Chapter 5

L.A.

It was a thirty minute drive from Glenville to L.A. California during which time the only two of the party who were awake was Collin and Cynthia. They talked and entertained each other for the whole drive and had crazy sing along. Both of them were singing along to Will Smith when they drove into L.A. and the others woke up. If Kate, Roland, Will, Watt, and Geoffrey had been in shock before it was nothing to what they were now. Neon signs not lit by candles but by what they didn't know were everywhere and all sorts of lodging with gambling was available. "Oh Lord help us keep us away from the Gambling or Geoffrey will loose all our money." Watt moaned. "The name is Matt if you don't mind and I believe that Black Limo has been behind our car the whole way here. And I won a game once." Geoffrey said. "Once but there are good gamblers and bad gamblers and your anything but a good gambler." Watt replied. "Oh pshaw." "And what's a Limo?" Watt asked him. "That long black stretch car back there American royalty ride in them. Jeff explained it to me." Geoffrey said. "Yeah we both woke up for five minutes when you two were singing Nelly My Place." Jeff teased his older brother. "Um well we'll pick suitable lodgings without the gambling. Geoffrey probably wouldn't know how to gamble American – Style anyways."

It took them forty minutes to find the hotel. This time Collin had his dad's credit card. "I know his pin number and my name is on the card because I take care of Jeff." Collin said. "Nice dad but he won't like the charges you put on his card." Kate said as Cynthia had given her a lesson on some of the American money systems. "Dad could care less he's a president of some company or other and earns huge money every year." Collin said. "Ah. Sort of like the American-President?" Geoffrey asked scribbling more notes. "No not really but a boss in charge of other people." "What's his trade?" "Oh his company advertises for other companies he just runs things." "They help sell other markets products like the Gap. Any commercials you might see telling you about a product they do some of that." "Product?" Watt asked. "Merchandise an item to buy at the market?" Cynthia suggested. "Okay!" Roland said nodding. "How many rooms would you be needing sir?" The man asked. "Two one for the girls and we'll share." Collin said. "That's two hundred and fifty a night. We'll give you your keys. Your in room 308 on floor three. Do you need someone to take up your luggage?" The clerk asked. "Nope we've got one bag. Just charge it. We'll pay for the week in advance." Collin said handing the credit card. Collin accepted the keys and they took an elevator up to their floor.

"You guys gotta have some memories of this place." Collin said. "Riding up on something that makes me feel sick?" Kate asked grabbing Roland who looked surprised but didn't say anything. "Are you sure Kate and Roland won't want a room?" Cynthia teased. Kate immediately let go of Roland. Geoffrey snickered. "And the fairest of them all fell in love with the Baker's son." Geoffrey pretended to write in his notebook. Kate slapped him this time it was Watt's turn to laugh. Collin gave Cynthia the keys to the hotel room for the girls and they all went to rooms 308 (the girls) and 309 across the hall from each other.

Kate picked the bed on the right side of the room. "Things here are expensive." Kate said. "Yes L.A. but it attracts a lot of people mostly Americans but we get a few other nationalities here and it's a good place for business and American royalty." Cynthia said. "How do you say it? Cool?" Kate asked. "Yes." "Cool." Cynthia laughed. "All right we should probably get some sleep."

"I'm off to explore." Geoffrey said quietly so that no one noticed he slipped off to the slot machines next door with some cash he had gotten from Collin's wallet. "Where did Geoff go?" Roland asked a few minutes later. "Shit I am going to kill the man. He took your wallet." Watt added noticing. "We'd better get it back I'm not angry but man...If we loose the cash and we can't use the credit card for some reason we are screwed." Collin said. "Collin my friend I'll go with you. Watt stay here with Jeff." Roland instructed. Will raced after them down the hallway.

Geoffrey meanwhile was working the slot machines with ease and winning. A crowd had gathered around him. Woman had squeezed in close and men were buying him a drink they called beer. "What's your name master?" A man named Brad Pitt asked. "Christopher." Geoffrey said barely noticing Will, Roland, and Collin were pushing through the crowd to get to him. "Really where are you from? I can't place your accent." Brad said. "It's English one are you daft or drunk man?" A woman named Katie who was standing next to Geoffrey. "First visit to the Americas or this century?" Brad growled. "Americas first visit." "Chris! Where have you been? We need your help in the Hotel room. Jeff passed out." Will lied. "Perhaps I should call a Doctor." Brad said. "No. We'll be okay we can handle it." Roland said firmly. He didn't like Brad's eagerness. "Hey guys I've won!" Geoffrey handed them the money and then passed out.

Roland, Will and Collin shook off Brad and carried Geoffrey to the hotel room. At least they thought they shook off Brad. They didn't know he was following at a safe distance with Adhamar leading a group of his men.

(Editor's note: okay I didn't know why I put Brad Pitt in the story at this point. American – Royalty are what the stars called in England at least that's what I've heard. And I thought why not pick a random celeb and have him be a bad guy. It just seemed Brad more likely gone bad then Brittany though she might date Adhamar just cause she could! And Brad was randomly picked as I've seen very little of his movies.)

"Jeff or Watt get a glass of water." Collin ordered. "What happened?" Watt asked hurrying over as Jeff scrambled to get a cup of water. "He was drinking too much beer and gambling and he just passed out. Ours might be stronger then the stuff your used too." Collin explained. "Anybody who drinks a lot unless they're used to it will pass out." Jeff added. "And you know this because?" Watt asked. "Our mom did it a lot and we had to move her to the couch till she woke up. She stopped drinking so much when she divorced Dad. Now she has one a week to get her through." Collin explained. "Oh." Will said. What could you say to that? "Jeff go get Kate and Cynthia." Collin said pouring the water slowly over Geoffrey's face.

Jeff scrambled out to the hallway. He knocked on Cynthia's and Kate's door. Five minutes later Kate answered. As soon as she did so Jeff was grabbed and a hand went over his mouth. "DERRICK YOU RAT!" Cynthia screamed realizing what was going on. Count Adhamar snapped his fingers and Brad and the guy from the lobby grabbed the girls and tied their hands behind their backs. Derrick kept a firm grip on Jeff as they knocked on the door of Collin's hotel room. "Jeff do you have the girls?" "Yes and it's not Jeff it's me." Derrick said in a sing song voice. The door flung open and Will came striding over and punched Derrick in the face. Meanwhile Collin tried to deal with Brad who had Cynthia. Roland went to go help Kate. And Adhamar went for Will. Geoffrey meanwhile still completely hangover kept the other men from taking Jeff anywhere. After a few minutes of confused fighting the room began to shimmer and disappear.