Stepping out of the cab, Lauren squinted up at the bright sky. Ah, what a change this was. The sunshine- that she was used to. She'd lived in Arizona for three years now and they were rarely lacking when it came to sunshine. A cold breeze ruffled her hair and she regretted leaving her coat in her suitcase. This cold was what she wasn't used to, but it felt invigorating.
She reached for her wallet in the large tote bag she had slung over her shoulder and smiled at the cab driver; a short, hairy man with bad teeth but friendly eyes, who was, at the present moment, unloading their suitcases from the trunk. "Thanks so much," she said as he handed her suitcase to her and she handed him the cab fair plus a generous tip. He bobbed his head, smiled graciously, and was soon back in his cab.
"Isn't this exciting!" Lauren beamed at her sulking companion, hoping to coax her out of the mood she was in. Ruby hadn't said a single word in the last four hours, and from the tight set of her lips it was obvious she had no intent of starting now. "Come on! We're in New York City! For three whole days! At an extravagant hotel! At least give me a smile."
"How can I smile?" Ruby asked, her voice so low it was nearly inaudible. Her lower lip trembled slightly. "This was supposed to be my..honeymoon." She choked out the last word with obvious effort.
"Don't you dare start crying again," Lauren warned, unable to keep the venom out of her voice. "He doesn't deserve one single one of your tears."
She couldn't help the onslaught of memories her friend's sadness brought on. Ruby's excitement when, during their Sophomore year at ASU, she'd ran into Mike, the guy she'd been obsessed with all through High School. He was in Arizona only for a few months for a job, but ended up staying for her. Lauren was a tad disgruntled at first when, at the end of the semester, Ruby moved out of their shared dorm and into his apartment, but she couldn't begrudge her her happiness and had ended up finding an incredible apartment of her own. She remembered Ruby's uncontainable joy when she'd run screaming and unannounced into that incredible apartment one night, shoving her engagement ring-clad hand in her face. Her own excitement as she helped her shop for a dress, flowers, invitations, a cake. The hours after grueling hours of planning her best friend's wedding. And then, the night before, the note Ruby'd found. Mike was gone, back to Ohio, back to his ex, Becky.
Lauren shook her head to clear her thoughts. She didn't want to think about any of that. Plastering a cheerful, if feigned, smile to her face she linked her arm in Ruby's. "Now, quit being Debbie Downer. The trip's already paid for, and we're going to enjoy it. Two sexy, single ladies, livin' it up in New York City!"
Ruby couldn't help but crack a small smile. "Sexy?" she scoffed, eying the sweatpants she wore for the trip. "Yeah right, Lauren."
"Okay, so maybe we aren't supermodels, but that doesn't mean we can't live it up in New York City just as well as that girl." A tall, pretty brunette gave her a dirty look as she pointed at her, but kept walking.
Ruby's smile widened and Lauren felt a small sense of accomplishment. Maybe this whole trip wouldn't be a disaster, after all.
"Dude, what the heck? Why did you book us a room at such a fancy hotel?"
Justin walked in and Eric looked up from where he sat, cross-legged on the bed, playing with the fancy soaps he had found in the bathroom. "What?" He quirked his head to the left a little, grinning at him. "Can't a guy want to spend a romantic weekend in a nice hotel with his best friend without getting the third degree these days?"
"Halvo, you need to quit being so gay." Andrew laughed, walking in behind Justin. "Justin's doesn't like you like that."
Justin scanned the room, his eyes widening as he took in the flat-screen tv, two queen beds, each with its own private mountain of decorative pillows, ornate lamps, and heavy brocade curtains. He stopped at the large, cushy couch near the glass doors to the balcony where, on a beautiful glass table, sat a complimentary fruit basket."Can we afford this?!?!"
Eric was a little taken aback by the disapproving looks on his band-mates' faces. He knew that this hotel was, admittedly, more expensive than the ones they usually stayed at (okay, like 8 times more expensive), but he'd thought it would be a fun treat for them. He had expected them to be...Well... Excited, grateful, surprised, even- Anything but angry.
He shrugged guiltily. "I don't know...Nick gave me his credit card and said to get us a room. He didn't say there was a price limit..."
"ERIC!" Justin and Andrew yelled in unison. "Nick's gonna kick your ass!"
"Pfffft. He can't handle this jelly!" Eric said, trying to lighten the mood.
"It's not funny. He'll be seriously pissed." Andrew told him.
"How much did you spend on this?!" Justin's eyes were still wide with disbelief.
Trying to hide the hurt on his face, Eric stood up. "You know what? Screw you guys. I was just trying to be nice and get a room everybody would be comfortable in. You don't have to be dicks about it." Slamming the door behind him, he stalked out of room 342.