The Labyrinth of You and Me

Two

     I've already refilled my water glass three times in the last twenty minutes, and James decides to point that fact out while we're at lunch... Yep, today I'm Awkward Phil. Awkward Potato Phil.
We agreed to meet today, but now that I'm here, I have no idea what I'm going to do or how long this will take.
     I remember back to this morning when I told Dan what lunch plans were. He burst out laughing, asking me if I was serious about this. And yes, I'm serious about this. There's nothing wrong with meeting new people.
     "So," I say, breaking the silence between me and James, "where are you from? You don't sound English."
     "Oh, yeah. I'm from Roanoke," he says.
     "Roanoke?"
     "It's in Virginia. United States."
     "Oh, isn't that, like, near Barack Obama?"
     "Yeah!" He breaks out into laughter that makes his voice sound like it's trembling.
     He leans forward in his chair so that the chain's back legs are lifted from the ground and his shadow covers me. I feel small.
     "What about you? Where are you from?"
     "Rawtenstall," I tell him.
     "Where's that? In the UK?"
     "Yeah."
     "That's actually the name of a place? Huh. I guess you learn something new everyday." He whistles and smiles before reaching into his coat pocket for a packet of cigarettes. I watch as he plucks one out and places it between his lips.
     "Want a smoke?" James asks me.
     "Nah. I don't, um, I don't smoke. Never have," I reply.
     "Not even once?" He sounds surprised as he pulls out a lighter. "Wanna try?"
     "Not even once. And, no thanks."
     He hums. "The first time I smoked anything was when I was ten years old. My dad snuck me one of those old fashioned cigars--you know? The fat brown ones? He had a pipe, but that's special to him. He won't let me use that. Ever. I can't even touch it or he gets all sensitive."
     "Everyone's got a special something like that, I guess," I shrug.
     "Or a special someone. Either. Or both," he adds. He sucks on the nicotine and puffs up his cheeks before hollowing them and blowing out a smooth line of wispy smoke.
     I can't stand the smell, and I try not to make a face or cough. I tell him I need the restroom and excuse myself.
Letting the tap water run, I splash it onto my face. I cough several times and inhale as much clean air as I can. I gargle and spit before cleaning my hands and heading back outside.
     By the time I'm sitting back down, James is halfway through a second cigarette. A few ashes make a tiny dark pile on the outdoor tabletop.
     "Um, so..." I clear my throat, "Oh, right. So what brought you here? To London, I mean. Are you just visiting or what?"
     "Oh, no. I'm livin' here. I've been here for three years. What brought me here? I dunno. I just wanted to get away from the States, my friend. It gets boring being in one place for too long," he explains.
     "Yeah, I get it. Dan and I used to live in Manchester before moving in here."
     "Oh."
     "Yeah."
     "How long have you two been living together, then? I mean, it seems like you've known each other for a really long time."
     "It's been quite a few years. After all this time, though, I don't think I would want anyone else for a roommate besides him. He knows me so well already. It's kinda psychic--our relationship--sometimes," I say. I notice his clenched fists.
     "Interesting. But tell me more about you. Something. Anything. I dunno. Make it good."
     "What? Uh..." I've always found it annoying how the minute someone asks you about yourself, your mind goes blank even though you know yourself better than your own mum knows you because you're the only one who's got your head.
     I try again. "I'm a Youtuber."
     He perks up at this. "So you're some big Internet sensation, huh?"
     "Pretty much."
     "How many subscribers?"
     "Like, a bit over two million..."
     "You're kidding!"
     I shake my head. "I honestly can't believe it myself."
     James blows another puff of smoke into the air. "Damn. I accidentally befriended a celebrity..."
     "Funny how things like that happen, isn't it?" I say, then add, "Oh, and Dan and I also have our own radio show on BBC Radio One."
     "You talk about your roommate quite a lot, were you aware? Just saying." He smiles playfully.
     "Oh. Sorry. Yeah, we do a lot of stuff together is all."
     "I'm sure you do."
     James pays the check for our lunch; we walk for a bit.
     "Ever heard of the Roanoke Star?" he asks as we walk. He has stopped smoking for now, and his arm rests on my shoulder.
     "Nope," I reply.
     "Really? Ugh. I'll have to tell you about it some other time, but not now. We should meet again. And I'd like to finally meet this Dan the man you always speak of," he says with a wink.
     "Haha, yeah."
     We stop at the corner of the street.
"I'll see you, then. Next time, you pick when and where we meet, 'kay?" Then he's off.
     "Uh, yeah. Sure!" I call after him.
He waves his hand but doesn't stop to actually turn around. He just keeps walking.