Oh dear God, her head hurts. It's pounding like crazy. She tried to open her eyes but found them glued shut, denying her request. Prying and willing them to open, she squinted. The sun! It's so bright. To make matters worse her stomach is roiling. Her throat is dry, so incredibly dry. To be honest, she feels like that little frog in Frogger (when it gets hit by oncoming traffic).
But wait! Something doesn't feel right. A lot of some things don't feel right, but this is different. Putting her arm over her head, she realized what it is. Raising the sheet she looked and discovered her worst nightmare come true. She's naked!
Now she REALLY feels ill. Her heart sped up and there's a buzzing in her ears. Where the hell is she? Looking around the room, she recognizes she's not at home but in a hotel room. Trying not to freak out, her arm stretched and hit a wall of solid mass. Johnny!
Lifting the sheet again, she looked and found him unclothed too. Oh dear God! That can only mean one thing! Now she's well and truly going to be sick. Getting up carefully, so as to not wake him, she slowly got out of the bed. Her head is spinning just standing. It's as if there's a giant hot air balloon under her skull slowly being filled, to lift off the ground. The pressure mounting the whole time.
Taking the comforter off, and wrapping herself in it, she put her shoes on (which the stupid boots didn't want to cooperate) and went to the bathroom. Glancing around the room, as she went, helped her see they're in some kind of a suite. At least they had sense enough to get a nice room.
In the bathroom, she closed the door and sequestered herself. One glance in the mirror told her, she looks like she feels. Her eyes are puffy and her hair truly is criminal, as her idiot brother described it. Why is it SO stinking huge? It never looks this big in the mornings. It's usually straight and flat, with maybe a little wave (if she leaves curlers in overnight).
After washing her face and grabbing a toothbrush from the holder, she put toothpaste on it and brushed her teeth. Brushing her teeth always makes her feel better, especially when she feels ill (like today). It was when she was rinsing her mouth out, that she noticed something. It's a small thing, really, but big enough to change her life forever.
Gasping for breath, she's seriously begun to think she's going to faint! No, no, no, no, no! This can't be happening! Maybe if she closes her eyes it will be gone. Her eyes snapped shut. Counting to three, she opened them one eye at a time. Taking a deep breath and looking down again, her eyes filled with tears. Nope! It's still there, shining for all the world to see. A golden ring on her ring finger. Oh, God! This is like a backward version of the Twelve Days of Christmas. She does not want a golden ring!
Then she barfed into the toilet. After vomiting all of yesterday's meals, she got up and brushed her teeth again. Closing the toilet lid and sitting on top of it, with her head in her hands, she thought and thought. She came to the conclusion that maybe this can be salvaged. Maybe they're not really married. It's just a joke. That's what this is, a terrible horrible joke. Sneaking into the bedroom, she grabbed her underwear, Johnny's white T-shirt, and put them on. Then she searched for a marriage license. To be married you have to have a marriage license.
If she were a marriage license, where would she be? First she searched her purse. No luck. Then his bag. Nope, nothing but clothes and toiletries in there. OK it has to be around here somewhere, right? Or maybe not because this is a joke.
She searched every drawer on the desk, the table in the room's foyer, the coffee table in front of the sofa, the nightstand, even the refrigerator, and found nothing. But then she searched his pants pockets and found... one crisp, folded, marriage license.
Holding it up, with shaky hands, she took it back to her office. Sitting on the toilet, she stared at both the gold ring on her finger and the license. The one that says she's a married woman. And oh God, she's a married woman! It's written right there in... purple ink. Ava Leigh Lawrence. The official seal of Nevada is stamped on it, as is the Little Chapel On The Strip logo. This just keeps getting better and better.
She can picture it now in her addled head. "Hi Mom and Dad. Guess what? I went to Vegas and got married. It says so right here in purple ink curtesy of the Little Chapel On The Strip. Sorry, but we can't have that gorgeous wedding we've always dreamed about." Her head hung and the tears fell. Sobbing with heaving chest, she began to hyperventilate. She'll be disowned and put out into the street. Her parents will never speak to her again. Forget college, she has to figure out how to live and get by now.
And Johnny... Sid will murder him. She can't think about that. They're married, legally, and in truth. There's no annulling this cause it's obvious they consummated it. She feels it, as her lower half aches, along with everything else inside her. Making a quick adjustment, the toilet lid came up and she barfed a second time into the bowl. She just has to remember how this happened. How?!!
Getting up and pacing, she tried to recall. Slowly it came back. All of it. She was driving down the street and Johnny said "Take a left to I-10 and E/San Bernardino. Stay on I-10 until you see signs for Barstow/Vegas."
This is insane! "Johnny we can't go to Vegas. That's just nuts. Plus it's four hours away and do we even have enough money?"
He smirked his stupid smirk, and told her "I've got my MasterCard, so yeah we're good." Sid is going to pay for all of this. He feels like crap and he just wants to get away for a while. He told her so. "Look I just want to go somewhere and clear my head. I need to. Going home, where I'll be called a loser again, just isn't what I want to hear. Going to Malibu will make me able to be found, by the guys. I don't want to be found right now. I want to be lost with you, somewhere else." His head turned and stared out the window.
It's apparent he's not thinking clearly and is in emotional pain. Reaching her hand out, she took his. "OK we'll go to Vegas. But we can't be there long. Christmas is in a few days." He turned from the window and gave her a smile, a genuine one. The one that shows his beautiful, pearly, white teeth off. It made her heart flutter.
Alright, so that's how they ended up here. But what about the whole getting married part? Because evidently she was also drunk. Think, think fuzzy brain...
They had just arrived in Vegas. The lights of the casinos blinding the night sky. Johnny instructed her to go to the MGM Grand. "It's a nice resort. We'll get a suite." Following his advice, she pulled up to the Grand. The valet took her keys and car and drove it off to park. They held hands and went to the check-in desk, like any normal couple in love.
The lady at the desk booked them a large suite, gave them the key, and said "Welcome to Vegas. May all your dreams come true and your luck never run out." Yes, welcome to Vegas indeed. In the suite, Johnny threw his bag on the floor and hopped onto the bed. He lay there looking up at the ceiling. Ava joined him.
She was thinking over the food situation, when a whimper sounded out. Turning her head, she saw tears rolling down her boyfriend's cheeks. Tears are how the heart speaks, when the lips cannot describe how much it's been hurt. Her heart clinched and broke for him. Sitting up and scooting closer to his side, as close as she could get, her hands reached out and brought him (willingly) to her. As his tears continued to fall, she held him through it, stroked his hair, and rubbed his back.
When his tears subsided, she caressed his face and spoke with a soft voice. "You're not a loser." That was all she said. It was enough for now.
Wiping his face, he thought about his life. What is he going to do? With a strangled voice he spoke, his first words in over four hours."The All Valley is all I had left. He took it from me with one stupid kick to the face. I could've sworn that was illegal. But then Kreese threatened Bobby and I, if we didn't do illegal moves too." He whimpered again, trying to hold himself together. "I came in second. I am a loser. And then to get choked out by my Sensei, who called me a loser too..." Some tears fell. "He was like a father to me." Then they all fell again.
Oh how she hates that man! She has a good mind to go to him, when they get back, and tell him off. He has no idea the amount of emotional hurt he inflicted. Johnny has had enough emotional hurt to last a lifetime. "Just because you lost doesn't make you a loser. It's not about winning or losing, it's about being yourself and trying your best. Johnny, I'm proud of you. After losing you handed Daniel the trophy. That says more about who you are, than any amount of winning ever could."
He clung to her. She soothed him. "Life seems to always knock you down. You've had sadness and failures before. But one things remains the same, you always get up John Lawrence. And you find a way to win. That's what winners do. You're a winner. I still love you. That doesn't change either. I'm still proud to be yours and to be seen with you. My love isn't conditional on winning or losing. It's based on who you are. And I love who you are."
Reaching for her, he pulled her down. "I just want you to hold me." They locked legs and she wrapped her arms around him. He doesn't think people understand how tiring it is being strong and OK, when really you're so close to the edge all the time. But Ava gets it. It's easy being his true self with her. Which is why he can cry in front of her and not feel stupid.
They laid there, holding each other, for a while. When her stomach growled, they chuckled and knew it was time to get up. Not feeling like room service, the two went downstairs. The bar is open and serves burgers, fries, and a bunch of other similar things, at this time of night. They both ordered burgers and fries.
After dinner, the booze came. He ordered a whisky, straight and strong. It's much stronger than the beer he usually drinks, but he doesn't care. His buzz started to grow and he noticed Ava taking sips of beer (and she never drinks).
It was at her third beer, knowing she's a total lightweight, that she began to feel tipsy and drunk.
She snapped out of her memories. This is how it started. This is the part of the story where the marriage came in. They were both drunk and the bartender came over to them.
"You two look like a sweet couple," he said.
Johnny took one glance at his girl and told him (a little too loudly and a little dramatic) "She's the best part of me. She's the love of my life, Man. I'm going to marry her."
The bartender looked thoughtful. "You know there's a twenty-four hour marriage chapel just right down the street. You could tie the knot there. Pretty cheap too, but legal. And nice. Real nice." He put emphasis on the real.
Her head spun at his words. Then she crooned "We could get married for real. Our love forever sealed."
She stopped pacing in the bathroom. What is that? Our love forever sealed. Was she high?There's no way this was all her idea! She was as drunk as a raccoon who fell into a tub of moonshine. Her memories continued.
Looking at his girlfriend, he announced "Yes. Yes we could. Let's do it Babe. Let's get married for Christmas. I love you. You love me." Then song lyrics came to his head. "The first, my last, my everything. And the answer to all my dreams. You're my sun, my moon, my guiding star. My kind of wonderful, that's what you are. I know there's only, only one like you. There's no way, they could have made two. You're all I'm living for. Your love I'll keep for evermore. You're the first, you're the last, my everything. Ava you're the first, you're the last, you're my everything!"
He got off the bar stool and knelt on one knee. "Ava Green marry me, tonight? You're eighteen and I'm eighteen."
With tears in her eyes, she said "Yes."
Oh God! She was proposed to by cheesy song lyrics and influenced by alcohol and a pair of bright blue eyes. Stupid Barry White song. And how the heck does he even know it? He gets annoyed every time she plays soft rock, like the Bangles. Running her hands through her hair, she sat on the edge of the tub.
The patrons at the bar restaurant clapped. They both beamed, paid, and walked (no, stumbled) out the resort door. After asking the valet which direction the chapel is, they took off. Down the street the couple laughed, high on love and alcohol.
When they arrived at Little Chapel On The Strip, the officiant and his wife (helper, assistant) greeted them. "Hello and welcome to the best wedding chapel in Vegas. I can tell you two are young and in love. What a cute couple you make! Come on in and Sandi here will help you get things started."
Sandi handed them a brochure with different kinds of marriage packages. There's the traditional package, the Elvis package, the mob wedding package (to which Ava instantly said no much to Johnny's displeasure), and a scenic wedding package (which is ridiculous since it's late at night). They ended up choosing the Elvis package.
Breaking out of her thoughts again, Ava tugged at her hair. Dear Lord! Not only is the wedding license signed in purple ink, and they got married at a Vegas chapel, but they were married by an Elvis impersonator. Her mother will die and both of her grandmothers will faint. Her mood is very Elvis moody blue.
The Little Chapel on the strip offers gown and tux rentals, fresh bouquets, hair and makeup, professional photography, rings, and so much more. And all of this for the low price of $129 (that's the cost of the Elvis special)!! How could you say no to that? It would be foolish not to.
So off to the back Ava went with Sandi, who happened to be dressed in a gold lame' dress. Another girl, Candy, did her makeup and styled her hair. Big, big 80's blow out hair. But both she and Johnny just wanted to be married, no frills. Once her hair and makeup had been freshened, down the red carpeted aisle she went. Up to the altar she walked, to the music of Elvis's Can't Help Falling In Love. Her walk carried her straight to Johnny's waiting arms, loving smile, and the Elvis impersonator (who had dressed in Elvis's white rhinestoned suit for the occasion). Nothing says love like a bedazzled jumpsuit, chest hair, and Elvis.
The impersonator led them in their vows and the exchange of rings. Then when Elvis uttered "I pronounce you hunka' hunka' burnin' love, man and wife", complete with hip gyrations, they sealed their love with a kiss. A hot, steamy kiss, that promises more. The chapel attendants clapped and the newlyweds signed all of the legal documents, in purple ink. Once the license had been filed, and all was well, they headed back to the resort as Mr. and Mrs. John Lawrence.
Up to their suite they rushed, threw open the door, and proceeded to eliminate every stitch of clothing. Things got hot, steamy, passionate, and mind blowing, at a speed of zero to thirty in the matter of seconds. Every kiss and movement a new declaration of love. Before he passed out, Johnny uttered with semi-clarity "I'll never stop falling in love with you. I love you Ava Lawrence."
That is a memory she doesn't need to dwell on. No. Not now. What to do? Christmas is almost here. The last thing she wants to give her family is a son-in-law. She can hide the fact they're married and buy time to come up with a plan for this... this... this boondoggle. But is it really a boondoggle? No, it's just a doggle. But to their families it would seem much worse.
Maybe he will be so hungover, he won't remember any of what happened. That would be the best case scenario. The one in which she prayed for. But how would she explain his wearing no clothes? No lies. Just a true confession of they had sex and that's it. The only thing she really needs to do is get his wedding band off and hide it away in her purse, along with the marriage license and her own ring. Then when they return home, she will figure out where they'll live and what they'll live on. Cause in the real world you can't live on love.
Her nerves returned full force. Oh God! They haven't even graduated high school! Putting her hands over her eyes, her knees threatened to buckle. She willed herself to be calm. With deep breaths, she opened the bathroom door. Careful enough not to make it squeak.
Johnny still hasn't moved from his face down position. That's great! Tiptoeing quietly into the room, she came to kneel beside the bed. His head is facing toward her and his left arm is hanging down, off the edge. It's a perfect position. Spying the gold band on his ring finger, she ever so gently touched her own fingers to it. Seeing that it's kind of loose, thank heavens for small mercies, she began twisting and lightly pulled it off.
The wedding band had just been secured in her hand, when Johnny's blue eyes snapped open.
**Author's Note**
Song lyrics curtesy of Barry White: You're The First, The Last, My Everything.