500 Days

October 20th 2011

“LOUIS!” I had just walked through the gates leading into London Zoo when Daisy started tugging at my arm, “can we go see the tigers?” she asked eagerly while Phoebe was content holding my hand and walking beside me quietly. I nodded my head and answered with a ‘yes.’ A large smile spread across her face as she pulled me and in the direction of the enclosure excitedly. The Zoo was full of noise considering it was a weekend and most parents had bought their children here to get them out of the house and away from any electronic devices.

“Come on Phoebe,” I smiled down at my sister who was dragging behind, quickly she sped up so she was in step with me while Daisy led the way with a determined look in her eyes. I couldn’t help but smile at the way Phoebe took in her surroundings silently her blue eyes wide as she looked around at the different enclosures we were passing at a rather fast pace.

“Daisy slow down, Phoebe is finding it hard to keep up,” I pointed out which earned me a sigh and I swear I saw her blue eyes roll. Sassy as anything that girl was and she was only six.

“Tell her to hurry up!” she exclaimed rudely, despite how hard I tried I couldn’t help the chuckle that left my lips at her attitude.

“D we didn’t come to the zoo just for you.”

“I know but I want to see the tigers.”

“Alright, hang on,” bending down I grabbed Phoebe and lifted her up carrying her easily. “Alright, lets go,” with that Daisy gripped my hands and tugged me to the nearing enclosure.

Once there she pulled us as close as she could get so that she could get a close look at the large cats, one was happily snoozing on the grass while another was pacing back and forward slowly.

“Look at the movement of that thing,” a female voice caught me off guard, turning around I saw two girls standing near the back of the small group that had formulated around the glass. One had flaming red hair and a few piercings scattered around her face while the other had long brown hair that was pulled back into a long plait and a sweet smile.

“What’s so good about it?” the brunette asked her voice soft. The red head turned to her friend with a WTF look on her face.

“Really?” she asked as if that was one of the dumbest questions to ask. The brunette nodded her head gently her smile widening as she turned back to look at the pacing animal. Suddenly the red head began whispering in her friends ear slowly the brunette’s gaze wandered over to mine and a light pink tinge spread across her cheeks. I quickly looked away feeling my own cheeks heat with the sound of the red heads laughter.

Daisy soon tired of looking at the large cats and turned to me, “Where to next?” I shrugged my shoulders unsure about it, she took my hand and the three of us began walking to find our next destination. We passed several enclosures before I spied the reptile room out of the corner of my eyes.

“Hey I found where I want to go, come on,” turning I made my way toward the room not missing the way both girls grip on me tightened. I chuckled as I led the girls into the reptile room.
As we wandered through the room Phoebe burrowed her face into the crook of my neck hiding from the creatures in the room while Daisy held my hand tightly walking close to me. As I passed each glass enclosure I looked at the snakes that were curled up basking under the heat lamp and lizards that were darting across the sandy bottoms. There was a loud noise causing Phoebe to jump and hold me tighter, turning around I saw it was just a small child who was excited about the boa pressing it’s head against the glass of it’s enclosure.

“Louis can we go,” Daisy begged tugging on my hand her eyes were trained on the large snake.

“Alright,” as much as I didn’t want to leave I couldn’t help but notice how scared the two were so I let Daisy tug me out of the reptile house. Seeing as she was a lot smaller then me it was easier for her to weave her way through the bodies that were crowding the exit of the reptile house. “Daisy,” I tried to pull her back but I lost grip on her losing her into the swarm of people. As much as I wanted to push my way through the people I knew that I wouldn’t be able to without causing a fuss so I tried to get out as quickly as I was able to. “Daisy!” I called looking around for her when I spied her sitting on one of the benches two girls sitting next to her. Instantly I recognized both of them. The fiery red head and the brunette, both girls were talking to her smile stretched across each of their faces.

“Daisy.”

“Louis,” she called her tone happier then it was a few moments ago in the reptile house.

“Don’t run off on me like that again.”

“Sorry,” she mumbled looking down at her shoes for a few moments before piping up. “Louis this is Aria and Stephanie.” Her eyes darted between the two girls and I figured that Stephanie was the girl who had caught me staring at her friend Aria.

“Hello,” I greeted with a warm smile hoisting Phoebe up on my hip.

“Hi,” they chorused together smiling wide.

“Where to now?” Daisy asked me my eyes wandered down to Phoebe who was looking at the two new girls seated on the bench.

“Where do you wanna go Pheebs?”

“The butterflies,” she whispered, Phoebe was never one for new people.

“Alright the butterfly enclosure it is. Come on D.”

“Can Aria and Steph come?”

“Uh…”

“Pleeeease.”

“It’s up to Aria and Stephanie,” Daisy looked between the girls, the two looked at each other before shrugging their shoulders.

“Sure.”

“Yay!” Daisy grabbed their hands and got to her feet before leading them off toward the enclosure.

~

Once I stepped into the enclosure I placed Phoebe on the ground and she rushed off to look at the different butterflies that were fluttering around soundlessly. Daisy had Aria and Stephanie looking at them with her, Pheobe hesitantly wandered over to the three girls and I couldn’t help but smile at the way both teenagers invited her to stand with them. Slowly I began to progress forward looking around at the creatures that flew through the air.

“You’re sisters are really nice,” I spun around and came face to face with Aria who was smiling gently down at the girls but standing next to me.

“Yeah they are,” I agreed looking at the way they were pointing and gasping in awe at each different butterfly. “Sorry about Daisy, if you girls want to go you can.”

“And disappoint the girls. No it’s okay, plus I love the butterfly enclosure.” I chuckled but that stopped when Phoebe ran up to the two of us grinning ear to ear, she didn’t say anything just wrapped her arms around me in a tight hug smiling up at me.

“What’s up?”

“Nothing,” she shook her head before turning to look at Aria. “She’s pretty.” I nodded my head in agreement as I looked at the brunette who was flushing a light pink.

“You’re pretty as well sweet heart,” Aria stated. “Don’t move,” Phoebe went as still as a board I watched as Aria reached out and cupped her hands around something near my sisters shoulder before drawing her hands back. “Check this out.” Slowly she opened her hands and perched in the darkness was an orange and black winged butterfly, it’s wings beating slowly. The look on Phoebe’s face was one of pure awe.

“Wow!” she smiled. “What is it?”

“It’s called a Viceroy… pretty isn’t it?” Phoebe nodded her head vigorously. “Watch this,” opening her hands up further the insect sat on her hand for a few moments longer giving us a good look at it before it flew off to join the other. Phoebe let go of me before running over to Daisy to tell her what just happened.

Aria laughed, as she stood up straighter.

“Butterfly expert?” I asked jokingly.

“Nope information nerd,” she joked back causing me to laugh loudly. Aria was definitely an interesting girl to say the least.