Page 91 of Something Like Hail

This seemed to please Felix, who gestured tothe nearest door. “My room,” he explained.

“After you.”

Noah wasn’t sure what he was expecting, butit wasn’t the visual assault that greeted him. Felix’s room wasbusy. To say the absolute least. The walls were covered in posters,most for video games, anime series, pop stars, and televisionshows. The theme continued. A number of shelves were squeezed intothe room, loaded with graphic novels, CDs, DVDs, and even VHScassettes. Books were there too, as well as small figures, variousknickknacks, and yet more books. An old square television was atone end of the room, an impossible number of cords snaking from itto a variety of game consoles and media players. In the center ofeverything was a neatly made full-sized bed. Noah moved toward itinstinctually, as it was the only free space in the room.

“I need my own place,”Felix admitted, noticing his reaction. “Imagine all this spread outover an entire apartment and not just this room. That makes it lessnutty, right?”

Noah shook his head andlaughed. “Is there anything you’renotinto?”

“World ofWarcraft, gangsta rap, and those showsabout people wanting to buy a house.”

Noah wasn’t sure if he was kidding or ifthat was the complete list. “How much do you make in tips? You’resecretly rich, aren’t you?”

Felix considered the clutter around them.“I’ll let you in on a little secret. One reason I’m so into retrostuff is because it’s all I can afford. I’m always hitting charityshops and garage sales. I’m the ultimate bargain hunter. Give metwenty bucks and I can fill the back of your truck with stuff.”

“If you had told me thatearlier,” Noah said, “I wouldn’t have believed you.” He triedtaking it all in but was overwhelmed. Instead he focused on smalldetails, nodding to one of the posters. In it, two silhouettesstood on a cliff, staring dramatically at a distant beam of light.“Who are they? Your sister and you?”

“No!” Felix said. “Veryfunny. That’s Avatar Korra and Aang. You’ve seenThe Last Airbender,right? Wait, are you making fun of my height or hers?”

“I noticed that she’staller than you, that’s all. And no, I’ve never seen that show.” Henodded to another piece, an amateur drawing of one guy pressinganother up against a wall. “What’s up with that?”

“Sterek,” Felix said, as ifthis was explanation enough. When he noticed Noah’s lack of areaction, he tried again. “Stiles and Derek?Teen Wolf? Do you even watchTV?”

“Not enough, apparently.Did you draw that?”

“My friend did. What areyou into?”

The question from any other lips would havebeen much less innocent. “I like to read.”

“Harry Potter?” Felixasked, rising to consult his shelf.

“Loved it.”

“Hunger Games?”

“The first two weregood.”

“Divergenttrilogy?”

“Just started it last week.If you spoil anything, I will break up with you!”

Felix grinned, either because of thereference to their relationship, or because they were speaking thesame language. The kid was crazy about pop culture. Noah might havebeen too, if raised in a less religious household.

“You’re still intocartoons,” he noted, looking to the posters again. “I might need todouble-check that ID.”

“Some of the best storiesare animated,” Felix replied. “You really should watch the twoAvatar series. They have nothing to do with the James Cameronmovie. My sister gave me that poster, by the way. It’s an SDCCexclusive. That’s another money-saving tip: Use those birthdaywishes wisely!”

“SDCC?” Noah repeated.“That’s some sort of convention, isn’t it?”

Felix was so stunned by this lack ofknowledge that he was forced to sit. “San Diego Comic Con is theplace I most want to go. That’s my biggest dream right now. That,or maybe E3.”

Noah shook his head. “We’re going to need atranslator.”

“We won’t,” Felix said,shrugging the topic away. “It’s all dumb.”

“Not if it’s your dream, itisn’t,” Noah said. “I like that you’re so passionate about yourinterests.”

“Really?” Felix leanedforward, like this might be the moment of their big kiss. “What’syour dream?”