will you be mine

26

"Ah Paris" dad says as he points at the Eiffel tower viewing deck as we pass.

I groan "will i ever live that down"

"i still don't understand how they let you get a tattoo when you were that drunk" 

"i wasnt that drunk"

"im in Paris " Dad imitates me, with flailing arms and slurred speech.

"at least she wasnt that drunk that she shared a needle" mum adds giving Ark a knowing look.

He holds his hands up in defeat "i know i know, i learnt my lesson"

"how long has it been since you added to the Ark" mum asks. I laugh, i still remember when i explained to my parents why his legs were covered in animals, my dad had called Ark a moron.

"last night" Hillary jokes.

"no actually its been 2 years, when i had this" he points to the tattoo of my name over his eyebrow.

"what were you thinking" mum asks.

"i like it" he says simply.

"Barry told me that you have ink" Ark says turning the attention off him.

"Barry" mums eyes widen, she slaps dads arm. 

"you have a tattoo" my sisters and i say in unison.

"where " Ethan asks

"i dont want to know" June adds quickly.

"i was a stupid young girl when i had it done, i regretted it immediately that's why i never told you girls"

Mum pulls down the waistband of her shorts and we all gasp. Sitting just above her hip is a face but i cant make out who it is.

We all move our head and try to figure out who the person is, dad smirks. I can tell that hes dying to put us out of our misery and tell us.

"Elton John" dad blurts out earning him a scowl from mum.

Everyone in the mini bus starts to laugh.

"Elton john doesnt have a moustache" June muses.

"the artist may have over shaded that area"

"How about we get it covered while were here, i know a few people that would squeeze you in" Ark offers.

"not Stuart" he adds quickly.

"why not, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas"

...............................................................................

Arks home is just 30 minutes from downtown Vegas, its very modern and it feels like him. He must have had an input on the design, its so unlike his old home in Calabasas. The house is open plan, everything is simple and stylish. Its a single story home with large gardens and a tranquil looking pool.

Dad whistles with appreciation as he walks around, everyone is impressed by the mansion. Preparations for the party are all already underway as we arrive, Arks personal objects and collectables have been removed. Bars have been set up by the pool and the kitchen island has been repurposed as a bar. Ark had told me the bars were goig to be self serve so the only staff he had hired were the cleaners who would be attempting to bring his home back to its original state and the party planner who had arranged the food and drink to be delivered and set up.

"i want everyone to let loose and ot have to worry about stories getting out from hired staff" Ark comments.

"its beautiful, how often are you here" mum asks

"i spend my time equally between here and LA"

"if i lived here i would never leave"

"it does get harder every time"

Ark takes my hand and takes me to his room to unpack, my family are staying in a rented home just 5 minutes away but he wants us to stay in his home. 

"did you pack the Pokémon undies" he jokes as he empties my case on the bed.

It had taken me over an hour to pack my case so i give him a look , he just laughs at me. He proceeds to route through my clothes, he nods with appreciation as he holds a small black bikini in his hand.

"should we go swimming now"

i smack his arm and continue to unpack, ark takes is weekend bag and empties it in the top drawer of his dresser.

"hey, what happened to your organised closet"

"oh that was the maids, i cant be arsed with it"

I sigh "ill un pack for you"

Ark tries to argue but knows i wont back down so he starts to hang up his clothes and organise them. He moans and groans, he makes it very obvious its a chore he would rather not do. Arks closet makes me smile its a mix of black, white and grey as mine is full of pastel colours. When we had dated previously i had worn darker clothes as i thought i needed to dress to fit in with Ark and his friends but now im much more comfortable in my own skin so i wear my own style regardless.

"are my family staying at the hire house because of the rues", i had been thinking about it all day. There were enough rooms for everyone to have stayed at Arks home.

Ark smirks, I knew it. He was worried i would stick to the no sex while parents are in the home rule.

"you have a one track mind" i complain

"have you seen yourself naked, the day i dont want to have sex with you is the day i die" 

I roll my eyes and playfully smack his arm, Ark wraps me in his arms and kisses my head. An alarm on his cell breaks the moment, he sighs as he looks at his cell screen.

"i just need to deal with something , ill be back in a moment" Ark kisses me again before he heads into the ensuite bathroom. 

Mum joins me in Arks bedroom and helps me put away the last of my clothes. " its very nice isnt it"

I nod, nice is the understatement of the year. The whole home is magnificent. I feel like im at a 5 star hotel.

"Is Noah ok"

"yes i think so why"

"June thinks hes relapsed"

I roll my eyes "june, you know she has to dampen everything. Ark has not relapsed,hes not even drinking and he didnt even have a beer with lunch"

"June saw him taking pills when she went back to the mini bus to get her bag"

I shake my head, "Ark doesn't do pills, hes never done pills"

"he never injected either until he did" 

i sit down on the edge of the bed and take a deep breath, i refuse to believe he has started taking drugs again. " Were together now, he wouldn't put me through that again"

Mum wraps her arms around my shoulders and tries to comfort me "im sure your right, there must be another explanation"

There had better be!