✓ | PERFECT PLACES! ( ZEROYALVIKING )

twenty-six

It was the last official day of PAX and although Florence was not as big into games as her friends were, she enjoyed the days they spent together none the less. On the second day, Chilled had forced Florence to take part in a Mario Kart tournament with him and two other people. She didn't come first, but she took the second place out of the four who were playing, of course thrashing everyone on Rainbow Road - this had brought on a crowd of people watching.

     The jet lag had gotten to her multiple times and with the constant apologies she gave, along with many naps she took, Florence still managed to get up and join the fun. Until she was lost in the crowd of people, trying to make her way back from the bathroom.

     Of course she was worried that she may have something stolen or lose something in the masses of people. It's not that the brunette didn't know where to go and meet everyone, it was the sudden wave of people which appeared, throwing her off course. Letting out a stressed and heavy sigh, she sat down for a second to catch her breath. Clicking on Ze's number, she placed her phone up to her ear awaiting his voice.

     "Hey," his soft voice came through the speaker near her ear. Florence let out a sigh of relief and a chuckle, only to be interrupted before being able to speak. "Its Steven. Sorry if I couldn't catch your call, leave me a message and I'll get back to you. Bye." There was a long, high pitched beep but Florence ended the call before even getting the chance to leave a message, assuming his phone most likely died.

     "Goddamnit, Florence." She whispered to herself, pressing her phone to her forehead. She knew they'd be looking for her but they were on one side and she was on the other. Tapping her foot, making her leg bounce with nerves, Florence looked over the small map she had picked up from one of the guards she had seen on the first day, figuring out everyone's whereabouts. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw someone sit next to her.

     "Lost?" The male voice spoke, a slight laugh coming from his throat. Nodding slightly, she turned to see who it was. The man was young, younger than her. His light brown hair looked slightly red, giving him more of an auburn fluff. The light reflected from his glasses, making it hard to see his eyes properly.

     "Well, I'd class it more as 'trapped' but yes, I guess you could call me 'lost'." She gave the word air quotations, giving in to a stress filled laugh and placing her head in her hands. "Honestly, where on earth did all these bloody people come from?" Florence threw her hand out in the direction to the mixing crowd of people, weaving in and out of each others way.

    "I'll have to agree with you there." The man pointed, his voice slipping in and out of different accents and tones. "I'm Craig by the way. Craig Thompson." He stuck out his right hand, Florence took it gently, shaking it in return.

     "Florence Hyde, pleasure." The pair continued to speak, Florence explained her situation, telling Craig off for laughing at her misfortune, only to join in. "Want to come on and adventure to help me find those nerds?" Craig agreed, saying that it would be nice to have some fresh air in him.

          "Any luck with their phones?" The auburn haired boy asked, eating some ice cream off of his small, plastic spoon.

    "Yeah, John just said for me to wait here," she put her phone into the jean pocket, joining Craig in eating her own ice cream. "But, ice cream was a good call, Craig." The two continued to ramble on about ice cream flavours and films, as well as their own lives for the time being, enjoying each other's company. Florence saw a tall man wearing a red cap in the distance, followed by four others. She let out a sign of relief and waved, calling out to them.

    Ze came up first, hugging her slightly. "Oh thank God." He mumbled, causing the girl to chuckle.

     "Yes, praise Chris Pratt." She laughed, seeing Craig visibly choke on his spoon. "Sorry for, you know, pulling a Harry Houdini and vanishing."

     "You're okay and here now, that's all that matters." Steven spoke, turning to look at the younger male. "Thanks for helping her." He smiled, Craig fake blushed in return.

     "It was nothing really. I was lonely, she was lost. Boom, instant BFF's." He chuckled, Florence agreeing with him. "Plus, it gave me an excuse to get some ice cream." The group laughed, deciding to stick together after he introduced himself. Craig told the group about how he was here with his friends, but they had gone into watch a panel, leaving him in line for some Mario stall to get a new hat because he had lost his other one. Chilled of course made a new friend that day.

The group of seven spent the rest of the day messing around out and inside of the venue. Craig and Chilled wore their matching Mario caps, Ze bought Florence a Luigi cap and himself a Yoshi one. Galm, Smarty and Tom had left after the event ended although they were going to meet up the next day, a farewell dinner and night of bowling. Craig had said his goodbyes to the group, heading back to his friends but promised to keep in touch with all of them, Florence had made sure of that.

Now everything was quite in the hotel room the pair shared, both lying on their own beds enjoying the peace they could finally get. Florence blew a curl from her face which had escaped her extremely rushed bun, turning on her side to face Steven. His eyes we closed but she knew he wasn't asleep, his chest raising up and down slowly was calming to her. A faint smile appeared on her face, hiding slightly when he turned to face her, his eyes opening slowly.

"What?" He laughed, ruffling his hair and rubbing his eyes. Ze smiled back at her, raising his brow ever so slightly.

"Nothing." The girl shook her head, a soft chuckle escaping her lips. "I'm just still happy that we finally got to meet."

"Me too, Florence. Me too." The two continued to stare at each other for what seemed like hours, just enjoying each other's company while they still could, despite knowing they'd see each other for a while longer after PAX ended.