Deon

The crowd still cheers and I revel in the whistling and applause for a moment before pressing a kiss to Presley's forehead.

I miss this.

Performing at bars, country clubs and arenas back in Nashville. It was my thing back there. I used to perform every weekend at Elysium Arena, The Weekend Bistro and The Bluebird Cafe. But, now I have given up that life because I don't want anything to do with it anymore. I don't want to think about my old life tonight. All I want right now is to be in the moment with my amazing girlfriend.

Pres is incredibly sexy and she can sing really well, but she thinks she's not that great. I almost fucked up the chords as I watched her sing in awe. She was fucking amazing tonight. I plan on worshipping her pussy and showing her exactly how amazing she is when we get some time alone later.

"That," one of the emcees announces, walking onto the stage. It's the pale guy with blue hair. "Was stupendous! Give it up for Deon and Presley, ladies and gentlemen, from Westbeach High."

The crowd goes wild as I sneak a glance at Presley who's smiling adorably at the throng of people in front of us. We bow together before walking backstage where Maddy and Tyler seem to be waiting impatiently.

Maddy's eyes light up when she sees us. "You guys were so fucking good!" She hugs Pres, then me.

"Until the judges send in their final results, y'all can go over to the voting page on our website and vote for the best performance who you think should win the people's choice award," I hear the emcee announce.

Pres and I leave our instruments in the dressing room, and we come out, my family awaits with Jennet and Leonard. "Pesley!" Brianna squeals and Pres greets her by bending down to her height and hugging her. "You did really well on stage. The song was really pretty."

"Thank you, sweetie," Pres says, grinning at my sister. "Although, it was him who wrote the song." She points her thumb in my direction. I carry Bree when she stretches her arms out to me.

"You were really good too, Dee Dee." She beams at me.

"Thanks, Bree," I chuckle. She kisses my cheek before I lower her back down.

The rest of my family and Pres's grandparents compliment us and we thank them.

Not long after that, the emcee's voice booms through the arena. "I have the final results here in my hand. Who wants to know the winners of 'Jingle & Mingle?'" The crowd starts clapping and whistling as Pres looks at me with wide eyes, nervous and excited.

"Do you wanna go over to the front of the stage?" She asks, her voice small.

"Sure—" I start to say, but she's already pulling me by my hand towards the stage's front.

"Aright, everybody!" The female emcee wearing a long silver dress says. "Third place goes to...Olivia Johnson and Charlotte Thompson from Maplewood High School."

I see Pres's face fall and I say, "There are two more prizes."

"I know." She pouts. "But those two girls were so talented. Their performance with the violin and the cello was so freaking great. There's no way we could've beaten them in a competition."

I have my fingers crossed hoping we would win first place or second place, because I don't want her to be sad and brooding when we go to Dad's hotel here in Toronto later...which I haven't yet told her about.

Tomorrow is the first of December—it's her birthday, so I wanted to surprise her. Since the Winter Musical performers from our school are granted a holiday tomorrow, all of us—my family, Presley's, and Tyler and Maddy will all be staying at the hotel until late afternoon tomorrow before we all head home later in the evening. We all talked about it, and everyone agreed, so I really hope Pres likes the surprise.

"The second place goes to..." The anticipation is killing me and Pres—mostly her—as the emcee makes us wait a few seconds before announcing, "Deon Martinez and Presley Jones from Westbeach High!"

Pres head snaps towards me, her whole face lighting up as if I've just given her the whole fucking world before squealing and hugging me tight. "Looks like we are even better than those two girls with the violin and the cello," I whisper in her ear. Her entire face splits into a beguiling smile as she gazes at me, and it nearly steals my breath away.

The crowd starts clapping and whistling, the thundering noise piercing my ears as I trail right behind Pres onto the stage. We both are given trophies, certificates that say 'second place winners at Jingle & Mingle,' and an envelope each that reads $500.

"Finally, what we've all been waiting for...the first place winners are...Karen Wright and Cole Murphy from Hamilton High School of Performing Arts!"

We also happen to be nominated for the people's choice award which added more trophies, certificates, and a cash price of three hundred dollars each. I've never seen Presley so happy and content with herself before.

Mrs. Davis congratulates us just as we get off stage. Then we're bombarded by a few people who ask for some selfies and autographs, which I find ridiculous seeing that this was just a competition.

Finally, we take all our things from the dressing room and get into the Range Rover as Ty, Maddy and Pres's grandparents get into the other car before we all head for the hotel.

* * *

"Hey. Wake up, babe" I whisper in Pres's ear as I drop a kiss onto her hair.

Leaning on my shoulder, Pres rubs at her eyes, yawning as the jeep comes to a halt. She fell asleep during the short, ten minute ride to the hotel. "Where are we?"

"We're at the Spring Brook Hotel, Toronto," I explain.

"Deon, why are we here?" She asks, eyes dazed with sleep. Her hair's a little messy from sleep and the drowsy expression on her face makes her look fucking adorable. "How long does it take to go home?"

"It would take about five and a half hours. We're staying here for the night."

Pres sits bolt upright in the seat beside me, now wide awake. "What? But—but where's Maddy, Tyler, Gramma and Grandpa?" She tries to look outside the jeep's tinted windows.

"Oh, don't worry. They're right behind us," I answer.

"But... but we can't afford this. I mean you can, but I can't. Also, Maddy would probably wanna go home even though it's a little late, and there's enough space in their car for me. Or maybe if Maddy and Tyler want to stay, Gramma, Grandpa and I can take a cab or catch a bus home. Yeah... we probably should." Instantly Pres is out of the jeep and walking towards Maddy's Ford mustang parked behind us.

"Dee Dee, please tell Pesley to stay," Brianna whines from her booster seat in the back.

"Maddy told you it would be near impossible to get her to stay, Dee," Dan says from beside me as the twins in the rear seat on either side of Bree snicker.

"Oh, fuck off, you two," I tell the twins, before getting out of our Range Rover.

"Mind your language, Deon," I hear Mom call right before I chase after Pres.

When she's just about to tap on the driver's window of Maddy's car, I grab her by the waist and pull her to me causing her to yelp.

"What are you doing?" Pres asks, her eyebrows bunched up in confusion.

"First of all, this is my dad's hotel, so you don't need to pay anything. Second of all, it's ten o'clock. I doubt you'll be able to find a taxi or a bus easily."

Maddy rolls down her window and pouts at Pres. "Can we please stay, Elle?"

"Yes, Elle. Pretty please?" Tyler pipes in, pouting too. I try my best to keep a straight face as Presley narrows her eyes at the two of them. She huffs out a breath before opening the back door of the car.

"Gramma, Grandpa, are you guys okay with staying at this hotel for the night?"

"Of course, Presley. We wouldn't mind at all," Leonard says and Jennet nods at that, smiling.

"Alright, then," Pres sighs. "I guess it's fine then. Wait! I don't have any clothes to change into. I mean, none of us do."

"You can get something from here. There's a twenty-four-hour souvenir shop."

"Oh," Pres says.

* * *

The sound of 'Maple Leaf Rag' by Scott Joplin gradually increases as we enter the hotel lobby. It's being played by the man sitting at the grand piano in a corner of the area. I hold Pres's hand as we walk into the lobby. Her eyes roam around the area as her mouth gapes open in what I think is awe.

I've only been to the Spring Brook Hotel twice before. Nothing much has changed since the last time I was here. The lobby area is filled with sets of white sofas right in the middle with modern fans hanging from the ceiling. The reception desks are off to one side of the lobby. All the previously present circular chandeliers have been upgraded to rectangular warm LED lights that create an inviting ambiance. New swing chairs with cushions line the far side of the lobby, overlooking the humongous adult pool and separate baby pool with waterslides. The piano playing stops and 'Santa tell me' by Ariana Grande starts humming from the while circular ceiling speakers.

"Welcome back, Mr. and Mrs. Martinez," the manager, Sawyer Evans who's in his early thirties says. "We have the penthouse suite and three luxury rooms ready for you, sir. Would you like to order dinner up to your rooms or dine in the dining area?"

"I'll get room service up to the penthouse," Dad replies. "You can ask our guests what they would like to do."

Everyone opts to order room service because they're really tired, while Pres says she's fine with anything.

Sawyer then leads us to our rooms. The elevators have been upgraded—they are more spacious than before and they now contain touch pads along with the number buttons. We get off at the top most floor which is the twentieth. The manager first shows Pres, her grandparents, Tyler and Maddy to their rooms before taking me and my family to the penthouse which is led to by a short narrow staircase.

The penthouse is like a two story annex. It has a master bedroom on the first floor and four smaller rooms on the second; one each for Bree, Dan, the twins and me. The curtains in the first floor are different from the last time I was here. The initial white opaque ones have been replaced with white silky translucent ones. The living room area with the tv and couch have been rearranged too.

"Sawyer, the souvenir shop is still open, right?" I ask.

"I'm sorry, sir. The salesman at the shop had to leave half an hour ago due to an emergency. It's closed right now," Sawyer replies.

"Oh." Ah, fuck. What should I tell Pres now?

"Is there anything you need, sir? If you want, I can send someone out to get whatever you need," he suggests.

"Oh, no. That's alright," I say.

"Alright. Very well, then. I hope you all enjoy your stay."

"Oh um, Sawyer, could you please have my dinner delivered to Presley's room along with hers?" I ask.

"Of course, Sir." He smiles kindly before leaving us.

Once I'm done checking out the penthouse, I shower, change and grab a t-shirt and a pair of my shorts for Pres from my duffle bag which was brought in by a bellboy in the lobby. My family, Pres's grandparents, and Maddy and Tyler, we all packed a few clothes to bring here as we knew we were spending a day at the hotel. Bree wanted Pres to come in our jeep, so we stuffed all our bags into Maddy's Mustang so that Pres wouldn't find out.

I then head over to my girlfriend's room, which is right across the landing of the stairway leading to the penthouse.

Thanks for reading and being very supportive. Please don't forget to vote, comment, share and follow me. Also, I won't be updating again until the 15th of January due to my exams. I'm so sorry to keep y'all waiting.

Love,
Chiara🌸