Page 90 of Something Like Hail

He considered their surroundings. Bleeps,bloops, and digital riffs came from each arcade cabinet. The delugeof sound was mixed in with music playing on the bar’s sound systemand the drunk patrons who were shouting at each other to be heard.“Do you want to get out of here?”

Felix also surveyed the room, reaching adifferent conclusion. “But I love it so much!”

Noah laughed. “We can come back some othertime. I want to be alone with you.”

That got Felix’s attention. “Okay. Whereshould we go?”

Noah hadn’t thought that far ahead. He wasabout to suggest a stroll through one of his favorite parks whenFelix came up with a different idea.

“Do you want to go homewith me?” After seeing Noah’s smirk he added, “Not likethat!”

“I’m not sure I’m ready tomeet your mother.”

“She’s not home. She worksnights at the hospital. My sister might be there, but she’ll leaveus alone.”

Homes held a special appeal for Noah, maybebecause he had gone so long without one of his own. His currentplace didn’t feel much like a home, most of the time. Yes, theapartment was his and provided comfort and shelter, but somecrucial element was missing. “Sounds good,” Noah said. “Let’s go.”When he noticed Felix’s hesitation, he added. “We don’t haveto.”

“No! I want to. It’sjust…Baby Pac-Man. I’ve never played it before.”

“One game!” Noah said,shaking his finger sternly. “Then we’re out of here.”

One game turned into five, not that hereally minded. The game didn’t interest him much, but standing nextto it and getting to witness Felix’s gleeful expression, face litby blinking lights, was worth the delay. When they were in thetruck and on the road again, Felix raved about what they had seenand done, like they had gone on a grand adventure. Noah didn’t mindthat either. Better a boyfriend who was obsessed with leveling upthan one who was desperate to shoot up.

They drove to a neighborhood on the easternedge of Austin. The apartment complex where Felix lived was set inthe middle of a commercial zone filled with block after block offast food restaurants, grocery or liquor stores, and pawn shops. Ifthe landlord switched off all the street lamps on the property tosave money, Noah wagered there would still be enough residualfluorescent light to illuminate the parking lot.

Any concerns he had about the areaevaporated when they entered directly into the living room. Oncethe door was shut behind them, the outside world was sealed away,leaving them in a small space that felt cozy. He sized up thefurnishings, such as the worn leather couch, the widescreentelevision several years out of date, and numerous school photos ontop of the entertainment center. An attached dining room containeda table partially filled with mail, school books, and otherclutter. This bled into a minimal kitchen. Felix offered him adrink, Noah following along and noticing that the refrigerator wascovered with old drawings, more family photos, and tests withimpressive scores.

“I love it here,” Noahsaid, cracking open the can of generic soda he washanded.

Felix looked at him like he was crazy.“Really? Then your place must be really small. Do you live on yourown?”

“Yeah,” Noah said. “Sizeisn’t everything, you know.”

“Oh-kay!” said a femalevoice.

He looked over in time to see a slender formturn and head back down the hallway.

“Darli!” Felix said,pushing past him. “We werenottalking about… You know.”

“I don’t know,” Darli said,spinning around again, this time with mischief on her face. “Isthis him? The one you couldn’t stop talking about?”

“Would you knock itoff!”

Noah sauntered forward and introducedhimself, Darli giggling as she shook his hand.

“My sister,” Felix saidwithout much enthusiasm. “She can’t stick around because she haslots of studying to do. Right?”

“With my headphones on,”she added, “so I can’t hear anythinguntoward.”

This last word she said with a stuffyBritish accent. Then she stuck out her tongue at Felix, who pushedher further down the hall where they had a hushed conversation.Noah loved every second of this. He felt like a bad boy with aquestionable reputation, and now the sweetest, most innocent boy atschool had brought him home.

“Sorry,” Felix said as hereturned. “She’s terrible.”

Except it was clear that they loved eachother. “I like her,” Noah said generously. “Good firstimpression.”

“Really?”

“Yeah! Great sense ofhumor.”