Who: Liz Ortecho, Maria DeLuca & Alex Manes When: Backdated: Saturday, May 23rd. Morning Where: Disneyland What: Best friends spending the day at the Happiest Place on Earth Rating/Warnings: Family Friendly Status: Complete
In the year that Liz had been back home the one thing that she still hadn’t done, which she was surprised about was go to Disneyland. When she had moved back she’d planned to go as soon as possible, but she had spent much of the first few months she’d been back helping her parents at the restaurant then she’d gotten the job at Godfrey Industries and as usual she had simply gotten lost in her work.
However, now that both of her best friends were back home the idea had come to her that they should spend a day at Disneyland like the old days and luckily everyone had liked the idea and they started making plans and when the day arrived they had all gotten up early and Liz had picked Maria and Alex up and they had been on their way.
“At the risk of sounding basic, I’m gonna need a pair of Minnie ears,” Liz said once they had entered the park.
“Ya basic,” Alex said, grinning. He was thrilled to be spending the day at Disney with his best friends. He wondered what Michael was up to, but tried not to think too much about him. He was at the happiest place on earth, after all, and he was going to enjoy the day with the girls.
He shook his head after a moment. “But if you’re getting ears, I’m getting ears. And Maria is getting ears. We’re all getting ears.”
“Oh god, really?” Maria groaned with a smile on her face. She did like Disney, she really did, but spending money on Minnie ears wasn’t her favorite thing because she knew they would end up just sitting somewhere. She was far more excited to spend her money on the food here, but she would do it to please Alex and Liz and join in on the fun, “At least they have tons of styles now so it’s easy to find ones that feel uniquely you.”
“Alright, let’s hit up the stores on Main Street and see what we can find,” Maria grabbed both of their arms to drag them into the first store off on the left. She knew from when they were younger that there were always lots of ears there, “So, what are we riding fast? I would not object to Space Mountain or Jungle Cruise.”
Liz laughed at Maria’s response to the Minnie ears; sure they were likely going to end up in a drawer or something, in Liz’s apartment, but she hadn’t gotten Minnie ears in a very long time. “It’s going to be so hard to decide which ones to get,” She said as Maria led them into the store and towards the wall of colorful, sequined Minnie ears. “Space Mountain is definitely a must. The Matterhorn too.”
“Oh, Space Mountain first,” Alex said. He wasn’t as fussed about the ears. He didn’t mind having them. They’d be a good reminder of a fun day spent with his girls. How long had it been since the three of them spent the day together? A very long time, that was for sure. And yet, as he was with them right then, it seemed like no time at all had passed, and this was just another normal day in their lives as friends.
It was a nice feeling. A feeling Alex enjoyed. Some part of him wondered why he’d stayed away for so long. He knew why, of course. But he was no longer giving his father or his brothers power in his life. He had no use for them, and he was older now. He didn’t need them in any capacity. No. This was what he needed. Time with his best friends.
“Sweet, I’m down for a crazy thrill ride first. Just means we need to make sure to tuck our ears away before we get on,” Maria laughed because she was definitely not going to lose the ears they were about to buy. They stepped into the store and she noticed there was a display near the back and she made her way out towards it. There were so many options and Maria wasn’t even sure where to begin.
“How the heck am I supposed to decide?” Maria let out a huff of laughter as she stepped closer and started inspecting the different ears, “This one looks like donuts and this one like the ice cream bars. Maybe classic black and gold?” She saw the rainbow bow ones and held them out to Alex with a grin.
“And Space Mountain is closest so we should head over there once we leave here,” Liz said as she picked up a pair of red sequined Minnie ears and put them on, moving her hair around the ear pieces as she moved to look in the mirror provided, “I think the black and gold would suit you. How do these ones look? Or should I try those blue ones?” There were simply too many options to make a quick decision, “Ooh, or the Haunted Mansion ones. I might have to go with those ones.” The Haunted Mansion had always been one of Liz’s favorite rides at Disneyland.
“Definitely go with the Haunted Mansion ears,” Alex told her. He thought they looked good on her. Of course, he’d think any of the ears looked good on either of his friends. He wasn’t so convinced about himself, and looking good wearing silly ears, but he wasn’t going to be a party pooper.
He took the rainbow ears from Maria. Was he brave enough to wear them? He wasn’t ashamed of his sexuality, he was 100% gay, no questions asked. He had less than zero sexual interest in women. But he had been beaten for it, ridiculed by his father and his brothers. A world away in New York, he wouldn’t have hesitated, he would have worn the Pride themed ears without a doubt. But here, so close to where he’d grown up, he wasn’t so casual about advertising himself that way.
“I don’t know. I think I like the good old fashioned black ones,” he said. He expected a counter argument, but he just wasn’t so sure he was comfortable with statement-making rainbows on his head.
Maria was just a little surprised that Alex didn’t want to wear them. If he explained his reasoning she would understand. Being back in this place so near where you grew up and things like that always made things a little more complicated than they were when you lived on the other side of the country. They had gone to Pride parades and been themselves, but Maria was never the type to push anyone to do something they didn’t want to do. She gave a small shrug as she took the ears back and gave him an easy smile, “Shame. You look damn good with a rainbow.” She grabbed the plain back ones and handed them over to him.
“Alright, black and gold for me then, gotta go with a classic. We look great, let’s go pay for these and then take some castle selfies on our way to Space Mountain,” Maria declared with a pleased smile as she led the way to register.
Liz could understand what Alex might be reluctant to wear the rainbow ears at the moment and she hoped that he would eventually get more comfortable being himself at home and not worry so much about his father when the man was nowhere in sight. “Alright, Haunted Mansion ones it is,” She followed Maria’s lead towards the registers, stopping briefly at a display of letter keychains and grabbed the first initial of each of their first names and held them up, “My welcome home gifts to both of you,” Her lips turned up into a grin as she spoke.
“You don’t have to. But. Thank you.” Alex wasn’t going to argue. He actually liked the keychain. It was sparkly, a little bit flashy, and entirely too touristy. But that was half the fun. It felt like a small rebellion against his father. He couldn’t go all out with the ears, but he could be a little rebellious with a sparkly keychain.
“Awww, you’re so sweet,” Maria commented to Liz and smiled, “Thanks.. Definitely putting this on my backpack the moment we get out of this store.” She liked that Liz was getting them matching gifts because it would definitely make her think about this day and how much fun they had when she looked at it. It would go on her backpack for now, but she’d probably move it to her keys later so she could have it every day. She stepped up to the register and paid for her ears, rejecting a bag, and asking if she could have the tags clipped off which the employee was kind enough to do. She took the receipt, keeping it in her hand, and put her ears on before turning to gather with her friends again as they began their day of fun.
Liz was still smiling as she approached the counter after Maria and paid for her ears and the keychains then did the same as her friend and had the tags cut off before joining Maria while they waited for Alex to pay for his ears. After giving Maria her keychain, Liz put the other two in her purse, she’d opted out of getting a bag, because it seemed silly for such small items then she put on her ears, adjusting the band and her hair, “How do they look?” She asked, looking away from her vague reflection in the window to get Maria’s opinion.
Alex followed suit, cutting the tags and putting the ears on his head. He didn’t have enough hair to have to fuss with, he just slid the ears into place. “Girl, you look fine.” He might not be willing to wear ears that all but advertised his sexuality, but he was more than comfortable talking the talk. He grinned at Liz and Maria, and linked arms with them both. His smile was bright and infectious, and he was ready to get started on a day of fun with his two best friends.
Linking their arms together brought Maria back to some of their times together in high school. They were a trio that did their best to spend a lot of time together and she was thankful she still had good friends like them in her life. They weaved through the crowd together to get closer to the castle so they could take a few photos. Once they were in an area that wasn’t completely crowded she pulled out her cell phone, “Alright, smoosh together so we can get some castle selfies.” Always good to document the day together.
“Well, I guess I just have to take your word for it then,” Liz returned Alex’s grin once he was outside the store and she handed him his keychain just as they all linked arms and began walking down Main Street. It had been so long since Liz had been back to Disneyland that she almost felt like one of the many tourists around them as she took everything in. Reaching the castle, she was not at all surprised when Maria stopped them to take pictures. “Are we going to be taking selfies all day?” Liz asked even as she wrapped an arm around Alex’s shoulder to pull him in closer while she leaned in towards Maria and smiled.
“You know we are going to be taking selfies all day,” Alex said with a long suffering tone. He was joking though. He didn’t mind it one bit. He wasn’t as into the selfie game as Maria was, but he didn’t mind her wanting to take pictures at every time. He wouldn’t even mind looking back at them later. He just didn’t want to be bothered taking any himself. Besides, Maria would send him the best ones.
“Not all day, but for key moments to remember our time together. Obviously the castle is important,” Maria commented with a chuckle as she finished taking enough photos. She put away her phone and tucked it into her shorts. She was definitely big on taking photos of things, but she wasn’t going to spend the whole day glued to her phone. There might be some food photos and some fun group photos, but she was far more focused on having fun with Alex and Liz, “Alright, let’s get going over to Space Mountain before the line gets too long. I’m definitely ready to scream my lungs out.” She still wasn’t convinced you wouldn’t break your arms if you held them up too high in that ride.
Liz smiled, “Alright, I can do a couple of selfies here and there.” As they finished their castle photo session and began walking towards Tomorrowland, Liz glanced around at the various guests as well as took in all the things that were different from the last time she’d been to Disneyland years earlier, “God, I can’t even remember the last time I was here. I’ve been meaning to plan a day for the last year.”
“It’s definitely been a long time for me. Not since high school.” Obviously, since he’d left town right after graduation, and he hadn’t been back until now. He’d missed this though, the closeness of good friends spending the day together. There was nothing quite like a day at Disney to recement friendships.
“No need to wallow in that. Just remember that we’re all back together now and even though this Mouse is stealing all our money we’re going to enjoy it,” Maria pointed out with a smile as she grabbed their hands to drag them to the line for Space Mountain. Maria didn’t like dwelling on the fact that the three of them hadn’t really been together in this capacity for quite a while, especially when they were about to have a spectacular day together. She was ready to embrace her sore feet and messed up hair for time with her friends and a Dole Whip.