Eye Candy by R.L. Stine Read Free Book Online

and shared big platters of sushi and drank way too much sake, and talked—mainly about movies. Because Colin was really into movies, all kinds, Jackie Chan Hong Kong films, and old black-and-white films, and foreign films from all over. He told me he hangs out at the Walter Reade, the little movie theater at Lincoln Center that shows foreign films and undiscovered directors, and at the Film Forum downtown. And we talked about animation. Colin is really into animation, Japanese
anime,
new computer graphics techniques, and old Looney Tunes cartoons.
    Whew! It was like taking a full-semester film course at dinner. But I loved it because I like movies, too. And it was just exciting to be around someone who cared about something so much.
    Well, I liked Colin a lot. I was sorry to see the evening end. But it was two a.m. and I started to yawn. He held my arm as we stepped out to the street to find a taxi. I felt wobbly, kind of dizzy. The sidewalk seemed to tilt up and down. I leaned against him for support.
    How much sake did I drink?
    A lot, I guess. Because taxis went by, and we were kissing. I thought I would fall if he didn’t hold me up. But he slid his arms around me and held me and I don’t know how long we were standing there at the curb, kissing, my hands around his neck.
    Did someone whistle at us from outside the bar across the street? I heard cars honking and another taxi rolled by. But I needed to be held, and I needed to be kissed.
    Are you the guy, Colin? Are you the guy?
    The question in my mind as I opened my mouth to him. Not really thinking at all, so warm from the sake and from his strong arms around me.
    And then we were pressed together in the back of a taxi. I could see the black leather cap on the head of the driver as he leaned over the wheel, coffee cup in one hand, Mets game on the radio, and . . . where were we going?
    Colin’s apartment, all white walls and high ceilings and a tall
Casablanca
movie poster on one wall, Bogart and What’s-her-name in a clinch, and another poster, all Japanese lettering and a samurai with raised sword. No time to admire the posters because I’m in his bedroom. Did he undress me or did I? My head swimming, not really trashed, but happy.
    And we make love, kissing furiously the whole time. We don’t know each other’s bodies, but it isn’t awkward. His bristly cheek brushing mine, his eyes wide as if in amazement. Yes, it feels good, even when I look up at him when it’s over and wonder who he is and where I am, and how did this happen to me?
    Are you the guy? Are you?
    He nuzzles his scratchy face into my neck. “That was nice,” he whispers.
    Nice. Yeah.
    He wants me to stay all night. He holds on as if he won’t let me leave. But I want to go home. To think? No. To sleep.
    We make a plan to meet tomorrow afternoon in the Village. He kisses my hands. So romantic.
    Am I really doing this? Do I know anything about him? Does he think I’m just another Internet screw? Eye Candy. I put myself online to get laid.
    Is that what he thinks?
    Well, I’m all for the new technology.
    He put me in a taxi and I bounced through the park to the West Side. I fumbled in my bag for money to pay the driver. And lurched out onto the sidewalk, the air warmer, almost stuffy, suddenly, or was it just me?
    I wasn’t tired or dizzy any longer. I felt totally wired.
    Into the building. I jabbed the elevator button, eager to get upstairs and tell Ann-Marie about Colin. If she was asleep, I’d wake her up. I knew she’d be so happy I found someone I liked.
    It took the car a long time to come down. The doors opened and the two gay guys from apartment six stepped out, walking Snapsy, their miniature poodle.
    I said hi to Snapsy and jumped into the elevator. It’s funny, I know all the dogs’ names in the building, but I don’t know any of the people’s names. I guess that’s a New York thing.
    I found the