Pearl pushed her oversized sunglasses up on the bridge of her nose to better shield her pale face and hazel eyes from the piercing sun. Tossing her coppery hair over her shoulders, she followed the crowd departing the docked cruise ship, as they meandered towards the famous floating bridge; the Queen Emma bridge was a must-see tourist attraction in Willemstad, the capital of Curacao. Pearl marveled at the sight of the pastel pink, orange, and violet buildings on the other side of the bridge and the shimmering turquoise water below. She was distracted by these wondrous sights, as the bridge gently swayed underneath her silver gladiator sandals.

"Selfie time!" Pearl's best friend, and traveling companion, Marisol squealed. She spun Pearl around gently and tugged her close to her side before raising up her iphone to snap a picture of the two of them with the colorful buildings in the background, her garnet lips pulled into a huge grin that was so infectious that Pearl broke into a smile too. Marisol tucked her phone into the pocket of her floral sundress and adjusted the floppy straw hat perched on her wavy ebony hair before taking Pearl's arm in her own and guiding her down the length of the bridge. Pearl could tell her friend was eager to explore Willemstad. While Pearl knew touring the town would be a welcome diversion, her thoughts kept drifting towards her recent break-up with her fiance Salvador.

Pearl had met Sal when she and Marisol had been freshmen and participants in their University's foreign exchange student program. She and Marisol had lived in Rome with a host family and Sal had been their 'host brother.' Pearl and Sal had started to date, keeping it a secret from Sal's strict, devout Catholic family. Once the girls returned to school, Sal left Italy to enroll in New York University with them. He confided in Pearl that it had been his boyhood dream to attend university in the greatest city in the world, and he claimed he couldn't stand to be apart from her either. A few months later they got engaged and began planning their wedding in Italy, thankfully with the blessing of both of their families. The wedding date was actually supposed to have been tomorrow, but on their graduation day a few weeks ago in May, Marisol had caught Sal cheating on Pearl with their roommate Camila. Heart-broken, Pearl called off the engagement and canceled the wedding venue and hotel. Instead she used the money she was refunded to book the caribbean cruise she was currently trying to enjoy with Mari.

Lounging on the white sandy beaches of St.Lucia had been relaxing, but Pearl was hoping that a day of shopping in Willemstad, and drinking Blue Curacao infused drinks, would do more to help her forget her troubles than bumming around at the beach had.

"What should we do first?" Mari asked," Have a drink or hit up the shops?"

" Let's check out the shops first," Pearl suggested. The best friends wandered through the streets popping in and out of a bunch of souvenir stores, until they found a boutique called Emilia that sold adorable swimsuits. The girls had fun trying on bathing suits and all thoughts of Sal and his betrayal vanished for a bit. Marisol purchased a daring scarlet bikini and she insisted on treating Pearl to a simple, yet stunning, mint green two-piece that paired perfectly with a flowy dress in shimmering shades of blue and green that had pockets. Marisol claimed the dress and swimsuit were a belated graduation gift. She pressured Pearl into leaving the boutique wearing the dress and Pearl acquiesced because for some reason it reminded her of mermaids, which she had loved since she was a girl.

After the shopping excursion, the girls decided to head to The Blue Curacao Experience for a quick tour and a drink. The two friends learned about the famous sapphire liquor and then took seats at the bar to enjoy a drink. Pearl ordered a drink called Blue Tango that was a mix of Blue Curacao liqueur, pineapple juice, lime, and coconut creme. Sipping the tropical drink made Pearl feel like she was truly on vacation and she sighed with relief. This is what she had been craving; total relaxation. Marisol smiled, delighted to see Pearl finally enjoying herself and she raised her glass in a salute proclaiming crying "Cheers!" as their glasses gently clinked together.

The ash-blonde, tanned bartender smiled. " What are we celebrating ladies and can I get you both another drink?"

" We are celebrating friendship," Marisol cried.

" We are celebrating our graduation!" Pearl chimed in, as Marisol pulled her close for another selfie. The bartender, Stan, insisted on taking the picture for them. He flashed Marisol a gleaming white grin and she flirtatiously batted her eyes at him as she watched him mix them another round of drinks.

Pearl spent the next hour drinking and watching Marisol flirt shamelessly with Stan. She listened with rapt attention as Stan told them interesting stories about his native Netherlands and Willemstad during the tourist season. Pearl checked her Fitbit watch. It was late afternoon and they had to get back to the boat soon. She tapped Marisol on the shoulder. " Hate to be a party pooper, but we have to go or the boat will leave without us." 

Stan pouted. " If the boat leaves, you can stay with me," he said in a teasing tone.

"As tempting as that is, my friend is right. We should go," Marisol sighed.

"Wait ladies, before you leave: a little graduation gift for you both," Stan said. He rummaged through the pocket of his bartender apron and pulled out a shell choker necklace like the ones that were all the rage with the Visco girls, and a pearly compact mirror designed in the shape of a scallop shell. He placed the mirror in Marisol's palm and the choker on the bar in front of Pearl.

" Oh no we can't take these, we-" Pearl protested.

"Please, ladies it is nothing, I assure you! My sister is a local artist and she sells them in the shops," Stan said, winking at Marisol. " Think of it as a thank you for gracing me with your presence." He raised Marisol's hand to his lips. It was a miracle that Pearl was able to pry Marisol away from the charming bartender before her friend swooned off her bar stool.

" Stan was laying it on a little thick," Pearl muttered, as they left the bar and headed back towards the boat.

Marisol rolled her eyes. "Girl, you know I love you but I think The Ex Who Must not be Named has made you a bit jaded." She took the shell necklace that Pearl had almost abandoned at the bar and clasped it around her neck and then she dropped the shell compact mirror in the pocket of Pearl's dress.

"I cannot believe you actually took Stan's trinkets," Pearl teased.

"Well, it isn't every day that a cute guy gives you free gifts," Mari giggled. " Now let's get on the boat, change into our suits and hit the pool. The bartender at the swim up bar is pretty hot!"

" What is it with you and bartenders?" Pearl joked.

Marisol wiggled her eyebrows. " Free drinks?" Pearl could not argue with that one and an afternoon of cute guys, harmless flirting, and more fruity drinks didn't seem like such a bad idea.