The air in Los Angeles is full of hope and peace of mind. «What is it here that always attracted me?» I thought, lying on the lawn. I lowered my book and listened to the whisper of the leaves. It felt like they were alive and that a heart was beating inside the tree, giving life to every leaf. That’s what my mom taught me.
«I was lying right there in that exact same position,» came a familiar voice.
I lowered my shades.
«With a J. D. Salinger book?»
«Nope. Haven’t read about that dude in the red hunting hat.» David smiled. «Didn’t expect to see you here.»
«Same.»
Neither of us seemed to know what to say next.
«What are you, uh, doing here?»
«Studying.»
«Studying what?»
«Filmmaking and screenwriting. I came here to attend classes.»
«Got it.»
«You?»
«I’m mostly working here. I help students shoot music videos, stuff like that, but definitely not for free.» He laughed.
«Nice way to earn some cash.»
«I can knock 200 bucks off the price for you.»
David smiled pleasantly. He looked a lot better.
«When did you leave?»
«Several days after you did.»
«I see.» I looked at my watch.
«Gotta run?»
«Yep.»
«Let’s hang out sometime. What about after class?»
«We’ll see.»
He smiled mysteriously – was it disappointment? I couldn’t tell – gave a wave and headed unhurriedly in the opposite direction. He walked with perfect calm, as if he was studying every grain of sand, pebble, leaf… It was beautiful to watch… David had a very kind face. I abruptly regretted that I’d answered him so rudely.
After class I went to Starbucks and got a cappuccino. It was already getting dark. On the way to my car, David appeared out of nowhere, suddenly reminding me that he’d wanted to hang out.
«Hey.»
«Oh, hi!»
«You already going home?»
«Yeah, guess so.»
«Aww, I was hoping to get something to drink. Wanna come along? You could finish your cappuccino.»
«Do you really think you should be drinking?»
«Well, I’ve never OD-ed on ice water.»
«M-hm.»
«There’s a bar near here. It’s not that bad. Oh and I’m not a serial killer. Though after what happened in the bar, I don’t blame you for avoiding me.» He smirked. «You know, I’m pretty sure I’m being a little weird. But I just want to say sorry for our first meeting. I was in a dark place.»
«Say sorry?»
«Yeah. I was a real ass and, to make up for it, I’ll buy you an ice water.»
«Is it far?»
«Not at all. Leave your car here and we’ll walk.»
As it turned out, there really was a great bar nearby that, apart from spirits, also offered «fancy» drinks, like ice water. Shame the barman wasn’t Nick.
«I don’t know anything about you,» said David, «tell me something – anything – about yourself.»
«Well, I came here as soon as I found out I’d been accepted.»
«Run away from home?»
«Run away? I came here to study.»
David smiled, munching on cashew nuts from a little vase in the middle of the round table:
«So this isn’t a fresh start?»
«Nope. It’s just a big dream of mine.»
«And where were you before your longtime dream?»
«New York.»
«Wait. You came by car?»
«Yep.»
«You traveled three thousand miles?»
«And around 40 hours.»
«Couldn’t afford a plane ticket?»
«It wasn’t about money. I just wanted something…»
«What?»
«Well… adventurous and… to be on my own.»
«Did you have a lotta adventures out there on your own?»
«Nothing like that bar.»
«If you’re talking about me, then you really lucked out on your adventures.»
«And what’s your story?»
«Mine, funny enough, isn’t that great.» He sighed heavily. «I’m from Boston.»
«Mkay. That’s just about the scariest story I’ve ever heard.»
«Ha! Basically, I’m from a big family with a lot of kids.»
From that moment, I listened more attentively, mentally turning over the completely different one I’d heard from Nick.
«I came here to make money for my family… which I actually don’t have. Sorry, that was a lie. Sometimes I need some time to man up,» he straightened his shirtsleeve, musing about something. «I’m actually from a residential treatment center. – Like an orphanage,» he explained at my confused look, «my mother left me when I was seven years old, on my birthday. Then, when I was 16, I ran away from my foster family with a friend. We found a small, abandoned house, and then renovated it using money we’d stolen wherever we could find it. Basically, we lived there happily ever after. Then, we had a fight and I left the city, and finally ended up in that bar. After about a year I found out he was looking for me, and I went back.»
I waited for him to continue, but he suddenly laughed:
«I’m telling my life story to someone whose name I don’t even know. Looks like I’m legit going crazy. Sorry about that.»
«Connie. My name’s Connie.»
«You serious?» The smile disappeared from his face.
«What?»
«You’re not leaving?»
«Sorry, what?»
«I told you the truth, didn’t I?»
«I don’t get it. Do you want me to go?»
«No no no!» Another smile spread across his face, and he looked ready to give me a hug. «I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to say that. Just that every time I tell someone about my life, they immediately disappear.»
«How old are you?» I asked, sipping my cappuccino.
«Twenty-five, I think. Birthday wasn’t too long ago. You?»
«Sixty-five,» I said and smiled.
I was taken aback. No, not at David’s behavior, but at the abrupt twinge I felt once again in my heart. As if I’d always known the person sitting across from me at that