Bookish London

Chapter 13 - Liz

I stop not far from Borough Market, waiting for his Lordship the slow walker Kyle to follow me. After some time, he catches up with me all red and blushing like he’d just run a race.
“What’s with the blushing, pretty boy?” I ask him, laughing.
“It’s hot, okay?! Even for late October…and plus, I had to run after YOU, if I recall correctly.”
He answers, glaring at me.
“It’s not my fault you stopped walking stiff as a tree in the middle of the square! I thought you were behind me the whole time, I swear!”
I cross my fingers to enhance the “supposed” sincerity of the sentence.
“You obviously knew I wasn’t there, cutie.” He snaps back.
I can’t help but wonder if his “cutie” was more a compliment or an insult. Well, whatever really.
Both ways, I don’t care.
“How would I have known? Am I Orpheus and I did not know it?”
I question him, using my mythological knowledge as a hidden weapon.
“Of course, you would’ve known. You girls have some kind of super sense, I thought you could sense people staring at you.”
“The only thing I sense right now is you glaring at me for no reason and looking me up and down like you’re on a mountain or something. You’re not that much taller than me, bruh.”
I say, staring up at him from my phenomenal height of 5 feet 3’.
“Oh come on, little panda. I’m 10 inches taller than you, I earned the right to look up and down shorter people than me, no?” he sarcastically asks.
“Nine inches, Carter. You’re BARELY nine inches taller, remember that.” I remark.
“Now we’re even.”
He says, as he nonchalantly picks me up in his arms, putting our heads at the same height.
“Very funny, truly. Such a laugh, I must admit. But you should put me down, Carter. Now.”
“What’s the magic word?”
“Now?” I know it’s not, but I don’t care. His arms around my back are making me quite uncomfortable. Oh, I do wonder why…Shut up brain.
“You know that’s not the magic word, pretty girl.” He taunts.
“Of course, it’s not, Carter. But I don’t care. Let me down.”
“Not until I hear those words.”
“Please let me down?”
“No, not those words.” He says, rolling his eyes at me.
“Enough with the games, Kye!” I shriek, irritated.
“The magic words were “You’re taller than me” but you’ll get to admit it eventually so never mind.”
He resolves, putting me down at last.
I turn around and see a few people quite stunned, looking at us from across the street, even.
We were causing quite the scene, apparently.
“You finally admitted it!” I yell, making fun of him and running along the left sidewalk on the street.
“Admitted what-? Oh Cuthbert, you’re going to make me sweat every inch of work today, aren’t you?!” he yells, running towards me, without ever quite being able to catch up with me.
At one moment, I feel an arm push me out of the way towards a wall. What the heck-?
“Hey, excuse me-!” I scream. I’m abruptly released at this, and I turn around to see the same slappable face I was talking to minutes before.
“Carter! What was that all about?!” I snort.
“You were about to be hit by a skateboarder, cutie. Would you have preferred that?”
“Of course not, but-.”
“No buts. Let’s head to our next destination, Cuthbert. Time is moving forwards, you know?” He snaps, and at that, we walk towards our next stop. Immediately hiding his sensitive side yet again.
Side by side, arm in arm, hearts unknowingly aligned.