Chapter 19

Trevor and Mike were seated in his living room in the morning, sipping wine which was from the new bottle Mike bought.

"So you're going then?"

Trevor nodded. He wasn't exactly excited at the thought, but his father barely asks for anything. Plus, he'd be going to a familiar environment with familiar people. People he hadn't talked to in a while.

"I can't believe the moment I'm back, you're leaving," Mike whined.

Trevor gave him a look. "You left for more than the time you promised. I didn't complain then, so don't complain now."

Mike paused when he realized he had no rebuttal to that. Because Trevor was right.

"It's only for a few days. Less than three days. Tomorrow is just when I'm going to hang out at my hotel and wait, till the next day, in the afternoon when everything is starting," Trevor said. "I think I might take Sam with me too," he added after a thought. He needs to go back to school."

"Me?!"

The two men turned to see Sam standing by the stairs, looking stumped.

"Yes, you," Trevor said before turning back to look at Mike, who shrugged. He wasn't going to get involved in their incoming disagreement.

"But I still need to talk to Coco."

"I want you to prepare yourself because we're leaving by tomorrow. I already prepared everything." He took a sip of his wine.

"Without telling me?!" Sam moved to stand in front of his, hands crossing his chest, looking very unhappy. "Trevor, I'm not a child and-"

"I'm going to tell Dad and Mom if you don't get your shit together," Trevor said, calm but obviously annoyed. "I've left you to your devices because I'm not your parent, but I'm tired of you going everywhere but your classes all these years. And don't say it's not my business, since you're always making it mine. You're not doing any work, or have any productive hobbies, so I think it's best you go back to school."

"But Coco-"

"Has her own shit to do and probably doesn't want to see you for a while," Trevor interrupted again, standing now as he looked at his brother, frowning. "You have less than two years left. You've changed courses multiple times. You've been asked if you wanted to learn something that has nothing to do with academics, but you haven't said anything. I'm sure Coco will be fine not dealing with a man who's not passionate about anything and has nothing going for him but his daddy's money... Which is good in some instances, but in this one... Not."

The room was quiet now. Sam seemed to be taking in his words, though unwillingly. He looked subdued.

"If you don't have anything else to say, then you can leave the room let me continue talking to my friend," Trevor said, sitting right back down.

Sam opened his mouth to say something, but stopped. He looked at his brother, then turned to Mike who was quietly watching. Then he just sighed and left for his room.

Trevor returned to sipping his drink.

Mike spoke after a minute. "That was crazy," he said.

Trevor shrugged.

"You're so weird, you know."

"Nothing I haven't heard before."

"Like, how can you be angry with someone and talk so calmly?" Trevor added. "I'm pretty sure you didn't get it from your Dad... Or Mom, considering I've met them both."

Trevor looked at him in amusement. "There's no reason why I should be raising my voice. I don't like people doing it to me, so I don't do it to anyone."

"So weird," Mike said. "I wish I were like that though."

Trevor just laughed.

***

She was getting ready. It was around 6pm and since she'd slept althrough the morning, she couldn't sleep at noon and decided to look through all she'd packed.

She looked at the time to discover that Lamont would probably be on his way by now. They were supposed to go together.

They had a flight to get to by 8pm. The city the party was being held wasn't too far, but Tina had to go early and wait. She hates being late, even by mistake. Besides, it was a big opportunity, and even Lamont who's usually a latecomer didn't complain when she told him her thoughts.

When Lamont arrived in a taxi, she was already waiting by her door. On getting his call to open her gate, she wasted no time. They got her small bag for clothes and all inside the car before she got in to sit beside her friend.

"You're on time," Tina said. "Thank God."

"Well, it's the plan," Lamont said, grinning.

She couldn't help but smile back at him as the car started and they were being driven to the airport. It would take them about 30 minutes to get there and Tina just sat back in silence, forcing herself not to worry like she usually does whenever she's planning to fly.

Thankfully, by the time she opened her eyes, they were already at the airport. And it was all smooth sailing from there since they weren't late.

A few hours later after getting off the flight and landing in the glamorous city, they got to their hotel and settled down.

Since it was nighttime, all they wanted to do was eat and then go straight to bed. And that's what they did.

Except the fact that Tina was bothered about something, thoughts swirling as she twisted and turned in the bed she was sharing with her best friend. Seeing as there were no other rooms, they were in the same bed and room, and that made Lamont susceptible to whatever mood she was in. Unfortunately.

She was excited. And nervous. She'd never been good at socializing, and she knew doing that would be her company's saving grace. There was a reason she let Lamont do all the talking when it came to meeting lots of people. She was only good when it came to one-on-one contact.

Forcing herself to relax, she turned to her side for the umpteenth time.

"Are you okay?"

She paused, turning to Lamont. "You're not asleep?" she asked, trying to see him in the dark.

"Nah. Not yet. Also, it's not possible considering your constant movements."

She sighed. "I'm sorry." Then she proceeded to lay on her back. "I'm just... thinking."

"About the party?"

"Yeah," she replied, seeing no need to lie.

"It's okay. Everything will work out, I'm confident."

She found that funny for some reason. "How are you confident? Do you know anyone in Vinium?"

"Nope," he said after laughing a bit. "I'm just sure something good will happen. My stepmom is into all these spiritual stuffs, so she said to remain hopeful and if I have that, it'll all work out."

"That sounds..." She stopped herself from completing the sentence. "I dunno if I believe that. That thought doesn't work out for a lot of people. I would know."

Lamont groaned. "Just believe everything will work out. We'll see what happens tomorrow. Oh, and after something awesome happens, better give me and my mom credit."

Tina rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she muttered.

"Now, go to bed. Tomorrow is going to be a big day."

She smiled softly into the night as she accepted his words despite her disbelief. "Goodnight," she said.

"Goodnight, Tina. Sweet dreams."

"You too," she whispered, somehow able to close her eyes and sleep finally.