July 1992

  After they settle into the hotel suite, the kids ask if they can go around town. Their parents say that sounds like a good idea. They say they’re gonna join, but Chris and the others beg to go on their own. With a little coercing, they’re let go to explore the city on their own. They are also required to promise to be back at six o’clock for dinner. Plus, if anyone gives you too much trouble, to return here immediately. Seeing as they’re somewhat famous. Having been on CNN and a couple of talk shows already. They agree and hurry downstairs and outside.

  “Okay, which way?” Elle beams. “Oh, wait. I wanna get some disposable cameras.” She starts off toward a drugstore down the street, pulling Chris along.

  Chris ughs as she practically drags him along. “Elle, settle down. We got tons of time to check things out.”

  She looks back. Her eyes were wide with excitement.

  Chris looks back at Jackson and Jerry. “Help! Elle’s got me! I’m caught up in Happy Overload!”

  Jackson and Jerry grab hold of Chris and pull. Elle keeps trying to pull them along, but to no avail. Until she changes direction and reverses. Elle causes the guys to fall to the ground. Except Elle, who catches herself and looks down at them, holding her stomach, ughing.

  “Elle?!” Jerry scolds her.

  She holds her hand out for Chris. He takes her hand, and she pulls him up.

  “Elle?” Chris puts his hands on his hips. “I think someone needs a scolding when we get back.”

  She smiles sweetly and gives him the ‘puppy-dog-eyes’ treatment. He wanted to tickle her senseless right here. But just takes her hand and pulls her forward.

  “You are so gonna get it.” He tells her in air speak, smirking.

  “Yes, sir.” She replies.

  They ignore the snickers from behind them.

  They soon find the mall and head inside. Checking out nearly every shop. Elle picks up about five disposable cameras. She hands one each to Jerry and Jackson.

  Jerry smiles wickedly.

  “Jerry. I will beat you smart if you get perverted with that.”

  “Smart? Don’t you mean stupid?” Chris asks.

  “Well, I can’t beat him stupid. He’s already…”

  Fsh!

  Elle and Chris get an eyeful of the fsh from Jerry’s camera. They rub their eyes and scold him. Jerry just returns a friendly smile.

  As they mull around the mall. Snapping a few shots here and there, Chris notices people occasionally looking their way and whispering to each other.

  “Guys? Maybe we shouldn’t be taking pictures here.” Chris says and mentions the people around them.

  “Uh, let’s go.” Elle says, nervously. “Maybe they recognize me from the TV?”

  “Good idea. Let’s go to the park or something.”

  Nonchantly, they leave the mall. Avoiding anyone who might give them trouble. Probably just an autograph or something. But Chris wasn’t about to have to deal with anyone who might be against Elle’s impnt. Some stupid purists or something like that.

  The park isn’t far away, and they find it scarcely poputed. It is still early. A little after two-thirty. The sense of relief fills him and the others express the same feeling.

  “We should have brought a Frisbee or something.” Jackson says as they walk along the sidewalk.

  “Yeah, right. Remember the st time we pyed Frisbee?” Elle makes a note.

  “Oh, yeah. Come to think of it. Do you think they followed us here?”

  Chris didn’t think about that. But it was a big possibility.

  “If they did, Chris’ll just blow’m away, right?” Jerry nudges him.

  “Yup, Chris’ll just give’m a nice big blow job.” Elle says then slowly inches away from him.

  Chris’ jaw drops. She did not just say that. “Elle?!”

  Jerry and Jackson bend over clutching their stomachs, ughing insanely. Elle just smiles wide, like nothing is wrong. Then starts skipping backward.

  “Okay, I think the fresh air has gotten to you. I think someone needs a spanking.” Chris starts toward her, his eyes focused.

  “Nope, nope, nope.” She says, tossing her head sharply from side to side.

  Okay, she was acting weird. But he was gonna get to the bottom of this. He jogs after her as she turns and bolts. “Get back here!”

  “Nope!”

  Their path was a blur of activity as they ran, cutting corners and dodging trees, bushes, and the occasional person. Until he finally grabs her and pulls her down. Immediately tickling her into tears and submission. She slides off him to lie at his side, breathing heavily but ughing.

  “What is up with you? You are being extra naughty.”

  “And that’s a problem?” She says.

  “No, just unexpected.” He props himself up on an elbow. “Come on, tell me.” He pokes her arm a few times.

  She bites her bottom lip briefly. “Well. A couple of things. One, we’re on vacation. Two, we got a fancy hotel room with everything. And the best parents ever, cause we get our own room.” Elle pokes his stomach a few times.

  “Happy overload then.” Chris leans over and kisses her.

  “Yep.”

  A set of fleeting footsteps and a pair of huffing breaths break up their moment.

  “You two have your own room. Why don’t you use it?” Jerry tells them.

  “Come on, Jerry. Let’s leave the exhibitionists to make out in public.” Jackson says and pats Jerry on the shoulder. “We’ll be by the ke.”

  “What? Making out yourselves?” Elle asks, smartly.

  Jackson and Jerry stop and turn. They give her a seriously shocked look. Elle and Chris bust up ughing.

  After they leave, Chris and Elle sit up and watch the sights.

  “This will be your weekend, then.” Chris says out of the blue.

  Elle turns her head. “My weekend?” Her eyes were hopeful.

  “Yeah. Seeing as how happy you are, I’ll help in making it the best weekend vacation you’ve ever had. Or something like that. You know.” Yeah, something like that.

  Elle swoons. “Thank you, Chris.” She rests her head on his shoulder.

  He puts his arm around her and holds her tight. He wanted to see her this happy forever.

  **********

  After exploring more of the city and hitting the hotel pool, and eating out at a fancy restaurant, Chris and the crew settle in at the hotel. Elle fiddles with the remote in her and Chris’ room while Chris puts his dirty clothes in the hamper. It surprised him that the room even had a hamper, something he did not expect to find. This pce has everything.

  “A-ha!” Elle procims.

  “What is it?”

  “We can rent movies on the TV.” Elle sets the remote down and runs to the parent side of the suite.

  Chris uses his powers to listen.

  “Hey, dad? Can we rent a movie on the TV?”

  “Sure, go ahead. But only one. We got a big day tomorrow.” Simon says.

  “Thanks, dad.”

  “You’re welcome, sweetheart. Don’t stay up too te.”

  He stops listening and grabs the remote to check out the selection. Terminator 2, Predator, Ferris Buehler’s Day Off, some others that he hasn’t seen.

  Elle comes bouncing back in and shuts the door. “Find a movie you wanna watch?”

  “I see some good ones.” He flips through a few more selections.

  “Ooo, ooo!” Elle puts a hand on his shoulder and points. “Edward Scissorhands.”

  “Wanna watch that one?” He smiles.

  “Mmm-hmm.”

  “All right. Now I just gotta figure out how to get it to py.” He looks at the remote with Elle. They manage to get it and sit back in the bed and watch the movie.

  Chris puts an arm around her and pulls her close. She wiggles her arm between him and the pillow and cuddles up close.

  They shift a few times. Making casual comments about the movie and such. Elle was yawning more towards the end. Elle ends up resting her head in his p. The movie ends and Elle sits up and stretches.

  “I love that movie.” Elle says.

  “Yeah. I didn’t get to see it in the theater.” He turns the TV off and sets the remote aside. “But seeing it this way was far better.” He pulls her in for a kiss.

  She ughs softly, swooning. “I love you.”

  “I love you too.” He reaches over and switches off the light, then shifts to lie on his side. Elle shifts to mirror his position.

  As Chris’ eyes adjust to the light, he can see her glow from the moonlight and faint street lights. She was radiantly beautiful. She pces her hand on his and weaves her fingers in amongst his. They sit in silence for a while, just gazing into each other’s eyes. Time seeming to stop.

  “Chris?” Elle says softly.

  “Yeah?”

  “Do you wanna…just go ahead and…you know.”

  Chris had thought about what it would be like. Making love to the girl of his dreams. He had a couple of restless nights thinking about her. But he knew he wanted to, as his parents said, make it special.

  “Elle.” He says and softly strokes her cheek. “You mean the world to me. And I want our first time to be something very special.”

  Elle seems to melt.

  “So, why don’t we wait until we go home? I’ll even make a day of it. We’ll go out, spend the day together. Have a romantic dinner, just the two of us. The whole nine yards.”

  “With candles and incense and stuff?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Oh, Chris. That sounds great.” She shifts herself to rest her head on his chest. “I love you so much.”

  He kisses the top of her head. “Love you too.”