Waking Up in Vegas

Chapter 5

“In fifty yards, turn right. Thirty minutes until arrival.” The GPS announced. Riker thumped his fingers nervously against the steering wheel. “Thirty minutes until mom beats the crap out of me.” He muttered quietly. Rocky shook his head. “We were all to blame Riker, she’ll beat the crap out of all four of us.” Carly fidgeted anxiously with the wedding band on her finger. “And she certainly won’t be thrilled that Ross’s new WIFE is my age.” Riker pointed out. Carly groaned. “Are you sure there isn’t a way to get all of this taken care of WITHOUT letting mom know?” Ross asked from the backseat. Riker shook his head. “No way man! I’m not even risking it. Mom would kill us if she ever found out. It’s better just to come clean now.”

**

Just over thirty minutes later Riker pulled the SUV into the driveway of a modest-looking house in a small neighborhood on the outskirts of Los Angeles. “We’re here.” He said grimly. Carly stepped out of the car and onto the cobbled driveway. The others slowly got out of the car as well. “My head is still throbbing.” Ross complained. “Well just wait until Stormie starts screaming. I’m sure that’ll make it all better.” Ellington commented sarcastically. Carly desperately wished that she still had Nichole with her; they had stopped by their dorm to drop her off before making their way to the Lynch’s house. Rocky patted Carly’s back reassuringly. “It’s ok Carly, you aren’t the one in trouble.” He reminded her. She nodded as she followed the four boys to the front door. “I know.” She said quietly. Riker unlocked the door and stepped inside. “Riker? You guys are home early.” She heard a female voice speak up from inside. The other three quickly followed Riker into the house. Carly hesitated before stepping in behind them. She saw a middle-aged blonde woman, Stormie she assumed, standing in the living room, along with a blonde girl that appeared to be around her own age. The woman’s pleasantly surprised expression immediately turned to one of complete confusion. “Who is this?” she asked. Riker took a deep breath. “Mom, maybe you’d better sit down.” He said simply. Stormie quickly sat down in the recliner a few feet away from her. “Riker you’re scaring me.” She said, eyeing Carly suspiciously. The four boys and Carly quickly sat down on the couch opposite the recliner. The young blonde girl sat down on the arm of the recliner. Riker ran his fingers through his straight blond hair. “Mom, we didn’t exactly go to Colorado for a ski trip this weekend.” Riker began. She raised an eyebrow. “Oh?” she asked. Rocky and Ross both looked down at their feet. “Well where did you go?” she questioned. Riker looked away awkwardly. “Vegas.” He mumbled. Stormie’s expression immediately changed to one of rage. “WHAT?!” She roared. Carly flinched. “Mom PLEASE don’t freak out-” Riker started. “Freak out?! What do you expect me to do?! Rocky and Ross are underage and you’re telling me you took them to VEGAS?!” She stood up from the recliner, nearly knocking the blonde girl off onto the floor. “That isn’t the worst part.” Rocky said quickly. Stormie turned to glare at him briefly before turning her attention back to Riker. “What could possibly be worse?? Riker Anthony Lynch I put your two younger brothers in your care and you took them to VEGAS! I could understand you and Ellington going. You’re both 21, but Rocky and Ross are still in their teens!! How could you?!” she cried. She turned back to Rocky. “Now what were you saying Rocky?” she asked. Her face was red from screaming. Rocky opened and closed his mouth, clearly unable to find the words to tell his mother that Ross was now married to the strange girl sitting before her on the couch. “Mom while we were…slightly intoxicated last night, I might have…um…gotten married.” Ross finished quietly. Stormie stepped closer. “What?” she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Silent rage was all over her barely-composed expression. Carly braced herself. She recognized the tone that her mother had used all too often with her growing up. Stormie was about to unleash her fury, and she desperately wished that she could be anywhere else. “I…got married.” Ross repeated. Stormie closed her eyes and silently pressed her fingers against her temples. “I’m assuming this is my new daughter-in-law?” She asked quietly, gesturing in Carly’s direction. Carly looked down at her lap. “Yeah.” Ross replied silently. Stormie took a deep breath and closed her eyes once again. “I am going to walk into the kitchen. It would probably be in all of your self-interests if you didn’t follow me.” She turned and silently left the room. Riker buried his face in his hands once she’d left. “I almost wished she would just scream some more and get it over with.” He groaned. Carly quickly stood up. “Where are you going?” Rocky asked. Carly grimaced. “I’m going to talk to my new mother in law.” She replied sarcastically. She followed in the direction their mother had left, past the front door and down a narrow hallway into the brightly lit kitchen. Stormie sat at the table. Her fingertips were still pressed against her temples as she stared down at the tabletop. She looked up when Carly stepped into the room. “I’m sorry that had to be the first impression you got of me.” Stormie commented. Her voice was still just above a whisper. Carly could tell she was barely holding in her rage. She shook her head and laughed lightly. “It’s ok, I understand completely.” Stormie groaned and sat back in her chair. “I can’t believe Riker took them to Vegas. I thought he knew better.” She said. Disappointment was evident in her voice. Carly crossed the room and sat down across from her at the table. They sat in silence for a few minutes. “So what’s your name sweetheart?” Stormie asked finally. “Carly.” She replied, smiling hopefully. Stormie smiled slightly in return. “And how did you get into Vegas?” she asked pointedly. Carly looked sheepishly down at her hands. “With my ID.” She replied quietly. Stormie sighed. “Do I even want to know how old you are?” she asked, smiling wryly. Carly looked back up. “I’m only 21. My birthday was a few months ago, back in April. She replied. Stormie breathed an obvious sigh of relief. “Oh thank God.” She said loudly. Carly giggled. They sat in silence for a few more moments. “So…what are we going to do? Clearly Ross and I aren’t going to stay married.” Carly commented. Stormie nodded. “Well given the circumstances, it won’t be difficult for you two to get an annulment. I’ll just have to find a judge or lawyer or whatever is necessary.” She grimaced. “I really don’t want to know the answer to this question but…did you and Ross…” she trailed off hesitantly. Carly flushed a bright shade of red. “Truthfully I don’t know. We can’t really remember much about last night. But the evidence kind of points to ‘no’. We both woke up with clothes on.” Stormie nodded again. She looked slightly relieved. “Well for the purposes of the annulment, we’re going to assume you didn’t. It’s much easier to get an annulment granted if the couple hasn’t consummated the marriage.” Carly flushed again. Although she was sure she would stay friends with the Lynch family after this, she couldn’t wait to have the whole ‘drunken-Vegas-marriage’ behind her for good. “OH MY GOD.” Rocky’s voice came echoing into the kitchen from the living room. He and Ellington both came running into the kitchen moments later. “So we figured out how Ell and I exchanged clothes.” He said, grimacing. He lifted up his shirt to reveal a small puzzle piece tattooed on his chest. “What the heck…” Stormie started. Ellington lifted up his shirt as well. Carly clamped her hand over her mouth. He had a puzzle piece tattooed on his chest also, and his fit perfectly with Rocky’s. She could barely contain her laughter. “This isn’t funny!” Rocky cried. Ellington shrugged. “Best friend tattoos, it’s not so bad.” He said, attempting to make light of the situation. Rocky stared at him incredulously. “Two freaking puzzle pieces that fit together?! Dude…that’s weird. I bet it was your idea.” He accused. Ellington rolled his eyes. “Chill. We can always get them covered up. No big deal.” Carly smiled smugly. “Not so funny when it’s you, is it Rocky?” she asked amusedly. He stuck his tongue out at her playfully. Stormie just shook her head; a smile had begun to break out across her face. “What am I going to do with you guys?” she asked tiredly. Rocky smiled widely. “Love us? Feed us?” he suggested hopefully. She rolled her eyes and stood up. “I was just about to start dinner before you boys got back. I wasn’t expecting you until tomorrow night so I only got enough for Ryland, Rydel, myself, and your father. I think it’ll be easier if we just go out somewhere tonight, let me go call your dad and see where he wants to eat.” She walked across the kitchen towards the staircase. She turned around at the foot of the stairs and pointed at Rocky and Ellington. “And you boys still aren’t off the hook!” she scolded before turning and walking up the stairs. Rocky turned back to look at Carly. “That actually went a lot better than I thought it would.” He said, thoroughly surprised. Carly laughed lightly. “Yeah but you still have to tell your dad.” She reminded him. Both he and Ellington groaned. Carly laughed again and walked past them towards the living room. “Might want to keep the tattoos on the down-low around him; something tells me he won’t be as understanding about this situation as your mom is.” She called over her shoulder.