Chase The Skies

Chapter 5

Las Vegas. The world of gambling and entertainment. You could say I was a Vegas Virgin because I'd never been here before. The lights lit up the dark night and blinded my eyes. The most lights I'd ever seen before this were on the family christmas tree.

There were people everywhere, some going fast having somewhere more important to be, others going slow being perfectly content with where they were, and others not moving at all because they didn't want to let go of the place they were.

We were moving fast. Maggie pulling my hand and coaxing me to keep going, claiming we were almost there.

"Love! Look!" She pointed excitedly at a casino, when I looked up the lights burned and I couldn't actually read the sign.

As we walked in people gave funny looks and I knew it was my attire. As I took my hat off Maggie turned to me with a confused look that creased her forehead into an adorable rumple. "Why'd you take your hat off?"

Her hand gestured to my head and I noticed the champaign flute in her hand, when did she get that? "It's not exactly appropriate in this place to be wearing a cowboy hat."

She frowned and then giggled like a little girl. She leaned forward and placed her weight on my body, I welcomed her soft curves against my hard ones. "You look so sexy in it though. Would you please put it on for me?"

And I was hypnotized to put it back on. Once it was on my head she kisses my cheek, with a loud, over-exaggerated smacking sound of her lips. she dragged her lips across my cheek and too my ear.

Her hot breath fanning my face as she spoke, "Let's go win some money."

One moment her scent was all around me, and the next she was racing through the crowd.

That's how it went that night. Poker, gambling, money won and money lost.

By the end of the night I was drunk, while most of it is foggy I can tell you what I can remember.

I had finally gotten a taste of Maggie, and I don't think I'll ever be the same again. I loved her and there was no more rationalizing it.

Then comes the morning after. The part everyone hates. Sure I hated the headaches and the awkward talk but I would have dealt with it if she would have stayed.

I checked the bathroom, the hallway, stairwells, lobby, and even asked the front desk if they'd seen her leave. All came to a dead end.

Walking back into the room I picked up the condom wrappers off the floor and threw them out. Staring at the garbage can, I kicked it. I wasn't usually an angry guy, but the fact that she'd left me for a second time made me feel like crap.

I kept going through last night. Had I done something she didn't want? No. Had I pushed her too far? No. It didn't make sense.

Running my hands through my hair I realized that staying here wasn't going to solve anything. Packing my stuff I checked out and bought the first bus ticket available. This was probably irrational and stupid but I didn't care.

I loaded on the bus and checked all the seats for Maggie. Maybe we were on the same bus just like last time. I'd let her play my harmonica if she wanted. I'd tell her stories about myself because she hated talking about herself. I'd wear my hat 24/7 if she wanted me too. I didn't care what I had to do.

My chest constricted with the knowledge that I may never be able to make this right, I may never see her again. Last time she left she'd taken a small part of my heart, this time she took more.

Did I want to find her again? What if she left and took my whole heart with her. Of course I wanted to find her again. Feeling anything, even pain would be better than going the rest of my life not feeling anything.

My mom always said that if it's meant to be it will happen, but how am I expected not to do anything. I had to do something. The question was, what?

The moment I got off the bus I went to the nearest pay phone. It wasn't too phone Maggie because, well, she didn't have a phone. It was for someone else.

I dialed the number and it began to ring. Someone picked up and a female voice spoke, "Hello?"

"Mom?" I swallowed the lump in my throat. So, call me a momma's boy. I know I am one. But I needed help and she'd help me.

"Chase? Jeb! Jeb, it's Chase." She yelled to my Dad who then picked up another line.

"Chase, where are you?" He said into the phone.

"I'm fine, I'm safe, but I need help."

"What's wrong? are you sick?" Mom asked in a worried voice.

"Are you hurt?" Dad asked.

I laughed, "No, I think I'm in love with this girl." I started.

Mom being mom cut in, "A girl? Really? Is she nice? Is she pretty?"

"Rudy, let the boy speak."

"So, anyways she kind of left me and I don't know where she is?"

"Chase Sebastian Skies! What did you do?" Mom demanded.

"Why do you assume I did something?"

"Chase, everything's always the mans fault. Take it from me for being married for 25 years." Dad said and I could picture Moms fuming face.

"Jebediah, I can't believe you'd say that."

Dad was about to start up again, but I cut him off, "This is about me and my potential love life here, not you."

They both stayed quiet before mom spoke softly, "You really think this girl's it for you?"

"My one and only."

"Then, you'll figure it out Chase-y."

That was her great advice? I wasted a whole dollar on this?

"That's it?"

"Well, maybe you could start by finding her first." Dad offered and I snorted.

I checked my time left and saw that I had 20 seconds. "Times running out." I said, this sent them into parent overdrive.

"Stay safe."

"Wear sunscreen."

"Get 8 hours of sleep."

"Be polite."

"No elbows on the table."

"Eat some greens."

"5, 4." I started to count down.

"Come home with the girl soon."

"3, 2."

"Love y-" It cut off and I was left with the dial tone.

Those could have been the last thing they said to me and they told me no elbows on the table? I guess I had a long travel ahead of me, but she was worth it.