《pavement》vernon

33、flash They

　　They fall into a rhythm over the course of the next week. Mark tends to wake earlier than Eduardo, and Eduardo curls up into the warm spot Mark leaves behind, listening to the sound of the shower. They eat breakfast in near silence before separating for work.

　　The first assistant candidate comes in for her interview on Tuesday. She's an Economics major at Stanford and she seems nice enough, but she seems a little distant. He thanks her for coming in and sighs, crossing her off the list.

　　The second candidate comes in on Wednesday afternoon. He's tall, broadly built, and is wearing a collared shirt that strains across his shoulder. He takes Eduardo's hand in a firm grip that belies his shy smile.

　　"Hi," he says in a soft, deep voice. "Hamid Nafisi."

　　"Eduardo Saverin," Eduardo says, smiling reassuringly. "Why don't you have a seat"

　　Hamid sits down nervously on the edge of the couch, looking like he's afraid he'll break something. He rubs his hands on the fabric of his pants, his dark eyes wide.

　　Eduardo feels bad for him; from the resume, he can tell that this is probably one of Hamid's first real job interviews. He shuffles his papers a bit, then sets them aside and says, "So you're an English major."

　　Hamid nods, then hurriedly says, "Yes,yes I am."

　　Eduardo bites his lip to hide his amused smile and asks Hamid a few easy questions about his resume. Hamid visibly relaxes and Eduardo segues into explaining what he would be doing as Eduardo's assistant. Hamid nods understandingly and Eduardo decides to give him a chance.

　　"I'm going to show you a typical email we send and I want you to write one of your own," Eduardo says, beckoning Hamid over to the computer. "You have your own laptop"

　　"Yeah," Hamid says, gingerly sitting down at Eduardo's desk chair. "You just want me to type up an email"

　　"I just want to see how you write," says Eduardo and he steps back to let Hamid write. Hamid reads for a moment, then begins to type, lightning fast. He's almost as fast as Mark, who is easily the fastest typer Eduardo knows. Eduardo resists the urge to peek at the screen and waits patiently.

　　After a couple of minutes, Hamid says, "Um, I don't know if it's any good, but..."

　　Eduardo leans over Hamid's shoulder and reads the email carefully. Hamid uses clear, precise language, and there's an elegance to his phrasing that Eduardo likes. He pats Hamid on the shoulder absently and says, "Great, that looks great. Do you think you'd want the job"

　　"Um, I guess" Hamid says. "I mean,yes! Yes."

　　Eduardo bites down hard on the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing and says, "Well,you've got it. When are you available to work"

　　"I can start tomorrow," says Hamid.

　　"You're welcome to if you're willing to do some work on your own next week," Eduardo says. "I'm going to be out of town."

　　Hamid looks slightly worried at that, but he nods. "Sure," he says. "I, um, guess you can show me what I'll be doing"

　　"I will," Eduardo assures him. "Do you want to start today You'll have to sign some NDAs."

　　Eduardo gives Hamid the paperwork to sign and goes to get the poor kid some water. While he's grabbing a water bottle, he hears his phone ring and Hamid calls, "Um, Mr. Saverin Your phone, it's ringing."

　　"It's Eduardo and you can go ahead and answer it," says Eduardo, grabbing a water for himself. He comes back out and sees Hamid holding the office phone delicately between his fingers.

　　"Um,yes, um, Mr.- Mr. Zuckerberg, okay," says Hamid. He covers the mouthpiece of the phone and says, "It's your husband"

　　"Right," says Eduardo. He hands Hamid the water bottle and takes the phone receiver. "Hey, Mark."

　　"Where did you put my sweatshirts when you did the laundry" asks Mark.

　　"Why didn't you call my cell phone"

　　"You didn't answer. Where are the sweatshirts"

　　Eduardo grins a little and says, "Left hand side of your closet."

　　There's a rustling noise and then Mark says, "Oh." There's a brief pause and then he asks, "Is that your new assistant"

　　"Yes," Eduardo says, slightly amused at the skeptical tone in Mark's voice. "Hamid Nafisi."

　　"The English major" scoffs Mark. "He doesn't seem together."

　　"He's nervous," says Eduardo. "And he's a great writer." Eduardo glances up and sees that Hamid is blushing red. "Look, Mark, I'll talk to you when I get home. Do you want me to pick anything up Actually," Eduardo says, changing his mind, "we need to eat our leftovers before we leave."

　　"Okay," Mark says vaguely and he hangs up. Eduardo can't help chuckling dryly as he sets the receiver back on the cradle.

　　"Is...I guess that was the," Hamid starts, sounding awkward. "I mean,you're -you're Eduardo Saverin."

　　"Yes," Eduardo says, now looking at Hamid with concern. "Is there going to be a problem"

　　"No!" Hamid practically shouts. "I mean, um. It's just, no one is going to believe me when I say I'm working for you." He turns red again and jerks his head towards the door. "I'm just - I'm going to go."

　　"See you here tomorrow," Eduardo says, waving, and Hamid wiggles his fingers a bit in farewell before hurrying out. Eduardo leans back in his seat, grinning a little.

　　He's in a great mood when he goes home, pleased by finding an assistant that he likes, even if Hamid is a bit too shy. He's sure the kid will loosen up over time.

　　He smells burning food when he enters the house and he frowns, worried. "Mark" he calls.

　　"Kitchen!" Mark calls back. Eduardo follows the sound and finds Mark poking at the charred remains of what Eduardo thinks is an omelet. Mark looks up Eduardo, his mouth twisted slightly.

　　Eduardo's eyebrows go up. "Jesus, what happened"

　　"I had an idea while it was cooking," Mark says, gesturing in the direction of his laptop. "I wanted to get it done before I forgot."

　　Eduardo startles to chuckle and he covers his face with his hand, snorting a little. "Mark, god. How did you ever survive without someone else around"

　　"I don't know," Mark admits. "I was hungry, and all we have are eggs and vegetables."

　　"Well, then I'll make something," says Eduardo. He points at the kitchen table. "Go code or something."

　　Mark sets the spatula down with a wry smile and returns to his computer. Eduardo scrapes the pan clean and then looks through the refrigerator. Mark is right; they mostly just have eggs and vegetables. Eduardo starts pulling ingredients out and sets them out.

　　"What are you making" asks Mark. Eduardo glances up and sees Mark watching him.

　　"Spanish Tortilla," says Eduardo. "It's good," he adds as Mark raises his eyebrows. "I promise."

　　"I trust you," Mark says and he starts typing again.

　　Eduardo sets the tortilla down on kitchen table. He grabs two plates, two forks, and a small jar of salsa, which he sets down. Mark eyes the tortilla suspiciously and says, "You remember what spicy food does to me."

　　Eduardo rolls his eyes and says, "Yes. It isn't spicy."

　　"All right," Mark says warily and he works his fork in, using the side to cut off a piece. Eduardo watches as Mark takes his first bite. Mark chews for a moment, swallows, and says, "It's good."

　　"Told you," Eduardo says, smirking, and he takes a piece of the tortilla for himself.

　　"Your assistant doesn't seem up to it," Mark says after a minute. "Jamie wasn't that nervous when she started working for me."

　　"Jamie wasn't eighteen when she started working for you," replies Eduardo. "And he's not going to be my spokesperson."

　　"Jamie isn't my spokesperson," says Mark.

　　"Yeah, right," says Eduardo.

　　Mark smiles, ducking his head a little, and he fiddles with his fork. "I started packing. I wasn't sure what you wanted to bring."

　　"I'll pick some stuff out," says Eduardo. "Have you called your mom"

　　Mark nods. "She's really excited to see you again," he says dryly. "Apparently Randi is coming home for the occasion."

　　"Oh," says Eduardo. He has never met Mark's older sister, but he has heard many things from Mrs. Zuckerberg. "Is she, uh, bringing her family"

　　"I think so." Mark sits up straighter. "She just had a baby a few months ago."

　　"Do you have a gift" asks Eduardo absently, taking the last bite of tortilla.

　　"Gift" asks Mark.

　　Eduardo looks up. "Yes. Don't you think you should bring her a baby gift"

　　"I didn't think - should I" Mark looks surprised. "I gave her a gift when the baby was born."

　　"Babies need a lot of things, Mark," Eduardo reminds him. "You probably should give her something else."

　　"Oh," says Mark. "I don't know what to buy."

　　"Just buy an outfit, Mark," says Eduardo. "Is it a boy or a girl"

　　"A girl," says Mark. "An outfit"

　　Eduardo rubs his forehead and says, "Okay, we're going to go buyyour niece something after work tomorrow. You want to be the cool uncle, Mark."

　　"You sound like Dustin," says Mark grumpily. "He tried to make me buy all these things for her."

　　Eduardo says, "You should have listened to him." He gets up to tidy up the plates. "It's your duty as an uncle to spoil her rotten."

　　"Nobody told me that," mutters Mark.

　　The two of them curl up on the sofa together, as usual. Eduardo channel surfs while Mark does whatever it is he does on the computer. Eduardo stretches out his arm and absently runs his fingers through the curls at the nape of Mark's neck. Mark's typing slows and he turns to look at Eduardo.

　　"I'm trying to work," Mark says, attempting to sound annoyed and missing by a mile. Eduardo strokes his fingers down the bones of Mark's neck and Mark shudders. "Wardo."

　　"Yes" asks Eduardo as innocently as he can, enjoying the slight flush of Mark's cheeks. Mark looks unusually discomfited and Eduardo has to admit that he's enjoying it.

　　"You asshole," says Mark, shutting his laptop with a disgruntled snap. He shoves the laptop away and crawls over to straddle Eduardo's lap. Mark leans in until their mouths are almost touching and says again, "I was working."

　　Eduardo wraps his arms around Mark's waist and pulls him in. "Like you care."

　　"Fuck off," says Mark, but he's smiling when he kisses Eduardo.