Where The Lights Are {Sequel to Paradise} {COMPLETED}

Chapter 23

I wake up the next morning, to my phone ringing. I reach over and answer it, "Hello?"

"Hey baby sis, how's life?" Jaxon asks. "Pretty good, Jax. How's college?" I reply. "Good, hard though. You start next year don't you?" He remembers. I nod, "I do. I'm super nervous, but Alan says I can get into whatever school I want, if I try hard enough."

"I agree with him, kid. You're a smart cookie," my brother tells me. I smile, "Thanks Jaxon. I love you."

"Love you too, Mia. Be good," he warns. I giggle, "Always." We talk about new movies we each watched, and our favorite tv shows for about twenty minutes when Joey comes into the room.

"There's breakfast in the lobby, for free!" He informs me, running off. I hang up my phone, and run into Alan's room.

"You're still here," I breathe out. "Of course I am. You okay, Mia?" He asks, racing towards me. "I'm fine, I just figured you'd be downstairs already. Where're the kids?"

"They went with Caleb. Wanna sit with me at breakfast?" He offers. I nod, "Of course." He grins, "I'm glad you agreed, because even if you didn't, I'd force you to."

We walk downstairs, and to the table where all the food is. "A waffle maker?! That's so cool!" I exclaim. "Want a waffle?" Alan questions me. "Of course I do," I reply. He begins operating the waffle iron, whilst I fill our plates with fresh fruit.

Alan gets done with the waffles, and the two of us walk to a quiet booth in the corner of the hotel dining area.

"So my girl, how are you today? Were you good last night?" He asks. I smile, "I had a good night. How 'bout you dad?" He grins, "I'm not your dad." I shrug, "So?"

He places his strong hand on the top of my head, "You're a strange one, kid." I reach up, and pull his hand off of my head, "You're no better, dude."

We finish eating, then regroup upstairs in the room. "What are the plans for today, Mr. Dictionary?" I ask Caleb. Caleb flashes a smile, "I'm sorry, kiddo, but I'm not an itinerary."

"Is Aladdin tonight?!" I ask excitedly. "Yes," Joey says. I clap, "Yay! Can I go tomorrow night too?" Alan wags a finger at me, "Don't push it Mia."

"Please dad?" I fold my hands, and stick out my lip. AJ and Presley giggle. "Mia, he's our daddy not yours," Presley reminds me. "I know sweets, I'm just playing a game."

"Hey sour patch kid, come here," Chad calls. I walk over, and sit on his lap, "Yes?" He takes the hood to my sweater, and pulls it down over my eyes. "There, much better," he states.

I punch him in the arm, "Don't ever do that again." He grins mischievously, and does it again. "That's it!" I exclaim, "I'm not sitting next to you again."

"You're sharing a portion of the room with me," Chad points out. I shake my head, "I'm switching rooms." Chad raises an eyebrow, "With who?" I shrug, "One of these goofballs is bound to switch."

"Mia, nobody's switching rooms," Alan tells me. I cross my arms, "Why not?"

"Because, everybody's happy with their current roommate, except you. Even Chadwick doesn't mind sharing with you," he says. I sigh, "Can't I stay with you?" He shakes his head, "Room's full, babe, sorry."

"I guess you're stuck with me, kid," Chad says, putting me in a headlock. "Alan! Save me!" I exclaim, struggling. Alan laughs, "Sorry sweetheart, but you're trapped."

"Let me go!" I try to run, but I'm trapped in Chad's powerful grip. "I'll always be bigger and stronger," he reminds me. "You don't know that," I retort back. He tightens his grip ever so slightly, and nods, "I do."

A few hours later, after our visits to Central Park, Ellis Island, and The Statue of Liberty, we're at a Subway.

Since there's seven of us, we sit at two four-person tables. Chad's chair is right behind mine. "Hey there buddy," I say, leaning up against his back. He pushes back against me, "Hey pal." His head leans back until it rests on mine. "You're obviously having too much fun sitting there," Caleb says. I nod, "Yes I am."

I lean my head on his back, and just sit there. "I'm resting," I sigh. Chad moves his back, and shakes me from my "sleep". "You meanie," I say. I push my head up against his again, and he does the same. I take my elbow, and push it back into his elbow. This goes on for a few seconds. "Why'd you put those weirdos together?" Joey asks.

"Hey! I'm not weird!" Chad and I exclaim in unison. AJ and Presley giggle. Chad and I continue pushing up against each other. "It's called the push game," I inform Chad. He pushes his head up against mine, and nods, "I'm the push game champion."

I smile, "I don't know why I try." Alan sighs, "Come on children, let's go." We leave the Subway, and go back to the hotel. "Let's try to take a nap, since there's a show tonight," Alan says.

Everybody nods, and I climb into my bed. I fall asleep almost instantly, thinking of how amazing the show's going to be.

~*~

I wake up, what can't be more than forty minutes later. I had a nightmare. I lost Josh and Jaxon too, and I was all alone.

"Chad," my voice cracks, barely audible. Chad is sitting on the other side of the room reading his Bible. By some miracle, he hears me. He comes over and wraps his arms around me. "Please, don't let go," I plead. He pulls me closer, "I promise I won't, princess."

I love how Chad doesn't ask questions, he just holds me. I begin to get sleepy again. So I lay down, with my head on his lap. He gets his fingers twisted in my hair, and sings By Your Side by Tenth Avenue North.

I don't want to go back to sleep, but as Chad's singing, and playing with my hair, I almost drift off. "Chad," my voice cracks on his name..again.

"I'm right here, darling. I promise I'm not going anywhere," he says. "Good. But can you pray for me? I had a bad dream, and I don't want to have another," I inform him. He nods, "Of course I can Mia. Sleep tight."