The Colonel closed the door before Alaska could get out. He was short, but he was strong.
"Let me out!" She yelled. I grabbed her arm and sat her down on the couch.
"What- what's going on?" I said.
"It's- I'll tell you later- I have to go,"
"No, you can't." The Colonel said. He had circles under his eyes and was so drunk he couldn't stand straight, but he
was right.
"Alaska, it's just not worth it. You're drunk, it's dark-just-please, Alaska, stay with me." I hugged her. Alaska bit her lip
for a second before reluctantly agreeing.
"You're in my debt for life," She told me and the Colonel. I nodded. She crawled onto my bed, and I lay down on the
couch. The Colonel stayed up to make sure Alaska stayed, and I snuck outside. I lit a cigarette and looked at the sky. It
was faintly decorated with a systematic placement of stars. There were stripes of neon blue that breached the horizon,
waiting for sunrise. I sat down and found a half-empty flask of whiskey, which I downed in a sip. It was going to be a
stressful time, I could tell. I heard the click of the door. Alaska came and sat next to me.
"Wasn't the Colonel"
"He passed out drunk." Her breath smelled faintly of peppermint toothpaste, cheap beer, stale whiskey, and bonfire
smoke. I nodded. It was okay, since she was here with me. I desperately wanted to talk about what had happened only a
few hours earlier, but I didn't want to risk messing this all up. I plucked up grass blades, one after another. Alaska
picked up a small rock and tossed it into the bank of the water. It made a paint plop.
She looked down, her clear green eyes scourging the dirt for something to dedicate her interest to. Her face shone
elegantly in the wispy moonlight. It was one of those times I never wanted to end.
We sat there as the sun rose, Alaska and I. I knew at that time that all I really wanted was Alaska. I needed her, with
the very breath I took. She looked me in the eye. The light was fractured against the structure of her face. I smiled
slightly, and so did she.
"Pudge, let me tell you a secret." She said. I nodded.
"Paul is overrated." She said it with a faint smile. I tried to suppress the golden feeling that flooded me. I had won the
Alaskan lottery. I could've flown. I put my arm over her shoulder. We sat there and waited for the sun.
