A tall guy is accompanying her. “I’m gonna check on her. She’s my drive after all.”

I get up and go towards Tina and Mr. Unknown. “Hey,” I say. The guy turns around and looks at me in relief.

“Hi,” he says, extending his hand. “I’m Gary.” I shake his hand, which is huge. “Could you help me here? Tina is so wasted she can’t stand properly.

“I’m Bette, and Tina is my drive,” I say when I take hold of her.

“We have to get her home,” he says.

“I don’t know if that’s such a good idea,” I answer him, thinking about her mom. “I can get her a place to sleep. Wait a second.”

I touch Tina’s pants, searching for her cellphone. My hand goes over her ass and I feel a jolt, but ignore it. It’s not in her back pockets; I try the ones in the front and find it. I start typing a message.

Hi mom, I’m staying at Bette’s tonight, I’ll explain to you later.

I would find an excuse later. I hit the send button and go in search of her mother’s number, which I of course find under ‘mom’.

Gary looks at me, eyebrows frowned, but he says nothing.

“I think I better give you a ride home then.”

“That would be wonderful,” I smile. I hate it that I have to leave now, tough. I want to stay with Carmen and kiss her all night, or just be with her all night. I’m sure she’ll understand.

I cross the street again and go over to her. “Carmen, I’m afraid I’ll have to go. I want to stay here and talk with you and everything, but Tina is so wasted she can’t go home without being killed.”

Carmen looks a bit disappointed but nods. “It’s okay, Bette, we’ll have plenty of time to talk. You take care of your friend.”

I sigh in relief. “Thank you so much. I’m taking her to my place, but I’ll be a good girl,” I wink. Where. The. Hell. Did. That. Come. From. Porter? What’s wrong with you?

I go to Gary again, who is still supporting Tina. I take hold of her as well. I remember Tina turning around the corner of the street so I guess her car will be parked there.

“I think she parked the car just around the corner.” I feel her pockets again and get the keys of her car. I am touching her more than my girlfriend, I think to myself. Wait a minute – your girlfriend? Is Carmen your girlfriend? I want to scream of happiness when it dawns on me that I probably am.

We find her car and lay her down on the backseat. Gary puts the key in the contact and after a bit of hesitating he starts the car. I tell him where I live and he knows where it is – his dad has a cab company and he works for him in the weekends. We talk a bit and I learn that he plays the bass guitar. He’s trying to form a band and is still looking for a singer and a guitar player. I make a mental note of that.

Finally, we arrive at my house.

“How are you going to get home yourself?” I ask him.

“I’ll ring Tom, he’ll pick me up here.”

“Okay. Thanks a lot.”

“No problem. Take care of her!”

“I will. Maybe you can call your friend and while you’re waiting you can help her inside?”

“Sure.”

Kirsten and my dad are going out themselves and they won’t be home until the sun reaches the sky – when they go out, they don’t get home before that. We get Tina on the couch and a bit later, a honk resounds. We say goodbye and I wrap Tina in some blankets. I sit down and sigh. It was indeed one heavy night.