Welcome to Our Not So Fabulous Las Vegas! (experimental)

Taxi Ride

When they arrive/day 1

It was a nice thing to come all the way over here. Matters were becoming too tense, at least for Rafal. He couldn't say the same thing about Rhian, because he didn't know anything

Even if it was insufferably hot.

111 degrees Fahrenheit?

Rafal would die here.

He was about to fall asleep again because he just got here at 12 AM and Rhian had insisted on waking him up at 6 AM so they could sightsee.

Always moving. Never resting, he thought begrudgingly of his brother as he leaned his head back on the seat. At least they were using Uber, otherwise Rafal could not focus on the road.

He looked at his phone. She wasn't picking up and he needed to know what was going on over there.

"Oh for God's sake Rafal," Rhian hissed, "You are in a different time zone now. Hours behind. I'm sure they are busy with lunch. Or– maybe something else. Who is it, anyway? James or–"

"None of your business. Where are we going anyway?"

"Shopping. I hear there's nice stores around here. I think we should check out the Wynn and Encore!"

"Aren't you supposed to have a budget? Money for Evelyn?"

Rhian shrugged and laughed it off.

"I was being serious, Rhian. If you get behind on that, you being in the limelight won't save you."

"Wait! We have a show on Saturday! We definitely need to find something special."

Rafal's pursed his lips, trying to remain calm, especially as his brother was talking too loud and Rafal didn't want the driver to hear more than she was supposed to.

"Did you just change the topic?"

"I didn't want to talk about it, so yes, I changed. I forgot Evelyn even existed." Rhian laughed again, though this time he looked more nervous. "We have money from the tickets."

"Yes... and part of that goes to me and my children."

"Doesn't your wife work? You're all the way in Las Vegas and they are far out east. Have her feed them."

"Yeah, about that–"

"And I find it strange how lately, you've been running out of money. So I know you're spending it on something, and you can't blame me for anything. I never took you to be a hypocrite of all things, Rafal."

Rhian's tone was still jovial and happy, but it was reaching a point where what he meant to convey was anything but. Rhian ran the show, he wrote the songs, and he wasn't about to be reprimanded by his uptight brother.

And Rafal wasn't sure if he wanted Rhian to know what was really going on, either.