LA to The Bay

Chapter 39: Las Vegas to Yosemite (1)

Tour Bus, Las Vegas to Yosemite National Park

It's already sweltering as I open the door and lug my suitcases across the motel car park to the bus. I've barely slept since I got in last night at 2.30am and here I am only four short hours later, the drama of the night quickly replaced by the heat of the rapidly rising sun and the anticipation of our impending departure from Las Vegas.

Despite having been here for 48 hours and having walked the length of the strip, I feel like I've barely seen the place, although I'm beginning to wonder if there actually is anything here beyond the glossy façade, or maybe it's just me who is missing the point as usual?

As people begin to congregate with their luggage I hear laughter coming from the far edge of the group. Who can possibly be laughing at this time in the morning, especially when we've all had so little sleep?

I look over the see Louis and Harry rolling about on the tarmac together. They are both laughing hysterically; Marty, Juno and Lottie are each staggering over the human ball they have created on the floor, and they are also faux crying with laughter, so much so that they are clasping between their thighs, obviously mimicking that they are going to wet themselves for it is so funny. Except no one else is in on the joke.

I realise that both boys hair is disheveled, sticking up in all directions like they've been electrocuted. They're also wearing the same clothes as last night. Wait, so are the girls, they're still in their party frocks. They've not been home yet; because they've been out partying all night and by the looks of them are still flying high on the kites of one too many cocktails.

'You lot, go get changed and get your stuff now, otherwise the coach leaves without you.' I'm shocked as Leah speaks sternly at them, like a lion who's cubs are being threatened, or in her case her tight schedule. 'We are not late on my watch.' She shouts again.

I take my seat on the bus shaken, but I'm straining my neck desperate to see what Louis and Harry are up to now, as they still look to be messing about whilst Leah drags them by their elbows towards their room.

I study the back of the seat in front of me stunned. I can't believe what I just saw. Have they really been out all night and are still steaming? Plus, how come Harry was with them, since it was 2.30am when he dropped me off at my room? He must have gone back to find them and carried on drinking. Despite kissing me and telling me that he liked me, as soon as I was deposited of he went back to find more girls to party with. God I was so right to tell him to stuff it.

I can feel my cough rising. It's out of anger, it has to be, because I am certainly not about to allow myself to have a coughing fit due to any feelings of hurt or rejection. Oh no, in fact I don't even know why I'm angry, Harry can do what he wants, plus what did I think, that he genuinely meant it when he told me that he liked me? He clearly just saw me as another girl to conquer in the group. I better warn Ana because he'll no doubt be moving on to her next.

It's thirty minutes until the five of them finally arrive on the bus having at least changed their clothes but still baring the same smirk between them. Leah is a better person than I am for if it was up to me then I'd just have left them to it, damn the lot of them, they can make their own way to Yosemite, but they'd probably be more than happy staying in Vegas anyway, that way they can carry on their orgy without interference.

As we finally depart the coach is silent, with people either sleeping or looking frozen, Las Vegas having stunned the life out of them. I close my eyes and Cheryl Crow's Leaving Last Vegas plays in my ears, an apt choice from Leah on the sound system for once.

'I'm leaving Las Vegas...and I won't be back...no no I won't be back, not this time.'

The final words of the song linger and I can't help but feel them to be true.

As the coach hums on to the freeway it's rhythm begins to lull me to sleep, and my mind begins to replay each of the three kisses I had experienced last night. I instantly block the pain of my conversation with Louis, don't even replay it Niamh, don't torture yourself and quickly move on to Tom, but damn it, now I'm feeling nauseous at the memory. It had seemed a good idea at the time but thinking about it now, how wet it was and the way his tongue was going like an snake on a mission, plus that God damn chain necklace, stop it Niamh, you're going to make yourself sick. And finally Harry. I allow myself to savour the warm feeling that thinking about the kiss with him is generating. How he had been so gentle, but not instinctively, I could sense that it was restrained.

'Duncan, do you mind if I sit with Niamh?' A rasping voice wakes me and it takes me a few seconds to process that it is Harry. Although he's changed in to a white t-shirt and his usual board shorts his hair is still flying about in all directions like a crow's nest on speed.

'Yes he does mind.' I glare at him, the need to slap him having quickly returned.

'No he doesn't, do you mate?' I can't believe that Harry is pulling Duncan up from his seat before the poor guy even has a chance to answer. 'You go sit with your lovely girlfriend over there, why is she sitting on her own now?' Harry gestures for Duncan to go sit with Ana. As much as I don't want Harry to sit with me I had wondered why Duncan hadn't started sitting with Ana since they are together the rest of the time anyway?

'So did you have fun last night?' Harry nudges me with his elbow as he falls down on to the now vacant seat next to me. He is grinning, even more than normal, and staring at me in a way that suggests he is about to burst out laughing. I study his eyes trying to assess his motives and note that his pupils are so large that his bluey green irises are barely visible.

'Are you still drunk?' I scoff at him.

'Shhh.' He slumps down in the seat and lets out a snort of laughter. 'Of course I'm not.' There is a moments silence as I refuse to indulge him and he considers what to say next. 'Please don't tell anyone, okay?' He sits up straight, now suddenly serious and I can't tell if he is asking me not to tell anyone that he is still drunk or that he kissed me last night. 'You're so grumpy.' He pouts as I refuse to answer him, and he slumps down again, now leaning in to me and wrapping his arms around my waist.

'Get off me, you idiot.' I press the palm of my hand up against his face to try and move him from my chest, but it is no use, he has fallen asleep.

Authors note: I uploaded Leaving Las Vegas by Sheryl Crow in case you never heard it before.