Just Off The Key || Lizrei

Chapter 3: Far from the Madding Crowd

Since it was February, and they were in New York, walking through Central Park, Rei was freezing. Her apartment had deceived her into thinking it was warmer outside than it actually was. Now, she strolled along next to Liz, trying to stop her teeth from chattering. Fucking Siri was a liar.

Liz glanced down and studied her for a moment, a frown forming on her face.

"Are you cold?"

Rei smiled regretfully and nodded as her teeth clicked together. "I know, I know. I should've been prepared. I feel like I'm on an Arctic expedition."

Liz slid her coat off her shoulders and went to drape it over Rei. "Here. Put this on." Rei was surprised, but allowed the taller woman to help her slide her arms through.

"Won't you be cold?" Rei asked worriedly.

Liz just shook her head with a small smile and went back to playing with the flaps on her mittens. They had gotten lunch at Rei's favorite café, and were now walking it off in the Park. Rei looked up when she noticed Liz's head pop up and a slight bounce appear in her step. The blonde's eyes were bright and innocent and excited, and Rei followed the line of sight. Straight to a balloon man. Rei smiled.

Rei didn't say anything; she wanted to see if Liz would stop them. Sure enough, they almost passed the vendor before Liz slowed, then turned to Rei and stopped, biting her lip.

"I want to get a balloon." She blurted, then made a WTF face like she didn't know why she said that.

Rei grinned knowingly and pulled her over to the vendor. "Me too!"

Liz looked surprised and excited. Rei asked for a purple one.

"Um, can I have a blue one...and a yellow one, please? And a green one?" Liz said shyly.

Rei smiled and put a hand on Liz's shoulder. "I think my friend here needs a balloon animal hat as well." Rei studied her for a moment, then nodded decisively. "A lion. Definitely a lion."

Rei hoped this guy knew what he was doing, otherwise it'd come out as a hat of yellow sausages. Liz really didn't need that.

The vendor grinned at them. "Alrighty. What about one for you?"

Rei started to shake her head, but Liz held the hand that had been on her shoulder and interrupted quietly. "She needs one too." She glanced down at Rei. "A bear. Please."

The man nodded happily and made their hats and handed them their colorful balloons. They actually looked like animals, which made Rei and Liz look sort of like fools, but, whatever. They were fabulous.

"What now?" Rei asked. Her balloon hat was slightly too big so it sat crookedly on her head. Liz focused on tying the string of one of her balloons to her wrist. Rei tried not to smile.

"Um, we could...I don't know, lie in the sun for a while? It might warm you up. I'd just rather stay outside, than..."

"Perfect." Rei said brightly. She smiled as Liz tossed a few dollars in a homeless man's hat, offering him a wave and small, "hi."

She wondered how this woman got to be so sweet, and why she didn't share enough of it with the world.

~oooooooooo~

"Liz!" Rei proclaimed, striding out of her bedroom when they got home. "I still don't have your cell phone number."

Liz was curled in a corner of the couch with one of her books. Rei watched realization dawn on her face.

"I don't have one." Liz said somewhat sheepishly, eyes going back to her book.

Rei was not able to process this fact. Her own life would fall to pieces if she didn't have her phone; she'd end up living in a cardboard box by the river not knowing her name and singing to the ducks.