Crooked Hearts

10. City Lights

There's a wicked gleam in Aria's eyes that matches the grin she's wearing n her face.

"A party?" I ask, raising my eyebrows at her.

"What Harry? You can't leave Rio without partying with Brazilians."

"But Aria, what if I get noticed? If I get noticed I am so screwed. Management will throw an absolute shitfit." I argue.

But Aria is already making her way down the ladder, so I follow her. "Seems to me Harry, your management will throw a shitfit no matter what happens." She says.

That's true. Even though they spot me right now, or a week from now, they will throw a shitfit. I will have to show up sooner or later, but right now, I don't want to get spotted by anyone. Not even the boys. I want this time to be with Aria and Aria alone. I'll admit, I've been an inconsiderate bastard tonight, but then again, I've never had so much fun in my entire life. Also, I've never been so knackered in my entire life.

It's two-thirty AM in the morning, and the boys and I are supposed to be out of Rio by six, which means I means I have three and a half more hours before I'm supposed to be at my hotel. My energy has been drained out entirely. The concert a couple of hours ago got me tired, but I haven't had the slightest bit of sleep or rest, and the boys and I have to be on the road by six AM, we've also got to record some new music in the next couple of days, so it's going to be one hell of a stressful week.

I yawn out loud, and my body feels like it might collapse on the ground. Though I am feeling a bit warm and fuzzy from the vodka Aria and I finished awhile back, I'm not intoxicated, and I don't plan on it. I want to remember this night.

"I'm not sure if I have the capacity to party anymore Aria." I say in the middle of another yawn.

Aria stops walking and faces me, "What you need my boy, is caffeine." She says. We walk some more and my feet start to hurt like mad.

"I'm serious Aria, my feet hurt. I want to go to bed." I whine.

"Oh, stop behaving like such a five-year-old Harold. Don't worry about your feet, we're taking the trolley."

"The what?"

"The trolley. It's like a small train. Only, it runs on cables instead of tracks..... Well it also runs on tracks but.... Whatever, you get my point."

"Um.... I don't actually.... Is it like a cable car or a train? I'm bloody confused." I say.

"You'll see when we get there."

Before riding on the trolley, we stop by a 24 hour 7 Eleven to go buy Coke. "Caffeine." Aria says as she opens up a can.

"I need this." I say, taking a huge gulp from mine.

Aria laughs, "Hell yeah, you do! We got loads of shit to do tonight, and you need the energy."

The Coke makes me feel a lot more energized. My body now feels a lot less tired, and I'm quite ready to party. To be fair, I've actually stayed up later hours than this. I've stayed in parties till six AM in the morning, sometimes even longer. But on these particular days, I'm all drained of energy due to the fact that the lads and I are now on tour, and working on a new album.

"Hey, isn't the trolley closed by now?" I ask, suddenly aware that this trolley thing is probably closed at this time of night.....or morning.

"Yeah, it is. But I know one of the operators, and he'd gladly take us."

"Oh."

We reach a trolley garage place... where dozens of these small train-like things are parked. "Hey Rufio? You here?" Aria calls.