Assurance

One | Taste of freedom

ONE

2020 Las Vegas

B A I L E Y

"I'm so happy your dad finally let you have some fun!" Christina squeals as he puts on her earrings.

"I know right?!" I answer, putting on my heels.

"How do I look?" Christina asks me as she spins.

"That dress looks so beautiful on you!" I reply with a strong smile. "How about me?" I ask standing on my feet.

"You look gorgeous! Let's go down to the Casino!" She exclaims.

We walk out our room door and to the elevator. We have to wait a little bit before we can get on, so we chat about what we are going to do first. Christina and I have been friends for two years now. Before then I was cooped up in my house, home schooled. I'm still homeschooled, but I have new freedoms.

My dad is very protective. He was normal until my mother passed away. We were all happier then. I'm still happy, but I could be happier. My dad keeps me in the house out of harm, and out of drama. I get it, but still I want to be able to go out, and go on girls nights at the bar. Now that I turned twenty one, I can drink. So that's the plan tonight.

Chirstina decided to take me on a trip for my birthday to Vegas. I was surprised when my father let me go across the state away from him. Plus, Christnina just went through a breakup, so we need a night like this.

"Thank goodness we don't need a 'DD'! We can both drink and just walk upstairs to our rooms!" Christina says as we walk out of the elevator.

"I'm excited!" I say. Before we walk into the Casino, we exchange a look. "No more than fifty dollars to gamble." I say to her and me.

"Yes. mama." She chuckles.

We link arms and walk into the Casino, and my eyes go wide. The colors, and lights are so cool looking! And the amount of people in here is alarming, and intriguing. I went from seeing no people, to so many!

"What do you want to do first?" Christina asks me.

I lean in and say into her ear, "Believe it or not, I've never been to a Casino before." I laugh.

"Drinks it is!" She shouts, dragging me to the bar section.

We sit down on the bar stool and wait for a bartender to approach us. I've never had a drink before, so I'm clueless as to the drinks that exist. Just then a handsome young man with warm brown skin asks for our orders. I just look to CHristina for help.

"I'll have a margarita with salt rim, one green olive. And she will have a Malabui cocktail." She orders.

"Coming right up." He smiles.

"He is hella cute." Christina says as she continues staring him down.

"Goodness girl! We've been here for three minutes!" I laugh.

"Whatever. He is handsome!" She says with no shame.

After a few minutes, our drinks are placed in front of us. When I say beautiful, I mean it! The colors in the glasses are really pretty. Christina's drink is a really nice green, while mine looks like a sunset. They both have a small umbrella on top.

"Try it." She pushes.

I bring the glass up to my lips and take a small sip. My eyes light up. The drink is fruity and smooth. "It's really good." I said to her.

"Yea?" She says drinking from her glass.

- Hour later -

"Let's hit the dance floor!" CHristina says after finishing her third drink. "Charge it to room 312, handsome man!" She slurs dragging me to the dancing bodies.