{07.}

F O O L I S H   M O R T A L S

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❝ Who d'ya think you're kidding?

He's the Earth and Heaven to you.❞

-- Muses ( Hercules )

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- not edited -

Marlee's finger hovered over the call button. The urge to gush about Holden was uncontrollable. She felt like jumping up-and-down and squealing. Instead, she bit the nail on her thumb. She had never felt this way about a boy. It was exciting in a way, and alarming in another. The ache she felt at the pit of her stomach made her nervous. It could be due to the fact that she hadn't had breakfast, or last night's alcohol sitting on an empty stomach, but it heightened her apprehension.

She needed to talk to Emerson. 

Marlee paced the length of her room, her phone gripped tightly in her shaky hands. The morning sun beamed in through the windows, illuminating the piles of clothes on the bed and carpet. She got dressed in a hurry, putting on one outfit and throwing it off for another when she wasn't satisfied with the look. She decided on a two-piece bathing suit with a pattern of pineapples. Over the swimsuit, she wore a stripped dress and denim jacket. She'd clean the room later, but right now she was too wired to commit to making a call.

Marlee knew what her friend would say. Her last boyfriend wasn't exactly prince charming, and he knew exactly how to manipulate her. Emerson was much more experienced in dating and warned Marlee about him. There were apparently red flags that Marlee didn't see.

Holden was different. He was kind, thoughtful, and so much cuter than her ex. If there was a such thing as "boyfriend material", Holden would be it.

Marlee mustered enough courage to press the green button. The line rang twice, and a high-pitched voice answered. 

"Hey! How's it going?" Emerson's voice was unusually enthusiastic. "How is Holden?"

"Please, Emerson. Don't be so petty. I'm about to tell you everything. I'm sorry for shutting you out yesterday."

"Proceed." was all she said. She spoke in her usual voice now, dropping the obnoxiously spiteful tone.

"Should I start from the beginning?" Marlee spoke fast, telling her friend about their first encounter in the Houston airport. She recounted their days together at the parks and last night's tipsy kiss. Emerson remained silent as Marlee described his good looks - his green eyes, dark hair, and angled face.

"So are you dating?" Emerson asked, a hint of worry in her voice.

"I don't know. I'm meeting him at The Grand Floridian in a few hours for lunch. Should I ask him?"

"Jesus! No! What are you thinking, Marlee? You don't ask something like that."

Marlee's face twisted and her brows furrowed. "Then how do I know?"

"Let him bring it up. It probably won't be today, but hopefully before you leave. Boys are stupid. He'll take his sweet time."

This wasn't exactly the answer Marlee was looking for. She expected her friend to give some real advice. Then again, Emerson knew more about dating than she did. Marlee trusted her judgement. Maybe she was right.

"So what do I do when I see him? Just pretend like the kiss never happened?"

"Exactly." In the background, Marlee heard a cry. The scream was shrill and sounded like it came from a child. "Billy, put that down!" Emerson's words were firm. The line made a shuffling sound and cut out for a moment. "I'm sorry, Marlee. I'm babysitting." Marlee waited. A dog barked and music played in the background. Emerson huffed into the phone. "I have to go. There's mac and cheese everywhere. Text me later, okay?"

Marlee agreed and hung up first. The call wasn't as bad as she first thought it would be. Marlee half expected to hear her friend give a lecture on the dangers of dating someone she hardly knew.

In reality, Holden was a complete stranger. They'd only known each other for three days.

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A text came in from Holden around mid-morning. The chime from her phone drew her attention away from the television.

Meet me at the Grand Floridian pool. I'm wearing blue swim trunks.

The image of Holden in a pair of wet swim trunks and without a shirt made her skin ignite, and her pulse race as if she was being chased by a knife-wielding maniac. She fanned herself with a hand, the bangles on her arm clinking together.

She hadn't stopped thinking about him since this morning. It was hard to focus on anything besides the softness of his lips and how breathtaking it was to kiss him. She didn't know if she'd get her breath back after that kiss. She felt like Ariel, but instead of a missing voice, she was missing a vital piece of her lungs that only Holden's breath could replace.

Now, the bus came to a screeching stop at the front of the stark-white pillars of The Grand Floridian resort. Marlee looked out the window and up at the vast walls and pointed roofs of the building.

When the doors whooshed open, she jumped out of her seat and made a bee-line for the doors. A woman with brown hair and a baby in her arms groaned as she zoomed past the line gathering at the back. 

It wasn't long after her feet hit the cobblestone road that a young man in a cap and cropped pants, a part of a curious and frumpy uniform, welcomed her with a wide smile. "Good morning, princess."

She smiled back at him, in awe of his good-natured compliment. He was probably told by his boss to greet everyone in this manner, but it pleased her nonetheless. It wasn't every day that she was addressed as a princess. 

Marlee bent her knees and bowed to the man, extending her arms to mimic the act of holding a skirt. The man approached her now, and offered his hand. She accepted the gesture and gave her hand. 

"May I escort you to the lobby?" His hand hugged hers with a light touch. 

"No, but I'm looking for the pool and a boy"

"Ah," he said, looking into her eyes. "Walk straight through the lobby and past 1900 Park Fare. The pool is right beyond the glass doors. I hope you find your prince."

"Thank you." She wished that she would've brought her wallet to give the young man a tip for his exaggerated kindness. Instead, she returned her hand to her side and made off through the front doors of the resort. 

The doorway opened into an immense space of tufted couches, desks, boutiques, over-head balconies and an orchestra. As she walked across the decorated tile of the floor, the orchestra played the tune of You've Got a Friend in Me.

Her steps matched the beat of the drums as she jogged through the lobby. The doors were easy enough to find. There was a stream of people walking through them, their faces stretched into wide smiles.

She would be smiling that big too if she was staying at this resort. There were details in everything. As she passed the gift shop, she noticed the walls were decorated with a Mickey Mouse filigree. The tile beneath her shoes were graced with swirls and leafy patterns.

As she pushed open the door, the outside air hit her nose first, the smell of syrup and sugar bringing her attention to a cart covered in lollipops, cotton candy, and toys. A man handed out bags of cotton candy to children and adults as they passed him on the sidewalk. Marlee didn't see him take any payment for the sweets. A little boy jumped with excitement as he received his bag of sugar, his eager screams mixing with the splash of water.

That's when Marlee noticed the pool.

She walked through its gates and scanned the water for a boy with brown hair and blue swim trunks. At one end of the pool, a group of children splashed each other in the face and squealed, their tiny voices stinging her eardrums. She almost missed her name being called by a familiar voice.

She turned and met Holden, his hair dripping beads of chlorine-scented water and a towel wrapped around a hand. He wiped away the wetness of his chest and shoulders.

"Hey, I saw you walk in from the cabana. Come take a seat." he nodded his head to the left.

Marlee's eyes followed his gesture. At the end of the pool, just a few yards away from the rows of lounge chairs and walk-up bar, was a cabana sheltered by a curtain of ivory drapes. Remi's legs were propped up on a table holding a tray of sandwiches and a basket of assorted chips. It came as no surprise to Marlee that she was scrolling through her phone. Beside Remi, without a doubt, were her parents. Even from a distance, Marlee could see the resemblance. Holden had his mother's emerald eyes and chocolate-colored hair.

"Have you told them yet that we've only known each other for three days?"  Her voice was shaky and she almost regretted the words as they escaped her lips.

For a split second, she noticed Holden's features go still, as if her comment caught him by surprise. His usual perkiness made a quick comeback. "I've told them about you and they're happy to meet you."

But did you tell them that you kissed me?

Of course not. She hadn't even told her own mother yet. There are just some things that your parents don't need to know, and kissing a near stranger in a far away place was one of them.

She felt his hand slip into her palm, still damp and slightly pruned.

"Look, I don't want you to be nervous. They are nice, I promise." He paused, and Marlee sucked in a breath, the chlorine coming off his body in fumes and stinging her senses.

"I'm sorry. You're right. I'm just nervous." She let a breath escape her lips and stole another glance at the cabana. 

Mr. and Mrs. Miller were sitting together on a sofa, their knees drawn towards each other and their attention unbreakable. They laughed together and shared a plate of fries.

Holden was right. They seemed like nice people, and they appeared to be completely in love. Marlee couldn't remember seeing her parents this happy, not even when they were married. As a matter of fact, she could count the number of times she had seen her parents kiss on one hand.

It all made sense to her now. It was no surprise why Holden was such a hopeless romantic and didn't find their situation in the least bit strange. He's grown up seeing his parents happily in love.

As if sensing her train of thought, Holden squeezed her fingers in his hand and started walking toward the cabana.