Of Royal Descent by Ember Shane

her.  I don't even know why.  I knew Chuck would be happy for me.
    A conversation came floating back to me as I crossed the street and made my way back to the hotel. 
    "So, what was wrong with those two girls?
    " Nothing was wrong with them.  I already told you yesterday.  I'm just not into chasing after random girls."
    "Yeah, I know, you want a relationship, whatever.  My point is , how do you know they aren't relationship material until you get to know them?"
    "I can't explain it.  I just know neither of them was for me."
    T he El Camino was parked in the same spot it had been when we first arrived, and I was glad Chuck was back.  I'll admit, I was afraid there would be some residual otherworldliness left behind from my dream, and I didn't want to be there alone. 
    I entered the lobby doors to the hotel.  The Indian man who had rented us the room had returned to his place behind the counter and nodded at me as I approached the elevator.  I nodded back and softly pushed the up arrow on the control panel, trying to be gentle on my tender hand, as my thoughts returned to Addy.
    She was beautiful, but I had had very attractive girls hit on me in the past.  Why, without knowing anything about her, had she made me respond so differently than any other girl?  Was she not also a "random girl"?  But it didn't matter.  Just as I knew those other girls weren't for me, I knew Addy was.
    The door to the elevator opened, and I climbed inside.  I knew Chuck would be entertained enough by the situation that he wouldn't mind staying a little while longer, but I experienced a strange repulsion at the thought of having to tell him about Addy.  It felt an awful lot like jealousy, albeit unwarranted jealousy, but jealousy all the same.  The door closed and I began my ascent to the third story.
    Chuck was sitting on his bed, eating take-out when I entered our room.
    "Hey, feeling better?" he asked.
    " Much, thanks."
    "Hungry?" he asked, holding up a grease-stained drive-thru bag.
    "Unbelievably, I am," I smiled.
    He tossed the bag to me and pointed at a to-go cup sitting on the overnight stand.  I sat on my bed , and we watched the movie Napoleon Dynamite while we ate.  I tore into mine as if I had not just finished eating.  Nearing the bottom of the bag, I finally began to feel full.
    "Dude, that's like a pound and a half of meat I've ate in the last hour," I said.
    "Oh?  Where'd you go?" 
    I began to fill him in on the most essential details, which didn't include the part where I fainted nor the subject matter of my dream.  When I got to Addy, I was surprised he refrained from interrupting.  Although, the Cheshire Cat grin that was plastered to his face spoke volumes.
    "So, is that cool?  Do you care to stay another day?" I asked.
    "Are you kidding me?  We can stay however long it takes.  I'm just thrilled you finally met someone you're into.  I was beginning to get concerned," he replied.
    "H owever long what takes?"
    "For you to get laid," he stated matter-of-factly and without shame.  I scoffed and shook my head.
    "Oh, did I misunderstand?" asked Chuck, innocently wide-eyed.  "Were you wanting to stay another day to befriend her?"
    I sighed.  "No, Chuck.  I am, in fact, interested in dating h er, but do you have to be so crass?"
    "I call it keeping it real ," he replied, turning back to the television.
    I sat back against the headboard and turned my attention to the TV screen as well. 
    Napoleon was accusing his Uncle Rico of creating problems in addition to eating all of their steak.  When Uncle Rico refused to leave, Chuck swiveled his head in my direction.
    "Hey, that reminds me.  What about your dad?" he asked.
    Shit!   Between being sick, fainting, meeting Addy, and the dream about my mother, I'd forgotten to switch my phone back on.  I scrambled out of bed and to the bathroom to retrieve my cell.
    I turned it on and looked at the time.  10:10 p.m.  I did some mental math and realized it had been