That was a crazy party. Been a while I didn't enjoy myself like that night.
Okay, I admit it... I was seriously fucked up all night, and I maybe don't remember the whole party. But despite that fucking headache that was blinding me, I was feeling great.
I left Mike's house at 8:00 am. The place was a serious mess. I felt a little sorry for the guy while stepping over the mass of garbage, used plastic cups and cigarette butts scattered around the whole apartment. But I felt so hungover that I couldn't find the strength to clean a little before going. He was sleeping on the couch, half naked, mouth wide open and a dick drawn with a permanent marker on his cheek, which made me chuckle. He was a wreck. No need to wake him up. I stepped outside.
Shit! Of all days, that morning had to be a freaking sunny one. I felt my brain exploding as a sun ray crossed my face. I put my hood on, just like a damn vampire weakened by the light. I put my headphones on and walked toward the subway station.
One thing I love about this city is how quiet it suddenly gets on Sunday mornings. Before 10 am, the city still is asleep. No loud firefighter siren. No crowded streets full of idiotic tourists. Just a few zombies like me who try to make their way back to the darkness.
No matter how bad my brain hurts, the only thing that can soothe the pain is my music. For nothing in the world I would like to listen to the sad complain of the souls crossing the city. I always felt like anything would look better surrounded by a beautiful sound. I know I'm a weird dude. But seriously, I don't give a single fuck about what people think about me.
Last night was Mike's 19th birthday. He's been my best friend for as long as I can remember. We both grew up in Staten Island. Both lived in the same street. Both went to the same school. Mike was like a brother to me. I was an only child and so he was. Our parents both had money. We both had a happy childhood or almost... The only difference is when my life turned shitty, his kept being peaceful and happy. When I started to be a troubled kid, he kept up with his parents hopes and remained a straight As student.
Even though the nice and joyful kid I used to be suddenly changed, he never gave up on me. He had always been there for me, no matter what, no matter when. Like a brother.
When we graduated, he went to a law school. I chose business. I never really wanted to go to college. It was just the only way for me to leave that mental asylum that I used to call my home.
I could have left as soon as I turned 18. But the brat I was in my teenage years never thought about working for his own independence back then. As a result, the only solution was to have the 'fucker' pay for my false indendence. If only I could use that money under my name, somewhere... Only problem, I was 19, and I could only use that account once I would reach 21. Fuck it...
It was alright though. I got to go to college, which is a great excuse to party almost every day and to have my own place in a students residence in the south of Manhattan. Just two years left before I could finally tell him to go fuck himself.
Now don't get me wrong. I kinda liked that business school I was attending. It was pretty interesting and my grades were great. The only thing I disliked about that whole student life, was the fact that he sent me there thinking that I would take over on his shitty real estate business. Fuck no! Do I look like a fucking clown sucking dicks to sell houses? Do I look like a 'fucker' too? Did he seriously think I wanted to turn like him? Tsssk...
As I walked down the stairs to the station, I passed by that girl. She was looking around, trying hard to understand the subway map. She didn't even look like she knew where she was. That made me smile, remembering how lost I was on the first time I took the subway by myself.
I was 12 and it was during summer holiday. I was staying at my aunt Ella for a week. She promised me to take me to Coney Island that day but canceled at the last minute because she had work to do. So I bravely decided I would go by myself. I left the house without telling anybody, walked around a little bit until I found the subway. I bought a ticket and jumped on the first train without having a single idea of where I was heading. Back then I thought there was only a single train line that would systematically take you to Coney Island.
I ended up in South Manhattan, by the East River Ferry. That's when I discovered my favorite spot in Manhattan: the East River Esplanade. I played football on the grass with some kids there and had a blast. Coney Island wouldn't have been better.
When the night started to fall, I headed back and somehow, I made it without getting lost. When I reached my aunt's place, my dad was there, ready to decapitate me instantly. I realized that I was in big trouble. Man, I was.
I was walking along the almost empty platform, looking for a quiet spot to rest my eyes a little while waiting for the train. The board said 9 minutes. Enough to rest my head a tiny bit.
I closed my eyes and let the rythm of 'Wet Dreamz' by J. Cole invading my ears.
I slightly opened my eyes after what happened to be an eternity to check how far away the next train was. I really needed a warm shower and my sheets. I already knew I would sleep until 5:00 pm at least. Man, I couldn't wait.
The train was still 5 minutes away. Damn, time was running slow that morning. I looked to my right and saw that girl from earlier talking with an old dude. The dude didn't even look at her and just said something before putting back his news paper in front of his face. She shook her head with a smile that was everything but friendly.
She then hesitantly walked, struggling with her huge suitcase, to another dude. She didn't even have time to say anything that the guy walked away. Her eyes followed him and she yelled something that I couldn't hear. This was getting interesting. I took off my headphones just in time to hear her screaming a loud and sincere "ASSHOLE" to him.
She kept on walking, obviously looking for someone to help her, probably to find her way. She looked my way, staring at me hesitantly for a few seconds. She made a weird face, half scared, half pissed, probably weighting up the pros and cons to ask another person.
I already knew what she was going to do. She would just turn around and walk away, scared by that man in a hoodie who was looking at her in a weird way. I could tell just by the way she looked that she was not from here. She was probably from a small city in some redneck city, lost in the middle of nowhere. She was clearly not from a big city.
Just as expected she turned around and started to walk back to the head of the platform. I laughed. How predictable! People from the countryside all look the same. Scared of everything. Thank god I grew up around here.
I put my headphones back on my ears and went back to my micro nap.
"Ahem... I am so sorry to bother you sir and I sincerely apologize for that split second of your life I am about to steal..."
I heard a faint voice through my headphones. I opened my eyes and saw the lost country girl right in front of me, still with that scared look on her face... And what the hell was with that way of asking?
I sighed, pissed that I wouldn't be able to go on with my nap but nonetheless surprised by the fact that she actually came back to ask the only guy left on the platform for directions.
"Where do you wanna go?" I asked before she could even add anything else.
Her mouth slightly opened and the lack of sound coming out from it betrayed her surprise when realizing I already knew what she was going to ask me. I mean, she obviously looked lost and was carrying a gigantic suitcase around... What else would it have been about besides directions?
"F-Fulton station?" She asked in a shaky voice.
I smiled thinking that it was my station. I could have played with her a little bit by telling her that I was getting off there as well, just to see her scared face realizing that she would have to ride with me for five stations. Man, that would have been hilarious. But I was seriously in need for some sleep and didn't have the strength to play with anybody. Lucky her.
"Yeah... Next train and fifth station"
"Thank you!" She sighed in relief. "I have been asking around for confirmation but it's like it's gonna hurt their butt to answer one damn stupid question..."
What's with her way of speaking? One second before she looked scared and then, out of nowhere, she switched to a cursing mode. Most definitely a weird one...
"Welcome to New York City"
She slightly smiled and nodded. "Thank you anyway"
"K'" I nodded before putting back my headphones. She walked away, still struggling , dragging her heavy suitcase.
The train arrived on the platform and I entered it. As every Sunday mornings, only a few souls were there, either sleeping or reading some newspaper or magazine. I sat on by the window and pulled my phone out of my pocket. 4 text messages. All from the same person.
"I came to your place last night. I guess you were at Mike's"
"Would it be weird to wish him a happy birthday though?"
"Can we go see a movie tomorrow night?"
"Call me tomorrow, please"
No matter how hard I tried to run away from her, it seemed like it was never working.
Girls are a mystery to me. They are always running after complication. When they have everything, they would look for even more... And in my case, for even worse.
Since my first relationship, when I was 12, I was never able to figure them out. That girl I was dating back then wanted me to act like a bad boy. Why? Beats me... I thought she was crazy. She broke up with me because I was too nice. Ridiculous, right?
When I stopped giving a fuck about everything and started acting like a brat, I realized that it was what most of the girls wanted. I became popular. A lot of girls suddenly wanted to be around me... And I was not going to say no, obviously.
I don't recall ever falling in love. I was never really attached to any of my girlfriends. For a long time, I pretended not to know why. But the truth was kind of obvious.
I finally arrived at Fulton Street. I got off and started walking toward the exit when I saw the girl from before struggling to get off the train with her suitcase. Well, at least, she didn't miss the stop.
I initially wanted to walk my way and let her deal with her luggage. Who the hell take the subway with such a heavy one?
But when I saw her pulling with all her strength to take the suitcase out and noticed that nobody who was passing by actually gave a fuck, I started feeling sorry for her.
It was definitely her lucky day. I picked up the bottom of the suitcase and helped her taking it out of the train just in time before the doors closed.
Surprised, she looked at me with her eyes wide open. I guess I really didn't look like the nice type, uh?
"Have a nice day" I threw before walking away.
Damn, I was tired, hungover, half blind... Totally fucked up. It was almost 8:45 am when I reached the residence. The building was empty. I went straight to my apartment, and took all my clothes out before going straight to the bathroom.
After a nice warm shower which probably lasted half an hour, I closed the blinds and entered the sheets. I sighed, thinking that I should give Mike a call later on, just to check if he was still alive.
Maybe I should call her too... She was probably feeling lonely. Yeah... I needed to call her...