As my first month of school and work comes to a close, I still hadn't made any real headway in the friend department. I had a Saturday routine with Aidan, We go to the market early Saturday mornings. For a guy who lives for the night life I was surprised to find out that he likes to buy fresh foods, after all he is in school to be a chef. He would show me things I have never even heard of before and tell me what he would use to make with it. I found him interesting. We talked without really talking about anything important. He didn't ask many questions. I figured he had his own past he was trying to forget. I didn't see him much during the week. He worked long hours like I did and when he wasn't working he was out with friends or out at some party. Every night he brought a women home. I admit that a few times I listened with my face pressed in the pillow so no one could hear my girlish giggles. He seemed to be good at whatever he was doing to them. And there was never any cat fights or arguments. He was a smooth operator but he still had a respect for women that didn't make you think less for his frivolous ways. He just loved women, all types and he always stopped to appreciate a figure where ever he was. Most people deemed him as a pig. But Aidan was different. He excepted you for exactly what you are, he didn't make demands or try to make you be something your not. He got used to my quietness and could fill in with conversation when I didn't know where to go. Although he didn't really know me that well, I considered him my closet friend in the city. I learned that he was originally from Dallas Texas, not that you could miss that southern drawl. Another additive to his charms, and he used it well when it suited him. He never talked about his family and he didn't have any pictures up in his room. I wanted to find out what made him tick, his cool calm was something I admired about him. But you could see in his eyes, that letting you in all the way was something he decided in his own time. So I would wait him out. Something told me he had demons on his back and didn't want to kick dirt up on a sore subject. I knew a lot about the ugly sides of life, I'd never want to upset him. If I lost Aidan I would be back to square one. But I longed for a true deep relationship with someone else. I missed talking for hours, even though I couldn't really think of much to say.
At work, I was fast becoming one of the top servers, I was able to manage my time and take on more tables then I'm supposed to. I learned that fall in the city meant a new change in staff. The old left and the new came in. In my first month alone we had five new servers come and go. I was beginning to understand my bosses constant bad mood. After investing time and training on some of these people, I wanted to bat them over the head when they walked out myself. I found that my boss gave me all the best shifts and the money was coming in steady. I was even able to by some fabric and start making my own clothing for the winter season. I didn't bring much with me when I came, just two suitcases. I would need to buy some winter items, the winters here were just as brutal as home and since I walked everywhere it was vital to have appropriate clothing. I promised my self I would learn the subway before the snow hit. The less I had to be in the cold the better. I knew that it would also cut my travel time. But for now I enjoyed the crisp fall weather in the mornings and the warm sun in the afternoon. I needed exercise after all. I tried not to be home a lot. I pushed myself to do some sight seeing and to go out even if it was by myself. I refused to be a home body. I even thought about asking Aidan to get me a fake id so I could check out some of the clubs after work with the servers. They asked me to go a few times but I'm only eighteen. I didn't really like the idea of a fake id, but if it meant making friends I could deal. I knew my limits and how to stay out of trouble. I just needed to get in the door.
On Saturday I knocked on Aidan's door and a pretty blond answered. I smiled although I was surprised.
" hello, I'm sorry, I usually go to the market with Aidan on Saturdays. But he must be busy, could you just tell him Ella stopped by?"
Aidan opens the door and smiles. " Hey Ella, Ill be ready in a second, can you give me like ten minutes?"
I nod uncomfortable. " Ah, Sure, just knock on my door when your ready, nice meeting you."
I walked quickly back to my room and shut the door. I knew the blond was not happy to be disturbed and I could hear the low murmurs of arguing. Well, I had really done it now. After a few minutes a knock sounded on her door. She opened it to find Aidan smiling with an empty mug.
" Hey can I borrow a cup of Joe?"
I smile and let him in. I set up a little keurig I bought for sale and put a k-cup in. I knew he liked it black and strong. I notice him looking around but I don't say anything.
" Only been here a month and your place is already coming together over here. It looks nice. I like your painting."
I smile. " I saw that my first day here, it reminds me why I'm here.'
Aidan smiles at her " Why are you here?"
I was a little thrown off, he doesn't usually get into personal stuff.
" I'm in fashion Design school, I want to make my own clothing and maybe have my own little shop one day. I have wanted to come here for as long as I could remember."
Aidan smiles. "Is it everything you thought it would be?"
I smile unsure of what to say. "So far, so good. But I think I need to get out more. I have been meaning to ask you about that fake Id you told me about?"
Aidan laughs. "Didn't take you long to ditch the good girl image. Sure I can get one for you, I know a guy and he makes legit looking ones. Not any rip offs if you know what I mean. I think he charges around a hundred bucks but I could probably get it to half, he owes me."
I was nervous about it and I thought that was a ridiculous amount of money for a card, but if I wanted to meet people and have some fun in my life, I was going to have to spend some money. I earned some fun hadn't I?
"Where are you from originally Ella? I don't detect a funny accent, i cant peg you. I'm usually good with accents."
"I'm from upstate NY, about five hours from here. Close to Syracuse. But there isn't much there if you know what I mean. Its not the place I wanted to end up in forever."
Aidan sits on my bed and sips his coffee. " I can certainly understand that. where I am from there are more tumble weeds blowing around than people. I put that place behind me the minute I left it. I'll never go back there."
I watched him curiously. He hadn't been this open with me yet, something in his eyes told me he didn't with many people.
"I'm never going back either, there is nothing there for me anyway."
Aidan sits up. "No family waiting up all hours of the night worrying about their little girl in the big bad city?"
I laugh and turn to fiddle with the keurig, straitening up an invisible mess. What would I say.
" I have parents, if you want to call them that. We are better off away from each other."
He nods. " Well, its their loss then. You seem fine to me. Maybe a little uptight but normal."
I was so taken aback by his honesty that I couldn't help but laugh. No one had ever been that candid with me before and I found that I liked it.
"I suppose I am a little uptight. I just don't want to mess up here."
He smiles. " Something tells me you wont. I think whatever you set out to do, someone like you gets it done. So don't worry so much. You have been here a month and I never see you with anyone. Have you made any friends?"
I shrug. "I'm trying but I'm not very good with people."
Aidan stands up and sets the mug on her little counter.
"Maybe I can help you with that, I'll take you out and show you the ropes, introduce you around. First things first, Ill call about that Id later. Lets get to the market before all the good stuff is gone."
I grab my light jean jacket and lock up behind me. We make our way out of the building in our usual silence, but it isn't awkward. I think he finds my lack of needing to talk refreshing at times to. When we get to the market I allow him to steer us in the direction he wants to go. I watch as he looks things over, picking them up, smelling them, squeezing and measuring. Its like a dance between a chef and his food. I had a million questions and sometimes I asked a few. He never seemed to mind or showed that I was bothering him with all my questions. After a few hours we ended up out for lunch. Every place somewhere different, with different food options. He always made me try something I never had before, sometimes I even let him order for me and surprise me with what I got. It was fun and carefree and for the afternoon I didn't feel alone. Usually after lunch we would split off. I would try to find something to do with my time and he would go do whatever it was that he did during the day. But this time we decided to go see a movie. It was a total crap shoot as far as movies went, but we had a good time making fun of the horrible acting. When I went home to get ready for work, It was the first time since arriving in the city where I wasn't by myself all day. Someone had spent an entire day with me and I had more fun then I expected to have. Things were looking up. And Aidan was becoming more of a godsend than he could ever know. I hoped there were more people like him out there to meet. I might even be in a click of my own here the way things were going. On my way to work I whistled to myself. I had a happy little pep to my step and I knew just who to thank for it.
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