"Lovi?"
Lovi looked up and saw me. "Feliciano? What're you doing here?"
I smiled. "I'm looking for some books on painting and stuff! What're you doing?"
He shuffled his feet. "Well—Toni's 18 now, and he got a library card, so I'm using it to check out some stuff."
"Oh, what kinda stuff?" I asked. He showed me the books in his arms.
"What's this one about?"
"A unicorn who goes on a journey to find her kind."
"This one?"
"A group of people go off to destroy an evil ring."
"This one?"
"This one's from Harry Potter—it's like, a book that was talked about in the series, and then they made it into an actual book. Isn't that neat?"
I looked up at him. He was grinning.
"Yeah, it's really cool," I agreed, looking at the covers. "Is Toni in here too?"
He shook his head. "Nah, I came by myself. Toni's back at the apartment."
"Oh, okay."
"So, did you, um . . ." he glanced around. "Did you need help finding the art books? I mean, this is the fantasy section."
"Yes, please," I said quietly.
He led me to the part with art stuff.
"Oh, here they are," I said. "Thanks!"
"Sure."
I started looking through the books. "Do you and Artie talk a lot? I mean, since you both like to read . . ."
"Well, sometimes," he mumbled. "I don't really like talking, but if he brings it up . . ."
"Does Toni like to read?"
He shrugged. "He'll read my stuff sometimes, but he doesn't really."
I spotted a picture of an elaborate heart in the book. "Um . . . are you and Toni doing anything for Valentine's?"
He shrugged again. "I guess we'll . . . just stay in the apartment. Usual stuff."
"Oh, okay."
"What about you and . . ." he made a face. "Ludwig?"
I looked away, smiling. "We're . . . not together yet . . . we're gonna start dating on the fifteenth!"
He stared at me. "That's awfully specific."
I smiled and shrugged. "Well, we promised each other last year, so . . ."
He rolled his eyes. "I don't even want to know."
"Okay."
. . .
"Is Eliza here?" he asked.
I glanced up. He was looking around for her.
"She's waiting in the car outside," I said. "I drove here for practice 'cause I don't have my license yet. I'm gonna try again soon!"
He stared at me. "How many times have you tried?"
"Two."
He rolled his eyes. "Good god, just give it up . . ."
I frowned. "No way! I'm gonna get it for sure next time!"
"Sure you are."
A little bit later I got my books and we went to the checkout together. He hesitated before we went out the doors.
"What's wrong?" I asked, looking back. "Don't you wanna see Eliza?"
He looked back. "I . . . I think I forgot to get a book back there. You go on ahead. Say hi to Eliza for me. See you tomorrow."
He turned and left.
"Bye," I said softly.
