Part 5
I smiled and bit back my laughter as I watched Skylar empty the contents of her messenger bag on the bed closest to the door.
“How did you get all that crap to fit in there?” I asked as she pulled out an old Polaroid camera and snapped a picture of the room
“I guess it’s because I’m female or because I’m used to not having much space for storing stuff.” Skylar said shaking the picture as it slowly developed.
With a glance at the picture and a satisfied smile she stuck it in a journal.
“I think it’s because you’re female. I’ve spent most of my life traveling, and I mean traveling light, but I couldn’t get that much stuff in that bag.” I replied and she shrugged out of her jacket.
“I guess it’s because I’m female then.” She said scratching the side of her neck and for the first time I noticed a band of pink, blue, orange and green dots tattooed around the upper part of her right wrist. “Oh, they’re kinda DIY.”
“What?” I gaped at her with a disbelieving laugh.
“A friend of mine had an apprenticeship with a tattoo artist and I volunteered to be his first human victim. The shop was run out of a basement. They called it the Dungeon.” Skylar explained as she stood to stretch.
“Are you going to need any clothes?” I asked as I sat on the bed by the window.
“Not tonight. I keep my PJs in the bag and my toiletries in here.” She patted a small leopard print makeup bag and small rolled up bundle of lavender fabric sitting beside the empty messenger bag. “I’ll probably need a shirt tomorrow, though.”
“Borrow whatever looks good.” I said as Skylar came over and handed me a few crumpled up bills that had fallen from the bottom of the messenger bag.
“Don’t worry about it. I’m heading to LA with or without you.” I tried to hand the money back.
“Take it.” She smiled. “I need a shower.”
“Lemme know when you’re done in there.” I said as she grabbed her stuff and nodded on her way to the bathroom
I rolled my eyes and waited until I heard the shower start and then I put the money in a small pocket inside the messenger bag.
I laid back and laughed to myself as I waited for my turn in the shower.
I woke up to a soft hand gently shaking my shoulder and my stomach dropped thinking it was Mikayla until I opened my eyes.
“Your turn.” Skylar said and I sat up with a nod. “Oh, you missed a call while I was in there.”
“Thanks.” I mumbled and cracked my neck.
“Eww! How can you do that?” Skylar scrunched her nose as she crawled under her blankets.
I shrugged and grabbed some clothes and my phone on the way to the bathroom.
I locked the door and sat on the edge of the tub before dialing Isaac’s number.
“Hey.” I said as Isaac picked up. “Sorry I didn’t answer earlier.”
“What’s up? You sound…stressed.” Isaac replied.
“Am I stupid?” I blurted out.
“Y−you aren’t expecting me to answer that…are you?” Isaac stammered.
“Piss off.” I glared at the floor, “I picked up a hitch hiker.”
“Was she hot?” Isaac asked after a moment’s silence.
“How’d you know it was a woman?” I asked.
“Just…just a guess.” Isaac answered, obviously biting back some smartass reply. “So, was she hot?”
I sighed and hung my head, “I don’t know. I’m not trying to get laid so I haven’t rated her on the Isaac Hanson scale of hotness.”
“Was she sane?” he asked.
“She seems normal enough. I doubt I’ll wake up without my kidneys.” I replied.
“Wait…she’s there?” Isaac said, struggling to stay calm, “You have a hitch hiker with you?”
I tried to explain, “It was storming and her car was stolen… she’s trying to get to LA−“
“Zac Hanson, you are going to wake up butt-ass naked handcuffed to the bed and all your shit will be missing.” Isaac admonished.
“Only if I’m lucky.” I replied dryly. “Look, I gotta go. I’ll call you as soon as someone gets the handcuffs off, okay.”
I sighed as I hung up on my brother and left the bathroom.
I half smiled as I saw Skylar, a virtual stranger, curled up in a comforter cocoon on her bed. At least one of us would be able to sleep that night.
