Operation Cobra

Chapter 6

Dixie's P.O.V

I woke up the morning after the banquet, that we didn't actually go to, with my head aching.  Standing up and making my way to the bathroom for some Advil was a harder task than I thought.  One step and down I went, with a thud, on the carpet next to my bed.  Maybe two bags of candy before bed wasn't the best idea... nah, this is just from being tired, I don't have a problem. 

By the time I had gotten up and finished with my medication in the bathroom, I'd managed to knock over two bottles and fallen another time, man, Sophia can sleep through anything.  Walking back into our room, the sheets on the bed next to mine started to move and a voice mixed with annoyance and being half asleep spoke up, "What is all of that banging? Some of us are trying to get our beauty sleep." So Sophia isn't a morning person, good to know. 

"Yeah sorry about that, I might have had a bit too much sugar last night." I tried to sound as apologetic as possible but with the sugar buzz still in my head, I started giggling halfway though my sentence.  Sophia just shook her head and gave a little chuckle herself, "Okay, no more sugar for you for the rest of the trip." Well she's no fun.

Speaking of the time we have left, I wonder what where doing today.  "Have any plans for the day yet?"

"I think I'm going to look around the island some and get some pictures, you?" Makes sense, I haven't seen my roomate without some sort of camera.  Whether it be her phone, which has the best camera a phone can have, or her really fancy one, she's always got one.  "I'm going to check out the library some more and might have a peak around this place a little more." It's so nice, not having anything to worry about doing for a day. 

Fast foward about an hour annd a half later, and I think I got a good amount accomplished.  Took a shower, figured out an outfit with shoes, unpacked my makeup and used it, and even got lost once, now here I am in the library.  I don't understand how people don't like libraries, always saying how boring they are and never giving it a chance.  So many books to transport you to a whole new place, maybe a new reality that's so much better than your own. Taking on someone else's problems and forget your own, how can reading be such a bad thing? After skimming over a few shelves, I come across an interesting title, 'Between the Sea and Sky'. 

After just diving into the undersea world in which the story begins, I can feel a light tap on my sholder.  Looking up, there stands Josh in all of his handsome glory.  "What's a pretty girl like you doing cooped up in a library in a day like today?"

"Maybe this pretty girl actually reads for fun, foreign idea right?" I rest my case.

"I'm not used to finding someone who would actually use the time to pick up a book for school, let alone on their free time," Glacing down at what I'm reading, he continues his thought, "No princesses with princes running in to save them?" At this I need to supress a laugh.

"Real life isn't like that, you're on your own and have to deal with your own situation without a prince charming coming in to save you, I should know, I waited for one for so long." the last part was under my breath but I could tell that Josh made out the words just by the look on his face. 

"If you've got an opening for a prince charming, I'm free." I couldn't help but perk up a bit with a smile and a chuckle.

"If I ever get put under an evil queen's spell I'll make sure to call you Charming."

"No, you're too smart for the apple trick, maybe I'll just find your glass slipper." If only he knew the irony of the fairytale scenario he placed us in.

"That fate sounds like a 'perfect fit," and once again today I find myself laughing and actually enjoying myself.  I forgot what this felt like, and will most likely when I get back 'home' again. Back to the mixed looks of pity and those with dollar signs in their eyes. 

"If you want, I can show you around the grounds today.  You can read as many books as you want but the views outside can't be put down on paper." And we were soon off, my book long forgotten on the table next to the plush lounge chair I had planted myself in.

Hallways and doors flash past me and soon it's all slowed down as a french styled glass door comes into veiw.   Josh walks in front of me and pulls open the door, motioning for me to walk outside.  When my eyes adjust to the lighting, I honestly can't believe my eyes.  The sky is a thousand shades of blue and overhead is the calming crash of the ocean waves.  Sunlight streaming through the trees surrounding the stone patio I'm standing on.  "I thought places like this only exists in postcards."

Josh just smiles as he replies, "They have to get the pictures for them somewhere." He motions towards a set of lounge chairs overlooking the garden and water before plopping down onto one of them.  As soon as I'm settled into my own chair, a chiming sound goes off from inside Josh's pocket.  Taking his phone out, he looks at the lit up screen with a slight frown on his face.  "I've got to run for a minute, just relax here for a second and i'll be back before you know it." With that, he was gone and I was soaking in the sounds of nature. 

After aboout thirty-five seconds, the sounds of nature are no longer interesting so my eyes go to work taking everything in.  The trees closer to the house, the waves crashing on the wall blocking them from the rest of the island, Sophia and Wolf sitting by the path, birds chirping... Wait, Sophia and Wolf? 

There they are, sitting on a bench on the path through the trees, their lips are moving but I'm too far away to hear what is coming out of them.  I inch closer, snapping a twig in the process, but they seem too obsorbed in each other that they hardly even noticed. Wolf just pointed at his watch, did we have to be somewhere at a certain time?  No, they just might have plans, good for Sophia. 

Making my way back to the lounge chair, there is Charming himself sitting, waiting for me.  "Sorry, I got desracted by a cool bird." Wow I am really bad at lying today.  Though Josh didn't seem to notice, "It's cool, I got something for you. All the girls are getting one but I picked this one out for you specially."  He hands me a little felt jewlery box.  Inside was a simple silver pendant with an emerald in the middle of it.

"It's beautiful. How did you know my birthstone?" It was so beautiful I almost couldn't get the words out. 

"I know a lot about you, it's no big deal." His words went in one ear and out the other.  He takes it out of the box and clasps it around my neck and I lounge back, soaking up the spring Italian sun.  Sometimes it feels like this place to too perfect, but then the thought of 'home' creeps into my mind, casting a shadow on this bright sunny morning.