Call Me Tobes
"That’s your name," she stated obviously, letting her hands drop from his.
"I know that," he replied indignantly.
"Well, what shall I call you, then?" Ariel retorted, flicking her raven hair over her shoulder.
"Anything but Tobias," laughed Tobey. "Nobody but my mother calls me that."
"Alright," Ariel swallowed, like this next statement was going to hurt her, "Tobey."
"It’s not gonna kill you, Ariel," said Tobey, his voice light and his grin in place.
"I know, Tobi---Tobey, but I haven’t seen you in years and I always used to call you that. But now I can’t? It‘s a hard adjustment."
Tobey shrugged, "Guess so." He looked around at the passerby and then let his blue eyes fall on hers, "Baggage claim?"
"Yeah," she said, moving her backpack purse to her other shoulder. "Let’s go."
"It’s a razzle dazzle day..." Tobey sang quietly under his breath as they walked along, through the crowds of people.
"You’re singing Pete’s Dragon still?" Ariel laughed.
Tobey looked affronted, "Of course I am...aren’t you?"
"No," she replied quickly. "Haven’t for years."
"Good thing you’re here, then. We gotta get you back into practice."
Ariel rolled her eyes, "Sounds great."
Tobey grinned, "Ah! I see the sarcasm hasn’t changed any!"
"Not at all," she remarked bitterly.
"I also see the fashion sense hasn’t."
"Sarcasm from you, too, eh?" Ariel asked, grinning a little.
Tobey looked down at her and smiled, "I learned from the best. So what’s with all the black?"
"It’s Goth. It’s what’s in."
Tobey looked around at the sea of pastels weaving around them, "Not here, apparently."
Ariel waved her hand dismissively, "You’re behind the times."
"This is LA, Ariel. We ARE the times." He chuckled at his joke and continued walking.
"I thought New York was the times," mused Ariel thoughtfully. "Man, Tobey, you seriously bring out the lamest in me."
"Is that a compliment?"
Ariel laughed loudly and then sobered, "I dunno. Maybe."
“You’re so ominous,” joked Tobey, “Lighten up on the Dumbledore a little.”
“On the WHAT?” Ariel asked, completely confused.
“Dumbledore. From Harry Potter…never mind.”
Ariel grinned widely, “Harry Potter!? You’re reading Harry Potter!?”
“Yeah. So?”
“It’s a children’s book, Tobey!”
“It’s literature, Ariel!”
If passerby were to think anything about these two people it would be that they were in love, or at least in love at some point in time. But that assumption would be incorrect. They only acted like an old married couple, they really weren’t one. They’d never been a couple either, so that was ruled out also.
Ariel rolled her eyes playfully, “I can’t believe this. You’re twenty-seven years old and you’re reading books that are written for twelve year olds.”
Tobey stopped walking immediately, “Those books are, yes, written for twelve year olds...but they are written so well that it is perfectly okay for an adult to pick one up as well. I mean, Ariel, don’t judge without having all the facts.”
“Same old Tobey,” she said lightly, picking up her pace so much that Tobey had to jog to keep up with her long strides.
“Some things have changed,” he argued, putting his hand on her arm to slow her down. “For one, you don’t have to rush everywhere. This isn’t New York. You’re allowed leisure, reflection and smelling of the roses.”
“Dude, things have NOT changed,” she laughed.
Tobey shrugged, uncommitted, “Maybe not.”
The two of them had reached baggage claim, but were not the only ones there. A sea of people waded around them, pushing, bumping, hollering, yelling into cell phones. Ariel looked very uncomfortable, despite the fact that she was used to this. “Do you still eat rabbit food?”
“Yeah...” Tobey replied slowly.
“Of course,” said Ariel, adjusting her bag which was cutting into her shoulder blade.
A woman of about forty pushed by her carrying four bags varying in size. Ariel scoffed, “Man, I thought LA was friendlier than New York.”
Tobey shrugged, putting his hands in his pocket, “Most of the time. But no one is ever extra friendly at an airport. It’s cutthroat.”
“Tell me about it,” muttered Ariel, crossing her arms across her chest.
“Are you okay? Do you want the keys to my car so you can wait there?” Tobey suddenly seemed quite concerned.
“Nah, I’m fine,” she waved him off, although she still looked nervous.
Tobey raised an eyebrow as if to say, ‘suit yourself.’
“What kind of a car do you drive these days?” Ariel asked randomly.
“A convertible.”
Ariel waved her hands around, “Annnnd----?”
“It’s nice,” shrugged Tobey. “It’s silver. A BMW.”
“Hmmmm. Nice.”
“Ariel.”
“Tobey,” replied on cue.
“It’s good to have you here.”
She looked up at him, basking in the sincerity of his gaze. “It’s good to be here.”