Memory Lane (VegasPete)

Chapter 1

One fateful dawn, Pete promised himself that he would never set foot in this place again. This big city was once his dream.Moving out of his hometown with his father after his mother passed away, Pete started from the bottom.He went to school with difficulty, his father had no money and did not want to pay his school fees so Pete studied hard to get a scholarship.

It was then that he met Porsche.

Porsche was his "partner in crime" since high school. He was more or less similar to him. His parents died in an accident when he was young, leaving him with his younger brother. Porsche didn't have money to pay both of their school fees so they studied together for a scholarship. Until finally they entered the same university and the same major as well.

It was all like story in the drama except Pete decided to leave.

For good.

The city that had been his entire life, had taken everything away from him. He lost his home, lost his family, lost his friends, lost his scholarship, and lost his lover. He might as well have lost his life, if it wasn't for the owner of the small hand holding his left hand tightly.

"Pa, are we there yet?" the owner of the small hand looked left and right curiously. His eyes marveled as he was not used to seeing so many people at the train station and the place must be bigger than he had imagined.

Pete crouched down to the boy's height and fixed his jacket, "Yes, we're here. It's a very long journey, you must be tired, Venice."

Venice nodded as sign of agreement but then he shook his head in hurry, "No, I'm okay. I'm a big boy!"

Pete chuckled, "Should the big boy remember that he has to cover his mouth when he yawns?"

Venice took his hand off Pete and used both hands to cover his mouth, his eyes twinkling and then giggling to himself.

Pete looked at the boy with affection in his eyes, "It's getting late. Let's go to the hotel and rest."

Venice nodded repeatedly and hook his hand on Pete's left hand again. Pushing a medium-sized suitcase in his right hand, Pete led the boy to the back exit of the train station. The road behind the station was the road to small hotels and small restaurants which were more affordable for Pete.

It was cold autumn night and Pete tried to speed up his steps. So, he stopped in middle way then carried Venice on his hip without saying anything.

"Is this our hotel?" Venice asked, thinking Pete was picking him up because they had already arrived.

"No, honey, we haven't—" Pete stopped in his tracks. He just realized the familiar hotel where they were standing.

The Memory Lane Hotel.

After five years, the hotel had been renovated. It was bigger and grander than Pete remembered, he barely realized it was the same hotel name. It no longer worn out, almost crumbling hotel he knew.

Pete smiled to himself. Even the hotel had moved on.

"Pa..." Venice called him softly.

"Sorry, baby. Our hotel is next door." Pete replied while fixing Venice in his arms, "Let's go."

When Pete was looking for a hotel to book, he only chose the hotels near the train stations that he could afford. He didn't know that his chosen hotel was next door to the hotel he had stayed in before he left the capital before.

It wasn't good memory, in fact, Pete tried to forget about it.

As soon as they entered the room, Pete helped Venice clean himself and put on warm animal pajamas. He watched Venice yawn repeatedly while they were still on the train. This was the first time Pete actually took Venice out of town and he had to get him to the capital which took 4.5 hours by train. Venice was restless on the train and hardly ever rested so it was no wonder he fell asleep right after Pete covered him with the blanket.