We continued heading to Bette’s, talking about the pro’s and con’s of Tina moving in. As we entered the house, Bette welcomed us and directed us out back. Bette asked how picking Tina up was, and I quickly said it was uneventful. Tina nodded to me, silently promising not to say anything. When Bette asked if we had any good gossip, Tina quickly stated there was nothing exciting to talk about, and I returned the silent promise that what was said between us would stay between us. Dinner was pretty uneventful. After everything was cleared up, they snuggled down in the couch, and I made my exit, claiming to be meeting Alice early at her place before we headed to Milk. I left the two love birds to themselves, and drove around aimlessly for a while. I got to a red light and pulled one of the bullets out of my pocket. Taking a snort in each nostril, I leaned back, waiting for the green light as I felt the effects of the blow kick in. My phone rang and Alice was asking me to come over. I headed to her house, and pocketed the bullet for later that night.

I arrived at Alice’s and was shocked that she never once brought up any of that afternoon’s events. Between Clive and the john, she certainly had enough to grill me on. But despite her nosy personality, somehow she just knew not to bring any of it up with me. We hung out for a while, then headed to Milk. She flirted the night away with a few girls, and I made bathroom buddies with a couple other ladies. I enjoyed the effects of the alcohol and blow, pleased all of the women I took into stalls, but didn’t let them touch me too much. Despite knowing deep down that I was better than that john tried to make me out to be earlier that day, I just didn’t feel like I wanted to share myself that night with these girls. I didn’t deserve to get off.

Alice and I left Milk later and went back to her place. She finally asked me point blank what I was high on, and I offered her the bullet. She declined, but pulled out a joint instead. We lit the joint, and between the pot and the blow for me, and the pot and the wine for her, we laughed our way through the rest of the night, talking about everything under the sun. She eventually let her nature get the better of her and asked about Clive and the john, and being as drunk and high as I was, I told her. We chatted about Clive and my relationship and our promise, and I told her about what life on the streets was really like. I remember just before we passed out on the couch, she reached over and hugged me, thanking me for opening up to her, and telling me not to worry, I wasn’t nearly as fucked up as I could be, and I should be proud of that.

“Thanks Al, you are truly a good friend.”

She laughed sleepily, “I know… I’m the best. And don’t you forget it.”