Eternal Camaraderie

The seemingly perennial hum of the engine softened its cadence. A shift was felt as the vehicle decreased speed rather quickly until it came to a full stop after a gradual turn. Maurizio rolled his head to the side before sitting up on the bed, located at the fore of the upper deck of the bus. Pulling a curtain aside, which had been covering on of the few windows on the second deck that wasn’t painted black, he winced against the sudden rush of light. A groan and a loud curse escaped his lips as he shielded his eyes. When at last his eyes adjust he looked out across a short distance of barren land and into the vast city that lay sprawled out before them. Las Vegas.

It was getting late in the afternoon. Maurizio estimated only a couple hours remained until the sun would be gone. He offered a silent thanks to the cosmos while rolling off the bed. Donning his glasses, he pushed himself unto his feet and started to cross the floor toward the stairs located at the back. A few tables had been bolted down, as well as a couch and a sofa chair. A television set, sound system, and such things had been wired into the solar panels strewn across the roof. A small refrigerator and microwave had been added as well, the latter bolted into a built-in counter next to a cabinet. The only other furniture that had been added were a couple futons, a hammock strung across the back, and some old bean bags tossed into random locations along the shag carpeted floor. The carpet had somehow remained from the days Maurizio had called the bus home. He was quite shocked that his brother had left it in.

Maurizio had always been the free-spirited, vagabond gypsy type. The bus reflected it in perfection with the thick, vibrant fiery red-orange shag carpet and the numerous drapes that covered the walls of the upper deck. Then there were the several layers of bead curtains, always a series of four that separated the floor into three areas. They acted as a rather effect vision deterrent. Still, they were no substitute for true walls.

After descending the steps he stopped by the make-shift bathroom to light up a cigarette. It was the first thing that had been added to the bus after gutting it. It took Maurizio a long time to put it together, with the help of his brother and a couple older guys that knew how to do such tasks. It wasn’t the most luxurious, just a sink and a shower that required the tank to be constantly refilled, but it was effective, if a little costly on the water expense. Drainage was easy though, one could take a shower while going down the road and, at worst, the vehicle behind them might think they had a radiator leak.

The downstairs was simpler, with none of the windows being pained over, though they were covered with long, thick curtains. There were a few more bean bags and two more couches, each with a small coffee table in front of it. Compared to the upper deck it seemed vacant, yet lively; the latter mostly due to the light streaming in through the curtains. Maurizio chortled as an image of an opium den filtered into his mind. The upper deck seemed to fit that image perfectly. He had to wonder what these friends Thomas had brought along though of the place.

With his head tilted toward the floor, Maurizio walked toward the front of the bus where his brother sat behind the wheel. He glanced up once or twice to regard someone as he passed them. Stepping up beside Thomas, Maurizio leaned forward with his hands wrapped around the old bars that served as pillars for the barrier. “Spent a few months here after I left…” he spoke in a low monotone. Swinging himself forward, he collapsed into a contorted seated position at the top of the steps; his head leaned against the surface of the hip-high barrier behind him. “Had a couple interesting jobs here, one fun band. Met some bizarre people as well… nothing quite like spending your first night away from home in the company of a transvestite hooker showing you around the city of sin.”

It wasn't a long drive, that was for certain, but interstate driving had always had its own little way of putting Thomas on edge, and the fact that he was driving that hulking bus instead of that little pick-up truck that he'd started out on. As he engaged the parking break in that random parking lot somewhere to the side of the infamous Sunset Strip, he took a look at his hands and noted the white knuckles and the minor tremors that were shaking him and he chuckled, fumbling awkwardly for the cigarettes that he had stashed in the small console beneath the radio.

“Spent a few months here after I left…Had a couple interesting jobs here, one fun band. Met some bizarre people as well… nothing quite like spending your first night away from home in the company of a transvestite hooker showing you around the city of sin.”

Thomas started slightly at the sound of his brother's voice before turning to the older man and nodding slightly, stripping a cigarette from the pack quickly and placing it between his lips, lighting it and inhaling the nicotine that he needed so direly at that point in time. He held the smoke in his lungs for a moment or two before loosing it towards the ceiling of the lower deck with a sigh.

"Sounds a lot more fun than that drive was," he said softly. "I kept a count: Thirty honking horns, nineteen cursing drivers, twelve one-finger-salutes and two moons, one pressed and one hung. It was quite an eventful drive, but I think it's time to spend some time on stable ground, what do you say?"

He grinned and grabbed hold of a lever and pulled it towards him quickly, watching carefully to see if the door had any trouble opening like it had in the past. Luckily, it swung open fluidly and he stood from his seat before turning back towards the rest of their passengers.

"Welcome to Sin City! The beautiful Las Vegas, Nevada! Feel free to roam the streets on your own or buddy up with someone else and go have fun, but, for the love of God, let's get off this fucking bus."

Quinn's eyes opened slowly as the bus came to a stop. From the sound of Thomas' yelling, she gathered they were in Sin City. She sat up with a sigh. This stop was one she was not looking forward to, because she wasn't old enough to drink or gamble. Sure, the boys could probably find a way to sneak her into a bar or casino, but she was done breaking the law for now.

The entire trip seemed odd to her. She wasn't even in town long before she ran into her high school crush and his brother at a grocery store. This is where the pair proposed the idea of going on this cross country road trip. Not having anything else to do, and tired of her family, she agreed to come. The escape wasn't the only reason for coming. She wanted to get closer to the LaBrie brother she had a crush on, though nobody could tell which one it was, if they even noticed she had feelings that is.

Quinn was pretty much a shell these days, never showing much emotion. She hoped this trip would help her come back to life, as it were. So far, nothing.

She went down to the front of the bus where the brothers were standing. "So, what is the plan?" She asked in a monotone voice. "You guys go out and party while I watch this hunk of junk?" Internally she smiled because she knew this bus was no hunk of junk, but in fact very important to both brothers. They each took it and made it something wonderful. She remembered when Maurizio got it first, then Thomas took over when M left. She wasn't even around when Thomas got it, but she knew he would be there to keep the bus alive when M was gone.

Maurizio gave a nod. “So, you were serenaded during the drive? Let me guess, aging men with porno ‘staches and soccer moms with uni-brows?” He glanced up at Thomas for a second. “I for one have been on pretty stable ground, far as my subconscious was concerned. Well, for the most part.”

Digging into his pocket, Maurizio pulled out his wallet and flipped it open. The contents were more than slightly disheartening. Aside from a few folded papers that were used as notes and phonebooks, his wallet contained a twenty, a five, and seven ones. He ran a hand over his hair and sighed, shaking his head. By the time he slipped the wallet back into his front right pocket, a girl was standing on the other side of the barrier talking to them. He smirked at what she said.

“Not going to get much of a party off thirty-two dollars,” he remarked as he pushed himself up and stepped off the bus. Turning back toward them he cracked his neck and back. “Besides, plans get in the way of enjoying life, wouldn’t you say? Rhetorical question, my first thought was to find a place to get a drink myself.”

The track of time had been lost hours ago with no hope of a proper return anytime soon. Along with it complete and utter awareness followed, and it would be a lie to say it was missed. Sure, later on, when Kiana realized she probably ignored someone speaking to her, she would feel a bit of shame over her day dreaming and some guilt over the possible embarrassment she may have caused whoever tried to talk with her; but for now she was keenly taken by blissful ignorance to her surroundings.

It was a rare thing to happen in her case, since she was around a lot of new people, which tended to make her antsy and suspicious. And even if she knew of the LaBrie brothers, she would be the first to say she didn’t really know them. Chances were the two males would agree. A part of her couldn’t understand why they bothered to let her come along in the first place… maybe it was her desperate pleading and a possible offer of money on her part. She couldn’t remember. All she remembered was that she needed to escape; needed to go someplace where she didn’t know anyone and a bus full of strangers sounded like heaven at the time. She learned to chastise herself mentally for the decision later.

Don’t get her wrong. The brothers and co. seemed nice, but that didn’t make it any easier for her to try and talk with them. Hell, she had been sleeping with all her valuables whenever she found herself unable to keep upright when on the bus, looping and tying things to her body and sleeping on her book bag and laptop case so she could feel someone if they ever tried to go for her things and quickly punch the bastard or bitch who thought to overstep her bounds. Thankfully though the others on the bus seemed less than interested in the stuff she had brought with her, enough so that she felt comfortable enough to pull her laptop out and set it on the desk in front of the beanbag chair she chose to occupy. A lot of good that choice did her though.

She glanced to the black screen of her blue Dell Inspiron with a hateful glare, only her cast shadow of untamed, drip-dried hair, tied back and covered with a baseball cap being a sign of life from the technology. The battery had died a while ago. She hadn't noticed of course, unable to look at it after opening Microsoft Word. She thought it might be a good choice to waste time writing whatever came to mind (journal, letter, story, ie. Bullshit), but nothing bothered to inspire her; and after a while she found herself despising the look of the blank file and its taunting cursor. Really she had drained the battery in hopes of at least making something worth saving before time ran out. Again, a lot of good that did.

"...let's get off this fucking bus."

Kiana blinked herself aware at those words, turning her attention to the others with her on the downstairs level of the bus. They were getting off? They made it?

"So, what is the plan? You guys go out and party while I watch this hunk of junk?"

Wanting to gather herself a bit too actually have something smart to offer the others in terms of suggestions, she crawled across the bus to the other bean bag chair across from her, taking in the surroundings for the first time as something she could actually reach instead of watch pass by. As the city of nightlife there were a lot of restaurants and diners to offer, and Kiana had been along the strip before when she was underage so she knew a few places one of the other girls would like........ well... She couldn't say that much. Kiana liked the place because it had a roller coaster. She never really tried the food. Also there were a lot of live shows this place had to offer.

"Not going to get much of a party off thirty-two dollars. Besides, plans get in the way of enjoying life, wouldn’t you say? Rhetorical question, my first thought was to find a place to get a drink myself."

Well that put an end to anything she was going to suggest. Maurizio had beat her to it. Also he kind of shot down the idea of a live show. It was no matter though, she had a feeling they might not be staying long for one anyway.

"I'm kind of hungry right now too and not much for partying anyway, so we could hit a restaurant or whatever’s cheaper," she suggested a bit timidly. She refrained from bringing up the idea of a live show. They clearly didn’t have the money for that or one ride on one of the roller coasters. Really whose bright idea was it to come to Vegas poor? Pretty much all they could do was eat and gamble with what little wages they had, and chances were that wouldn’t leave them with enough money for gas.

Kiana couldn’t help the groan that escaped her lips. She should probably take Maurizio’s advice. Plans were no fun. It was probably best she didn’t think on it altogether. Clearly all thinking would bring her was stress, so instead she submitted herself to whatever idea the others came up with.

"Not going to get much of a party off thirty-two dollars. Besides, plans get in the way of enjoying life, wouldn’t you say? Rhetorical question, my first thought was to find a place to get a drink myself."

"I'm kind of hungry right now too and not much for partying anyway, so we could hit a restaurant or whatever’s cheaper."

"Food does sound good right about now," Thomas replied, though the sounds of the words were slightly muffled because of the cigarette between his lips. He took one more long drag off of the thing and pulled it from his mouth before flicking it out the door and, coincidentally, right by his brother's head. He chuckled lightly and patted his brother's shoulder. "Sorry, M. Didn't mean to almost peg you in the face with a lit cigarette."

With that, he took his leave from the bus, fighting the urge to fall to the pavement and kiss the ground the entire way. His eyes came back to Maurizio, Quinn and Kianna. "Somebody get Ella and let's get this show on the road. Maybe we can make some money somehow before we leave."

Maurizio glared at Thomas, eventually the look turning into a smirk. He took another breath from his own cigarette, which still had enough left to hang unto.

“You have the keys, right? We’re not going to get locked out and eaten by scorpions, are we?” He asked, turning toward Thomas. He waved his hand absently. “Never mind. We could use some cash though, especially if you didn’t fill up the water tank. You did fill it up, didn’t you? Anyway, you could always sign up at one of the gay strip clubs. That should get us to the next city at least.”

"Only if you give some random stranger a handy in an alley for the rest, bro. Then we'll talk."

Maurizio smiled. “Sure, you supply the vodka. And I’ll need that lotion you keep hidden in your shoe.”

"...why would anyone ever find it necessary to keep lotion in their shoe?"

He shrugged. "I've been wondering that since you turned eleven... anyway, where to?”

Quinn couldn't stop her laugh from escaping her lips any longer. She couldn't help it. The bickering between the brothers was extremely comical. However, she was shocked at the sound of her laugh. It was a noise Quinn had not heard in a long time.

She paused, and stared at everyone awkwardly. "Cash isn't a problem." She said under her breath. "I still have tons from the insurance claim from my accident."

Quinn pulled out her wallet and handed Maurizio a fifty. "Can you pick me up some Malibu and Orange juice for the road? I would buy it myself, but I am just a few months off of my twenty-first." She smiled at him sweetly. "Keep the change."

She turned to Thomas. "Is there anything we need for this rust bucket?" Quinn asked with a smile, trying to stay in a good mood. The mention of her accident kind of bummed her out instantly, though it was she who brought it up. She thought herself weak for not being able to move passed the depression of the accident and the loss of her former life. As her parents put it, God has a plan... But whatever His plan was, she was in the dark about it. Quinn questioned everything these days, including her faith. The kind God she grew up knowing was no longer. He was replaced by a hatred filled god, who was spiteful. The accident left her scarred, bother internally and externally. She did not think any god would do that to a person, especially one such as she. The bitterness soon filled her soul as she looked at the group she was with, but she didn't let it show. Quinn just quietly waited for a reply from both brothers, and hoped none of them noticed the quick changes in her mood. She did not need them to think she was crazy.

But instead of keeping her cool, she handed Thomas a fifty as well and said: "Do whatever is necessary, I am going to lay back down." And just like that, she was gone and up the stairs- back to her bunk. She lowered herself onto the bed, hating herself. Could she not live a normal life? Quinn assumed not. She laid her head down on her pillow, and covered herself with a blanket, though she was not cold. Quinn said a silent prayer that they all left her alone, and left the bus. She wanted them to have a good time while they were in Sin City...

Ella had lost her job.

The one thing she truly enjoyed was working that crappy little bookstore...but when the economy went bad, they couldn't afford to pay her anymore. She knew the owner felt bad about it...she tried to walk away with her head held high, tried to formulate a plan for survival...

But two breakdowns and a bus ride offer later, she found herself running away from the place she'd called home for so long. Not that a person her age could technically call it running away. By 23, it was called "moving on". So she curled up in a chair and tried not to vomit on the carpeting as she, belatedly, realized that she was horribly car sick.

But finally, the car stopped, and immediately her head cleared. She still stayed curled up in that chair, holding her head, wanting everything to just go back to the way it was. Or did she want that? Hell, she was 23 and still at home, never done a thing in her life except go to school and get a useless degree.

Ella heard her name, and then someone came up to the top of the bus, but they weren't looking for her. It was Quinn, and Ella had a feeling that Quinn didn't even know she was there. Ella quietly gathered her things, then turned to descend the bus. She needed off, now.

"I'm going with whoever's getting the food!" Kiana declared shamelessly as she quickly moved to get up before pausing as she looked back at her things. She contemplated leaving it all behind on the bus, but the idea of it only brought along panic since Quinn seemed less than eager to join the rest of them.

She couldn't really blame her. There was little in herself that was motivating her to get up and join the others, but the growl of her stomach was something that just couldn't go ignored. Also, she thought it best to savor what small increments of time they had outside of the bus. Chances were no matter how long they stayed anywhere they'd be spending more time inside the moving home than outside.

She watched curiously as Ella got up from the bus, clearly not looking quite as good as she did when they started the trip. It was a good thing she would be getting out. If she was going to throw up anytime soon all Kiana would think was that she was glad it wasn't going to be on the bus. The smell of vomit begot more vomit on her part, and she was sure she wouldn't be the only one feeling unclean and disgusted before the day was through.

With little hesitation she gathered her laptop into it's case and stuffed all the things she deemed 'miss-able' in with it before heading out the front of the bus. It didn't take long for the smell of burning cigarettes, which took some getting used to, to be overpowered by the scent of the dinner rush from the restaurants and such near by.

Her stomach growled in an obviously unwomanly fashion at the scent off cooked food and she couldn't help the little bit of blush that formed on her face because of it. It was always a bit embarrassing when her body made sounds she hadn't planned ahead of time, but she tried to brush the feeling off and let the sound work as a motivator.

"We better find some place quick before I start eating off parts of the bus."

Maurizio watched absently as Quinn marched back into the bus. He didn’t give it much concern, throughout his life he had been around numerous women who acted that way. He responded with an inward shrugged, looking to Thomas.

“Why don’t you find them somewhere to get something to eat, I’m going to pick up a few things. Catch up with you later, or tomorrow. Whichever the case may be, just don’t get your ass lost.” The last bit held a certain level of sarcasm that, for those who didn’t know Maurizio, would have been hard to catch. With that he gave the others a nod and turned, walking off through the parking lot and eventually down a few blocks. Avoiding large stores, he found one tucked into the rest of the buildings that seemed suitable to get what was necessary, which wasn’t much.

Entering the store he gave a polite nod to the clerk, who did the same in return. That was one thing about Vegas; you were more or less guaranteed to not receive any weird looks for having long hair, tattoos, or piercings. Or all of the above, as his case was. Moving through the aisles he picked up a few things he deemed essentials. Some snack foods, most of which he wouldn’t touch but figured Thomas and the others would enjoy, some bottles of water, the Malibu and orange juice for Quinn, and a few other things here and there. Returning to the counter he got a pack of cigarettes as well, mostly to be on the safe side since his current pack was still over half full.

“Small party?”

“Something like that,” Maurizio responded casually, pushing his hair on the right behind his ear. He opened his wallet and pulled out the fifty Quinn had given him, handing it to the clerk as the man told him the amount. He didn’t pay much attention to it, nor to the change as the man counted it out and handed it to him. Though as the money hit his hand, Maurizio had a thought instantly as memory struck him in the face. “Oh, uh, you have a state map?”

“Yeah, just over there.” The clerk replied, pointing out a couple on a nearly hidden rack behind some junk food. “Going out on a trip?”

“Already started, but yeah,” Maurizio said as he leaned over and pulled a map from its perch. He allowed the clerk to subtract the price from the change he had handed back to him before slipping the money into his pocket. “Thanks, have a good day.” Taking up the few bags, he headed for the door as the clerk offered the same pleasantry in return.

Quinn laid on the bed, staring at the ceilings of the bus. She sighed. She was tired of these mood swings of hers. Granted, Quinn came out of the womb moody, but still. She was on this trip to get over what had happened to her. Hell, Quinn was acting very immaturely about the entire scenario- and she had made a fool of herself in front of everyone.

"Maybe I am not cut out for this..." She mumbled to herself. "Maybe I'm not ready..."

Well, whatever it was she was feeling, moping around in the bus sure wasn't the way to get over her down attitude. She needed to get out, on her own. Quinn walked to the steps and listened. From the sound of it, everyone but M was still here.

"Damn." She muttered. "Guess I gotta climb out a window..."

She moved to the back of the bus, and opened a window on the opposite side of where everyone was congregated. Quinn looked down. It wasn't that far of a drop. She lifted herself out of the window, and slowly lowered herself down til her arms were fully stretched out. Then she let go, and landed perfectly. There was no need for broken bones on this trip... she mused to herself. She sat there quietly for a moment, listening to the chatter of her bus-mates. Once she got up the courage, she ran in the opposite direction down The Strip. Far enough away, she stopped to catch her breath.

Looking back, she sighed. Quinn did feel bad for leaving them behind, and without telling them, but it was what she needed to do. She slowly walked down the street, in awe of what she saw around her.

"I bet Vegas looks better after dark..." She said aloud.

And out of the corner of her eye she saw it, a fortune tellers shop. This was exactly what she needed- a little adventure that her Catholic life would never allow. She walked up to the door and opened it to find a room of darkness with only a soft glow of light from the back.

"Hello?" She said loudly. "Is anyone he-"

Her sentence was cut off by someone covering her mouth with a cloth. "What is it that you want child?" A woman's voice said from behind her. Only a muffled noise escaped her lips. "What was that dearie?" The woman asked again as she let go of Quinn's mouth.

"I came to have my fortune read..." Quinn said simply.

The woman motioned for Quinn to sit in a soft chair, in front of a crystal ball that was making the light she saw earlier. Still, not saying another word, the woman sat in front of her and grabbed her hand. For a moment, the woman just stared. After a while she spoke. "I see pain in your past, present, and future my dear. A man will come into your life again. One from the past. One you are on a trip with. This cross country trip will not only open your mind and soul, but open your heart to love."

Quinn just stared, not knowing what to say.

"He is the one for you, but he will fight it. His brother will want you as well. A love triangle you will have." Then the old woman dropped her hand.

"What is it?" Quinn asked, leaning forward.

The woman mumbled something that sounded like: death.

"Who's death?" Quinn asked, leaning in closer, intrigued. .

"Yours..." The woman replied. "If you are not careful."

A smile covered Quinn's face. "Sure... Whatever you say, ma'am..." She got up. "I will not die." Quinn said simply, down at the old woman. "If I haven't died yet, I will not die soon..." A little scared, and feeling a little stupid, she left the woman a twenty and walked out into the sunlight. Her eyes took a moment to adjust. "Well, that was a waste of my time..." She said as she walked back towards the bus, feeling better despite the odd things the fortune teller had to say.

“Why don’t you find them somewhere to get something to eat, I’m going to pick up a few things. Catch up with you later, or tomorrow. Whichever the case may be, just don’t get your ass lost.”

"I refuse to make promises that I might not be able to keep, M," Thomas called out to his brother as the older man walked away. A small crossed his lips as he laced his thumbs through the belt loops of his jeans and turned to look at the girls once more, now fully noticing that Quinn wasn't among them. He started to ask where she was, but then realised that it was probably a stupid question considering that the bus was right behind them all.

"We better find some place quick before I start eating off parts of the bus."

"We'll find some place, darlin'," Thomas replied with a chuckle. "Don't you worry. And if it does come to eating parts of the bus, start with the soft things inside before you start gnawing on my hub caps, please: We wouldn't want any broken or chipped teeth, now would we?"

He glanced over to Ella, noting the green tint to her cheeks, and pulled the door to the bus closed before turning towards the Strip and whatever little restaurants it held. He know heard his own stomach start to rumble and he sighed, eager to satiate his hunger just as quickly as possible. He started walking, not checking to see if either of the other girls were following, but knowing they would be, nonetheless, when he noticed Quinn heading...back toward the bus? Thomas cocked an eyebrow, confused, and called out to her.

"You're like a little ninja, girl! When did you get off the bus?"

Kiana couldn't help the amused laughter that escaped her at Thomas's comment. "I don't know. I can't really control my stomach," she responded through a few humored giggles, "If you find some bite marks in your hub caps, you'll know."

She wasn't really sure if the comment was listened to or not as the young male's focus seemed to turn on Quinn who was running towards the bus despite the fact that she had just seen her in the bus a second ago. How long had they been standing there holding up a partial conversation? This chick managed to go some place and come back while they were just standing their like morons? Either she was really a ninja or they had some serious time lapse.

Suddenly a sense of hungered fury came over her and with little care for either of the people around her (not like she cared in the first place), she grabbed the fifty dollar bill that still dangled in Thomas's hand and headed off down the strip to find something worth spending the money on.

Still finding some need to try to be nice to the people with her she turned back and said, "Well if we're going to find something good we better get going; and if you want to eat something you like, you better stop me from spending this whole $50 on myself." She let an amused, sadistic smirk form on her lips as she waved the bill slowly in her fingers before pocketing it and turning to head down the street. If they wanted to come with her, they would follow anyway. Clearly they had waited around with their thumbs up their asses long enough.

Quinn was shocked that she ran into the group while walking back to the bus. She assumed that they would all be at some restaurant somewhere filling their bellies.

"No, I am not a ninja..." She said in response to Thomas' remark.

Pft. A ninja... She thought to herself. If only...

She looked over in Kiana's direction and withheld a smile. "She is a feisty one." Quinn said under her breath. "We should probably go eat with her, before she spends all the cash..." Quinn began walking behind Kiana,, not paying much attention to the group of people around her; however she did notice that Maurizio was not with them. A moment of panic came over her, but she calmed herself before she turned to Thomas and spoke. "Where is M?" She asked, trying to sound nonchalant. Maurizio was a big boy, and could take care of himself. He had probably already been to Las Vegas, and therefore knew where he was going and what he was doing. But still, she was a little worried.

The noise that came from her stomach stopped her thoughts of Maurizio. "Where are we going to eat? And don't worry about the cost..." She asked loudly enough for everyone to hear. If it were up to her, she would spend her dining alone, but now she was back with the group, she might as well stay with them. "Find your brother, see if he wants to eat with us, Thomas..." Quinn called as she hurried to catch up with Kiana. There was no real need for it, but she felt more secure with just her than the entire group.

"He's a big boy, Quinn," Thomas replied. "He'll be fine. Besides, he knows this city well enough to probably know which restaurant we're going to be at before we even really know. Don't worry about him so much."

Thomas reached into his pocket once more and pulled out the pack of cigarettes and a lighter from its confines, placing another one of the cigarettes between his lips and lighting it. He pulled in a long drag and held it in his lungs for a moment before focusing his attention towards Ella. He smiled softly at her as he let the smoke escape between his lips.

"You know, you don't have to be so quiet," he said quietly. "I mean, I know you're not feeling well. I can see that much on your face. Nobody is gonna bite you, though...except maybe Quinn. She might."

He chuckled softly and hurried up a little bit, closer to Kiana and Quinn, as he started to scan the area for whatever restaurants might be held there. He wrapped his arm around Quinn's shoulder and shook her lightly, smiling playfully with the cigarette between his lips.

"So what are we eating?"

Quinn smiled at Thomas' playful attitude. She elbowed him in the side before taking his cigarette. "You, if you're not careful." She said with a grin before she took a drag off his cigarette. She wrapped her free arm around his back and began to walk. It is just like in high school, she thought to herself with a sigh. With another drag, she handed Thomas back his cigarette. As she too looked around for a place to eat, she saw a hole in the wall Chinese Buffet. "Is anyone in the mood for Chinese?" She called out, secretly crossing her fingers. Chinese sounded so wonderful right now. Hell, if they didn't want Chinese, she would probably just go herself, but at the moment she was enjoying the company.

She was enjoying the company? Now that was odd for her. Lately, she just wanted to be alone; however, Thomas and the others seemed to bring out her other side, the more sociable side. The side that she missed so dearly, and wished to get back on this trip. She sighed as she reached into her coat and pulled out her own cigarette. "Mine are better anyways." She said before Thomas could comment. "I was just too lazy before to grab my own." Quinn said in a muffled tone as she lit her menthol cigarette and took a long drag off of it.

Her mind stayed positive as she awaited the response of her bus-mates on her choice of a meal.

An annoyed, sarcastic roll of the eyes was something Kiana couldn't hide when Thomas joined Quinn at her side. Sure, she didn't mind it much when it was just Quinn but being part of a trio where it seemed one hit on the other was something she just never asked to be a part of, and had no desire to continue with, and when they both started smoking that was the end of it.

Knowing she wouldn't catch either person's eye, since Thomas kind of blocked Quinn's face from her and he seemed clearly interested in the younger girl than anyone else here, Kiana sneakily slowed down her pace so she could fall back closer too Ella. Out of her own amusement, she turned to the woman still behind her and mimed a mocking expression of the two in front of her and accompanied it with the universal sign for crazy. As soon Quinn and Thomas asked where they would eat though she straightened and looked ahead as if nothing happened.

She eyed the Chinese restaurant with mild disgust as Quinn suggested it, relaxing her posture by linking her fingers together behind her head. She hated Chinese food. Hated to going to Chinese restaurants and so on, but she knew if she started getting picky, chances were none of them would eat anything. Plus, it was to early in learning to know these people to want to bitch and complain with them. Chances are there was something new she hadn't tried, so she could always go with that. Then maybe she'd find something she liked.

"I'm not really in the mood for it," she answered back, "But really I'm also in no mood to be picky. Chances are I could eat the most disgusting food right now just out of hunger, so I've got no complaints."

Ella looked at Thomas with a raised eyebrow, but said nothing. At best, perhaps it gave her a look of mysteriousness. In all probability though, they knew the truth; she didn't know what the hell to say.

Ella had had the perfect response for Thomas' accusation...about two minutes too late. She cursed herself for not thinking of anything on the spot, but he had rushed on before she had a chance to think of anything to say. So like her. Horrible with words. Horrible with any social interaction whatsoever.

Kiana looked back at her suddenly, mocking Thomas and Quinn who were up ahead slightly. Again, Ella raised her eyebrow, but this time a small smile escaped her lips. She appreciated Kiana's communication. There was no need for words.

Ella looked at the strip, a place that was supposed to be beautiful, a place that people came from all over the world to see. It smelled like cigarettes, but that might have been excess second hand smoke she gleaned from Thomas. There were people all around, but yet it felt empty. Men were slapping pamphlets to get attention; she weaved around these men, wanting nothing to do from them. The light show hadn't started yet; the street's supposedly normal brilliance was dimmed by the empty skylights.

Chinese food? Ella cringed. She supposed that nothing sounded good right now, with how she felt. She'd scarf down anything.

Thomas smiled as Quinn lit her own cigarette, pausing for just a moment to drop his and grind it out under his heel. "Doesn't really matter," he said. "You've been stealing cigarettes off me since you started smoking anyway. It's not like I'm not used to it."

He listened to Quinn's suggestion for Chinese food, Kiana's rebuttal and looked back in just enough time to see Ella cringe. "Well," he said, "if it's anything like any other Cinese buffet place that I've ever been to, there's a high probability that they'll have more than just Chinese. I mean, I could be wrong, of course, but stereotypes haven't always proven me wrong. It's your all's choice, though. I'm pulling myself out of this particular vote."

x

“Way to help make a decision,” Kiana jokingly replied through amused chuckles. She couldn’t help the response. Indecisiveness didn’t help anyone, and she was sure that if she and the others were hungry there was also a chance that Thomas was too. Then again the guy just may have been polite, which was appreciated but completely unhelpful.

There was a pause of awkward silence that seemed to fall amongst the group, but then again maybe it was always kind of awkward. She just didn’t notice it until it was actually silent. Kiana had turned her face forwards and missed Ella’s facial expression of distaste at the idea of Chinese food, so she still figured that she was the only one not really in the mood for it. Despite that though, she couldn’t help but have the idea of a buffet perk her interest a bit.

Chinese or whatever, it usually didn’t matter at a buffet. The owners of those types of restaurants seemed to learn quickly that children and other such people who didn’t like the type of food they normally served needed some actual choices they could make too, so there was normally a salad bar, desert section, soup and chili, and other such things that weren’t exactly related to the traditional foods of their culture. Plus, in Kiana’s point of view it was a chance to try out some foods she’d never tasted before. Since some places tended to charge for each person at the table, it made picking out a dish you didn’t like more forgivable than in a traditional restaurant. Also second servings didn’t cost you. Her experimental spirit was encouraged, and she was always up for trying something new.

Making her decision, Kiana grabbed at the rim and back of her ratted baseball cap and pulled them further down her head as she looked at the Chinese Buffet that seemed to have caught Quinn’s eye. “A buffet actually sounds pretty good right now,” she spoke up once more, “And with the four (or five) of us, chances are it would be a lot cheaper and more fulfilling than any other place we would find. I know we’ve got a bit of money with us now thanks to Quinn up there, but it’s best to be sparing with it while we can.”

After speaking, she contemplated waiting for a response, her desire to make everyone happy getting the better of her only because she didn’t know them all that well yet. She was fortunate they let her come along, and she wouldn’t behave like an ungrateful bitch till it was earned; and really at this moment all they had managed to earn from her was some playful mocking and maybe a quiet wish for them to be struck with whatever cancer their second hand smoke may cause her. Still that wasn’t enough to bring out the rudeness in her yet, but the smell of the cooking that wafted up along the street and the growling of her stomach were too much to resist. Chances were that the act of making a group decision could lead to them walking up along the streets of Vegas all night, and she couldn’t bring herself to handle that.

So, without even bothering to wait for a response Kiana did a speedy march across the street and into the Chinese Buffet to grab a table for the four… or five of them.

Ella shrugged and followed Kiana, abandoning the other two on the sidewalk and crossing the street. While Kiana made it across without a second thought, the moment Ella stepped out there was a car there, honking at her obstruction. She put a hand out and slid to the side reflexively, their brakes slamming as she weaved away and on to the restaurant. Just her luck, stupid fucking car.

The restaurant was rather dim inside, with most of the light radiating from heat lamps above the food, further back in the room. Ella wondered how long that food had been sitting there, but didn't voice her opinion. Kiana had just ordered a table from an elder chinese lady behind a podium. Next to the podium was a fountain, filled with four or five giant goldfish. Ella watched the fish for a while, waiting for the rest of the group to catch up.

"I wonder if that is on the menu," she said half to her self, pointing at the goldfish.

Quinn just smiled at Thomas, trying to keep her opinions and feelings to herself. She looked towards the Chinese buffet, thinking they were not going there; however, she saw Kiana and Ella cross the street and go into the restaurant. She sighed, but followed suit, a tad bit glad they were eating somewhere she pointed out. Hopefully, they had something besides Chinese food at this place- probably pizza- to satisfy the Asian Cuisine haters in the group.

As she walked into the restaurant, she almost went blind. The lighting was so different compared to the sunny, cloudless sky. Here, everything was dim, she could count all the lights on two hands. But the dim lights were made up by the wonderful smell of the food. She could make out all the sea food, what she was probably going to stuff her face with. She waited with Kiana and Ella for the others, and for a table.

"Wouldn't that be interesting," Kiana commented in a pondering manner to Ella. She couldn't help but follow the other woman's line of sight and imagine the idea of eating the goldfish. "I wonder how they would taste?"

She didn't have much time to come up with an idea though, since soon after she asked the question the hostess she had just been talking to had returned from checking over the tables with a welcoming smile on her face.

"Right this way, please," the older woman greeted kindly before grabbing a small menu and heading off in the direction of one of the tables in the room with enough room for six people, let alone for or five. The woman waited next to it as the others sat down for what would probably be more than a minute.

"I told them we were a party of five, just in case," Kiana explained to the others, almost sensing their confusion on the 6 chairs.

Soon after her words a younger man headed in the direction of their table ready to take their order. "What would you like to drink tonight?" he asked in a manner that clearly told of his repetition of the words. It wasn't as nice or welcoming as much as the older ladies, but it was clear he was trying despite his weariness.

"Coke for me!" was all Kiana said before getting up from the table again, "Can we just go fix up our plates now?" The man just nodded and never even got the chance to verbally reply due to Kiana's quick way of leaving him there to go grab a plate and cover it with whatever looked appetizing.

"Salad first. Salad first. Salad first," was all she chanted to herself as she let the others fend for themselves.