My Time with a Future Music Star

Atlantic City

It was May of 2010 and Ben received a phone call from Lizzy informing him that her new album was released in January. Lizzy also asked if Ben wanted to accompany Lizzy and her tour mates on her tours. They met at North Bergen again and used a small van with Blake as the driver. It was a small van, but it accompanied the whole crew. "I'm glad you came!", Lizzy smiled. "Me too.", said Ben, "My wish to see you in concert is being granted." "Yeah", Lizzy acknowledged. Blake wasn't the only tour mate with Lizzy, there was a drummer named Roger, who was a skinny guy and Jack with a keyboard wearing glasses. Ben was greeted by the three tour mates. "How did you meet Lizzy?", Roger asked. "It was awhile back.", Ben replied, "I told her I was supposed to see her." "We've been with Lizzy ever since we recorded Lizzy's album with her." Lizzy gave Ben a CD and told him to keep it. "Lana Del Ray aka Lizzy Grant.", Ben read the CD. "Yeah. Most of the songs we listened to that one time should be on there.", Lizzy stated. "They are", Ben said, "I still like Yayo, Brite Lites, Mermaid Motel, and Smarty." "Yayo was the song I was singing in The M Bar when you first saw me.", Lizzy reminded. "Yeah", Ben acknowledged, "Where are we going first?". "Some place near New Jersey", answered Blake, "Atlantic City." "Never been there.", Blake stated. "It's your lucky day", Lizzy smiled. "Will we have time to go to a few places there? Like the boardwalk?", Ben asked. "We can.", Lizzy answered, "We perform at night, so we're night owls." "We should be there in 4 hours", Blake informed, "And we don't perform until tomorrow night." Ben was really looking forward to going to Atlantic City with Lizzy and her tour mates.

As they arrived in Atlantic City, they checked into the Borgata. They got unpacked and Ben and Lizzy decided to head into town.

It was evening when Ben and Lizzy were walking downtown. They saw different neon lights, artwork, Casinos, and lights. They resembled Las Vegas. "I've been to Las Vegas", Ben stated. "Oh yeah?", Lizzy asked. "It's bigger and greater than Atlantic City.", Ben stated again. "This is like the poor man's Vegas." Ben and Lizzy walked until they saw something that looked familiar to them. "Can you picture whoever owns that place as our next president?", asked Ben looking at the Trump Taj Mahal. "Hell no!", Lizzy answered in disgust, "I wouldn't trust him if he gave out a million dollars." What about a hundred-dollar bill?", Ben asked jokingly. "Shut up.", Lizzy replied happily as they walked away from the Taj Mahal. They proceeded to walk to the boardwalk. "Reminds me of Coney Island", Lizzy stated. "Would love to go there too.", Ben said. "We'll be touring in NYC too.", Lizzy explained, "In a couple of days." "I once did a commercial for a brand of shoes", she continued. "At a beach in New York. I was born in New York. Lake Placid's the city."

Ben and Lizzy looked around the boardwalk looking at the sights, shacks, and gift shops. They got some stuff from the shops themselves. They decided to go down to the beach. "You know what I want to do sometimes?", Lizzy asked. "Get high by the beach?", Ben asked. "Yes", Lizzy replied, "You're a mind reader." "Just a hunch", Ben said. The two looked at the waves and water for a few minutes. Lizzy proceeded to lay in the sand and waves for Ben to join her. The two laid on the sand and looked at the sky. "May I ask you a question?", asked Ben. "Sure", Lizzy replied. "When you do tours and make more music, will you be known as Lizzy or Lana Del Ray from now on?", Ben asked. "Probably Lana Del Ray", Lizzy answered. "I think that would be perfect", Ben said. "Really? I like that.", Lizzy said, "Next time I have a new album, that'll be my new name." Ben and Lizzy held hands as they watched the sky and waves.

The next morning, they realized they overslept and got as much sand as they could off their head and clothes. "We got to get back to the hotel!", Lizzy exclaimed as she and Ben raced to the hotel. "There you two are!", Blake stated, "Get in. You need to get changed and we got soundchecks and rehearsals to do." Ben and Lizzy got in the truck and explained to Blake that they were in town and fell asleep on the beach. As Lizzy and Ben got back to the hotel, Lizzy told Ben that it was nice of him to tag along with her and thanked him for listening to her. She kissed him and closed her hotel door to get ready.

That night, Lizzy and her tour mates started performing. Ben found out that Blake was playing the guitar instead of Lizzy. "That would be overdoing it", Ben thought. After the concert, Lizzy and her tour mates were packing up their instruments to go back to the hotel. Ben helped too and decided to become their stagehand. "What did you think?", Lizzy asked. "Wonderful", Ben replied, "I was blown away." "Thanks", Lizzy smiled. As they went outside, however, they found out their van was stolen. "Damn it!", Lizzy yelled, "How are we supposed to get to New York City now?" "We could always get a new van.", Ben replied. "Sure, there's one nearby.", Blake said sarcastically. "They actually are", Jack reassured, "They're not opened until tomorrow though." "We don't even have enough." "Yeah we do", Ben said looking at a sign. The sign said: "Poker tournament tonight. $1,000,000 plus a new RV." "I say we trust Ben", Jack said. "Don't let us down", Roger said. Ben looked at Lizzy: "It's for 'Lana Del Ray' and Company."

Ben proceeded into the Poker room where the tournament was taking place. There were crowds coming to see the said tournament. The announcer came into the room. "Welcome to the Poker Tournament at the Borgata. Winner takes home $1,000,000 and gets a giant suite for the night! Now, LET'S PLAY SOME POKER!"

Lizzy and her tour mates spectated as Ben drew some cards. The tournament was like a life or death situation. Ben had to do what it took for Lizzy and her tour mates to continue with the tour. Ben was their stagehand, after all. Ben drew some cards and successfully won by using Royal flushes. Lizzy was relieved. A few hours passed, and Ben was a finalist in the tournament. "I must do it for Lana and her future!", Ben thought. "Alright", began the dealer seated between Ben and his opponent, "Let's see those cards!" The opponent flipped his cards over. He had a Queen, Ace, a 6, and a 3. "Let's see your cards, sir!", the dealer demanded to Ben. Ben flipped the four cards one by one. An Ace, An Ace, and An Ace. "Come on, Ben!", Lizzy whispered nervously. Ben hesitated to flip the fourth card over as he was scared, he'll lose. He didn't want to let Lizzy down. He was trembling like a child being sent to the principal's office. "Your fourth card, sir!", the dealer demanded again. Ben looked at his opponent, his heart was racing. Ben closed his eyes as he flipped his last card. It was an Ace! Ben won! "The winner of tonight's poker tournament is!", the announcer began, "Ben Thompson of Austin, Texas!" Lizzy was screaming for joy. "You did it!", Jack exclaimed. "Sorry I doubted you, Buddy", Blake said. Lizzy hugged and kissed Ben. "We got the money, the RV and the suite.", Ben stated, "Let's stay one more night".

They all stayed in a nicer room than what they were staying at previously. Lizzy and her tour mates were celebrating with Ben and his victory. "Money is the anthem of success!", Lizzy stated. "That should be in your next album.", Ben said. "It'll be called 'National Anthem'!", Lizzy said. "So, Blake is your guitarist?", Ben asked. "Yeah", Lizzy responded, "It would be redundant if we both played the guitar. I still have my guitar though. Hey, thanks for the money." Lizzy kissed Ben. "I'll split it with each of you all", Ben said. As they all celebrated, they got tired and went to sleep.

The next morning, Ben and the tour mates packed their stuff and checked out of the hotel. They were all hungover from their "celebration" except for Lizzy. "Well, Mr. Millionaire. Mr. Million Dollar Man", she said, "Let's pack up the RV and get the hell out of Dodge." "You must be the guy that one all that dough last night.", said a man behind him. The man wore a suit, blonde hair, and his face resembled a Cheeto color. Ben knew the man was the same owner of the Taj Mahal, "This is the first step at making our country great again.", the man continued, "Borgata today, America tomorrow!" As the man patted him on the back and left. Lizzy rolled her eyes in disapproval. "Hey", Ben began as he turned to Lizzy, "At least you're not drunk from last nights shenanigans." "Exactly", Lizzy said, "Ever since I went to that boarding school, I haven't tasted a drop ever again." "Lucky you!", Jack went on. "Not to mention champagne, throwing money around and Lizzy acting like a princess with her sunglasses and kissing the Millionaire goodnight." Lizzy hit Roger on the head. "Queen!", Lizzy corrected, "Queen of New York City, that is! Which is where we're going next and if we're done arguing and recapping last night."

Ben and the rest of the crew hopped onto the RV. "Wow!", Lizzy said, "It's a mobile home on wheels!" The RV also had a TV, a table, a latrine, two couches, and a bedroom for two people. "Good thing you won, Ben!", Blake said. "Lot's of room!", Roger and Jack said. "Dibs on the bedroom!", Ben and Lizzy shouted together. "You guys get all the fun and I get all the driving.", Blake complained. Ben and Lizzy just on the bed. Ben just went to sleep being hungover while Lizzy laid next to him.