RAM {Random Access Memory}

A Date - Avi & Eko

Avi had already dated one of the girls in the grade, who was really popular at that time. She was kind of typical, an almost literal dumb blonde. She wasn't really a dumb blonde, she just had her moments a lot of the time. And Eko was nothing like that. Well, not to say that she didn't have her moments, because surely she did, but she just wasn't like that. Plus, Avi's ex-girlfriend played volleyball all the time. She was tall and skinny. Eko was tall, but she was anything but skinny. Anytime she told even her close friends her weight, they always responded with, "Wait, seriously?" It wasn't a very comforting response.

I'm thinking too much about everything, Eko thought, as she passed the Bar Louie in the mall. I have to stop. He doesn't like me. He probably never will. Thoughts of the like swirled through her mind as she stepped out in front of the movie theater courtyard. The sun had fallen by now, and the first stars were starting to gleam in the East. Eko was mostly oblivious to the sound outside of her mind. Then, a distinct sound shattered her thoughts. Two laughs at once, one male, one female. One, low, yet still high pitched, and another, clear as crystal, at one tone, high and shrill. One, Avi's, the other, Tansy's. It was impossible not to notice.

Eko looked to her left, where she saw Avi, his two friends, Tansy, and some people she didn't know. They were all in a circle, laughing at something one of them had said. Eko watched them for a while, hoping she wouldn't be noticed. From where she was standing, Eko was facing Avi, and Tansy's back was to her. She liked observing, like she was. But why were they here? She thought there had been a local high school football game tonight, that's the only reason she came to the shopping mall. But from an observance standpoint, everything was so serene. Their group fit so well together. The people just seemed to accept one another. That was a group that Eko just didn't belong in. 

It was still nice to observe, though. Nice to observe how Tansy shifts all her weight on one side, how the people Eko didn't know seemed a little touchy feely, how green Avi's eyes were. And how they were staring back at her. Oh shit, Eko thought. She tried to walk forward a bit, so she was blocked by a building but could still see them. She watched Avi excuse himself from the group, and the others question him. Then he started walking in Eko's direction. 

Quickly, Eko walked into the Noodles & Company that she had been hiding behind. She was up to the register and about to pay, when a hand slipped over her shoulder, and exact change was handed over the counter to pay for her meal. She turned to see who it was, even though she already knew. 

"What are you doing?" she asked, her voice only audible enough for him to hear. "Buying you dinner," he said, as he led her to sit at the takeout bench. Her heart wasn't pounding, but it was definitely beating more than it usually did.

"So, I saw you in the courtyard," he said casually. "Do you have plans for the rest of the night?" Avi asked. There were two distinct directions this could go.

"No, not really," she answered. She tried to shrug his hand off her shoulder, but it didn't work. "Eat, I guess."

"Well, me and everyone else are going to see a movie at ten," he checked his watch. "It's nine eighteen now, so if you want to join us, you can."

A million thoughts crossed Eko's mind. "Have you already bought tickets?"

"No."

"Oh," Eko thought that would be a surefire way out of this. But did she want to get out of it? "Um..."

"You don't have to if you don't want to," Avi said, as Eko's name was called to pick up her order. "Would your parents be worried? Cuz if you need to call..." he trailed off, pulling out his phone.

"No it's not that," she said. She stopped living with her parents after running away a while ago. She grabbed her take out and smiled a thank you to the employee.

"Then what is it?" He seemed true, like he wanted to know and was concerned.

"It doesn't matter. I guess I'll go with you..."

He seemed pleased that she had agreed to go, but his face was streaked with disturbance of what she wouldn't tell him.

"Okay, find a seat and start eating, I'll go get the others and we can eat before the movie."

"About that -"

"What?" He asked, a little urgently. Eko was startled.

"I didn't really know any of those people you were talking to. I don't want to impose, and I feel like I'l be out of place."

He tilted his head at her, his wavy, thick hair falling across his forehead. "You're friends with Tansy, aren't you?" Eko nodded. "And you know my friends, right?" She nodded again. "So then it's just the two other academy kids that you don't know. That'll be easy enough." He helped her up from the bench, his hand sliding down her back and leading her to a table. "Just sit tight for a bit," he smirked.

The others came in and ordered food, and Tansy flipped when she saw Eko. Avi introduced the other people in their group to Eko, and soon enough, they were all laughing and enjoying their dinner, cracking jokes at one another like they've been friends for years.

Ten o'clock came, and the group was settled into their seats. Tansy was positioned next to one of the other academy kids, Avi's friends were set on the edge, and Eko was next to Avi.

Before the end of the previews, Avi's fingers had intertwined themselves with Eko's. And they stayed that way for the whole show.

                                                                           ~fin~