Elvis on the Titanic

Chapter 17 - Finale

My eyes fluttered open to see sunlight and a white ceiling. I blinked several times before my vision adjusted. I also saw the light fixture.

My head pounded like it never had before, and I winced at the pain of it. A little moan of anguish escaped my lips as I lay there, my whole body feeling like pudding.

Was all that a dream?

I turned my head and found that I wasn't in my bed, but on the sofa in the living room to my rented home in LA. I wore my suit as well. I slept in my suit?

Oh wait. I passed out.

I put a hand to my head and winced again at the pain in my left temple. It was early in the morning, due to the yellow light coming into the room. Or it could be evening. I really wasn't sure.

The sound of a door opening somewhere filled the room, as well as the door shutting. A man walked into my spacious living room. The Colonel. He stopped as soon as he saw me, but then came up to me, hands on his hips and cigar in his mouth. He had on is trusty tan fedora hat and matching suit.

"Hey, you're finally awake. You gave us all quite the scare."

I blinked several times. "Sorry... I had quite the dream."

He said nothing to that. "You feeling alright? We don't have to go to the hospital?"

"Nah, I think I'm fine."

"Good. Now we have to go. We're running late. Go and get ready."

"Where are we goin' again?" I asked as I sat up, my head aching a bit. "Ow, my head..."

He sat next to me on the sofa. "You don't remember?"

"I passed out, remember? And that dream I had was really realistic. I don't even know what day it is, let alone where we're goin'."

His expression turned to concern. "You sure you don't need to go to the hispital?"

I didn't want to answer truthfully. "So, where did I pass out?"

"You passed out just outside last night after you stepped out of the car, and me and the boys brought you in. You were snoring, so we left you here. You were asleep all night."

I really was brought in.

"And I'm glad that you're better," he continued. "And to answer your question, today, you have that press conference for the film, and then you have a fan meet after that. If we don't leave now, we'll be late for the conference." He eyed me. "You really don't look good, Elvis. I'm taking you to the hospital."

I didn't want people to make a big deal about me being sick. "No, no. But... do I have'ta go to the conference? Can I just stay here? I really don't feel so good..."

I put a hand to my head, and the pain of it made my stomach bubble. I suddenly felt sick. The Colonel patted a hand on my shoulder. "Yeah, I can reschedule. You look pretty pale."

"This press conference is really important, isn't, though? I can take a couple of Aspirin and a seltzer."

He put up his hands in defeat. "Okay, okay. Suit yourself. But if you pass out again, or yak, it's on to the hospital."

He was about as stubborn as me. "Okay, okay, fine. What time is it?"

"It's a little after seven."

"In the mornin'?"

"Yeah." He chucked. "Wow, you're really out of it."

"Yeah, I am." I got up and went to the bathroom and looked at myself in the mirror. I was pale, for sure, and I had on the same suit I left 1912 in, and my hair was slicked into place, regardless of sleeping for the whole night... if that was what I was doing all night. "That had to be a dream..."