sleepy city [discontinued]

3 | paper towns

jackson

I'd been at Barnes & Nobles for over half an hour now. I asked London if she was going to be here. She said she might, but she didn't have her car with her. I remembered that she was 16, so she could drive, but why she didn't have her car with her I didn't know. I read through our conversation from last night to pick out good conversation starters. I could tell she was curious and nervous to talk to me, so it was my job to keep the conversation going. Asking her to FaceTime me was a bold move; I knew she was hesitant when she didn't reply immediately.

I wonder if she wondered why I asked her to blow me a kiss. Honestly I was feeling lonely at that time, but I still don't know exactly why I asked. I didn't expect her to call, but when she didshelooked so cute. She was sleepy but the kiss masked her tired eyes and enhanced her full lips. I remember I licked my lips after the call ended. I knew she was looking at my tattoo the entire time. Last night, I dreamt. It rarely happened, and now London was in my dream. I was scrolling down Tumblr and I saw her, she had hearts over her head and her hair was in a bun.

My phone vibrated on the bench. London. She said she was going to be here in a minute; she had gone to the Kroger across the street to pick up mac and cheese. I waited patiently, reading an article about SZA to pass time. I put in some headphones, trying to remain calm and act normal. I couldn't just walk up and talk to her, there was a chance someone was with her. A few minutes later I happened to look up right when London passed me. She was with an older woman, and I tried not to look at her ass.

The seat London sat in yesterday was occupied, so sheended up sitting less farther away. She sat where she could see me, and the older woman's back was to me. Maybe that was her grandmother. London said something to her grandmother I couldn't hear. I took my headphones out and looked at her. She held her gaze with me for a second then looked back to her grandmother. Why does she do that? She's so weird but still interesting. London took her book and left the table.

"I'll be back once I find a good book." London said as she walked away. Her grandmother nodded.

London looked at me once more before she passed the coffee shop. My eyes followed her for a minute then I followed her.

I put my computer and snacks away and took my book bag with me. I saw the black of London's jeans go into the Teen Fiction aisle. It was in the back corner of the store, adjacent to the Anime section. When I got there London was reading the backofone book, then her eyes came to me.

"Hi." The book in her hand was tightly gripped.

"Hey." I cleared my throat and tried again. She smiled with a closed mouth, but it wasn't much of a smile.

"So what's up?" She asked. I shrugged my shoulders and peeped what she was beginning to read. It was Paper Towns by John Green. I'd read it before.

"There's a movie coming out for it." I spoke, and I could tell she felt some type of way about my voice.

"That's why I wanna read it. The books are always better than the movies.

"Are you gonna see it when it comes out?" London only spoke when there was an awkward silence in a conversation.

"Yeah, probably. I won't be here when it comes out, thought." She gave me a confused look. "I don't live here."

London nodded and looked in her book. "Where do you live?" She asked, her head still in the book.

I sat across from her so I could see her eyes. "I live in a little studio in New York near NYU. I came here to look at a few exhibits at the High Museum for a project." I stretched out my long legs while London sat with hers crossed.

She looked up. "Really? That's where I want to go."

I smirked and she gave a shy smile, her face settling against her rising left shoulder. "Come up and I'll give you a tour, babygirl."

She laughed audibly, then she covered her mouth. I could see her dimples.

I loved calling girls I liked babygirl. It made them smile, blush, and squirm. London could be my babygirl. I knew she would take the chance.

I just had to wait until she was legal.