Post by Danielle Basch on Oct 8, 2017 15:36:00 GMT -5
Interstate 15
Barstow, CA
Friday, October 06, 2017
Donovan wraps his massive fingers around the steering wheel of their Maserati Levante as he gazes into the passenger’s seat. Danni sat there, her head resting against the shoulder strap, sound asleep. How she could possibly sleep like that is beyond him. With a light, barely audible chuckle, he shakes his head and starts the engine. He pulls out onto the street, heading back toward the highway, continuing in relative silence until he merges into the flow of traffic on Interstate 15. Danni sits in blissful slumber until Donovan turns on the stereo, and the sound of “Sucker for Pain” by Imagine Dragons rips through the speakers, when she quickly snaps out of her slumber.
Danni: Huh, what? Did I fall asleep?
Donovan: You fell asleep about half an hour after we got on the 5, Danni. I figured it best not to wake you. I did stop at a local fast food place while you were asleep. I put the food in the insulated bag behind my seat.
Danni reaches behind the driver’s seat, fumbling around until she manages to grab the bag that was placed there. She pulls it into the front seat and opens it to reveal a Big Mac and an order of fries. Sitting in one of the cupholders is a cup of brown, bubbling soda.
Danni: You’re about the last person I’d expect to walk into a McDonalds...
Donovan: Did I get it right, though? You did say that the Big Mac was your favorite thing here, right?
She takes a sip of the beverage, letting the bubbles dance on her tongue before letting it flow down her throat.
Danni: Mmmm... Diet Coke, no ice! Yeah, you did. Burger’s still pretty warm, too. Wait a minute... where are we?
At that moment, Danni looks ahead, just in time to pass directly beneath a sign that reads:
“15 North – Las Vegas”
The color immediately drains from her face as she drops the bag containing her burger into her lap, her face frozen in a deer-in-the-headlights expression. Her hand seizes the roof handle in a grip so tight that her knuckles turn completely white as she screams.
Danni: Donovan... WHAT THE FUCK ARE WE DOING ON THE 15!? ARE YOU TRYING TO GIVE ME A PANIC ATTACK!?
Oddly unsurprised at her outburst, Donovan manages to keep his eyes on the road, an attempt at a reassuring look on his face as he reaches over to place a hand on her trembling thigh.
Donovan: Calm down, Danni... everything’s fine so far. We hit some congestion about a half an hour ago, but that was due to a bunch of people that just couldn’t stop staring at the car that had stalled on the side of the road.
Danni gradually begins to calm down, but is still a little shaken, her hand still gripping the handle.
Danni: So, what city are we in right now?
Donovan: In case you hadn’t figured out from the McDonalds, we just left Barstow.
Danni: Barstow? So... we’re past Victorville?
She finally releases the handle, slowly lowering her hand back to her lap.
Donovan: Why do you ask? What happened in Vic...
Donovan pauses as the realization hits him. He knows better than to finish his sentence.
Donovan: Right... I remember. Look, Nixy; everything is going to be fine. You’ll just have to trust me to keep you safe, okay?
Danni: If you say so....
Donovan: Have I ever let you down before?
Danni: Of course not....
Donovan: Now that that’s out of the way, your burger’s getting cold.
Danni: Oh... right. And Donny?
Donovan: Yeah?
Danni: I’ll try not to freak out for the rest of this trip. It’s just that... it’s the first time I’ve been there since... well, you know.
Donovan: I know, Danni... I know.
Donovan reaches for Danni’s hand, gripping it tightly as he shoots her a quick smile. Finally allowing herself to relax, she opens the box and pulls out her burger.
Bellagio Conservatory and Botanical Garden
Las Vegas, NV
Saturday Afternoon
Danni and Donovan walk around the grounds, taking in the various floral displays. Both wrestlers have shopping bags hanging from their arms, labeled from such locations as Excalibur, Luxor, and the Miracle Mile Shops.
One particular display catches Danni’s eye; the centerpiece of the Bellagio’s fall display, a pair of peacocks sitting amidst a field of flowers. The vibrant range of blues, greens and yellows seem to stretch almost to the roof. Despite the beauty of the display in front of her, however, Danni has a somewhat disappointed look on her face.
Danni: Hmm... I was hoping for more of a Halloween-oriented display, but this is equally as impressive.
Donovan: The sheer amount of time that went into this display is amazing, isn’t it?
She shakes her head.
Danni: You’ll get no argument from me. If I didn’t know those were giant floral arrangements, I’d half expect them to get up and fly around the room!
Donovan looks up at the oversized birds, stroking his goatee, his steel blue eyes lost in thought.
Donovan: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a peacock in flight. You’d think those tailfeathers would weigh them down.
The pair turn around, weaving between the clusters of tourists as they make their way back toward the entrance.
Danni: I’ve never seen it in person, but I’ve seen videos. They can fly, but not for long distances. Like you mentioned, not only do the tailfeathers weigh them down, but their wings are a bit small in relation to their bodies.
Donovan clears his throat as they reach the Bellagio’s main entrance. He stands aside, allowing her to pass through the revolving door first. As they emerge on the other side, they notice they’ve arrived just in time to catch the hourly Fountain show. As they find an open spot along the railing, the Pink Panther Theme begins to play. This sends Danni into a mild giggling fit.
Donovan: What’s so funny?
Danni lets out a sigh in an effort to curb her laughter. After a couple of deep breaths, she looks up at Donovan and smiles.
Danni: Oh, I’m just remembering a guy that used to wrestle for the same company as me about a year ago. This was his entrance theme.
Donovan: I think Jason mentioned something about him once... he used to think he was some sort of pink superhero.
Danni: That would be him. It was one of the most ridiculous things I’d ever seen!
Donovan: Not to change the subject, but after seeing what they do inside for the fall, I almost wonder what this place looks like around Christmas. Speaking of which... we need to finalize the travel arrangements for our honeymoon.
Danni: About that; I was thinking...
Donovan tilts his head to the side, narrowing his eyes as a look of mild concern washes over his face.
Donovan: Uh-oh... no man likes to hear those words from the woman he loves....
Danni shakes her head, giving him a reassuring smile.
Danni: Relax, Spidey. It’s nothing bad. But with the wedding being so close to Christmas, a part of me would prefer to spend it at home, you know? I want to put up a tree, decorate the house, hang stockings, the whole nine yards. I’m not saying I want to delay our honeymoon for very long. Just until after the new year.
Donovan: I suppose that makes sense. But in any event, I still think we should plan where we want to go.
Danni: You know, being here in Vegas does give me an idea.
Donovan: It does?
Danni: Well, yeah. I mean... look around. Down the street, you have Paris. If you look across the street over there...
She points to the corner north of where they are standing. One of the various fountains of Caesar’s Palace marks the corner, surrounded by several Roman columns.
Danni: Caesar’s Palace. Plus, you’ve got the Monte Carlo, Luxor, the Palazzo, the Venetian... You could practically travel the world just by walking down one street!
Donovan: Now that I think about it, I am feeling a little bit inspired. How does this sound?
Donovan leans in to whisper into Danni’s ear. Once he’s finished, he straightens back up, a satisfied smile on his face. Danni returns his smile with one of her own, coupled with an approving nod.
Danni: You know... I like your idea even better!
Donovan: I thought you would. But, since we’re here, what do you say we head over to Cartier and see about some gifts for the wedding party?
Danni: Whoa... fancy!
She flashes her fiancé an impressed smirk.
Donovan: Danielle, I only want to do this once in my lifetime, so I want to make sure I do this right. And to me, that means EVERYONE goes first class....
The use of Danni’s full first name does not go unnoticed. Yet this time, she doesn’t seem the least bit bothered by it. It could be because of the person saying it, but it would make him the first person to say it without pissing her off.
Danni and Donovan head toward the escalator that leads from the street to the pedestrian walkway that would lead the pair across Flamingo Road. They continue discussing their plans as they eventually disappear into the river of humanity moving down the walkway in both directions.