"Second star to the right, and straight on 'til morning."

—J.M. Barrie

When I woke, the room was dark and chilly. For a moment, I forgot where I was and felt disoriented, until the light buzzing noise of the hotel air conditioner reminded me. I reached out to touch Julian's arm but his side of the bed was empty. Panic pulsed through me as I scrambled to find the lamp switch.

"Julian?" I called out.

There was no reply.

The thought never crossed my mind that perhaps he was just in the shower, or having a smoke on the balcony. My thoughts immediately and illogically went to abandonment, and my head was swarming with irrational fear.

The docking station's clock read 6:02 a.m. My eyes traveled the wood of the bedside table, and my frantic feeling eased when I found a cup, next to a message written on the small, complimentary Waldorf Astoria notepad.

Good morning. I woke up early to exercise. In case you wake up whilst I'm gone, there's some breakfast awaiting you in the fridge, and here is a coffee with extra sugar and cream (I remembered). I'll make you another if it gets too cold. Ring me if you need anything, I'm just downstairs in the gym. I'll be back before 7:30 to wake you, if you aren't already up.

Julian

x

My hands gripped the cup of coffee and it was still very hot. I decided he could not have left that long before I woke. Slowly, I brought my lips to the lid and sipped the sweet, roasted drink as it warmed my body from the inside out. While still holding the cup, I stood from the bed and made my way to the refrigerator. As soon as I opened it, I was greeted with delicious, familiar aromas. There, inside it, were plates of scrambled eggs, flaky biscuits, fresh fruit, a large waffle, and miniature muffins. I planned to pop everything in the microwave, but when I placed my hand under the plates to pull them out, I felt how warm they still were.

Somehow, I cleared a lot of the food, even after our big dinner the night before. Once the caffeine and sugar were coursing through me, I felt energetic enough to hit the shower.

Even though I'd seen the bathroom already, I could not get over the beauty of it. The oversized, step-in, completely transparent glass shower was already stocked with sweet smelling shampoo, conditioner, and body wash, so I didn't need to fish the items out of my bag.

Leisurely, I washed my body, while singing to myself and enjoying the lovely contrast of warm water pellets hitting my skin in a cool room. Two perfectly pressed robes were waiting just outside the shower, and I happily wrapped myself in one to dry off.

The newspaper, which had been slid under the hotel door, showed that it would reach eighty-two degrees by the afternoon, so I decided to dress appropriately. My blue jean shorts, black tank top, and black flats were simple and comfortable, but I put on a silver beaded necklace for some accent and color. My slightly damp hair was pulled back into a high pony tail, and my side bangs were held back by a thin headband. Walking in Florida's late June humidity called for convenience and comfort over fashion—not that I felt especially knowledgeable on what exactly was fashionable, anyway.

By the time I was completely finished getting ready, it was only 6:48 a.m. I figured that Julian would still be gone for a while, so I grabbed the hotel notepad and a pen, before making my way out onto the balcony.

The distinctive smell of Orlando hit my nose; it was a mixture of flowers, chlorine, and grass. I sank into the comfortable chair on the balcony and gazed into the light golden sun as it mixed with the red sky. Rather unexpectedly, inspiration flowed from my mind, down to my fingertips, and I began writing what would become parts of a poem.

As the ideas came to me, I scribbled the messy lines down.

Russet in the sunset

Reflection off the skies

Golden tones that offset

And widen in replies

Amber after daybreak

Light creeping through the room

Bronzer now as we wake

One day in later June

Glowing umber by night

Warm chestnuts from a stove

Brilliant auburn set alight

With one glance you console

Glisten with a kindness

A lustrous, hazel cream

Even with a blindness

One could faint upon your gleam

Chocolate in a dark place

Soft with lucid luster

Smile spreads across your face

Knowing you can trust her

Grin widens as you squint

With copper undertones

A toasty, tawny tint

Of which I've never known

Wisdom shining through you

One far beyond your years

And with this vivid hue

My own life becomes clearer

So when they ask my favorite shade

My reply won't be a guise

There is not a single word to say

That could justify your eyes

Before I could edit any further, I felt strong hands on my shoulders and jumped.

"Shit, I'm sorry," Julian said. "Have I scared you?"

I turned around to look at him. A white tank top clung to the moisture of his chest, and light gray shorts hung loosely from his hips. Beads of sweat trailed down Julian's temples and he dotted at the wetness with the white towel around his neck.

"Oh, it's okay. I just didn't hear you come in," I managed to finally reply.

"What are you writing?" Julian asked, while trying to furtively peek at the jumbled mess on paper.

"Nothing important." I set the paper down on my thigh and covered it with my hand. "Thank you for the breakfast and coffee."

"You don't need to thank me," Julian said, while kneeling at my right side. "Give me a few minutes to grab a shower and change, then we can head out."

"Take your time," I said, smiling at him.

"I'll be quick," he promised, and kissed the back of my hand.

While Julian showered, I went off to search for my phone. It sat by the window, fully charged, and blinked with notifications of missed calls and texts, one of which was already opened. I didn't remember turning my phone on before falling asleep, but figured it must have powered on by itself sometime during the night.

On the missed calls list, I saw my mom's name, Laina's name, but more alarmingly, I saw Caleb's name... too many times. There was also a number I didn't recognize, but the area code was in Tucson.

The voicemail box was full and I didn't have the time to sort through every message. I skimmed a few texts from Laina asking for me to give her a call. My mom texted with a request to join her for dinner the night before. The opened text message, though, was from Caleb.

Where are you, Brooke? Answer your phone.

I couldn't figure out why Caleb needed to know my whereabouts, or how the message would have been opened already. It was nearly impossible to imagine Julian snooping through my phone, so I chalked it up to a strange technological error. Before I could really think about the texts, Julian emerged from the shower, now fully dressed, with dripping wet hair. A tight, band t-shirt and acid-wash jeans covered his lean frame.

"I'm ready," Julian announced.

"I am, too." I flung my crossbody purse over my shoulder and watched Julian place aviator sunglasses over his eyes.

"We have to get out of here fast, before Nick realizes we're gone." Julian smirked.

"You're not supposed to leave without him?" I asked.

Julian searched both ends of the hallway before leading us out the hotel door.

He surprised me by grabbing my hand as we broke into a run toward the elevators.

"Not exactly. But I'm not a child." Julian pressed the ground level button and we started the descent.

"Says the guy who is nearly losing his mind to reach Disney World." I poked his side.

"You're going to regret doing that." Julian's fingertips found my ribs.

"Please don't," I begged.

"Don't what?" He lightly scraped at my skin, tickling me while holding me in place.

"Julian!" My laughter filled the elevator as it dinged to signify our arrival at the lobby. Julian finally let go of me and I hastily fixed my top that had scrunched up at the sides.

Soft giggles still escaped my throat as Julian held my hand again and led us straight outside to his rental car.

"No fans here?" I looked around as the automatic glass doors opened, welcoming us to a beautiful Floridian morning.

"Yeah, I see one." Julian poked me playfully.

I nuzzled his shoulder as we walked to his car. "Your best fan. At least give me proper credit."

Julian's smile seemed brighter in the early morning sunlight. "To really answer your question, no. The hotel has its own security and they are fairly strict about trespassing."

We slid into our seats and Julian playfully complained about Americans driving on the wrong side of the road. One thing he didn't complain about, however, was being able to turn right on red.

Within minutes, signs were guiding us toward the entrance of the Magic Kingdom park. As I suspected, the parking lot had ample space, suggesting lower attendance at this early hour.

"Good thing we're both early birds." I nudged his arm from across the center console, while he parked by the front of the park.

Seeing the iconic Cinderella Castle reminded me again of summer days, so many years ago, when my dad would bring me to the parks. Somehow, the memories were becoming fuzzy, so I welcomed this visit with Julian... hoping to make new, fresh, and lasting memories with him here.

Julian placed a baseball cap on his head and speedily exited the car. "Come on, babe!"

I flushed at his choice of words. Once out of the car, Julian put his arm around my back and we made our way into the park within minutes of its official opening. Julian grabbed a map pamphlet and I read a sign aloud to him.

"Here you leave today, and enter the world of yesterday, tomorrow, and fantasy." I pointed. "Let the memories begin."

"The statue!" Julian called out, pulling my forearm to take a photo in front of it. "Look at the castle! Oh my God. This is so cool!" He snapped more pictures with his phone.

I laughed at the way he marveled, and how I could easily imagine a younger Julian, pointing up and jumping around in excitement at the sights around him. Just as I was, Julian surprised me by pulling me in for a kiss, and I felt my knees nearly shift beneath me.

"What was that for?" I asked with wide eyes.

"For being here with me," he answered without missing a beat. "I never got to experience anything like this as a kid. Better late than never, right?"

"Right." I grinned at him. "I'm glad to be here with you on your first visit. It's nice to be your first for something."

"You're my first for many things." Julian eyed me.

"Like what?" I pushed my luck.

"Loads of things." Julian pretended to be going in for another tickle war. "Why do you need to be the first though? Why can't you be my last instead?"

"I..."

"Welcome to Magic Kingdom!" a costume clad male greeted us. Instinctively, Julian's arm found my waist again and he pulled me closer.

"Thank you," I answered for both of us.

"Are you ready for a fun day?!" he asked us.

"We are," Julian played along.

"Nice accent! You sound like you're from far, far away." The worker enthusiastically moved his hands in an upward slant in the air, to give emphasis to his words.

"It's his first time here at the park," I offered the information, and smiled at Julian.

"Your first time?! I have something for that!" The worker reached into his deep pocket and pulled out a pin. Expertly, he fastened it to Julian's t-shirt. "!"

Julian raised an eyebrow at me and I silently pleaded with him not to say anything, as the worker ran away while waving to us.

"Do I have to wear this thing?" Julian asked.

I nodded. "It looks cute."

"My attire and 'cute' don't belong in the same sentence." Julian kissed my hair.

"You're being super affectionate today." I blushed again.

"Is that okay?" Julian asked, with a hint of disappointment in his tone.

"Yes, of course."

"Good, because I thoroughly intend to show you off." Julian adjusted his sunglasses.

"You show me off?" I scoffed.

"Most definitely," he said. "That's the whole you-don't-realize-how-gorgeous-you-are thing coming into play. Now, where's the Toy Story section?"

...

Several character meetings and rides later—including, yes, one terrifying roller coaster ride—Julian and I found ourselves resting our feet on a bench by an ice cream cart.

Somehow, noon had come and gone. Crowds were just starting to arrive in noticeable numbers and it made the park feel congested.

While Julian snapped pictures of just about everything around him, I snuck away to get us two mouse-shaped ice cream treats.

"What are you taking so many pictures for? Going to go back and show your mom?" I asked and handed him one of the ice creams.

"Um, no." Julian looked down and placed his phone into his pocket. Much of the excitement seemed to drain from his face.

"I'm sorry, did I say something wrong?" I looked down at my feet. "Please, take as many pictures as you want."

"No, no. You're fine." He peeled the wrapper off the treat and bit into one of the ears.

I followed suit and tore into mine.

Any snack, apart from candy apples, would've been perfectly fine by me... but I especially appreciated the way in which this particularly icy, chocolate-coated treat chilled and melted upon my parched tongue.

And it seemed that Julian felt the same.

"Whoa. This is really good," he said between huge bites. Vanilla ice cream lined his lips and the corners of his mouth. I stared at him and tried my best not to break into hysterics.

"What?" Julian asked when he noticed me gawking at him.

"You, uh, you have a little..." I motioned towards his lips. "You have some ice cream on your mouth."

"Oh, do I?" Julian looked down for a moment, turned his hat backwards, then scooted closer and pulled my face to his. He nuzzled his ice cream laced lips over mine, ensuring it smeared along my mouth and chin. After a few seconds, I stopped protesting.

"Brooke? Brooke Fray?" A female voice said nearby.

We broke our kiss and I used the back of my hand to clean the melted ice cream from my face. Instantly, I recognized my old friend from high school. Since several years had passed with minimal contact, however, I would've classified her as more of an old acquaintance.

"Hi, Kristen. Small world." I was still reeling from my moment with Julian.

"Look at you! You look great, Brooke. How long have you been back in town? Are you back for good?" Kristen's straight, light blonde hair fell over her heart shaped face. Her ice-blue eyes were soft and kind, exactly how I remembered them.

"I'm just visiting for the weekend," I said and took a small bite from my dripping ice cream.

"Ah, I see. And who is this?" Kristen looked at Julian. "You must be Caleb?"

"Oh, no, this is..." I started to introduce him before I realized I didn't know how or what to say.

"Riley," Julian answered for me, and extended his hand to shake Kristen's.

"Riley. Good to meet you." Kristen smiled her most flirtatious smile, spiking my blood pressure. "Are you from around here?"

"No." Julian surprised me by answering coldly. Part of me, the part that I would never admit to aloud, was glad at his outright rejection of her seemingly innocent advances.

"Well, I really should get back to my group. But it was great to see you again, Brooke." Kristen's focus shifted to Julian. "Riley."

"Later, Kristen," I called after her.

When Kristen was out of view and earshot, I apologized to Julian.

"I'm sorry, that was really awkward."

"Not your fault." Julian took the final two bites of his ice cream. "You don't have to answer if you don't want to, but are you and Caleb..."

"We aren't anything," I answered before he could finish that question.

"Are you sure? I know this is probably something I should have asked a long time ago." Julian tossed our wrappers into the garbage can behind us.

"I'm positive. I'm a one-man woman. And I'm here with you right now." This answer seemed to make Julian happy. He smiled, nodded, and didn't say another word about it.

"Caricatures!" A man in a smock called out from several feet away. He sat in front of a blank piece of poster paper, by several markers and two empty chairs. "Ten dollar caricatures!"

Julian looked at me, and the next thing I knew, we were seated in front of the artist.

"I want my hair down for this," I said, pulling the hair tie from my slightly matted locks.

Julian took his hat off, and set it on his knee, but kept his sunglasses on.

"I want my character to be kissing hers on the cheek," Julian said. "On a roller coaster. Like this."

He leaned over to kiss my face, and I felt my cheeks reddening in response.

"This. Make sure you capture this scarlet shade." He motioned toward my skin.

...

Julian handed me the completed caricature poster, within a protective cardboard tube, after admiring it for several minutes.

"We should leave soon. I've got to be at the venue in a couple of hours for rehearsal and sound check," Julian said.

"Okay, no problem."

"I do want to visit that gift shop, though," Julian said, pointing ahead.

Once inside the shop, Julian and I found our way to the back, where the jewelry counter was calling my name.

"Women and shiny objects." Julian smirked. "Unavoidable."

"Very funny." I browsed through the selection of bracelets, and an attendant offered her assistance.

"Looking for a piece inspired by any particular film?" she asked.

"Peter Pan," Julian answered before I could.

"Great choice," she said, while leading us to a glass cabinet.

"Really?" I asked him.

"I told you, I want to be a pirate." Julian winked at me.

"That's Hook, not Pan," I corrected him.

"Yeah, I want to be Hook then," Julian retorted.

"But you aren't a bad guy," I reminded him.

"Maybe I am," Julian offered.

"No, you're not. Misunderstood, maybe, but not the bad guy," I assured him.

"Here we are." The attendant showed us an array of Pan inspired pieces.

I browsed the rings, watches and bracelets. I was happy to have found several items geared towards adults, even if we were playing on our youthful instincts.

"I like this one a lot." I pointed to a silver bracelet with a charm. On the charm plate read a quotation:

"We'll take it," Julian said, before I had decided.

"Very well. And what about you, sir?" the attendant asked.

"Me? Men don't wear bracelets," Julian said.