David Levithan - Are We There Yet?

To Mom, Dad and Adam

(here, there and everywhere)

Table of Contents

Title Page

Dedication To Mom, Dad and Adam (here, there and everywhere)

Departure DEPARTURE

The Phone Rings … THE PHONE RINGS AT AN UNGODLY HOUR. ELIJAH LOOKS AT THE BLUR of his clock as he reaches for the sound. Eleven in the morning on a Saturday. Who can be calling him at eleven in the morning on a Saturday? Cal, his best friend, stirs from somewhere on the floor. Elijah picks up the phone and murmurs a greeting. “Oh goodness, did I wake you?” Elijah’s mother asks, her voice so much louder than the dream he’d been having. “No, no,” he says, disguising his own voice to sound awake. “Not at all.” “Good, because I have some great news for you …” His mother is talking about Italy and Elijah’s brother Danny and luxury accommodations. He thinks his brother has won a prize on a game show or something. Cal starts hitting his sneaker like it’s a snooze button. He tells her to go back to sleep. “What did you say?” his mother asks. “Will you go?” “Does Danny want me to go?” Elijah doubts highly that Danny wants him to go. “Of course he does.” Elijah still doubts that Danny wants him to go. Cal is awake now, rubbing her eyes. Elijah’s boarding school frowns on having overnight guests, but Elijah doesn’t really care if it frowns. Elijah covers the receiver and whispers to Cal, “It’s my mom. I think she wants to know if I want to go to Italy with my brother.” Cal shrugs, then nods. That’s enough for Elijah. “Sure, Mom,” he says. “And thanks.”

Elijah Always Says …

As Elijah “Hangs …

But No. …

Seven Years Apart …

Cal Drives Elijah …

Danny’s Mother Drives …

Cal Doesn’t Want …

There’s an Issue …

Elijah Tries to …

Elijah Loves the …

Danny Can’t Help …

“So this Is …

Boys Never Dress …

Danny Wakes Up …

Penelope Sleeps Soundly …

Amazing. Danny Thinks …

Danny Remembers the …

Elijah Travels In …

Venice

The Plane Lands …

Elijah Can’t Help …

Italy Should Make …

It Is Pouring …

“I Can’t Believe …

Naps and Dinner …

Danny Is Still …

On the Walk …

Elijah Falls Asleep …

Danny Dreams of …

Morning. …

Danny and Elijah …

A City Presents …

Although It Is …

One Night, Deep …

“Do You Wonder …

Danny and Elijah …

As Elijah Wanders …

Elijah Leaves the …

It Is Quiet …

Danny Wakes Up …

They Are Due …

Danny has Trouble …

The Laws of …

Back At the …

While Danny Dials …

Florence

Since Danny Can …

“Open Your Eyes.” …

A Girl, Danny …

Florence Is Not …

The Duomo Is …

It Is, By …

“He Seems Nice,” …

Danny has Deliberately …

With the Right …

It Takes Three …

Slowly, Elijah and …

Danny Goes to …

In the Morning …

It’s Julia’s Dope …

Danny Waits By …

Elijah Isn’t Surprised …

Danny’s Guidebook Talks …

Elijah Figures Julia …

The Three of …

After Skimming the …

Danny Is Relieved …

Statues Was One …

Eventually, It’s Time …

Elijah Is an …

“Can I Come …

Danny Is Amazed …

Rome

As Danny Drives …

For a Moment …

Danny Gets Lost …

As they Pull …

With All Due …

Meanwhile, Elijah and …

It Is July …

Elijah and Julia …

The Next Day …

Elijah Awakens to …

The Jewish Ghetto …

“Let’s Get Dressed …

Danny Is Nervous …

Julia Takes Elijah …

“I Was Engaged …

At First, Elijah …

Danny Is Amazed …

Elijah Doesn’t See …

Ari Walks Danny …

Elijah’s Possessions haven’t …

Elijah Needs to …

Danny Arrives First …

“Where have You …

When they Get …

Danny Proposes a …

Arrival

After they Get …

Acknowledgments

About the Author

Also by David Levithan

Copyright

About the Publisher

THE PHONE RINGS AT AN UNGODLY HOUR. ELIJAH LOOKS AT THE BLUR of his clock as he reaches for the sound. Eleven in the morning on a Saturday. Who can be calling him at eleven in the morning on a Saturday? Cal, his best friend, stirs from somewhere on the floor. Elijah picks up the phone and murmurs a greeting.

“Oh goodness, did I wake you?” Elijah’s mother asks, her voice so much louder than the dream he’d been having.

“No, no,” he says, disguising his own voice to sound awake. “Not at all.”

“Good, because I have some great news for you …”

His mother is talking about Italy and Elijah’s brother Danny and luxury accommodations. He thinks his brother has won a prize on a game show or something. Cal starts hitting his sneaker like it’s a snooze button. He tells her to go back to sleep.

“What did you say?” his mother asks. “Will you go?”

“Does Danny want me to go?”

Elijah doubts highly that Danny wants him to go.

“Of course he does.”

Elijah still doubts that Danny wants him to go.

Cal is awake now, rubbing her eyes. Elijah’s boarding school frowns on having overnight guests, but Elijah doesn’t really care if it frowns.

Elijah covers the receiver and whispers to Cal, “It’s my mom. I think she wants to know if I want to go to Italy with my brother.”

Cal shrugs, then nods.

That’s enough for Elijah.

“Sure, Mom,” he says. “And thanks.”

ELIJAH ALWAYS SAYS THANK YOU, AND OFTENTIMES SAYS PLEASE.

“You’re such a relic,” Cal will taunt him playfully.

“Thank you,” Elijah will reply.

Elijah learned quickly that saying thank you garners a variety of reactions. Some people (like his brother) can’t handle it. Other people (like Cal) are amused. Most people are impressed, whether consciously or not. He’ll be offered the last slice of pizza, or the last hit from the bong.

“You’re a relic, not a saint,” Cal will continue, dragging him to the next party, parties called gatherings , dances called raves . Where she leads, he will follow. She tousles his blond-brown hair and buys him blue sunglasses. He playfully disapproves of her random boyfriends and girlfriends, and gives her flowers for no reason. They smoke pot, but not cigarettes. At the end of most parties, they can be found woozily collecting cans and bottles for the recycling bin.

Elijah had planned to spend the summer hanging out with Cal and their other friends in Providence. At first, his parents weren’t too thrilled about the idea. (“Hang out?” his mother said. “Sweetheart, laundry hangs out.”) Now he’s being sent to Italy for nine days.

“I’m going to miss you,” Cal says a few nights before Elijah is scheduled to leave. They are walking home from a midnight movie at the Avon. The June night is warm and cool, as only June nights can be. The air is scored by the faint whir of cars passing elsewhere. Elijah inhales deeply and takes hold of Cal’s hand. Her hair – dyed raven black – flutters despite itself.