Betting Against the Odds (10 page)

I blushed as he moved me towards the restaurant as we sat down at the table with Luke and Anna. The place was awesome it was intimate and pose and the food was amazing. We were all having a blast laughing and flirting when the music changed the song “Only Exception,” playing in the background. Luke grabbed Anna standing her up well he knelt on one knee the crowd in the restaurant growing quiet.

“Annabeth I have been with you for almost 4 years, I love everything about you, and I know we have been through a lot but even when we were broken up you were mine and I was yours. I want to spend the rest of my life with you as my cupcake, my love, my wife. I want to have babies with you lots of them and I want to wake up every day knowing you are next to me. My cupcake will you do me the honor of being my wife? Will you marry me?”

I grabbed a hold of Matt’s hand as I held my breath waiting for Anna to answer. She cried shaking her head yes wildly.

“Yes Lucas I want to be you wife,” he put the ring on her finger as the kissed passionately the crowd going crazy as well as Matt and I both jumping up and down in joy.

Matt grabbed a hold of me pulling my face towards him, “Happy Valentine’s Day love. May I kiss you?”

I shook my head yes as his lips descended upon mine making me moan in pleasure before he pulled away. I looked over at the happy engaged couple and then at Matt smiling as I thought if this is my last Valentine’s Day of my life than I am very happy about it. It is perfect.

Ch. 10: Pull a Fire Alarm in Crowded Place (Matt’s POV)

            
 
We packed up our bags meeting the twins in the lobby of the hotel.  We all said bye as they kissed Penelope and Anna well making us promise to visit again which we agreed to immediately. We gathered into the taxi getting stuck in the traffic on the way to the airport Anna and Luke were cuddled together enjoying the afterglow of their proposal which turned out awesome. Speaking of awesome Penelope was absolutely a dream come true in that dress bringing out her eyes I couldn’t not kiss her and when she gave me permission to my heart thumped in anticipation. I know I messed up with the whole letting Isabella get to me again but I have a feeling Penelope is starting to slowly let me in again.

I looked at her as she glanced out the window looking at all the buildings like she was trying to burn it into her memory. I touched her shoulder softly gaining her attention her beautiful grey eyes looking into mine. I smiled thinking about our kiss.

“How are you love? You excited for New Orleans?” she smiled as she shook her head answering my questions.

“Oh yea I can’t wait I have always read about that place I mean ghosts, voodoo, witches, haunted houses, and the plus of it all Mardi Gras”, she clapped her hands in excitement making me even more happy that I met her.

Anna laughed out loud at Penelope’s enthusiasm, “So Pen are we actually going to participate in the parade?”

Luke and I both shouted, “No” at the same time causing the girls to look at us then each other. They started giggling like crazy as we pulled up to the airport. We gathered the bags making our way through the whole process of boarding a plane except there was a small problem the flight was delayed for a couple hours causing us to have to wait around the airport until it was time.

We sat in a circle by each other deciding to play cards. I took out my deck giving Penelope a wink, “Let’s see if I can beat you this time.”

She laughed cracking her knuckles, “Oh it is on like Donkey Kong.”

Luke snorted, “You did not just say that,” we laughed as Penelope shrugged her shoulders, “Let’s make this interesting whoever wins gets to bet everyone to do one thing.”

We all looked at each other agreeing to play the way Luke wanted to I was praying I win. We played five sets of black jack Penelope and Luke were head to head the next hand one.

I had my fingers crossed for Penelope as Anna cheered for both not wanting to be bias. They flipped over their cards Penelope cards bust well Luke got a 21. Damn.

Luke jumped up in excitement doing a little chicken dancing that Anna laughed at. He sat back down wearing an evil grin and to say we weren’t scared was an understatement.

“So peeps what should I make you three do?”

“You make me do something stupid or embarrassing and you will not get any sex from me for a month,” Anna spoke.

Luke opened his mouth closing it, “Fine I dare you to go up to the next person to walk by and kiss them.”

“What?”

“You heard me cupcake.”

“Fine,” she glanced around right when a young pilot was walking by she smiled widely giving us a wink as she sauntered up to him grabbing the guys face kissing him on the lips.

She walked away from the stunned guy back to an angry Luke, “Don’t give me a dare like that Luke unless you are prepared for the consequences.”

Luke glared but continued his dare by going to me next, “I dare you to see sing Miley Cyrus “Wrecking Ball” out loud right now.”

Penelope started giggling well my face heated up, “Dude, are you serious?”

He shook his head as I walked to the middle of the aisle clearing my throat to sing. Luke put on the music as I sang at the top of my lungs people going by laughing, taking videos, and some actually were dropping coins next to me.  By the time I was done with my performance I was sure I had about five Youtube videos of me and about seven dollars in change.

I made my way back to the group as they all were red face laughing I glared at them all waiting for them to quit laughing. Penelope noticed my face as she came towards me grabbing my face and giving me a hard kiss.

“That was great babe. Absolutely great”

I grabbed her around the waist pulling her in for another kiss, “Stop laughing love because you’re next.”

She got quiet as she moved her eyes towards a grinning Luke. She got tense so I gave her a shoulder rub trying to calm her.

“So Pen you are next and I decided that we will do something off your bucket list,” we all got quiet thinking of which one he was going to choose, “I dare you to pull a fire alarm.”

Penelope grew pale as she whispered yelled to him, “Are you crazy? I can get arrested.”

I had to agree with her I didn’t like this at all but Luke looked determined to cross this off so I voiced the first thing I thought, “If she does it we all do it so we don’t get arrested.”

Luke agreed well Anna kept saying “hell no”. I didn’t feel good about this but we were going for it. Luke and Anna were on look out as Penelope and I went towards the furthest fire alarm.

I clutched her hand making her turn to me, “Are you sure about this love? I mean we could just skip this and try it again like next year or something.”

I don’t know what I said but whatever I said had her mind clicking on a look of determination making her eyes turn to steel.

“No I am doing this,” she strode to the alarm grabbing it and turning it on not even hesitating until the alarm started blaring.

She froze as people started going crazy I grasped her pulling he with me so we could go before we were caught we made it to Luke and Anna who looked anxious.

We were about to go running towards the doors when I felt Penelope get tugged out of my arms I turned around to grab her when I noticed the guards holding her. She stared at the floor her hair hiding her face but I knew she was scared.

The guards surrounded us taking us to this long corridor that reminded me of a scary movie; it seemed we were walking forever until we came to a door. They pushed us in as we all took seats waiting for the main guard.

I sat next to Penelope gripping her hand as her breath came in and out faster. I could tell she was scared and to be honest I was scared to my parents will kill me if they find out about this. The head of security came in with another cop sitting across from us peering at us all making us squirm with nerves.

“So why would you four decide to pull a fire alarm in a crowded airport? Do you not realize the chaos you caused? Do you not realize how much trouble you four are in?,” we stayed quiet as he continued, “Fine let’s start with this whose idea was it?”

None of us answered fearing that if we speak we will be more in trouble, “No answer fine I will call police to have you booked for this incident and I will need your names.”

Anna whimpered well Luke held her. I was about to speak up when Penelope straightened up in her chair looking the security guards in the eye her gaze not wavering, “It was me. I pulled the alarm and it was my idea my friends just happened to be there.”

I was about to protest when she squeezed my hand tightly cutting of my words.

“Okay you want to tell me why?” the officer said.

Penelope gazed at us and back to the officer, “Yes but can we do it privately?”

He nodded his agreement as we were led out of the room Penelope giving us a small smile of encouragement but I felt everything but encouraged.

              Five hours passed without any words from the officers or from Penelope and I was going crazy. I glared at Luke who appeared to be full of guilt and shame. Good he deserved the guilt. Anna was silently crying as we waited for anybody to talk to us.

I was about to go bang on the door until someone came to us to tell us what the hell was going on when the door swung open the head of security bringing Penelope in. She looked like she has been crying making me want to beat up all the officers who dared to make her cry.

The officer stopped to look at us, ‘You guys are free to go now we got everything figured out but let me warn you I do not want to hear about you pulling another stunt like this again because if I do I will have you four locked up in a blink of an eye.”

We all stood up as the officer turned to Penelope, “Good luck with everything call to let me know how everything turns out.”

She smiled at him, “Thank you so much for letting us go. I know what we did was completely wrong and you had every right to lock us up so thank you for listening to me and giving us a chance to finish what we started.

I sauntered up to her grabbing her into my arms tightly kissing her forehead, “What did you tell him?”

Penelope smiled a secret smile, “I told him the truth about my bucket list it took some convincing but they decided to relinquish me or us but we have to go our plane is about to take off and believe me I do not want to be stuck here.”

We all left as we got to the plane. I didn’t ask her anymore questions but I that didn’t mean she was being honest with me. I know there was something she was hiding I just hoped it wouldn’t destroy what relationship we had going on.

              By the time we landed in New Orleans we were too tired to explore so we checked into our hotel room which were two regular rooms but king size bed. Penelope jumped in the shower first coming out in silk pajama pants and a silky red tank top. Her hair was thrown up in a messy bun and she had no makeup but I had to admit she never looked any better than she did now.

She lay on the bed turning on the television to watch “Once upon a time” show that she was obsessed with. I jumped in the shower taking my time to wash all the dirt and stress from my body trying to relax. I closed my eyes picturing Penelope making my body harden in lust not helping me relax at all. I grabbed my hardness in my hand palming him picturing Penelope’s hands on me; her beautiful pouty lips closing over the head as I shuddered grasping myself harder as my body started to tremble in release.

It wasn’t the real thing but it was the best I could do because Lord knows that I don’t want anyone else but her. I got dress making my way to the bed where she was fast asleep. I got into the bed pulling the blankets securely around us pressing a kiss to her forehead as I snuggled into her warmth. It has been a long day but I am glad we made it here.

              The next day we spent playing tourists we walked the streets looking at all the old houses and stopping at the different shops. Anna and Penelope decided that we should eat lunch consisting of fried alligators. It is true what they say it tastes like chicken.

After we were done eating we decided to hit up the different museums and attractions around. We also stopped to book tours for the rest of the week we decided on all the tours which included: cemetery tour, plantation tour, French quarter tours, and the swamp tours.

The girls of course had to go shopping for clothes but they both stopped in front of a palm reader shop deciding that it was worth a try. Luke and I followed protesting the whole way but the girls got what they wanted. Anna was first the palm reader telling her that her past has shaped her future but to not close her eyes just yet because the past is not completely over with for the one who got away will appear again soon. Penelope and I both looked at each other confusion etching our faces as Anna and Luke looked pale. Huh.

Penelope went next as she sat there with her hand being held by the palm reader who looked at her hand in concern meeting Penelope’s gaze before she spoke making us all shiver.

“My poor girl so young so innocent but you have dealt with more than most people at an old age has had to go through. Your lines intersect changing every now and again. You have a future but then you don’t the choice is yours. Heart break will come, enemies will appear, life will seem too hard but just when you give in a light will appear. Love can save you if you let it.”

Penelope gulped looking at the palm reader, “Can you see my choice?”

The lady shook her head slowly, “No only you can see that choice but I will give you this it is a bag of herbs cast with a spell to banish fears and bring in hope. Hold it close child because in the end you will need it and remember when lost in the dark just turn on a light.”

We all left after paying the palm reader as we stood there staring at each other in question but no one was inclined to answer not yet but I will find out what the hell everyone was hiding one way or another.