One the day before Christmas, Draven gave to his readers...one more chapter! Now we delve into Ally's experience at her bachelorette party. Will it be less crazy, more crazy or equally as crazy as Austin's bachelor party? Only one way to find out.
Enjoy!
'' Ally, breathe'' Trish hissed, as not looking up from her magazine.
Currently, Ally and her bridal party found themselves in a stationary plane at Miami International. Whilst Ally had originally suggested that they drive to their destination and leave early, both Tilly and Trish had shut that idea down super quickly, not only because Vegas was an almost two-day drive away from Miami but also because Tilly had a groupon for a flight to Vegas and didn't want to waste it. The only problem being that in recent years, Ally had become a bit of a nervous flier.
'' Easy for you to say, do you know how high up we're going to be, if our pilot's an idiot, then its all over Trish, no more us, we'll just be piles of ash somewhere over northern Houston!''
'' Relax Ally, its really not that bad. It really shouldn't matter how high up we are. Delta's a great airline'' Carrie added.
'' The brainiac's right. Look, I brought these with me, had to pay for them as extra baggage but I feel like they'd add some extra spice to this weekend'' Emma grinned from her seat behind Ally.
'' Gummy worms?'' Ally asked, looking at the plastic baggie with muti-colored candies inside of them.
'' Oh, they're more than that. Those are confiscated items from the kids at Xander's school. I think they're called Red Wings'' Emma smiled, as her friend popped one into her mouth.
'' Emma, were those…?''
'' Edibles? Yes my dear Matilda they were.''
'' Bad idea. Ally does not do well on drugs'' Trish put her magazine down and looked at her friend. The brunette's demeanor had rapidly changed, she was less rigid, had slid down into her seat and a large grin had appeared on her face.
'' Ally, are you ok?'' Trish asked.
'' Trish? We're in a plane'' Ally said.
'' Yes sweetie, yes we are.''
'' I'm getting married in less than two months.''
'' Again, true.''
'' Wow, your face is so…real'' Ally said, sitting upright and grabbing Trish's face.
'' That's because it is'' Trish pushed her away.
'' You really couldn't think of a better way to calm her down?'' Carrie looked at Emma.
'' Oh I could've. I just wanted to see this for myself'' Emma shrugged.
'' Wee, we're moving'' Ally cheered, as the plane began to take off.
-x-
Five hours later, the five women found themselves at the Glacier lounge. Primarily consisting of an ice-blue and black color scheme, from a normal standpoint, it seemed quite gothic, yet the atmosphere exuded something of the roaring 20's. Thankfully, almost the entire group were relaxed, Tilly even enjoying one of the first cocktails she'd ever had in Vegas. Unfortunately for them, the edible that Emma had given Ally hadn't worn off yet. Whilst Ally's high had started to wear off, her eyes were still blood-red and she was talking as if she was four years old. It also didn't help that Trish had already put a miss-America-style sash around Ally that said bride-to-be, as well as a plastic tiara on her head.
'' Oh boy'' Trish said, through her teeth, as the group were brought a tray of drinks.
'' What, it's just booze, right?'' Carrie responded, before gasping. '' Do you have a bomb on you Trish?''
'' No, and don't say that here'' Trish hissed. '' The strip has some of the tightest security measures in the world. One more… B-word and we're banned for life, and dammit, I am not letting that happen.''
'' Wow, we aren't in Miami anymore, are we?'' Ally gasped, cocking her head like a chicken.
'' You couldn't have given her gum or sleeping pills?'' Tilly glared at Emma.
'' Hey, it's the bachelorette party, we need to let loose don't we?'' the young blonde shrugged.
'' There's a line between letting loose for a weekend and getting us to have to babysit Ally'' Trish deadpanned.
'' Whatever, look, her eyes are getting a bit better, let's see if she's back to her old dorky self? Ally?'' Emma said, her friend looking at her. '' In what year was the Chinese Communist party founded?''
'' 1921'' Ally answered, shaking her head, getting her back to reality.
'' She's back! See, I'm not such a bad influence'' Emma shrugged.
'' Still not sure about that, But, hey, at least she can remember random and boring facts'' Carrie shrugged.
'' I'll drink to that'' Trish raised her glass.
'' Trish, you'll drink to anything'' Ally retorted.
'' There she is, sassy as usual'' Tilly smiled.
'' Oh, now this is a good beat'' Tilly added, her foot tapping to the sound of Don't look down.
'' First song I ever sang with Austin'' Ally said, dreamily.
'' Oh no, not this again. Look, I get it, you guys are in love, but come on, do you really think Austin's spending his weekend gushing over you?'' Trish asked.
'' I do'' Tilly responded.
'' Why?'' Emma asked.
'' Because, they have what most people spend their whole lives looking for. Before I met my Dezzy, I thought I'd die alone'' Carrie answered.
'' First off, I think Emma was talking to Tilly over there. Secondly, you were 17, you weren't exactly a spinster'' Trish said, glancing at Ally, who was now on her phone.
'' Ally, what're you doing?'' Trish asked.
'' Well, it occurred to me, that Emma was right. Its time to let loose, I spent five hours high, now I say its time we become badasses'' Ally answered.
'' How?'' Tilly squinted.
'' Simple'' Ally bent forward and lowered her voice. '' We're going gambling.''
'' Uhm, Ally, sweetie, that was always going to happen'' Tilly said.
'' Yeah, we kind of assumed we'd leave you at one of the casinos' food courts'' Carrie added.
'' First off, hey! Secondly, we aren't just gambling, we're going to count cards'' Ally grinned.
'' Ooh, I like this Ally. She's not as big of a goody-goody as the other one I know'' Trish smirked.
'' Hey!''
'' We'll she's not wrong'' Emma muttered, sipping her beverage. '' Wait? Ally, you do know how to count cards don't you?''
'' Well…uhm, no'' the almost-bride sighed.
'' Neither do I'' Trish and Tilly admitted in unison.
'' I do'' Carrie raised her hand.
'' You do?'' the group answered.
'' Sure do. When Dez was shooting his first spy movie; Assault on Amsterdam, I spent most of my time in the casinos, I picked up some stuff.''
'' Well, teach us, I need to tick; scam a casino, off of my bucket list'' Trish said.
'' Ok, so here's how it goes. First off, we'll be playing blackjack, that's the easiest for card counting in my view. So first off, the objective is to reach the number 21. Each card is worth a different value. The number cards are worth what it says on them, jacks, queens and kings are worth 10, and aces are either 11 or 1. Keep a running count of all the cards that get played and assign positive, negative and zero values to each hand.''
'' Wow Carrie, I'm impressed. Well, I'm sold, to the casino!"' Ally cried.
'' We still have to pay-
'' First, we pay!'' Ally cried, again.
-x-
'' Act…cool'' Tilly hissed, as the women entered the closest casino to them. '' I heard that the security here, can smell fear.''
'' They can't smell fear. I mean, its not like the detail here are armed'' Trish breathed, before locking eyes with a guard dressed in pure black, a Galil was held in his arms as well as a tactical Kevlar vest around his torso.
'' Ally, are you sure you wouldn't rather do something else, turns out these guys are armed, and lethally at that.''
'' No. I can't go into marriage, not having done something wild and outrageous. I've never even prank-called anyone before!''
Trish sighed. '' Fine, let's get this over with.''
The group approached an open table, a group of out-of-country businessmen walked in the opposite direction, tears in their eyes.
'' Hi there, we'd like to play'' Ally beamed.
'' 20'' the dealer answered.
'' Actually I'm 25-
'' No. 20 dollars to play'' the dealer interrupted.
'' I'm in'' Ally pulled a 20 out of her purse.
'' Ooh, me too'' Carrie clapped, adding her own money.
'' I'm on a teacher's salary, I need this'' Tilly added to the growing pile.
'' This could be fun'' Emma added her money, the entire group now looking at Trish.
'' Dammit, peer pressure'' the Latina grumbled and put her money in the pot.
'' Alright, who's up first?'' the dealer asked.
'' I'm in'' Ally stepped up as she was dealt her first card; an ace of clubs, the dealer drew another ace.
'' Hit or stand?'' the dealer asked, squinting.
'' Hit'' Ally smiled.
The dealer drew a card from the deck. '' queen of hearts, you're at 20, want to keep playing?''
'' Don't do it Ally'' Trish hissed from Ally's left.
'' Do it, you'll have turned 20 bucks into 800'' Carrie said, from Ally's right.
'' Hit me'' Ally said confidently.
'' You sure?'' the dealer asked.
'' I can do it, hit me'' Ally grinned.
Drawing a new card, the dealer gave Ally a large glare. '' Ace, you win.''
'' Woohoo'' Ally said, double high fiving her friends. '' This is awesome. Why wasn't I such a rebel back in high school?''
'' Because you said books, Austin, music and academics were all you needed'' Trish answered, dryly. '' But enough of this, its my time to shine'' the Latina woman took Ally's place, the dealer still glaring daggers.
Drawing the first card, Trish was greeted with a jack of diamonds. '' Hit.'' Again, the dealer drew a card, this time producing an 8 of spades.
'' Hit or stand?'' he asked.
'' Stand'' Trish answered.
The dealer drew a card; a king of hearts. '' Hit or stand?'' he asked again.
'' Hit me'' Trish grinned.
The dealer grumbled as he drew another card, this time boosting Trish's current number to 18.
'' Ok, now I want to stand'' Trish said.
The dealer drew another card for himself, an ace of diamonds. '' Hit?''
'' Stand'' Trish answered, sharply.
'' I loathe you'' the dealer muttered, the next card he drew busting him.
'' Oh yeah, this rocks!'' Trish said, pumping her fist in the air. '' 1600 in less than an hour, Disneyworld can suck it!''
'' You want to keep going?'' Tilly asked.
'' Oh hell yeah, we're on a roll'' Trish said, shoving Tilly in front of the dealer.
Please let this one be useless, please let her be useless he thought, drawing her card.
'' Jack of spades, hit or stand?'' he asked.
'' Hit'' she smiled.
'' 8 of clubs, hit or stand?''
'' Hit again'' Tilly smirked.
'' Bad idea, you'll lose all our money'' Carrie hissed.
'' I want to see this through. Hit me'' Tilly glared.
The next few seconds felt like an hour, as the dealer drew a card, '' 3 of diamonds. You ladies win…again.''
'' Ok, that's it, its time for some New York hustle'' Emma took over from her friend. '' In fact, I'm raising the stakes'' the woman dug in her purse and slapped a 100 dollar bill on the table.
'' Emma'' Ally breathed. '' What're you doing?''
'' Trust me'' Emma glared at the dealer, scaring him slightly, as he drew a queen of diamonds.
'' Before you ask, I'm standing'' the blonde added.
The dealer drew himself a 7 of clubs. '' Hit or stand?''
'' Hmm, how about a stand?''
'' Grr. The dealer drew himself another card, this one being a 6 of diamonds.''
'' Hit or stand?''
'' Stand again'' Emma said, confidently.
'' Dammit'' the dealer pouted as he drew another queen.
'' This is awesome! I love counting cards!'' Ally squealed.
'' You were counting cards?'' a voice boomed from behind the group. Turning around, the five women were greeted by a tall, muscular yet slightly overweight man dressed in a pure black suit.
'' No. I don't even know how, who does? '' Ally rambled.
'' Let me stop you right there'' the man put a hand in front of Ally's face. '' I'm the pit boss here, and I have to make an example of you five. Follow me'' he said, the group following him into a separate room.
'' I'll be back in a second'' he said, briefly leaving.
'' What's he going to do us? I'm too pretty to die!'' Carrie panicked.
'' I heard that people here can sometimes get their knees busted'' Tilly answered.
'' Not the time Matilda'' Ally snapped. '' Although I really think this was a bad idea. Why did you listen to me?''
'' Its your bachelorette party, its one of the rules'' Trish hissed.
'' Still, this won't end well. Our fingers might get sent in envelopes to our families. They may wake up with horse-heads in their beds'' Carrie panicked.
'' Is everything you know about murder, from the Godfather?'' Emma deadpanned.
Before Carrie could answer, the pit boss returned, and glared. '' You've brought shame upon our establishment. What do you have to say for yourselves?''
Ally started shaking. '' It was her!'' Ally's finger shot in Carrie's direction. '' It was the tall one. She taught us, its all her I tell you!'
'' Thanks!'' Carrie bit back.
'' Look'' the pit boss looked at three of the people in front of him. '' Hold on, I know you, Ally Dawson? Carrie Wade? Emma Ross?''
'' Yes?'' Emma raised an eyebrow.
'' As I was about to say, regardless of your status in the global community, I have to take action here. As you all know, its against house rules to cheat. However, as I'm assuming this is your first offense, I'm willing to be lenient.''
'' What makes you think I've never cheated before?'' Ally refuted, her answer took the form of a dead-look from the pit boss. '' Fine, it is.''
'' That's what I thought. Now, here's what I'm going to do, the original 1800 Ally, Emma and…sorry what are your names?'' the pit boss asked Tilly and Trish.
'' I'm Trish De La Rosa, I managed her'' Trish scoffed, pointing at Ally.
'' And I'm Tilly Thomson, or as you may know me… Hater girl.''
'' Nope. No clue who you are. Now, I'm going to allow you to keep the amount you four won, before miss popstar opened her mouth. However, all of your names are going on the banned list, for the country.''
Ally sighed. Why was honesty such a curse?
Ah, I loved this. Thanks for reading everyone. Have an amazing Christmas eve, and as usual, stay safe and stay awesome!
