The Numbers We Defy

Chapter 16

Sorry to the two people who are actually reading this story, but my computer decided to stop working properly during spring break, so that's why I haven't written in a while. 

"So, when does your bus leave?" Megan asked through the phone. The wedding was in a month, but since it was winter break, she asked me to come earlier to help set up for the wedding. I booked a bus ride from Washington DC to New York, since my car was electric and could not make the trip. It was my dad's old car, and he is the kind of guy who loves all that shit. 

"Tomorrow morning. I should be there around noon," I said.

"Listen, I have to work until five tomorrow, so is it okay if Liam picks you up?"

Oh, no. 

"I can just explore the city until you're free," I offered. I did not need to spend any extra time with Liam. 

"Don't be stupid. He'll pick you up."

"It's fine, really."

"Maya, Liam will pick you up. End of discussion." 

And that was that. 

I packed a lot of clothes. New York is really cold in the wintertime, and layering is key, so all I squeezed all of my sweaters and turtlenecks into my suitcase and dug up my warmest boots. 

For the trip I decided on a black skintight sweater and a pair or bootleg low-rise jeans. If I was going to spend four hours on a bus, I was not about to have my stomach suffocated. I grabbed my warmest winter coat, which was too big to fit into my suitcase, and looked outside the window to find Beth pulling up. She was going to drive me to DC, since parking was so expensive there. 

"You look cute," she said, noting my burgundy coat that wrapped around my waist and my white chunky sneakers. It was a cute comfy outfit. 

"Thanks."

"Anyone you trying to look cute for," she hinted.

"Beth, you know that that's all long gone," I reminded.

"Just saying," she shrugged. 

The bus ride was long, but my Spotify playlist came to the rescue. I also met another girl on the bus named Jamie, and we talked for a while. She was on her way to New York to explore and she gave me her number in case we wanted to explore together. I told her I might take her up on that offer. 

We neared the city and I suddenly remembered how beautiful it was. It had some sort of soul that no other city could compare to. 

I took in the skyscrapers and the busy streets as the bus came to a stop near the center of Manhattan. I got out and wen to the side of the bus, which was where my suitcase was stored.

I began pulling it out as a familiar male voice said, "It's alright. I got it."