My Path To Serenity

Chapter two

It was a Saturday morning at 5:00 am.

I turned off my noisy alarm clock and rolled over towards Jasper, who was fluttering his eyes open. "When the hell are you ever going to change that alarm tone?" He muttered. "When I find another one that can wake me up after the first ring." I smirked and asked, "You ready to get on this flight and renew our vows this weekend?" He pulled me closer to him and spoke in his tired voice that never failed to make my heart melt, "Of course I'm ready." He yawned as he got out of bed and headed over to the bathroom to turn on the hot water. "We only have an hour before we have to be at the airport," I warned him. "Oh please," he joked, "I don't sit and get glammed up for forty five minutes. We'll be out the house in less than a half hour I promise." I shot him a look. "Hey, I don't normally take forty five minutes. Try forty at most."

I went to the kitchen to brew a pot of coffee before kick starting my day. With my favorite mug, I poured half a cup full of black Columbian coffee with a shot of espresso. Maybe I'll take two shots of espresso. Couldn't hurt. My eyelids slowly started to feel less heavy and more alert, as I drank the bittersweet tasting, yet satisfying, cup of coffee. I stepped outside onto the porch with a grin and ray of sunshine beaming on my face. I looked up at the pink sunrise, and that was just enough to give me a jolt of optimism this morning.

The plane ride wasn't as long as I thought it was going to be, considering I slept for more than half of it and spent the remaining time looking out my window in astonishment. Jasper broke his focus on the window next to him and turned grabbed my hand. "I say we go to the casino first, you know, to start this trip off right."

Once we arrived to the Mcarran national airport, it was a whole new realm I've never seen with my eyes before. The airport was crammed with so many different people that were all going to so many different places, but it felt so exhilarating to be apart of it all. I've never seen an environment like this. Strangers were bumping into me, and people were rushing down the halls.

"We'll call a cab to our hotel," Jasper assured me as we watched the mob of people swarm around the airport. When we stepped outside on to the street, I was utterly amazed with the atmosphere surrounding me. The sky had a golden haze to it, and the palm trees breezed through the wind so delicately. The people were all dressed so elegantly, and the street lights were vibrantly lit of all different colors. The music felt lively, and everything looked so vivid. I twirled around to see everything surrounding me, and my surroundings were gorgeous. A man was playing the saxophone outside, some were riding their bikes, and some were eating ice cream cones with their kids. The scene felt so "movie-like." I walked towards the sax player and dropped a five dollar bill in his hat. "Appreciate it," he told me with a beer in his hand and a smile. "Any chance one of you have a spare cigarette?" "We don't smoke," I admitted. He nodded and held up his hand, "fair enough young folks. I wish I never started but it's a hell of a habit to kick. By the way, if the two of you get the chance, I recommend going to the festival tonight." I looked over at Jasper and then back at the sax man. "We may stop by. where is it at?" "The whole street of Fremont, ma'am. There will be tons of food, live performances, and games. I'll even be performing there around nine o'clock!" I smiled and grabbed Jasper's hand tight. "Thank you! We're actually only visiting for today and tomorrow, so we'd love to go!" Jasper intervened, "The casino is right down the block. But if we pass by it tonight, we'll be glad to. Nice to meet you." He grabbed my hand and pulled me away. "You don't want to go to the festival?" I asked, rather confused at the way he rushed us a long. "I do want to go. I didn't forget that this is your birthday present, too. I just would rather go there with a few extra dollars in my pocket."

As were walking down the busy, lit street, I glanced up at a gigantic glowing red, LED sign that was nearly impossible to miss. Planet Hollywood.

Of course, we spent a few hours gambling shortly after. Leave it to Jasper to want to spend money, just to possibly win money.