Part Four - Chatting and walking...

Part Four - Chatting and Walking

As it got late we still walked and talked feeling like there was no one watching us. We were just two newly found friends, pretending to be light and cheerful. The night was warm, our minds empty and our hearts filled with a different type of joy... That one that is unexpected. We stopped by an ice cream shop and ordered, mine was a mix with mint chocolate chip and vanilla, plain and simple. He asked for strawberry ice cream loaded with strawberries...

-Well, I don't know anything about you, Iris. I know you don't like to read!

-What? Of course I love to read! I'm a journalist, sweetie!
-I don't think you do! If you did you wouldn't read MY book!
-You think that!? I loved your book, Ethan!
-You did NOT!
-I did! Who do you think you are to tell me I didn't?
-I'm the one who's written it!
-Ha! See!? You don't know a thing...
-See!? You didn't like it!
-Don't do that...
-What? you just said it...
-I said what?
-That I don't know a thing! You didn't like what I wrote!
-Quit it... Can't beat you!
-I know you can't... Cause I'm not only a nice, handsome, old-school actor slash writer... I'm a fucking awesome humane sucker!
-You're the sensitive type... Right?
-Wrong! I'm the tough kiddo that you don't wanna mess with...
-Oh! You don't fool me!
-I don't?
-Nope!
-Damn it!
-Want some more ice cream?
-No... Want some coffee?
-Yeah!
-Come on, let's get some...
-Where?
-I know a place...
-"I know a place..."
-You'll start to mock me now?
-No! I'm not mocking you! I just think this sentence sucks!
-Why?
-It's funny...
-But why it sucks?
-I... I, I don't know! It's too movie-like!
-I don't know what you mean! It's probably something that if I was Brazilian I would get!
-Mmm, might be, but I don't even know what I mean!
-Oh, so you're just weird then?
-Probably!

We got to this nice cafe and pulled a chair for me to sit in a table that was outside. The breeze was nice, it messed with my hair but I didn't mind at all. As I watched the people up and down he picked his cool zippo lighting the cigarette that was tight between his deep red lips. I noticed his big hands, the nice jacket he was wearing and the old shirt that was beneath it. It was light yellow and it looked as if he had picked it in the store at random! My eyes were wondering and I noticed my heart beating faster.

-Do you mind if I smoke?
-Of course not! Go ahead.
-Would you care for some?
-No, I don't smoke.
-Ay ay, those non-smokers! Did you know that is actually proved that smokers live longer?
-Oh really! How's that possible?
-Well, we smoking creatures have the lungs to outlive you all, non-smokers! We've evolved!
-Lucky you!
-Yeah, yeah...
-I wanna live a short life... Nothing too great.
-Don't say that! You know I was kidding right?
-Sure I do... Are we ordering anything?
-Yes, mmm wait up!
-Well, I just want a latte, please. A big one!

Ethan gently asked for the menu to the waitress that realizes he's "somebody", by then everyone around was "somebody", the night was filled with those Hollywood stars fighting to pretend they don't like their fame. The girl brought us the menu but I already knew what I wanted. Ethan took a longer time to make up his mind.

-I don't know what I want...
-He doesn't know what he wants!
-I don't... Wait... Lady, what's this Orange Mocha all about?

As the girl explained everything to him I heard the noise of the world surrounding me. I had reached a quiet place in my head to realize what was happening. For the first time I was just enjoying myself and it reminded me of what that guy in front of me represented. Years back I had understood what my calling was by watching Dead Poets Society and now, so many years after that one Sunday afternoon I sobbed over Todd Anderson's O Captain! My Captain cry, that pretty boy was now sitting in front of me. Not an old man... Not an innocent either.

-Okay... I'll have that! Thank you! Now Iris, tell me! Why were you so sad by the pier?
-Mmm, I don't know. I'm always sad!
-Really?
-But you shouldn't be scared though!
-Oh, I shouldn't?
-Don't laugh... It's true! I'm a bit depressive I think... Nothing serious... I just had my third suicide attempt last summer but...
-WHAT!?
-I'm joking! I'm joking!
-Oh... For ONE moment I felt important!
-Why? Oh, my misery made you feel good? Oh, how nice!
-No! No, no!
-What then?
-Well, you promise not to laugh? I thought I had saved you!
-Oh! What a cutie... No, not your saving day!
-Well, i was so happy though...
-Be happy for something else!
-Yeah, I mean, I'm having a great time tonight, I must be happy for this!
-You should because I am.
-Really?
-Yes. I really am.

Our coffees were being served and his eyes were staring his hands, his outgrown boy's hands. His thick fingers were being compressed by his heavy look. I pondered for a moment about what he really wanted from me. I thought about that as if I was being watched by thousands of people in some channel exploiting reality TV in a new kind of weird way that I had no idea that was on tonight! "Maybe" I thought, "even Freddy's watching me right now and I'm the dumb ass being laughed at!". That was so not Ethan Hawke, anyway...

-What are you looking for?
-What? Me? Nothing!
-You're looking around, are you afraid of something? Is there anything bothering you?
-No, no, I'm fine. i just had this weird thought...
-What thought?

As he drank his coffee and looked at me over his giant cup I noticed his big boyish blue eyes searching for my girly eyes as well...

-Will you please not laugh?
-I definitely won't!

He was paying more attention to his coffee than my worries but I went on.

-Okay, I was thinking that I was being fooled by you, and that eventually a camera would pop out from behind the counter and a weird guy with a bad hairdo would scream and say I was being punked! Ha!

He started laughing and choked with some of the coffee he was having.

-Oh! That's why you were looking around! Were you searching for the perfect spot for a hidden camera? Nah... That' won't happen...
-You said you wouldn't laugh!
-How can't I!? Do you think that I would fall for that?
-Don't know...
-I'm not like that. Not that I recall but Ashton Kutcher isn't my friend and do you see something moving in your coffee? Something alive?
-Mmmm, nope!
-Than you're safe!
-Ah... good!
-But now tell me, are you suspicious about my intentions?

He frowned and waited for a different move... But then my cellular phone rang.
Ethan finished his coffee wiping the orange leftovers from the bottom of the mug as I answered. It was, after all, the only person that would call me late that night, Maddy.

-Hello!
-Hey girl! Where have you been!?
-Well, I've been at the pier, sweetie.
-Just hanging?
-Yep.
-You're too quiet to be just hanging.
-No! That's just what I've been doing...

As I talked to Maddy, Ethan would just sit there, cross his arms and watch me and that annoyed me. I stood up and walked away from our table, keeping him from hearing anything.

-So why are you whispering, girl?
-Maddy! Stop interrogating me, please...
-Don't be mad, Iris! It's just that...
-I'm not mad! I'm with Ethan Hawke right now!
-What?
-What you heard.

I looked behind my backs to see if he was still staring but as I layed my eyes upon him he turned his look away, making me more nervous.

-So I won't remind you that you have to pick up your father at the airport TONIGHT!
-What!
-Yeah, yeah... Got your car there?
-Yes I do! I had forgotten about that!
-So grab Mr. Hawke and take him with you.
-To see my dad?
-Yes!
-No!
-Why not, dear?
-Because it's ridiculous! How can I ask it from him?
-Well, he's with you now right?
-Yeah, but we're having coffee!
-Well, get a coffee by the airport.
-Why did you call me again?
-To remind you of that! You were not in home!
-Okay, then I must go now...
-Go!
-Thanks Maddy! Don't know what I'd do without you...
-Well, if you catch a piece of an Ethan Hawke hand-signed photograph, I'd be glad!
-Shut up! I'll hang up at you!
-Just go!Bye!
-Bye!

As I walked back Ethan was already paying our bill and my cheeks were blushed because of the talk I had with Maddy. I didn't want to go at that moment, but I also couldn't ask him to come with me. As I walked towards him, he took a hold of my limbs and brought me really close to him, making me stand there in shock for I didn't expect it and asked:

-Why were you so nervous at the phone?
-His face was so close to mine I couldn't even breath. Noticing that he let me go and smiled waiting for an answer.
-Well...
-You can speak now! Don't blush!
-No, it was my friend, Maddy, she's my neighbor. She reminded me of something I had to do!
-Are you leaving me already?
-Probably... Gotta get my dad at the airport.
-Oh! Where is he coming from? Brazil?
-No! He lives in Spain, actually. In Barcelona. We don't have a tight relationship.
-Oh, I can drive you there. Got my car here, somewhere...
-Got my car also. By the pier deck, in the parking lot.
-Okay then!
-But... But...
-What? If you don't want me to go just say so.
-It's not that, it's that I don't...
-Wanna bother me?
-Yeah, and I really got to go NOW!
-I won't be bothered if you don't!
-Really?
-Really! Don't have anything to do till next Sunday! My plane leaves Sunday...
-Okay then, let's go!
-Let's go.

We walked back to the pier deck to get my car and drove to the airport. My dad would be surprised I had a man with me. He'd be thunderstruck.

***