The Homeless Boy at my Window

Noodle Boy

"Maybe it wasn't a very good idea for you to just run out of there without shoes."

"Yeah, I know."

"Or a jacket."

"Yeah, I know."

"You could have at least wore some socks."

I hit his curls then huffed. "Well I didn't exactly ask you to carry me did I? Hmmmmm?" I locked my arm right in front of his neck then threatened to take away someone's breathing rights.

"Aw, well you do take my breath away." My choking arm could feel him smirk. "But I could tell you were getting tired, and your feet hurt from the gravel. Just let me be a gentleman."

I sighed and took my arm away. I've only know him for a few hours and it's like we're already siblings. I leaned on Leo and watched the sunrise next to us. It was so radiant. The sun stood behind some clouds but it was so bright and smiley, you could still tell it was there. I wonder how my parents would react when they found out I was gone. Maybe they'll call the police and a search party would come and find me. This little adventure would end but that's ok it's not very exciting anyways. That feeling of ecstasy was just a fluke. I'll say Leo kidnapped me, he'll end up in jail and I'll just go back to my normal life. Well, would they even care? Maybe I'll end up dead. Maybe Leonardo here is a serial killer.

I looked down at the boy who was dressed in rags and ripped jeans. His hair was a birds nest and he reeked like he didn't know what the word soap was. Leo seemed like he only had a penny to his name. But he happily carried me shoeless as he hummed a slow quiet song.

For some reason. I felt safe.

"Why don't we stop here?" He suggested then put me down before I could say anything. I stood at the edge of a grassy park and he stood next to me with his hands on his knees. That was quite a workout he sounded as if his air costed him money.

"Are you calling me fat?"

"Geez, why do you think I'm out to get cha'?" Leo laughed while out of breath.

"You were out to get me. You got me and here I am."

"Hey woman I'm doing you a favor." Leo shrugged then somehow collapsed into a perfect criss cross applesauce position on the sidewalk. I more or less gracefully followed his action, but on the grass.

We looked at each other, smiled nervously, then looked away. How awkward...

The two of us sat there at the empty park, listening to his heavy breathing until it stopped. Then we listened to the birds, then the airplane up above us.

"That would be pretty useful." Leo said looking up at the plane. It's a long walk to where we're headed. He started pulling the grass. "So Ivy was it? Tell me about yourself." He put a blade of grass above his upper lip to mimic a mustache. "Likes? Dislikes?"

"I like... naps I guess. Netflix? I don't know I'm just another boring teenager leave me alone. I dislike everything." Words just started to fall out of my mouth.

"Lameeeee!" Leo hollered, "What makes you passionate? What makes you angry?"

"You."

"I guess I'll take it. Maybe that's why you decided to join me. You despise me, but you're also in love with me."

I hit him. Hard.

"Ow!" Leo chuckled, then put his grass mustache back on, "Any hobbies madam?"

I smiled then shrugged. "I do sports at school, track and wrestling because I have trouble with group sports...but it was mainly to waste time anyways. Other than that I don't do much."

"Cool, cool... so who's Blake Williams?" He stroked the end of his grass blade mustache

"You weren't listening to me were you?"

"I was!" He sat up straighter than he already was, if that was possible. "You do sports."

"Yup, how about you?"

"Are you dodging my question?"

"Technically you're dodging my question as well." I answered back bluntly.

"Well I don't really do sports. I did swimming but only as a child. I'm more the studying type. My nanny said I was too curious for my own good. So Blake Williams?"

"I'll tell you about your crush if you tell me about yours." I rolled my eyes.

"I had a crush on Victoria De Luca."

"Isn't that the kid of that one rock band singer? Why?"

"That's right. I don't know I just like her style. And her dad is an awesome singer."

I looked down on the ground, "Well... she doesn't count. Crushes on famous people don't count."

"But-"

Just then the morning sprinklers came on to water the grass before the soccer kids came to practice. I shrieked and Leo grabbed my hand and pulled me up. Dragging me away from the field I continued looking down at the ground, especially when he let go. Why was my face heating up?

"Phew! That sure was refreshing. I guess that's our cue to get going." I heard him laugh, "Hey, are you ok?"

"Huh? Oh yeah-" I looked up at him and his mop of hair. Yeah his curly hair was bad but wet? It looked even more horrendous. I just had to point and laugh, "You look like someone dumped a bowl of ramen on you." What a dork, I needed to get a picture. I pulled out my phone, no new messages.

Whatever. I see how it is.

Right as I snapped a photo my tummy rumbled. Uh oh.

"Hungry?" Leo had took off his green jacket to dry his hair off. "I got some money from the last time I sat on a street corner begging. Wanna get a bite to eat?" He tossed a zip lock bag at me with a handful of loose change and a couple of bills.

"Oh I don't want to use up your money. We should be frugal if we're going to make this trip happen.."

"Ivy, there's twenty seven dollars in there."

With a closer look at the bag I saw a ten dollar bill, and several fives. How did he get so much money from just sitting there? Nobody gives tips like that.

"Onward! I want ramen now." He started walking without me listing food he wanted. "Or I could go for some pancakes, or maybe a big, big burrito! Grande!" He held spread his arms out excitedly.

I smiled and sped up ahead of him and called out behind me, "Not unless I eat it first!"

"You're on Miss Track Star!" He came up on my tail and raced me. I had no idea where we were going but the cold sidewalk and the sun radiating on me made me feel free.