It's night time and Max's window is open. He's sitting on his bed, arms crossed and Narhi is sitting on the floor with his head down. There's a textbook of native California plant life on the floor next to him.

"You didn't need to throw it at my face."

"It was a reflex. I… didn't aim."

"Your reflex is to throw textbooks?"

"My reflex is to throw anything." Max glares at Narhi. "Why… do you keep coming through the window."

"Give me your phone number and I'll just text you." Narhi has this amazing skill for catching Max's eyes when he says the most embarrassing shit.

Max looks away as quickly as possible. He stares at his phone next to him, half covered in green and tan sheets. Narhi's confusing and Max can never tell when he's serious.

"I went to the high school today with Keelie." Max changes the subject.

Narhi looks relaxed now, legs spread out on the hardwood floor. It's weird to have a hardwood floor in a bedroom, Max thinks. Narhi's leaning back on his hands watching his feet wave back and forth.

"I know." He says casually. "I saw you guys when you were leaving."

It's quiet again. Max makes a note that Narhi always wears boots. He looks like a rocker or something. Max is wondering what kind of music he likes when Narhi speaks again.

"Does Keelie take her shoes off when she drives?"

"W-what? Um… no, I didn't see her do anything… with her shoes?"

"So she was driving in heels then?" It sounds more like a statement than a question. Max thinks hard about that for a minute. He hadn't even considered that she was driving in those things. He couldn't even imagine walking in them.

"Yeah… she was driving in them."

"Women are amazing," Narhi says it almost as an afterthought. He seems to be examining his painted black fingernails.

"Women are amazing," Max repeats.

Narhi grabs the textbook from the floor next to him and opens it to a random page. Max watches as Narhi's eyes catch something interesting but he can't see it from his spot on the bed. He flips the book over and examines the cover.

"What is this? Why do you have this? This isn't from school?"

"It's… mine… just… because."

"You have a plant textbook… just because…" Narhi trails off like he's expecting Max to finish his sentence, but he doesn't. "Do you just have it for fun?"

Max looks away. "...I guess so…"

"Tight." Narhi looks back inside the book. "Do you legit study or do you just like, look at pictures and stuff?"

Max watches Narhi's face. He's not sure how to feel. He can't seem to wrap his head around this guy. A part of Max wants to get excited that someone seems interested in his hobby but he thinks better of that. He's probably just being nice.

"I… like to study plants… but not really… anything else."

"So do you want to do anything with that or…" Narhi looks up from the book. Max's hand is on his phone. "Just a hobby?"

Max finds himself thinking about something he had pushed out of his mind. "I… wanted to be a botanist…"

"Past tense?"

"Well, kids like me don't usually go to college…"

"What does that mean?"

"You know… o-orphans. It's hard to... afford it... without parents."

"Oh." Narhi looks back at the book. Max's hand moves back to the blanket. "But you have Keelie now."

Max doesn't say anything. He hasn't really processed everything that comes with his new situation. Could he go to college now? Does Keelie have the money for that? Is it okay to even ask her that? Is that something he should expect? Probably not.

"And you could always make a blog or, like, be a youtuber or something."

Max laughed at that and it must've been loud because Narhi practically flinched. He's watching Max now, a smile slowly creeping across his face.

"I don't know if I have that kind of charisma."

Narhi chuckles. It's subtle and kind of sexy if everyone's being totally honest.

"Maybe you're more charismatic in writing."

Their eyes catch again and Max doesn't look away this time. His hand is on his phone. Suddenly Narhi's by the window.

"When do you start school?"

Max's thoughts catch up to him. "Oh… um… Monday."

Narhi seems to think about that like he's mentally preparing for something.

"Cool." He says, but his face says otherwise. Max wants to ask, but he can't seem to find the words. "I'll see you later."

Max's hand is on his phone. "Wait." He says it without thinking and Narhi is staring at him now. His face flushes. Max fumbles with his phone, silently failing his first unlock pattern attempt. Narhi watches him for a minute while Max types something on his phone. To his surprise, his pocket vibrates.

Raised eyebrows light up as Narhi unlocks his phone. There's a text message.

Unknown Caller:

Keelie put your number in my phone.

Narhi looks up at Max with a curious expression and a half smile. He looks back at his phone and types, his other hand in his pocket.

Usko Narhi:

You need a phone case

Max laughs softly and Narhi smiles. Then he's gone again through the window. Max doesn't respond to the text because he doesn't know what else to say, but just before he goes to sleep he gets a message.

Usko Narhi:

Whats my name in ur phone?

Max:

Usko Narhi

Usko Narhi:

CHANGE IT NOW OR IM COMING BACK

Max laughs through his nose and goes into Narhi's contact page.

Narhi:

DID YOU CHANGE IT YET?????

Max:

Yeah.

Narhi:

okay

Narhi:

the cosmic order has been restored.

Max watches his phone. He's not sure what to say. Narhi is just as weird through text.

Narhi:

tell me a plant funfact

Narhi:

plesss <:D

Max:

Scientifically speaking, there's no such thing as vegetables.

Narhi:

DA FUQ IS A CARROT THEN???

Max:

A root.

Max feels like this shouldn't be a surprising fact. There's silence for a while.

Narhi:

Ive been bamboozled

Narhi:

Vegetables are a lie

Max:

Vegetables are a lie

There's another pause and Max puts his phone down. If Narhi texts him back, it's after he falls asleep.