Ten & Levan

4. Four

(Birdy - Maybe)

TEN

"Where are we going?"

"Definitely not back to school," I say as we turn a corner on the road.

"Don't you wanna just go home?" he asks me, yet again. I groan and roll my eyes.

"Hell to the fucking no, Eleven," I say, turning slightly to him as we walk side by side. "I did not choke my way out of school so I could go home." He raises his brows, and I'm not sure if he's smiling or scoffing because he looks away. I've never met one person who smiles as scarcely as Levan, given my tendency to smile and/or laugh without a joke is really high.

"So, we're just going to walk around town then?" he concludes.

"Um, we could grab ice creams and do some more walking, head down to the park and lick our ice creams sticks or cones, whatever we choose fit, clean, as we watch skateboarders, the fountain or better yet, the sky," I suggest. His eyes are wide when I look back at him.

"Sounds like a hell of a plan," he comments quietly, shoving his hands into the deep pockets of his jacket.

"I know right."

I decide I'm fist bumping him. And god help me, it was the most awkward fist bump of my life. First, he takes forever to realize what I'm doing, second, he halts absurdly, and then he stares around before giving me a god awful fist bump. He's always a step behind, because he loses himself in his thoughts so often. Levan, Levan, Levan. You're so lost, Levan.

I find him silently looking at our feet as we walk toward Stella's Ice Creams and Froyo. The bell jingles at the door as we walk in. And then I realize something really important.

"Oh my god!" I halt, gripping his hand so he halts too. His face blanches as he turns toward me. He stares around for the second time. I can't help but laugh, I've startled him again. It's so easy to.

"What happened?" he asks, slightly alarmed.

"I realized we don't know each other's last names," I tell him, rather calmly, "I wonder how we missed that out..." I wonder. He seemingly relaxes and sighs.

"I think we missed that because we met on a cliff," he says, I narrow my eyes, intrigued. Hmm, let's analyze this on a deeper level.

"So does meeting on a cliff mean we'll never know each other's last names?" I ask, skeptical that his theory makes any sense. He grins slightly and tilts his head to a side. Smile, Leva, smile.

"It just means we were both preoccupied by the thought of diving, and I think the excitement and nerves are what made us miss the last names part," he explains. His mouth performing a little dance; he's amused. I'm amused. That's the longest sentence he's spoken since we've met.

"Ah, that makes complete sense." I nod in agreement. "You're a genius, Eleven," I say, free his hand from mine and give him a pat on the shoulder. He takes an under-dramatic little bow.

"Anyways," he says, "I'm Levan Emery." He extends his hand to me. It is our second first-meet in three days. I'm amused all over again, so I laugh, taking his hand.

"I'm Tenerife Cohen, nice to meet you, Mr. Emery," I say. A smile almost appears on his mouth, but it doesn't reach his eyes; they don't moon like they should, they don't brighten up like they should, they just stay the way they were pre-smile. I almost narrow my eyes.

"Likewise," he mutters, before turning toward the counter.

We implement the plan just the way I stated it. Grab ice cream from? Check. (He got plain vanilla with no toppings at all and I got dark chocolate with a load of orange syrup and sprinkles on it.) Walk to the park? Check. (Odd observation: on our way, Levan randomly muttered something that sounded like "colorful speeding zebra" but I'm sure there isn't a single Zebra in this town, let alone colorful and on drugs.) I make a side note in my head, subject experiences possible hallucinations.