california world - dreamnotfound

somewhere in the universe

nick is laughing his ass off at something i don't understand. he's clearly had enough to drink, and while i'm not the most stable either i let him lean against me as we walk over the street, away from the red club lights. as soon as we get to the other side he stumbles, almost hitting his head on the curb as he falls.

"nick?" i call out, "nick? are you okay man? do you need some water?"
"yes please," he slurs, rolling over on the ground.

i grab my water bottle, opening it up and putting it to his lips. he sits up and slowly drinks a few mouthfuls just to collapse again seconds later.

"god, what did you take?"

i try to help him up but my arms are floppy, so all i manage to do is pull him up onto the sidewalk. looks like we're staying the night here.

"tired," he mumbles.

i lean my back against the building behind us, pulling nick onto my lap and holding him still with my arms. california nights get cold too so we do this often for warmth. i rest my head on top of his, face in his short, light brown hair. he smells like tobacco, sweat and booze but i'm used to it.

he crawls even closer, hugging me tightly like the world around him is spinning, because it probably is. it doesn't take long for him to drift off after that. i can even hear his quiet snores over the sound of the scarce traffic and the faint music coming from the clubs across the street.

i watch the traffic lights change in slow-motion, the prostitutes along the alleys talk incoherently with their customers, the headlights on the passing cars blinding me. we're just somewhere in the universe. it's all making me feel dizzy. or was i already dizzy?

the streetlight above us flickers a couple of times before coincidentally shutting off completely. i can't really feel my fingers anymore. my vision darkens, and before i know it i've fallen into a deep sleep.