Boulevard Read Online Free PDF Page A

bus.”
    â€œDo you know what number bus?”
    â€œI told you, it’s outside.”
    â€œWhat number?”
    â€œOutside.”
    Casey leaned into the heavy glass door, but unexpectedly it opened with ease. Above her head, was a hand with a gold bracelet, pushing on the glass for her.
    â€œI heard you asking directions. You need some help finding something?”
    Casey turned towards him. The guy was in his late twenties, had an okay looking face and expensive blue sunglasses hanging from a leather strap around his neck. Still, there was something a little creepy about him.
    â€œYou look like you need some help.”
    She did, but she wasn’t going to tell him. “I’m okay.”
    â€œHey. I know what you’re thinking,” he said. “‘Who’s this guy talking to me in a bus station? Do I really want to have a conversation with some guy I don’t know who comes up to me in a bus station?’ Well, I’m not a mugger. I promise. I’m just here to pick up my sister and her little girl who are coming to visit me. But typical bus company shit, they’re two hours late. Yours on time?”
    â€œWe were like half-an-hour late.”
    â€œIt’s all messed up, isn’t it? California has the best freeway system in the world and they still can’t get you from point A to point B on time. I heard you asking Madam Personality over there for directions.”
    As soon as he said it, the lady at the newsstand shot over a nasty look. Casey thought all she cared about was her stupid TV. Guess not. The guy saw her glare, and smiled. Casey grinned a little too—Madam Personality—she liked that.
    â€œI can show you how to get anywhere you want.”
    â€œI’m fine. Really.”
    She pushed past him, not rudely, she thought, but like she knew the score.
    Casey looked down the street and saw a bunch of low buildings which were just like the streets in Seattle, lined with mini-malls. This was the Hollywood people dreamed of? She didn’t get it. Half a block from the station she stared at a pole topped with a triangle-shaped RTD sign. There were four separate bus route maps in chrome and glass frames, all of them covered in graffiti. Casey tried to read through the tags, but they were impenetrable. She’d wait for the next bus to show up, and then ask the driver.
    â€œMessed up, huh?” It was the guy again. He shook his head and said, “The whole reason you have maps, is so people can use them. Then some jerk sprays his tag on it, and you can’t. Now is that some kinda rebellion, or is it a screw-you to the rest of us? You ask me, it’s like a dog pissing on a pole, telling everyone he’s here. But does he care that he’s leaving piss all over the place? These guys are just flat-out disrespectful to normal people like you and me who just want to ride the bus in peace. Am I right?”
    â€œIt’s okay, I’ll ask a driver.”
    â€œAsk me. I live here.”
    â€œIt’s okay. I think I know where I’m going.”
    â€œThen don’t ask me. But I’ll tell you, anyway. Take these buses, and you’re heading straight to Pasadena. But next block up, on Sunset, that’s your bus. I’ll walk you over. Look. I’m not some scum, I’m just a guy waiting for his sister with two hours to kill.”
    â€œThanks. But I’ll find it.”
    Casey headed up towards Sunset and he was still beside her. He was being kinda helpful; she began to think maybe she’d been too quick to put him into the creep category.
    â€œLet me guess something,” he said. “You’re from Minneapolis?”
    â€œWrong. What is this?”
    â€œJust a game I play, okay? Let me guess again. Dallas?”
    â€œBeep. You only get one more.”
    â€œOnly one, huh? … Then it better be a good one … Seattle?”
    Casey stopped.
    â€œHow’d you