blue (book one) - h.s. ✔️ watty's 2019

chapter 37 - a viva Las Vegas!

"Welcome to Las Vegas, Nevada. We hope you enjoy your stay and wish you all excitement on your vacations! Thank you for flying American and don't forget to claim your flight awards for those of you who are Aadvantage members," the bubbly flight attendant finishes. I look around to see groups of fliers starting to rise slowly one by one before looking down at the small angel lying on my shoulder

Parker has been out for the majority of the trip. And I mean that in the most literal sense possible. How can such a tiny human require so much sleep?

His slightly opened mouth has caused him to slobber some and it's actually quite adorable. Taking out my phone I snap a quick shot and slide it back into my pants pocket before he starts to wake up. If he knew about the small collection of embarrassing images taking over the space on my phone, he'd probably kill me.

Disoriented he begins blinking his eyes, his long eyelashes fluttering slowly.

He's quite beautiful.

"Hey there," I say softly and patiently wait for him to regain a sense of awareness.

"Are we in Vegas already?"

I hum a response, slowly lifting him off of me and back on to the pillow I requested for him earlier in the flight. He obliges reluctantly, causing me to smile slightly as I reach above and below to grab our bags.

"THE RENTAL SHOULD be somewhere over here," I say guiding the way. It is recordly hot in the lively city as we navigate the busy airport, searching for a black car. Though he's carrying next to nothing, Parker's struggling to keep up with me raising my anxiety. I've always had this slight issue with people I'm entrusted to keep safe straying too far away from me. It's been that way since Gem.

"So, what do you have planned?" Parker's voice chimes in brightly from behind me, as the car comes into sight. I don't respond for a while, not because I'm being rude, but because it's much too loud around us for me to not strain myself yelling a reply that'll probably take multiple times for him to hear. He seems aware of this, as he doesn't push it and instead helps me to open the trunk.

"I have a lot planned for us. Just be ready to have some fun," I finally say once we are driving out of the crowded airport. There's a swarm of incapable drivers around that irritate me beyond reason. Seriously, who gave these people their licenses?

I look down quickly and can't even remember when I took Parker's hand in mine or if he took mine in his. Oddly enough, I don't know nor do I care. This feels right.

With my other hand gripping the wheel tightly I hum lightly to the Nationals song playing in the background genuinely happy. 

Oh, before I forget. . .

"Hey Park," I start, looking over at him.

His eyes are trained on the game playing on his phone as he mumbles a reply. His pink tongue is slipping out slightly as he maneuvers through the game. I've never seen him so focused - well, not including his school work.

Nervously, I begin unsure of how he'll take the news.

"Well, as you know, I don't have the most money," I say glancing over at him multiple times. He still doesn't seem invested in what I have to say, but it doesn't really irritate me. I'm hoping that this distraction, like a cushion, eases the blow of the news.

"Sure," he says still not paying much attention to me. Parker is usually never like this. He's always really attentive and considerate of others and of what they have to say. This is unlike him.

What is he playing?

Then, the old-time PAC-Man game chime goes off immediately answering my question.

Figures.

"And so," I continue a bit more confident in my delivery. He'll find out soon. It's best he hears it from me than from anyone else.

"I had to do. . . something out of the ordinary to sort of fund this whole trip."

LAST NIGHT

"Hello, Mr. Drue," I start into the speaker. The palms of my hands are sweating profusely over his phone. The friction between my hand and the phone is so stick now I have to switch the call to speaker to avoid damaging the small boy's phone.

"I never imagined our first time meeting would be over phone, sir." His voice is low and intimidating when he responds. The grogginess of his voice makes me suddenly conscious of the time of day. Checking my watch, I see that it is well passed midnight. I feel terrible for waking him at such an hour.

"Oh yea. Sorry, Harry Styles. I'm, err, um a friend of your sons."

A low mumble from a female voice in the background voices something in audible before he speaks again, his words harsh.

"Yes, yes. The dumbass that ended up in jail, sir."

This is torture.

PRESENT DAY

"Ha-ha. It's not that funny," I say smiling at Park.

This was not how I was expecting him to take the information. His laugh is gorgeous on my ears. It's probably the best sound I have ever heard; he's honestly so chill.

"Sorry, I just. I can't," he continues laughing.

Rolling my eyes, I focus on the road feeling lighter after confessing that I asked his parents for money. Like Parker, his parents are incredibly generous and loving - even to a bastard like myself. His dad was very reluctant before giving in to his mum. In the middle of our conversation, she pulled him away from the phone speaking remarkably fast - so that I couldn't comprehend -, and when he got back on, he was much more in to the idea. I wonder what she said to him.

"You done?"

"I'm sorry," he starts, trying to catch his breath.

"It's just I'm pretty sure my dad hates you. I figured I'd have more time to change his mind before you met him," he admits calming down.

"Yea, me too. Not exactly what I had in mind when meeting him for the first time," I say awkwardly running a hand through my hair.

I need a haircut.

"It's fine though, really. Thanks for telling me," he says focusing in on his game again. The PAC-MAN audio sounds loudly through the car before I remember one important part of the deal.

"I'm surprised they loaned you money without wanting you to do something in return. That's very unlike them. They are sure to exhaust every way imaginable to get me to commiting to something. It's surprising they didn't use you."

Well. . .

"There's something else. . ," I begin. My tone must've thrown him off, because he gives me his attention immediately, pausing the yellow character.

"We kind of have to attend this sort of Met Gala or something,"

It's black tie," I finish, adding in the small detail.