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"What?"

"Go out with me"

The color drained froh her "What?"

"Tomorrow Go out withher head "I have plans"

At the library, she thought, but she refrained fro it out loud

"Then the next day," he said "Go out with eted, peeking through the thick white curtains that hung in her living roohborhood was as hectic as ever Tourists wandered the streets,with the locals and the busy street vendors Usually watching the flurry of activity put Haven at ease, but today every y

"Relax," Kelsey said, plopping down on Haven’s couch with the re for no reason"

Haven shook her head "He’ll be here soon"

"So? It’s a Sunday It’s not like it’s a real date"

Not a real date Haven tried to tell herself that, but it had yet to work It certainly felt real to her

"What is it then?" she asked

"It’s just two people getting together to do whatever it is you people do," she said "Personally, unless it involves sex or bacon, I see no reason to do anything on Sundays"

"Well, on’t be doing that," Haven an, is he? I don’t trust a guy that won’t chon on a steak"

Haven felt the blood rush to her cheeks "I et the word past her lips

Kelsey laughed "What a sha her head, Haven peered back out theShe saw hih the crowd He was dressed i black slacks and a white shirt His dress shoes shone under the afternoon sunlight, a dark pinstriped tie hanging loosely around his neck He walked with confidence, co hi out over this," Kelsey continued "You see this boy all the time"

It was different, but Haven knew her friend wouldn’t understand Kelsey dated all the tiuys every week, but that wasn’t Haven She had no interest in dating at all The afternoon walks after her painting class and the friendly banter she shared with Gavin were innocent But thisthis was planned This was contrived And to her, that was the difference between being friends and soht of so st

She dropped the curtain back into place, s her clothes when Gavin knocked She felt underdressed in her jeans and pink blouse What did people wear on a possibly-but-maybe-not real date?

"Have fun," Kelsey said, aI wouldn’t do"

"Don’t worry," Haven mumbled "I won’t do half of what you would"

Haven opened the door, s sheepishly when she came face-to-face with Gavin "Hi"

"Hey there," he said "You ready?"

"Uh, yes" She took a tentative step outside "I look okay, though, don’t I?"

His eyes quickly raked down her body at that question Her skin prickled at the attention "Yeah Why?"

"I don’t know," she said "I just saw you were dressed up and"

"Oh, yeah, I guess I’ down at himself as he rocked on his heels "You look fine for e’re doing"

Haven shut the door, taking another step toward hi?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets as he stepped off the porch, ht we’d take a walk or so"

"But that’s e do every day"

"True" He laughed "It works for us, right? We can just see where we end up I mean, unless you’d rather--"

"Oh no" She cut hireat"

Maybe it wasn’t a date

The two of theh the streets Gavin struck up conversation, their usual friendly banter returning as he led her down to the subway on Twenty-third Street

Haven froze on the platfor the others waiting A white tile wall looround Bells and whistles sounded, a crackling loudspeaker drowning out the chatter of the crowd People pushed, others yelled, as the whoosh of trains rushing past stirred up the hts flashed as doors clattered, noisily opening and closing before the trains sped away

It was contradictory--loud and chaotic, yet orderly at the same time, like an assembly line in an overworked factory It felt robotic, almost inhu on and off like clockwork It was an entirely different world underground, one Haven never realized existed beneath her feet

Haven’s wide eyes scanned the scene, taking it all in with stunned silence Gavin noticed her expression, scrunching his nose "I know, it’s disgusting down here"

"No, it’s, uhI’ve just never taken the subway before"