This sucks.

Why the hell did I come here?

I thought about this over and over again. The whole trip was going to be a disaster. Why Las Vegas? Why not…Milwaukee? Or Albany? Somewhere mild. I don’t have the guts for a place like this – strippers, casinos, celebrities, flashy lights…What I wouldn’t give now to be back in my room finishing East of Eden, having a mixed drink maybe.

My friend Jack had been talking about this trip for months, so I couldn’t let him down by not going. Still, I didn’t think I would be too upset when we left.

But…it was 6:00pm and we were unpacking in our hotel room. A suite in the MGM Grand. It was a large room, with white furniture and two separate bedrooms both with wide views of the Strip. Jack just threw his suitcase on his bed and changed into his evening wear (a black jacket, black shirt, gold tie, and sunglasses – because that’s what high-rollers wear, even at night, he told me), while I was still unpacking everything I had with me.

“Dude, what the fuck are you doin’?” he said. “We gotta get out there and party!!!” He did the rocker sign and the Kiss tongue-thing. I sighed. I was tired and wishing I hadn’t forgotten my book.

He continued, “We’re gonna go out, win a thousand bucks, get wasted, and nail some hot Vegas chicks!” I rolled my eyes. “Dude,” he said. “Why aren’t you excited? Just because it’ll be your first time with a girl…”

“Hey!” I said. While I may be a literature nerd, I was definitely no prude. I had had sex before. Just…well, Jack doesn’t know this but, it was with guys. He had never seen me with a girl (obviously) and whenever I went on a date with a guy, we’d go to his place. I wasn’t really out of the closet yet.

“I’ll give you a call a little bit later,” I said.

“Ah, dude! Alright, don’t forget, man.” He slipped on a fake Rolex and went downstairs. I finished unpacking.

After about an hour of just resting, I decided to do something. I didn’t really know what though. I figured Jack had already had enough of the casino and was heading to the bar to hit on some girls. Jack was like that. I don’t think he’s ever had a steady girlfriend (steady meaning a second date). And I was his college roommate, so I could hear every night how good he was with the ladies. I expected to hear those same carnal sounds tonight, too. Hoping that Jack wouldn’t be in the casino to drag me with him, I went down and played a few slots.

I lost. And lost. Five bucks. Twenty.