Is This Smart? (Under editing and revising)

Chapter 4

~Present~

All four of us are squished in the backseat of the taxi. I pull out my iPhone and open the Netflix app, as I search for Once Upon A Time. When I find the episode I want, I click on it, and it picks up where I left off last time. I'm so engrossed in an episode that I don't even notice the scenery flying past my window as we speed down a highway. Eventually, I hear our not-so-cheerful taxi driver call out, "We're here."

Jennifer leans forward and hands the man the money, just as I'm putting my phone away. We all get out of that stuffed car and I nearly trip on the curb. Just seconds before I slam into the bricks, someone catches me. I look up. And, I'm completely and utterly surprised at who I see. Not anyone of my friends, but a guy.

He's holding my upper back and just above my right elbow. His hair is sandy blonde and it's hanging down a little messy. Just as I like it. His eyes are a deep but bright blue, like mine. He is tan. And I mean, very very tan. He's tall, at least a half foot taller than me. His strong, muclesy arms hold me up for what seems like an eternity. Then, he firmly stands me to my feet.

I look over at my friends, who are standing near the trunk with a couple of hotel staff. I see that they are unloading the bags so I decide to just let them get my bags. I look back up at the guy with sandy hair. He still has a hold of my arm. But, I don't shake it away. That seems rude.

"Uhhh. Thanks. I'm Chelsea." I introduce myself, dusting off my pants and brushing my hair out of my face.

Then, he says, "Hey, uh, Chelsea. I'm Jordan. Welcome to Canada! I'm glad I caught you."

"Uhhh... Yeah, me too." I say.

Surprisingly, he bends down picks up my bag and collect the contents that spilled out. My iPad and phone, wallet, keys, and the gift shop bag. He puts it back inside my bag then he hands it to me and offers his large hand, "Want to go inside?"

I glance over at my friends and catch Maggie's eye. I give her a smile and she seems to understand. I just didn't want to freak them out, like I had gotten kidnapped already or something. Memories of our past vacation float into my mind and I mentally push them away, as far as possible.

"Yeah, sure. Thanks so much." I grab his hand, twining my fingers in his, and he escorts me inside.

When he pushes open the huge doors, I suck in a deep breath. It is utterly beautiful. There is a grand staircase right in the middle. A huge chandelier with crystal droplets on it hanging from the ceiling. The floors are covered in thick velvet carpet with different patterns. The air smells like vanilla of fresh cookies. I let out a sigh of delight as I can only imagine how wonderful the following five days will be staying here.

"This place is fancy." I think, as I notice that there are more bell hops waiting for the arrival of other guests.

Jorden leads me over to a set of plush, green chair that are facing each other. He pulls one out for me to sit it. Once I'm seated, he takes the seat opposite me. I set my bag on the floor next to me when this Jordan guy begins, "So, Chelsea, are you on a vacation here? If you'd like, I could show you around? I know the best spots to do stuff. Food, sight seeing, shopping. You name it."

Smiling, I reply, shyly as always when I'm around new people, "Yeah, I'm on a vacation with my friends. I'm not sure what we're going to do but if we do want need any ideas, that'd be great."

He pulls out a slip of paper from his shirt pocket and grabs a complimentary pen from the table situated next to his chair. After writing something on it he, folds it and passes it across to me, "Here you go. Just call me. Or text me. Whatever. And, I can come to where ever you guys are. Just let me know, Chelsea."

I give him a smile and he stands. After helping me from my chair, he leads me to the doors where my friends are just coming in. He squeezes my hand and looks into my eyes with his piercing ocean blue ones, "I hope you have a great vacation, Chelsea. I guess I'll see you around. And, don't forget to call me, alright?"

Without an answer, he just turns, walks away, up the grand staircase. "Hm, well that was quite interesting. And wonderful." I smile to myself while looking down at the slip of paper with his number on it. I can feel that giddy feeling I always get whenever I'm super happy, rising up inside me.

Just then my friends open the doors and have the same reaction I did to the hotel's beauty and splendor. Jennifer sends Maggie off with one of the workers to pay and get our rooms settled. Surprisingly, none of my friends asks me about why I was in the hotel a solid five minutes before them. Nor do they give me any questions looks, to my ultimate surprise. When Maggie returns one of the staff, who is carrying my suitcase and duffle, says, "Just follow me."

He leads us to the elevator and we all cram into it. Our bags, four girls and the two hotel staff. When we've reached the second floor, the worker, whose name is Steven, leads us to room number 212. He stops and holds up two room keys, "There you are. You girls fight over who gets one--"

Before he can finish, me and Ann pounce on the keys. I open the door, Steven and the other worker, Sean, show us around the room. But, I don't pay any attention to their commentary.

When they leave they say, "Enjoy your stay."

"We will!" All of us reply in unison. This brings laughs out of all six of us.

After they are gone, Maggie and I find ourselves laid out across the huge beds. We are both half asleep when we hear Ann complain, "I'm hungry."

Instantly, Maggie and I shoot up and exclaim in unison, "Me too!"

Sensibly, Jennifer says, "But, it's still early, maybe we can eat in like two, maybe three, hours."

She hands Ann some snacks to hold her over, then suggests, "Maybe we can go to the mall or something."

I literally catapult off the bed while saying, "The MALL; yes!! Let's go!"

I grab my bag as Ann continues, "Wow, Chelsea. That was just a suggestion."

"I don't care. We're shopping." I say excitedly as I put on my black sunglasses with rhinestones of course, and leave the room.

Eventually, Maggie and Ann catch up to me, when I'm already turning the corner at the end of the hall. "I knew that would work." I think to myself.

They would never leave me. Or let me go anywhere alone. Not after the experience on our last vacation. But, they also know I wouldn't get very far on my own.

Just as I turn the corner, I look back towards our room. Jennifer is stooped over in the middle of the hall.

"Oh, well. She'll catch up." I think as we keep heading to the elevator.

"Hey, how about we wait for Jennifer down in the lobby?" I suggest. I open the elevator door and press the number.