern. He's so...beastly."

"Fair description. But you have to admit looks aren't everything."

Gaston laughed. "Oh, Nora. Don't believe everything you hear."

"What about how awesome you are at hunting? Isn't that something other than looks?"

Gaston considered. "Yes. I guess you're right. It makes me extra amazing."

Oof. She'd tried. "Belle has those things that make her extra amazing despite her looks too."

"That's nice." He looked outside, obviously not caring about her opinions. "Looks like the storm is letting up." Gaston strode over to the counter, gesturing for a Cast Member before saying, "Here. Take one for the road. Eat it later and think of me and how selfless I am." Gaston winked.

Nora followed him, taking a box from a Cast Member. "Wow. That's actually thoughtful. Kind of."

"Tell me about it." He put a hand over his heart, walking backwards. "You love me."

"Bye, Gaston."

"Don't hurt yourself staying away from me, Nora!"

"I'll try my very hardest." She couldn't help sharing a grin with him before he was gone.

Nora went back over to her table, her heart lighter. That had actually been fun. And with Gaston of all people.

She took out her phone, looking at the meet and greet times for the rest of the day. Maybe it was time to get over her fear.

Nora stood in Jack Sparrow's line, her cheeks flaming. This wasn't a good idea. What if he remembered her and laughed about how he'd found her almost knocked out on the ground? She had squatted down like she was pooping. Pooping! And she'd touched his hand. And made inappropriate weird awkward comments.

Davy Jones should just send her to the locker now before she became an even bigger embarrassment.

But the line moved steadily on as Jack came out. She peeked over the guests in front of her, watching the way his dreadlocks fell down his back, his graceful fingers always curled in eccentric ways, like a rogue ballerina. His deeper, smooth voice that always has a witty saying on his tongue, a dash of humor, a hint of daring. He held himself in a sort of uncertain confidence. Her focus locked onto that irony, because that was how she felt all the time. Her enthusiasm was her shield, but her insides screamed shy, low self-esteem, lonely. Lonely. Lonely.

And then it was her turn. His eyes surveyed her with uncertainty as she approached, her face almost fearful, because she didn't know what to say. She was decent with people normally, she could usually come up with talking points, but this was meeting not only her favorite character, but someone who had been a sort of prince charming to her.

"I assure you, I'm no longer cursed. While I do have a skeleton, it does have plenty of flesh on it." Jack held up a finger as he thought. "I also don't have a tentacle face."

Nora blinked. He was trying to put her at ease, though none of his comments hinted at their first meeting. Yet it was the same Jack Sparrow. She knew there wasn't "more" than one, but she knew her Jack. Her Jack had a slimmer face and was younger than the others. Her Jack looked at people as if he wanted to say what they wanted to hear, not what he would ramble just because he could. Her Jack was a gentleman who pretended to be a villain, not the other way around.

And it was Will's dagger to her heart that he didn't remember her.

But still, she pasted on a smile. "I suppose you're still looking for a way to immortality."

"It's on my to do list," he said stiffly. "If you know anything about any means in which to go about living forever, please let me know."

Nora blanked. "I mean, the churros are to die for here."

His face pinched to the point where she thought his eye was going to start twitching. "I remember saying I want to live, not die. That is the opposite of what I want."

She almost laughed. "I'm just saying they're good."

"Did she not hear me?" he asked his attendant, who shrugged. To the next guest in line, he said, "Do you think she's a bit off her rocker? Maybe a bit too much pixie dust for this one. The liquid kind."

"No! Definitely not." But when she took a step back, she fumbled a bit.

Jack raised his eyebrow. "I suppose we can pretend you have sea legs instead, aye? That's what I pretend to do."

All the guests in line laughed, making her blush. Abort, abort, abort!

"Chin up, lass. It happens to all of us, at one time or another." He clapped his hands together, dipping them down. "As for our philosophical discussion, death is when we say goodbye to the world. You know, like Tia Dalma's moving rocks should. They're icky." He stuck out his tongue a bit. "And life is the thing we are living now, which I want to continue living. Glorious, giddy, and tingly almost."

Nora forgot her embarrassment. "You're giddy?"

"Quite. And so much more so if I was able to live forever."

"Don't you think life is more meaningful when it's shorter?" Nora asked. "Otherwise, isn't it just sort of dragged into an irrelevant repetition?"

Jack's mustache writhed. "I daresay the repetition of breathing isn't something you've wanted shortened, is it?"

"No, but to be here forever?" Nora shrugged innocently. "Maybe you should just get yourself painted. Immortality a 'la art."

"I am art, but that's not the sort of eternity I plan for, no. Paint fades, but old Jackie is more than that."

He grinned a dashing grin. She took that grin as a sort of challenge, not that that's how he meant it. But it was a duel to her, as his words were. And she knew she would come back, again and again, to dance this dance with him, to cross blades, to see the humanness of him. The not confident, confident Jack.

"Best get your portrait of me, for something to remember me by," he murmured. "At least for the moment."

Nora stood still, as he hovered close enough to feel the warmth of him in the Florida heat.

She didn't know who he was, not really. She knew he was dancing like an animatronic, saying his lines, and that his conversation was nothing more than another guest interaction. But he was the most magical thing here. He kept her on her toes in a way no other person could. He lifted her up when she needed it most.

Nora ended up buying the picture. When she got home, she set it as her home screen on her phone, a reminder that she'd faced her fear. She plopped herself in bed, looking up at the two of them.

She hid her phone as her sister let herself inside without knocking.

"Hanging out all by yourself again at the place for losers?" Brook asked.

Nora gripped her phone underneath her. "I had fun."

"Right." Brook started rifling through her closet, scoffing and holding up all the Disney t-shirts she found. "I can't even share clothes with you."

Then leave, Nora wanted to say. But she never did. Brook always had to bully her first, for whatever reason.

"Whatever," Brook said, a word she constantly said whenever she seemed bored of trying to get Nora to retort. "At least it's less time I have to see you."

"What did I do to make you start hating me?" she asked, the question that was always on her mind.

Brook found a piece of clothing that didn't have Mickey on it, taking it from the hanger. "We're sisters. And not all of them are like Anna and Elsa."

"Yeah," Nora said dryly. "You're more like Drizella."

Brook ignored her, slamming the door.

Nora made sure to lock it this time. Her fingers were red from gripping Jack into her palm.

Her sister lacked any compassion, but Jack's kindness lived immortal in her heart.

Avast, me hearties!

Are you already tired of all things piracy? You might get marooned that way, you know.

Question of the Chapter: Who is your favorite Disney character and why?

Liking this so far? Give me a little star for me troubles.

-Flips