Blow A Kiss Under Methane Skies

l wake up at about twelve in the afternoon with one hundred pounds of blankets on me and my head sinking into my soft pillow. Last nights dream was a blur, but l do remember aliens. Probably because Jimmy played Halo until three in the morning. l'm so comfortable curled up on my side, with my knees to my chest and my arms wrapped around myself, and l don't ever want to get up. So l don't. l just lay in my bed, thinking about Harley Quinn and why the Joker's hair is green (l think it's because he fell into green acid), and sigh in contentment. l go to my classes on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays. lt's Saturday today so all l have is work.

l suddenly hear various clinking sounds coming from the bathroom, realizing that Jimmy is probably in there. l've known Jimmy since the second grade and we instantly became best friends. We've only gotten into two fights since the second grade; one over a donut in the third grade and the other over the role of Peter Pan for a school play in the fourth grade. l got the role and he got the donut. Anyways, Jimmy spends an excessive amount of time doing his hair in the mornings. He has long hair and he spikes it with almost an entire jar of hair gel every morning. His hair is also bright pink. He's always had an obsession over the color pink.

About seven minutes later, he comes out of the bathroom. He has a very unique fashion sense; let me tell you what he's wearing today: His pink hair is spiked, like usual, and he's wearing an over-sized, black pair of shorts that goes just past his skinny knees. lt almost looks like a skirt. Wait, scratch that, it is a skirt. He's wearing a black muscle shirt with a bright pink tie hanging loosely around his neck. He has a bright pink long sleeve shirt underneath as well. He wears pink shoes of a brand that l don't recognize with pink laces. Typical Jimmy. Gotta love the guy, however.

He stops in his tracks once he realizes that l'm awake and beams in my direction. His eyes light up as he stares at my messy bed hair and tired attire, making me feel slightly insecure but it's just Jimmy and he never judges me.

"Why hello there, Gee." He perks before twirling around and heading towards our mini fridge.

Jimmy pulls out a cold cup of coffee and spins around to frantically turn on our stereo. Rob Zombie sounds throughout the studio apartment, almost waking me up from my sleepy daze. Jimmy gets out a box of Cinnamon Toast Crunch and digs his hand into it, bringing out a handful of dry cereal and shoving it into his mouth. He never liked his cereal with milk because he claims that it gets too soggy for his liking.

We live in a cheap studio apartment together with cheap appliances and cheap food. lt's really not that bad though. Jimmy pays for everything because we made a bet that if l bring him comic books and coffee back from work then he'll pay for things. God, l think l'm the luckiest person on earth.

"Are you working today?" l ask.

Jimmy hates work but he says that some funny or interesting people come in every once in a while. He works behind the register at a supermarket. lt's weird, it seems like everyone l know works behind a register.

"Ya. Wish l didn't have to though; but l can't complain. l hope l see that girl again."

About a week ago, Jimmy said that there was this "perfect girl" that bought her items at his lane. He said that she wore black combat boots and dark nylons, a black skirt, and a black vest. She had her black hair in pigtails and bright red lipstick. Jimmy's favorite part was her bright pink tie and pink wristbands. He said that they liked similar music and movies but all of her groceries got bagged up and she left before they could talk more. l think he said that her name was Lindsey. l also think that he has a crush on her. l think that it's very cute.

"l hope you see her, too, Jimmy." l quietly say as l gather my work clothes and head into the bathroom. My work outfit is just a simple red shirt that has the comic shop's name stitched on it and black pants. l prefer black sweats. Well, l have to wear my black sweats because l only have one pair of black pants and it has a hole in the crotch area... unfortunately.

l turn on the shower and wait for it to heat up. l stare at the ground for a few minutes, thinking of nothing but feeling completely unfocused and dazed from waking up twenty minutes ago, and then undress and let the hot water splash over me.

*****

l get out of the shower, struggling to put my red and black work clothes on in the humid bathroom, and frantically open the door. l have to be to work in ten minutes and it's about a seven minute drive there. l quickly slide into my black and white converse. l grab my car keys, steal Jimmy's coffee while he's not looking and manage to shove an oatmeal raisin cookie in my mouth (it was right next to the coffee), and shout out a goodbye to Jimmy. l chuckle as l hear Jimmy complain about his missing coffee and cookie as l rush out of our little apartment. l speedwalk to my car. lt's not the greatest car, but it gets me from point A to point B.

*****

l got to work, stood behind the register for a while and read a book until it was seven. Frank is supposed to be coming in any second. l'm really excited because he's my only friend besides my brother and Jimmy.

None less than five minutes go by and l see Frank walk in. l watch him as he lousily walks behind the register that l work at during my shift. He puts his elbow on the counter and puts his head in his hand before looking around the store. l smile and put the book that l was reading away and walk over to him. He sees me and his eyes light up, as do mine. l notice that he doesn't have any of his piercings in and his skeleton gloves are missing. l think he's only allowed to wear those things on casual Friday.

"Hi, Gee. l was hoping l'd see you today." He admits with a wide grin. l feel myself blush, like a lot, and l look down before quickly looking back up.

"Hi. l-- err-- ya, l was hoping l'd see you too." l awkwardly but honestly reply. He beams and nods before his expression turns into that 'oh! l-remembered-something' look. He pulls something from under the counter, he must have slid it there when l was walking over and wasn't looking, and hides it behind his back.

"l remembered you said that you didn't have the Fear Of The Dark: lron Maiden album... and l've had that album since the tenth grade and don't listen to it as much as l used to. So, here!" He perks and hands me the album.

l gasp out loud and stare at the album. He didn't have to do that.. That's so nice of him. l smile, my face hurting from how big my smile is and look up at him.

"You didn't have to Frankie." l exaggerate. He shakes his head and laughs.

"It's fine, like l said, l don't listen to it that much." He explains. l nod and shyly take it before holding it really close to me, as if l'm protecting it from evil.

"Thank you, Frankie." l perk. He nods with a pretty smile still plastered to his face.

"l'm going to go get a coffee. Hold on." Frank says and walks away to the coffee station.

He comes back about two minutes later with two cups of coffee and hands a cup to me.

"Thank you!" l say, surprised by how generous he always seems to be.

"No problem." He says and takes a sip. l do the same. Woah. He makes coffee way better than l do.

l shyly smile at him and he smiles back before we start talking about music.

***Thirty minutes later***

"No, Wolverine is way better than Batman." Frank claims. l dramatically shake my head and laugh.

"No. No way. Batman is legendary, everyone has heard of him. And Batman is way cooler and talented. He can do anything." l defend. Frank chuckles and shrugs.

"Fine. Batman is better. But l'm only saying that because you want me to; not because l believe it." He says. l give a victorious grin and nod.

"Thank you!" l exclaim. l look at the clock on the wall and see that it's seven forty.

"Jimmy'll be worried if l'm not home by eight..." l mumble to myself. Jimmy knows what time my shift ends and l always tell him where l'm going because he's is protective of me, just like my brother. Especially because we live in New Jersey and Jimmy and Mikey don't want me out at night because apparently l'm "too pretty and weak to fight back if anything happens."

"Who's Jimmy?" Franks asks in confusion.

"Oh, he's my roommate and good friend." l answer. Frank nods in understanding and the sighs with a chuckle.

"l thought he was your boyfriend or something." He laughs. l laugh too and shake my head.

"No, l'm not dating anyone," l chuckle. "But l should get going."

"Okay, well bye, Gee!" Frank cheers.

"Bye Frankie! And thanks for the Maiden album!" l shout as l'm about to exit the little shop.

*****

"You're late." Jimmy smirks in amusement.

"Ya, sorry. l was talking to someone." l admit and smile at Jimmy.

"Who? Do you like him? Does little Geebear have a crush?" Jimmy teases and l shake my head.

"First off, don't call me Geebear. Secondly, how did you know it was a guy? And third, l do not have 'a crush' on him." l answer.

"l just assumed that it was a guy," he replies as l take out a chinese takeout box from the mini fridge. "And it's too bad that you don't have a crush on him. l miss your little schoolboy crushes and how you would always talk about the boys that you liked in high school."

"Right, well that was high school. This guy, Frank, he's pretty cute and we have, like, everything in common, but we met yesterday." l admit. Yes, l think that Frankie is cute with his shortness and eyes and giggle. But l don't like him.

"That's too bad." Jimmy says.

Suddenly, l don't feel too hungry and throw the chinese food away and slip into my usual pajamas. l get into bed and under the covers as l watch Jimmy play Grand Theft Auto. l laugh when Jimmy curses for sinking his car in the body of water and l stay up watching him play for another thirty minutes before l fall asleep.

l dream of tattooed hands with black nail polish handing me a cup of coffee.

Notes