Big fat flakes floated to the ground only to be crunched by our boots as we walked back to town.
"Can we have soup for lunch?"
"Hippolito's?"
"Yeah!"
"Cream of mushroom."
"No way, man. Tomato's where it's at."
The cold's not so bad when you're prepared. The road over the hill was closed to cars due to the conditions. Zaley's red scarf lifted in the breeze along with a lone whisp of her hair coming out from under her hat.
"How much longer do you plan on staying with me?"
"Do you want me to leave?"
"You're starting to form moss."
"Dick."
"I'm just saying you've usually got some adventure planned."
"I need a break."
"I'm like a old sofa?"
"This town is a sofa. You're bedroom slippers."
"Ah."
"Serioulsy, growing up is optional round these parts."
We caught the street car once we got down the hill. It was still running despite the weather. We were the only riders.
"You want to grab donuts after soup, for later?"
"You're man after my own heart."
Zaley took off her scarf and tied it around my head like a cholo's bandana.
"Are you the real Zaley?"
"You think I'm a fig, don't you?"
"What?"
"A figment."
"Are you?"
"No."
"How can I be sure?"
"You gave up on me months ago didn't you?"
"Well-"
"I knew how crazy you were about me. I know you feel differently now."
She's right. We spent weeks at the lake and no funny business.
"Boys always want what they can't have."
"So why are you here?"
"Because girls want what they can't have too."
"Is that true?"
"Mostly."
She smiled so big.
I'd started to doubt everything at this point. Life was so easy. I hadn't heard anything from Luna since the tape. The little downtown streets looked so good all covered in snow, no cars driving around-- like a fucking snow globe.
"Don't worry about me. I'm the real deal."
She pulled the bandana over my eyes and laughed. Then she kissed my nose.