“Text someone!”
“I did. No one is awake”
“Well then how the fuck are we gonna get home?”
“I don’t know! You act like this was my idea.”
“Well it wasn’t mine!”
“If it wasn’t your idea, then why are we out here? You’re the one all pissed at Daddy. Not me.”
“Don’t call him that.”
Gravity rolled her eyes “Oh, I’m sooo sorry I meant to say sperm donor.”
“Shut up. You know he’s a shit father.”
“He wasn’t always.” Gravity said softly.
“Well he is now!” Augusta said “And he has been for years.”
“It’s only because he hates Mom. He doesn’t hate us.”
“He has a shit way of showing that.”
“He’s probably not even home this week.”
“He’s home. They’re filming the show. I looked at his calendar.”
“Ok then, if we’re not going home, where are we going to stay tonight?”
“I don’t know.”
The two girls were roaming around town way past curfew. At the time of night when even the tattoo parlors are closed. Their friends had all gone home many hours ago and now no one was answering their texts. Gravity and Augusta were hoping someone would respond and let them sneak in to their parents’ guest house. But it was too late at night. They should have figured this out much earlier in the night. Even Hollywood was quiet.
Augusta and Gravity walked slowly past the Nissan dealership on Cahuenga beneath the tourist entrance for Universal Studios. They were looking for something to occupy their time until sunrise. Anything to do but go home. Walking around aimlessly was all they came up with so far.
“Do you have any more cigarettes?” Augusta asked Gravity.
“No.” she confessed.
The girls wandered onward to an ARCO station. Finally on a mission. Copping cigarettes at the AM/PM. They’re underage but that never matters to the non english speaking/half drunk/half human mess operating the register. With bullet proof glass between them they ask for their brand of choice. He grunts at them. Hardly even awake when their debit card is approved for the purchase and he slips two soft packs of Newport 100s through the safety drawer between them without so much as a nod in their direction.
They walked back across the pass to the edge of Universal’s property while they talked about people in their class. Everyone is an asshole or a liar or cheating on their boyfriend. No one is good in the eyes of the Leto-twins. Everyone has an ulterior motive and a bad backstory. No one is good. No one. The conversation does nothing to help their mood.
As they were walking they noticed they were no longer alone. On the other side of the blvd was a man dressed all in black keeping pace with them. Without saying a word, Gravity pulled Augusta down a foliage rich pathway and they crept along behind the brush, up against a fence for safety. The fence abutted the Universal Studio’s back lot. Gravity nervously flicked her lighter on and off.
“He’s gonna fucking see us!” Augusta exclaimed.
It was that moment, and only because of that man that Gravity and Augusta did the unthinkable and hopped over the security fence that lined the backlot of Universal Studios.
PostModernQuill Unbound. 