CHAPTER 6
The fire had completely died out by the next morning when the three if us woke up. We were still in the alley behind Jimmy's warehouse, sleeping on the blanket, even though it was kind of cold. But for the first time, I was thankful for California's cool nights. Whatsername had curled up beside me sometime during the night to steal my body warmth, and I was pleased.
Jimmy, who I'm beginning to think is a temperature-resistant zombie, was perfectly comfortable sprawled out over half the blanket, a burned out cigarette dangling from his mouth.
I had a pretty nasty hangover, and an avid need to go to the bathroom. Reluctant though I was to leave Whatsername, nature was practically screaming in my ear. I unwrapped her arms from around me and went in search of a good place to piss. The Circle K was open, so I ducked in there. The bathroom there was pretty dingy, and then I remembered that I was now homeless. That's more dingy. I spotted a condom machine, and not one to pass up free offers, even if I'd never use one of these, I stuffed my pockets full of 6 or 7. Jimmy could probably make good use out of them. It turned out to be a good thing; a couple quarters fell out of a hole in my pocket. I picked them up and smiled. Perhaps I could buy a slurpie for the three of us. I stood in front of the slurpie machine for awhile, trying to decide the best flavor to get. I decided on cherry; it's Jimmy's favorite and probably Whatsername's too. I paid for it and went back to our "camp site".
Whatsername was sitting on the blanket, an overlarge black trench coat covered in Operation Ivy and Nirvana patches wrapped around her slim body to keep out the cold.
"Hi, Jesus," she yawned, covering her mouth with her hand politely. "Going to share that with me?"
"Maybe," I teased. She reached out for it and I pulled it away, then laughed and gave it to her.
"Thanks," she said, sipping on it with her lips on the straw exactly where mine had been just minutes ago. I wanted her lips on mine, not my straw.
I was jealous of a straw.