Sister Ray

1. Motel

We spooned together weirdly. Some how, after the fighting, the accusing, the sticking ourselves with old needles, overturning of furniture, the misplacement of beds, after the maid coming to undo what had been done, just to have it happen all over again, we'd find ourselves in each others arms, face to face, looking for the cat that shit in our mouths, only kind've remembering what happened, but more concerned as to whether or not we'd slept through the complimentary continental breakfast.

We'd been staying at a motel outside of, Scranton, no wait- - Harrisburg? Maybe it was Concord- - either way I'd finally convinced Sky that we should really try to get clean. She agreed but we needed to get high one last time or what ever rehab we went to won't take us for treatment.

She still dazzled me when she spoke. Her long neck, bellowing laugh, her unkempt teeth, and I marveled at the fact that her real name was Sky.

And she had never been a stripper.

- - - - -

I'd been trying for months, a few years back, before that motel, to try to get Sky to notice me at these college parties that had melting salivated-on ice luges, solo cups, date raping dudes who knew they'd get away with it because of who their dads frat brothers were. Most of the girls there were from sister sororities that had preemptive settlements and non disclosure agreements in their induction ceremony pledge. Every guy at these parties where some kind of awful.

I just wanted cheap bear, and over time, Sky.

She never gave me the time of day.

My biggest attempt at saying hello was this awkward exhale I let out at this party, thrown by the Lambda's, when I had finally mustered the courage to say something to her. She must have thought that I got the wind knocked out of me, partly because of the wheeze, and partly because she had this concerned look on her face that said: are you okay? I bolted before she got the chance to ask.

No, it wouldn't be until a few years after that, that we met in some motel room, but more like an opium den, outside of Boston.

Provincetown?

She had been doped up, but Sky had the kind of wherewithal with her high that the only thing that gave away that she was, was the belt on her bicep and the syringe hanging out of her arm. Even then, I still didn't have the courage to approach her.

I was there because me and a friend of mine, I don't remember who, not that I ever really had friends, but it definitely wasn't Lester. No me and Loomis hadn't even met yet. We were trying to score some oxy and blow, or was it molly and K?

I know you, Sky said loosening her belt, You went to BU?

MIT, shocked that she could actually see me.

That's right. Me and Larissa always wondered how you and your friends got invited to the frats.

Had to put my hand on the table, balance myself.

It was really that simple.

I was in.

My awkwardness spoke volumes which made her laugh.

Fuck, she had a great laugh.

A long neck.

I looked at her, and for the first time, I understood that perfection was not just a word.

- - - - -

Where was I- -

Oh, right-right-right- -