23. In the Stars
In the Stars
J ust before we docked, I saw it and screamed in pure joy.
The boat ride had been perfectly lovely, offering a great breeze against the Florida humidity. We got to see the luscious Florida plant life and Spanish-influenced mansions. Soon, we came upon massive restaurants like the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium, which looked Willy Wonka-inspired, and a ginormous Hard Rock Cafe. Everything was framed with tall palm trees stretching to the blue sky. Then on a spinning tilted globe, I made out the word that gave our destination away.
We were going to Universal motherfucking Studios Amusement Park for my birthday!
“I think someone has realized their birthday surprise,” Cody said with a finger in his ear at my scream.
“Well, she hasn’t figured all of it out just yet,” Quinn smiled.
She docked the boat, and we all disembarked. I could not even begin to contain my excitement as I bounced on my feet. I was pretty sure that if I wasn’t holding tightly to Quinn’s hand, I would float away from pure happiness.
We passed the globe toward the entrance to the park. It towered over us, styled like something straight from an old Hollywood studio lot. As we entered the line to get our tickets, I noticed how quiet the park was. There was a small crowd in the Ticket Line, but there was not a line of patrons waiting to enter the park like I was expecting for a Friday in September. Approaching the front, I overheard some folks angrily speaking to the employees while others walked away disappointed. With a clearer view of the park’s entrance gate, I saw standing signs reading “Park Closed Today For a Private Party. Please see Box Office for Additional Information.”
“Oh, no! The park is closed!” I said.
“Yeah, for the plebeians,” Cody snorted.
“Wait, I’m so sorry. We are the private party? You bought the whole fucking park for me ?!” I said, looking between the cousins.
“ Quinn bought the whole park, actually,” Nat corrected.
I turned to Quinn in complete shock. “You did this? For me ?”
“I planned for us to go to Universal for you , yes. But I planned to buy the entire park for the day for me . It’s selfish, I know.” Quinn shrugged nonchalantly next to me as if we were talking about me paying her back for a cheap dinner and not potentially millions of dollars. “I just hate crowds.”
I shook my head. “You did not have to do this for me, Quinn. I mean, the jet, the resort, the spa,—It’s all so freaking much. I can’t believe it. I’m not even worth?—”
“Hey. Don’t finish that sentence.” Quinn took my face in both of her hands. The Florida sun and climate was already warm, but in her hands I felt like glass being made into art: molten, malleable, and with so much potential to be made into something more. She continued. “I did this because I want to see you happy and make sure you felt special on your birthday. I would buy you every diamond mine I could if it meant seeing you smile. There’s no amount of money I wouldn’t pay for that. You are worth it, mi tesoro . You are worth all of this and more. Never doubt that.”
She was so sweet that I had to blink away tears. I joked, “Well, I guess it’s a good thing I’m not a diamond girl.”
“I should have known you would prefer something untraditional.”
“Diamonds are so overrated and unethical. Not to mention, basic. Morganite or a clear sapphire would be so much nicer and cheaper.”
“Mhmm, educated about the world, compassionate for the suffering of others, and she cares about my wallet? My dream woman.” Quinn kissed the tip of my nose.
I laughed.
We made it to the front of the line. Once Quinn mentioned that the tickets should be under her name and showed her ID, the Ticketing Agent perked up.
When she asked which one of us was the guest of honor and Quinn motioned to me, she said, “Excellent! We are so honored to have you here as a special park guest! You all will be experiencing the exclusive VIP Tour alongside your visit. This will give you backstage access to some of our attractions as well as some additional information about them and their histories that you will not get anywhere else. Since you are such important guests, you will be getting even more than our usual guests with more tour time with your guide. I think you will enjoy it! Here’s your special birthday pin so the Team Members can identify you if the Tour Guide isn’t able to introduce you. Now, head this way and the Tour Guide will meet you to get started! Please enjoy your time in the park! Oh, and happy birthday!”
She handed us our tickets to get through security and the park gates. As we went under the sign and on the red carpet leading inside the park, an announcer’s voice boomed overhead, “Welcome to Universal Studios Florida! Our star has just arrived on the set. Lights, camera, action! Happy birthday, Byrd!”
I was so happy I could die, but tears appeared in my eyes instead.
We followed the Ticketing Agent’s directions to get to the VIP Tour check-in area. After a very quick and seamless check-in, we got special lanyards with pass cards advertising our exclusive access to the VIP experience—not that we needed the cards considering we had the entire park to ourselves. Still, we put them around our necks just for show. Quinn informed the Team Member that we had already eaten breakfast, so our Tour Guide would meet us just outside of Guest Services. He wished me a happy birthday, and we went on our way.
Just outside, we found an old drive-in style restaurant and our Tour Guide. She excitedly waved her hand at us as if she needed to get our attention. She was dressed like a safari adventurer from head-to-toe, but her dark hair was in a low ponytail at the nape of her neck. She was gorgeous, almost supernaturally so, making me wonder if maybe she was something other than human. There were supernatural creatures that lived among humans, but they often did it to take advantage of them for food, power, or just to troll. If there were a large number of disappearances that couldn’t be explained or “animal attacks” where the bodies were mutilated or drained of blood, it was likely due to a supernatural creature taking up residence nearby. Something about this girl gave me a bad feeling in my gut and made my skin tingle, but I couldn’t put my finger on why exactly.
Maybe it was her overt enthusiasm at seven in the morning.
“Good morning, VIP guests! Oh, I heard we have a very special birthday girlie pop! Happy birthday to you, Byrdie-Boo!”
I cringed at the dreadful nickname. This girl could not be real.
“My name is Ophelia, and I will be your terrific tour guide! Welcome to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida! You all are about to have a spectacular day! But Miss Birthday Queenie Pie? Your day is about to be extra-super-duper ahh-mazing! Are you ready? Are you excited?”
“Totally,” I said, putting on my customer service smile I used when a patron was annoying me. This girl was too perky. Why did she rub me the wrong way? Why didn’t I like her?
“That’s the spirit! Oh, we are going to have the best time together! Let’s kick things off by heading over to the World Expo first! Then we can make our way back here and up toward Diagon Alley while catching some sights and learning about the park! I bet you eager beavers and beaverettes are so ready for some rides, right? Well, let’s go!” Ophelia clapped her hands and raised her arm before marching forward. She left the rest of us stunned, but we followed behind her.
Quinn’s eyes narrowed on Ophelia. “I don’t like her.”
“She is certainly animated,” Cole remarked with raised eyebrows.
“She is certainly horrid .” Maisie frowned.
“Oh, c’mon, y’all! She’s just cheery,” Simone said.
“Yeah, but there’s something weird about her,” Cooper noticed. “She’s strangely too perky.”
“Oh my gods, I thought it was just me!” I agreed, finding it concerning that I could agree with someone who also gave me such strange vibes for being too cold.
“Let’s keep an eye on her, for sure, but I think she just likes her coffee with ten shots. I wouldn’t let her get in the way of us having a good time,” Cody suggested.
“Cody being the voice of reason? Oh, hell must have frozen over,” Nat raised an eyebrow.
We were quiet as the nine of us leisurely made our way through the park. It was wild seeing the park so empty of customers, but it was far from quiet. Music played from hidden speakers throughout the park, and there were still plenty of employees to wave at us or beckon us into their stores. Performers danced in the streets and costumed characters came out to wave at us as we approached, adding to the immersion. It was already magical, and I was eager to see what the rest of the park was going to be like.
Gods, how long had it been since I was here? It had to be at least a decade.
When I was a kid and both Mom and I were off for the summer, my parents would take me to the big three back then: Disney World, Universal Studios, and SeaWorld. We spent most of our time at Disney because it had the most rides, but we would spend the day at the other places to see their attractions. From the road trip down where we would stop by the Welcome Center for orange juice to staying in the hotel and having waffles made by Pops to the moment we would set foot in Disney, I had loved everything about it. Everything was different back then, simpler and easier. Disney wasn’t as technical and cultish as it is now. Sea World wasn’t as controversial. Universal was tiny, with a few rides and shows from old movies and properties.
The last time I had been to Universal was with Pops, Aunt Max, and Uncle Everett. It was right before they added Harry Potter World . They still had the Twister ride that I never got on because the movie terrified me. The Shrek 4-D attraction that Mom loved was still there, and we got grossed out when Donkey sneezed on us. I rode Jimmy Neutron’s Nicktoon Blast at least three times that day. Now, those rides were gone and replaced. This park was as different as I was. It was strange, feeling the weight of no longer being the little girl or teenager who had set foot on this same ground before.
Quinn kissed the inside of my wrist, pulling my attention to her. “What are you thinking so deeply about, baby girl?”
I told her about my memories of Universal and my family. At the end, I added, “I bet you think that’s weird that I’m like a Disney adult or something.”
“No, I don’t think that at all. You have some beautiful memories here with your family. That’s invaluable. I don’t think that makes you a Disney adult. You would have to have some hidden Mickeys tattooed on you or want to visit the park every year. Now, those people are weird.”
I chuckled. “You’re right. I just love the magic of it all. Or the idea of magic there. I just love that humans can create such magical worlds without having any powers. They can replicate it with engineering alone to immerse you in that world and help you forget reality. I just think that is cool. I love the fantasy of it.”
“I never thought about it like that. That’s… beautifully worded.”
My cheeks heated. “Thank you. What, uh, made you pick Universal Studios to surprise me for my birthday?”
“A little Maisie mentioned to me how much you loved pop culture and things like superhero movies and magical worlds?—”
“She said I was a nerd and thought I would love it here, didn’t she?”
Quinn chuckled. “Yes, she did.”
“I will kick her butt for that later.” I rolled my eyes. “Still, this had to be ridiculously expensive. I mean, Universal Studios is huge now. This couldn’t have been cheap. How rich are y’all?”
Quinn ruffled her curls, fluffing them to make them even fluffier. She shrugged halfheartedly. “I mean, we have eaten dinner with celebrities like the Kardashians before. When I asked Mama once how much money our family had, she said the number was quote, richer than god, end quote. Basically, the money spent on this weekend is pocket change, which I know is insane. If it matters, we don’t get access to our funds until we are twenty-one, and my parents are sticklers for us knowing the value of a dollar?—”
“Pumpkin,” I squeezed her hand to interrupt her. “You don’t have to justify anything with me. It means so much to me that you did all this for me. You have no idea how grateful I am.”
Quinn smiled down at me.
“Aww! Young love is so precious! You lovebirds are so cute I could just eat you both up! Gobble gobble!” Ophelia said, turning to glance at us with that too-sweet smile of hers. For as pretty as she was, there was something in her appearance that was also too much.
“Did she just say ‘gobble gobble’?” Quinn asked low so Ophelia didn’t hear.
I shook my head. “Okay, thank you, I hate her.”
Despite my growing annoyance with Ophelia, I couldn’t deny that she was an informative Tour Guide. She gave us a comprehensive history of the rides along with what the ride replaced and how the ride was designed. She even told us secrets to enjoy the ride even more like when to hold our arms in the air or how to get the high score on the game attractions. We took the back entrance to everything we wanted to do, which were mostly the dark rides. Ophelia admitted that since we had bought the park there wasn’t much reason to use these special entrances to skip the nonexistent lines, but she was “devoted to going above and beyond to give me the best birthday ever” so we still got the behind-the-scene looks at how some of the rides like the Revenge of the Mummy and Men In Black Alien Attack . It was incredible seeing details like the track underneath the rollercoaster or exclusive secret areas.
We tackled most of the Universal Studios park that we wanted to before making our way to Diagon Alley in the Wizarding World of Harry Potter . The train to take us to the next park over was there, but also the cousins raved about how the Harry Potter rides were some of the best in the park. So, at their insistence, we saved the best for last, riding Harry Potter and the Escape from Gringotts at least twice before finally deciding it was time to go to Islands of Adventure to ride the other crazy rollercoasters. We all boarded the Hogwarts Express with a series of scenes playing out around us from the movies, including the train traveling from London through grassy plains before the cart gets attacked by Dementors. I wasn’t a Potterhead growing up, only knowing enough to understand references and why it was problematic as hell. But it was a cute show and an inventive way to pass the time on the short train ride.
Getting off the train, we decided to save Hogsmeade for last and ride everything else first again. This time, though, we decided to ride everything and do everything. We drank our weight in Butterbeer and had snacks on snacks so we wouldn’t ruin our flow sitting down for lunch. We rode the kiddie rides in Seuss Landing, which was kind of cute and not nearly as boring as I thought. We flew through Jurassic Park, screaming our brains out on the VelociCoaster and only getting a drizzle from the splash of the River Adventure . Quinn won me a giant stuffed baby raptor playing a game that we got sent to our room that I was going to love and cherish forever. The King Kong animatronic freaked me out almost to the point of tears on the Skull Island ride, and I refused to ride it ever again. We got soaked at Toon Lagoon , making me grateful that I wore my bathing suit under my outfit and showing that I wasn’t the only one who did.
We dried off walking to Marvel Super Hero Island . I hadn’t recognized the place before, but the memories flooded me as soon as I saw the Spider-Man ride.
“Oh, I had completely forgotten about this part of the park!” I explained to Quinn as the others walked ahead of us with Ophelia leading. “I can’t believe this part of the park is still here. It hasn’t changed a bit! You know, this section used to be my family’s favorite part. Mom liked the rides because they were so chaotic. While Mom was a thrillseeker, Pops loved the lore of everything, the story behind these rides. You think I’m a nerd? You should have met my pops. He collected comic books as a kid. So, he used to tell me all about these characters while we waited in line—their different storylines in different multiverses and how they interacted with other characters. I thought it was so cool that he remembered them. There were so many incredible ones I was surprised that there weren’t rides after them.”
“Really? Do you remember any of them?” Quinn asked.
“Well, of course! But I don’t want to talk your ear off. I have been going on so much the others are far ahead. I can’t even hear Ophelia’s voice anymore. I’m sure she has more insight than me.” I sipped from my Butterbeer, which was delicious but stuck heavily in my throat.
“Okay, there’s so much wrong there, I don’t know where to start.” Quinn pulled her hand away from mine. My heart sank for a moment before she draped it over my shoulder instead. I shifted my drink to my other hand to grip her hand tightly. Despite the hotness of Florida, her scent of campfire, citrus, and chocolate surrounding me was a comfort. Quinn slowed us down, putting more distance between us and the rest of the group.“I want to hear your stories, mi tesoro . I want to hear your memories and everything. Not only because I want to get to know you and learn about you, but because I could listen to you talk for hours and never get tired of it. You could be talking about math—which was my worst subject in school—but I would hate it a little less coming from those lips. Your voice is my favorite song. I can’t hear it enough.”
I was speechless. No one had ever said that about my voice before. This woman… She was too good.
“Also, your insight is much better than Ophelia’s. She’s worse than Google with how much useless information she provides. I mean, do we care how many wheels make up one cart for these rides?”
I snorted. “I honestly have no idea how you could hear anything she’s saying over how annoying her voice is. Her voice sounds like her throat needs WD-40.”
Quinn laughed at my roast, a deep boisterous one. It made me smile as it boomed in my ears and I felt in through my chest. I loved that I made her laugh. I decided then that I not only wanted to be the cause of her laughter but also to get drunk on it whenever I could.
When we caught up to the others, they had decided they all wanted a turn riding in the front of each rollercoaster, so we agreed. While watching our friends board the front cart of each ride, Quinn would stand behind me and wrap her arms around me. She kissed my shoulder, neck, and cheek. They were soft and delicate like rose petals settling on my skin, but I craved the affection, her touch, her mouth on me. I had never felt warmer or at home than when I was in her arms. I couldn’t explain it, but Quinn made me feel unlike anyone had before and I loved it.
Eventually, we returned to Hogsmeade . For all my dislike of Harry Potter, the books and the movies—which ran deep given how it and its author went against everything I stood for—I couldn’t deny the wonder I felt walking through this place ripped from the pages of the books and made real from the movies. It was human-created magic.
“So, what’re everyone’s houses? I know y’all have taken the quiz,” Cole asked while we did some shopping in the gift shops and took a break from Ophelia.
“Oh, I’m definitely a Ravenclaw,” I replied, looking at the journals and books. I already knew that none of the clothes that I liked were going to be in my size, so I didn’t even bother to look.
“You’re a Ravenclaw?” Quinn raised her slitted eyebrow incredulously. “You definitely give Hufflepuff vibes.”
I put a hand to my chest and gasped. “ Hufflepuff ? On my birthday, you say this to me? How dare you? I’m incredibly studious and creative. Also, have you seen me in navy blue? You are rude as hell.”
Quinn threw her head back and laughed.
“Hey, now! What’s wrong with being a Hufflepuff?” Simone said, walking past me.
“Nothing! I’m just not one.” I smiled and pointed to Quinn. “You have to be a Slytherin.”
“Most of us are, I think,” Cody said.
“Speak for yourself. I’m definitely a Griffindor,” Cooper said, leaning against the entrance door with his arms crossed.
“Whatever helps you sleep at night, Mr. Slytherin-Denier,” Nat teased, making all of us chuckle.
“You’re a witch, right, Maisie?” Cole asked.
“I am indeed.”
“I know how Simone feels about mermaids in media?—”
“Oh, y’all opened up the Little Mermaid , H2O , and Aquamarine Pandora’s Box already?” I asked.
Simone mumbled something indiscernible from the Hufflepuff section. She’s so on brand for that .
“Please don’t get her going. We do have more rides to go on,” Cole said. While Simone stuck out her tongue at him, he continued. “How do you feel about witches being portrayed like this?”
Maisie shrugged. “The girl got a check. Good for her. But Practical Magic and the Craft are the best witch movies, hands down. Oh, and Hocus Pocus because that’s just good fun. I want to be them when I grow up.”
“Eating children to stay young and immortal?” Cole asked.
“I don’t see how that’s different from what you do now, babes,” Cody said. At Maisie’s confusion, he continued. “You know, sucking di—Ouch!”
“I will happily pay for that,” Nat said to the cashier’s raised eyebrows, pointing to the shot glass she had thrown at Cody that had shattered. Quinn rolled her eyes while I laughed.
We finished shopping and downed our next round of Butterbeers. It was getting later in the day, but we all still wanted to finish out the rides. Ophelia suggested we could each split off and ride the other rides in the front rows like we wanted to save time, and we agreed. Since everyone wanted to ride the Harry Potter and the Forbidden Journey ride first, I pulled the Birthday Queen card so that Quinn and I could go first on what I knew was going to be the best ride.
Ophelia guided us through the exit into Hogwarts and the entrance to the ride just like she had done before. Interestingly, she was quiet during this part of the trip, which I was both grateful for and found rather odd. But I didn’t want to question her and open the floodgates to her talking to us.
We arrived at the boarding area of the ride inside, and Ophelia gestured for us to hop on. Before she left, she turned to us. Her saccharine smile turned into more of a sneer as she said, “You are going to really enjoy this one. Or you are going to be really scared. Either way, please be sure to feel all of your emotions to get the most out of it.”
“Ooookay, sure. Thanks, Ophelia,” Quinn said as Ophelia left.
“Gods, she is so fucking weird.”
We stepped onto the platform to sit in the cart waiting for us. They were modeled like benches, reminiscent of church pews with harnesses attached. The benches moved quickly, encouraging us to hurry and sit. Quinn and I hastily sat in the middle two seats of the four-seater. We pulled our safety harnesses down over our shoulders and chest, and an attendant came by to ensure they were down fully and clicked. She triple-checked everything. Then she smiled at us and gave a thumbs up before backing up. And our cart was sent on its way.
This ride was all darkness, fog, flashes of light, loud noises, and jump scares with a series of callbacks to the movies and the bench-like cart spinning us around and upside down. There was a dragon animatronic that blew fog straight at us lit in red to look like fire. We flew past spiders of varying sizes, including a giant one that was bigger than the car. The Whopping Willow came close to hitting us as we left the Forbidden Forest. There were even Dementors who came close to the cart using some trick of technology to make us feel the sensation of having our souls sucked out of us. It was wild shit, but we screamed and laughed as we rode. I gripped Quinn’s hand tightly the entire time. Another dementor swooped down close to us?—
Suddenly, our cart lurched to a whiplash-inducing stop. The Dementor halted mid-flight down to attack us. The world the ride was trying to create for us went mute. The lights and projection for the show turned black, plunging us into cave darkness instantly. It was mad scary. I couldn’t even see my hand in front of my face.
Well, at first.
As suddenly as the immersion of the ride had ended, my eyes started to ache with a stinging, sudden pain. I blinked a few times to force them to adjust and to make the pain go away. But if anything, it all got worse. If it wasn’t for my makeup, I would rub my eyes. I hissed as the agony reached a crescendo. Then as suddenly as it started, it dulled. I fluttered my eyes open, and I could see again. Not only could I see, but I could see the dark world around us clear as day. I could see the machinery holding us over thirty feet in the air on a series of tracks. I could see the Dementor figurine looming in front of us. Like I had pulled the curtain back, I could see the entire backstage of everything. It was as if someone had turned the lights on.
But I knew no one had.
I could see in the dark.
“Attention, guests! My name is Caroline, your Attendant Wizard.” An announcer’s voice came on overhead, cutting through the quiet of Quinn’s and my breathing and the settling of the machinery. “We are experiencing some technical difficulties. I have my Engineering Team investigating the cause and troubleshooting the solution. We will be evacuating you shortly so you can enjoy other rides while we work to resolve this. Your ride vehicle will be in motion soon! We will do what we can to get things back up and running as soon as possible. In the meantime, please remain seated with your hands and feet inside the vehicle until further instruction is provided. We apologize for the inconvenience, and thank you for your cooperation. Oh, and happy birthday, Byrd!”
After she repeated her announcement again, I could hear whirring noises begin to sound. Soon, the cart moved forward slowly. I swung my feet as I watched the wheels below move us along.
“Some birthday, huh?” Quinn said. I glanced over at her. She was looking forward, her eyes scanning the darkness unable to see. Her hand was locked in her curls. She was worrying, her bottom lip nervous. I could tell that she had no idea I could see her. I could also tell that she had no idea how freaking cute she was.
I squeezed her hand to pull her back to me. “This is a birthday for the ages . You know how many Harry Potter nerds would kill for this opportunity? This is stinking cool.”
Quinn turned to me, her eyes searching for me but missing their mark. “Really? You mean it?”
“Hell yes! This has been the best birthday ever!”
“Thank you, sweetness.” I saw Quinn smile.
Then the work lights came on out of nowhere. It blinded me, and that ache returned to my eyes. I slammed my eyes shut and hissed loudly, the sound strange to my ears. Before I closed my eyes, I saw Quinn’s widen in shock as they met mine under the lights.
“B-baby, y-your eyes?—”
“Is there something in them? They have been bothering me.” Globes of color danced behind my vision that took its sweet time to clear up.
“They—they’ve changed?—”
“Hey, you two! Thank you for your patience!”
I looked away from Quinn to see a ride attendant standing on a catwalk high enough for us to jump onto. He was different from the female attendant who helped us board the ride vehicle. He waved as our cart approached.
“Feet up as you approach the catwalk. We’ll get you both out of here in no time.”
Our cart stopped against the catwalk as we followed his instructions.
Just as he came toward us to help us out, we heard it.
It was loud.
It was close.
It turned my blood to ice.
It was a scream.