XXI

"Anyway, please don't ever do anything like that again," Henry requests as they get into his black Cadillac. "I didn't think I would get to experience such extreme emotions today…" He makes an effort not to burst into laughter again.

Now, however, Eleven is suspiciously silent once again. Henry doesn't immediately start the car; instead, he looks at her.

"What's wrong?" he asks, confused: weren't they having a good time just now…?

Eleven opens her mouth for a moment before speaking, as if searching for the words. Then, she asks: "Were you going… to kill them?"

Henry instantly adopts a calm expression. And, because he cannot lie to her—at least, not to such a direct question—he answers her truthfully: "I wasn't sure at first."

The girl flinches as if he had hit her.

"But," he adds, "there is one thing I do know." Eleven seeks his eyes, then; Henry experiences some satisfaction in noting that this act of trust has replaced her earlier anxious demeanor. "When I saw your face… I decided I would never subject you to that again."

Henry purses his lips.

"Someday, Eleven," he tells her, and this time it is he who does not look at her, his gaze fixed straight ahead; he doesn't think himself able to resist her eyes without giving in to all her questioning, "we will talk about what happened the night we fled.

"But… not today. Today is a happy day."

Eleven listens to him in silence. She doesn't ask him what he means, doesn't rebuke him either; she just nods.

Henry starts the car.


The two have lunch at a diner near the park. Henry lets her choose whatever she wants from the menu, making no comment about her poor choice of vegetables or her preference for junk food.

The food is delicious; Eleven leaves the establishment with a big smile.

"What now?" she asks Henry, jumping slightly from the excitement she is unable to contain (and, perhaps, the excess of sugar in her system). "What are your plans now?"

Henry puts a finger to his chin and adopts a thoughtful expression in a theatrical gesture.

"I don't know. How would you feel about…?" Eleven looks at him intently. "Well, but only if you want to… I mean, you can always say no, don't feel pressure to…"

Eleven's fists find his shirt.

"Henry!"

He lets out a laugh, his hands gently pulling hers away from him.

"Easy there…! Well, what do you say about visiting the toy store?"

Eleven knows what a toy store is: Henry has explained it to her in their classes. The idea of a place with plush animals and toys everywhere is still strange to her, unbelievable.

"Unless…"

But she takes him by the hand and begins to drag him away—with his consent, obviously, otherwise his body wouldn't have moved at all.

Henry takes a few moments to stifle another chuckle before pointing at her: "Eleven, I find your enthusiasm fantastic… but the toy store is in the opposite direction."

Immediately, the girl uses his hand as a prop to slide in a semicircle in the opposite direction.

Henry decides he has teased her enough, so he doesn't comment on the blush he sees on her cheeks.