Page 54 of Something Like Hail

“Never turn down a freemeal,” Harold said, a mischievous glint in his eye. “Let me showyou how it’s done. Offer to pay for everything tonight.”

“I’m paying for everythingtonight,” Noah said firmly.

Harold shrugged. “Cool. Ready to go?”Without waiting for an answer, he turned and walked toward thefront door.

Noah stared after him, wondering if he hadjust been tricked, and decided that he didn’t care either way. Hewas going on a date with Harold! For real this time.

* * * * *

As a child, one of Noah’s favorite boardgames had been Hungry Hungry Hippos. The entire goal of the gamewas to make a plastic hippo eat as many marbles as possible. On theway to Culver’s, he couldn’t help envisioning a different versionof this game. Hunky Hunky Harold! He didn’t find this idea quite asamusing after they had consumed a ridiculous number offat-saturated calories. Noah had no regrets, but his date didn’tseem to be doing so well.

“I’m not going to barf,”Harold said, stumbling along the sidewalk, “but I kind of wish Iwould.”

Noah sucked shamelessly on the frozencustard shake he had gotten to go. “I’m thinking about doublingback for another of these.”

“Seriously?” Harold soundedrepulsed, but then he gave himself away by looking over hisshoulder. “What was the flavor of the day again?”

“Cherry berry cheesecake,”Noah said, laughing around the words. “You know, you don’t have tobe so perfect all the time. Live a little.”

“Me?” Harold said, soundinggenuinely surprised. “I’m not perfect! Not even close.”

“Prove it.”

“I will!” He seemed tothink about it for a few paces. “Okay. Got it!”

They came to a stop on the sidewalk, Haroldpoking at his phone. Noah glanced around. The street they were onwas familiar to him. Many in Austin were, and yet now they seemedtransformed. Before, the endless city blocks had been exhaustingand sometimes scary. Tonight they were inviting. The patio bar withthumping music, the secondhand shop promising today’s treasures atyesterday’s prices, or even the coffee shop and bookstore combo—allof these were potential places for him and Harold to explore, tohave fun, to grow closer. The world was built for two. Noah hadexperienced a hint of that with Ryan, but the guy currently at hisside was so much more upbeat, and despite his claims, perfect inevery way. Or maybe not.

“There ya go,” Harold said,holding up his phone to reveal a photo.

At first Noah thought he was being shown alittle brother. The family resemblance was there. The kid hadHarold’s smile, but his face was excessively chubby, implying hewas overweight. Acne speckled his cheeks. The smiling eyes were thesame too, making Noah wonder if it wasn’t a sibling after all.

“That’s you?” he asked,still uncertain.

“Yup.” Harold turned thephone to inspect it. “I’m twelve, maybe thirteen. Pretty hot,huh?”

“You’ve definitely changeda lot,” Noah said diplomatically.

“Because I stopped eatingfood like that!” Harold nodded at the cup in Noah’s hand. “I alsoforced myself out of the house more often. Just for walks, but ithelped make a difference. Later I started playing tennisand—”

“You’ve been perfect eversince,” Noah teased.

“I’m reallynot.”

“Uh huh. I’m guessing youwere one of the popular kids.”

Harold shook his head adamantly. “Iwasn’t.”

“You sure aboutthat?”

“For real!” Haroldhesitated. “Although I was prom king junior year.”

Noah snorted. “I knew it.”

“I get along with mostpeople,” Harold said as they continued walking. “I hung out withthe geeks and nerds. I played D&D! That’s not something popularkids do. But yeah, I also got invited to parties, and I wentthrough a phase where I thought sports were cool, mostly because Ilove how guys look in uniforms, so I’d find excuses to talk tothem—to everyone, really. It’s weird, because my instinct is tostay at home alone, but I really do love people.” He shrugged.“Like I said, I get along with most folks.”

“And they like you inreturn?”

“Sure.”