the pineapple express

 

Louie should have expected as much. Chewy not coming. He sighed as he looked at his text. He bought Sunny a mock margarita. It was awkward. He knew if she hit him, he probably deserved it. But here they were at the tropical bar, a popup place on these sunny days on a rooftop, not far from where he lived.

Still, at times, winter lingered, but less of late. Spring was definitely here.

"I guess you haven't heard from him," Louie didn't say his name.

Sunny shook her head, no as she played with the drink. It was as if she was certain he'd tainted it somehow.

"Me either." Louie shrugged back.

"Did you find a roommate?"

"Why? Want to come live me?" He smirked as he drank the real thing. He wanted to get sloshed, but he knew he couldn't afford it. "The room is waiting."

Sunny sighed. "You know, I can drink tequila." She told him. "I'm not a middle schooler."

"Oh." Louie nodded and asked the bartender to spike Sunny's drink. It felt like a challenge, somehow. 

He listened to her talk of her troubles with her uncle. He had a girl now.

"She's as old as me," She sounded as if it was the worst.

Louie couldn't help but let a smile slip.

"Aw, but would he trust me with you?" That was the real question. He could see Sunny wanted to move out. She looked a bit sleepy as she nursed her drink.

"Where's those pineapple tacos?" She was in a pout.

"They make those?" It was the first he'd heard of it. He asked the bartender then. Evidently, it was a fusion of Asian and Mexican food.

"How can that be any good?" He asked a few minutes later when someone came out with a tray of chicken tacos dotted with pineapple and lots of chilies.

"As long as it's spicy, I'm fine with it," Sunny grabbed one as if she were starved.

Louie watched. He liked more traditional foods, and of course, there was no rice.

"Don't make yourself sick," Louie noticed she'd chowed down on two already. Finally, he took one just to see if they were any good.

After a few bites, he nodded. They were amazingly sweet and spicy.