Long Live the King

Eighteen

"I can't believe I let Regina talk me into this," Adrienne said. "I let you talk me into this! I mean I like fireworks but all of the people? Those, I could do without."

She was standing at the top of the stairs that led down to the beach, arms crossed as she glared at Marshall. He shrugged, grabbing her by the arm and tugging her forward. She reluctantly moved down to the sand.

"Well you're here now," Marshall said, "and you already agreed so there's not a lot you can do now unless you want to look rude."

"I could look rude," she said. "But no, I know I'm just wishing that I'd had the good sense to say no. I could have watched these same fireworks from our hotel window. I mean look." She pointed to the wall of the hotel. "It's right there, I think I can see my bed from here."

Further out on the beach the music was pulsing, some people were dancing by their beach chairs or towels and others were running around with sparklers. There was level of patriotic pride out in the crowd that simply didn't exist the other 364 days of the year.

' "You're exaggerating; the view is much better from down here. I hear you but you should probably stop complaining before she gets down here."

"Fine. Speaking of, where is she? I thought we were meeting..." She glanced at her phone. "...fifteen minutes ago to find some space."

"I'm sure she'll show up any minute."

"She better. If I'm going to be down here I at least want a good view."

"There she is." Marshall nodded his head, indicating the hotel over Adrienne's shoulder. Adrienne half-turned and sure enough, there was Regina coming down the steps with Archer beside her.

"I didn't realize he was joining us," Adrienne said, indicating Archer.

"Is that a problem?" he asked.

"No. I just didn't know."

As a group, they wandered down to the beach, weaving through through the crowd of people until they found a decent place to stretch out their own towels. It was getting darker by the minute, inching closer to the start of the show.

"Anybody want snow cones? I can go grab some." Marshall asked, spotting a vendor.

"Sure," Adrienne said. "Cherry, if they have it?"

"I'd love one," Archer said. "You need some help with that, man?"

"I'll go," Regina offered instead. "You'll definitely need help with four cones. What flavor do you want Archer?"

"Surprise me."

Regina and Marshall walked off in the direction of the vendor, leaving Adrienne in uncomfortable silence with Archer. She sat down on her towel, folding her legs beneath her and looking out at the dark water.

"Do you think all these people are hotel guests?" she asked.

"I actually asked Gina about that. Most of them are guests but there are a few people who come out here just for the show. There are a lot of other people too on the other isles I guess. It's a good place for a show."

"Yeah, I've heard of the Mellow Isle show before. It's supposed to be something special. Never seen it though."

"Nah, me neither, but Gina invited me and I couldn't turn her down. You know how she gets, very persistent."

"I don't know her all that well but sounds about right."

After that they lapsed into silence. Regina and Marshall returned with the snow cones and all four of them just sat around waiting for the show to start. Every so often someone--usually Regina--would make a comment and brief discussion would ensue before silence took over again. The other three seemed content to listen the music and whooping of the crowd.

Finally, the music shifted over to patriotic tunes about the greatness of America and a voice over the speakers announced that the show was about to begin. Firework after firework shot into the sky with bursts of color and tremendous bangs. Adrienne had to admit, the show lived up to its hype. It all culminated in a deafening finale. After the final firework there was a moment of pure silence followed by applause thunderous enough to rival the explosives.

Adrienne stood up and rolled up her towel. She tapped Marshall on the shoulder, letting him know that she was heading up to bed. He nodded, but his attention was distracted. Adrienne walked away from the thinning, but still active beach party. As she reached the steps of the hotel she looked back at Marshall and Regina. She'd pulled him to his feet and somehow convinced him to dance.

"I have to admit," Archer said, popping up beside her. "I didn't think she'd manage to catch him. Seemed like he was into you."

"He was." She looked back at the two of them, having a good time among all the other partiers. She smiled at Archer. "Anyways, I'm gonna get to bed. It was kind of a long day."

"Sure." He waved her off. "Good night Adrienne."

"Actually," she said, shaking her head. "I'm not all that tired. Do you want to get a drink?"

#

She ended up returning to the room later than Marshall did, having taken that detour on her way up. He didn't seem too concerned, although the fact that he was still awake possibly indicated a small level of worry. He was sitting in a chair by the window when she arrived.

"Marshall."

His name was neither question nor greeting. He glance over as Adrienne came through the door. She dropped her towel on the kitchen counter and started taking off her shoes.

"Where have you been?" he asked.

"I stopped at the bar. Had a couple drinks. I didn't even think you'd be up here yet."

"Not a whole lot to do after the show was over."

"You looked like you were having fun."

"I'm not much of a partier." He stood up. "I ah... I told Regina it wasn't going to happen with me and her."

"You did. Why?"

"It's not about you," he hastened to add. "In case you were thinking that. I just am not really that interested in her. We have very little in common."

"Right," Adrienne said slowly. She walked over to him. "Why are you telling me this?"

"I don't know," he admitted. "In case you care, I guess?"

"I do care," she said, hitting his chest with her fist. "You were supposed to like her. She's fun and she would have been good for you."

"Sorry?" He grabbed her wrist. "I think you need some sleep. How many drinks did you have?"

"I'm not drunk Marshall."

"Okay." He dropped her wrist. "I believe you but I could use some sleep at any rate so--"

"Marshall."

"What?"

She kissed him, touching her hand to the side of his face and drawing him toward her. He tensed up, his hands hung at his sides and tightened into fists. She felt him pull away from her before leaning into the kiss, one of his hands reaching up to touch her hair. She drew away, quickly averting her eyes.

"Sleep," she said. "It sounds like a good idea."

"Addy," he said. She dragged her eyes up to meet his but said nothing. He seemed on the verge of saying something important, but instead he barely choked out a sentence that carried no meaning at all. "I could use some sleep."