I turned around quickly, and we saw nothing there. I told the girls to get into the car, took a final look around, then climbed into the front passenger seat. Alice started the car up and took off down the road, heading back towards West Hollywood. After several minutes, Tina spoke up.

“Shane, who was that?”

I sat there silently, looking out the window.

“Yeah, Shane, what the fuck was all that back there?”

I pulled my eyes from the passing scenery and looking ahead. “Just some old john that never knew when no meant no.”

Alice just kept driving, and Tina reached forward from the back seat and squeezed my shoulder. We drove in silence till we reached my apartment. I got out, told Alice I’d catch her later that night at Milk, and started walking towards the front door. I heard someone running to catch up with me as I heard the bug pull away. I opened the door, and then held it open, silently allowing Tina to enter. We headed up to the apartment, and again I left the door open for her to enter. She took in the shabby apartment quickly, then focused on me.

“Shane? Are you OK?” She sat down next to me on my new futon.

I rubbed my eyes and ran my hands through my hair. “Yeah, its just… man, I wasn’t prepared for that is all…”

Tina got up, and quickly took a look around the place, checking the kitchen, bathroom, and bedroom. She then went and put the chain on the door so no one could come in. She sat back down next to me.

“An old john huh?”

I shrugged, “Like I said before, you do what you have to do to survive out there…”

Tina shook her head. “I’m sorry. I mean, Bette told me where she first started seeing you, who you would be hanging around with. I think we both assumed it was something like that, but… I guess we just didn’t completely believe it.”