Souvenir [Complete]

Eighteen. Low Places

Being from a small town, the subway system scared Luke. Sure he'd been on it before, but he'd always have to have someone figure out which way he was going. Nothing had changed since the last time, except now Luke had Ashton was actually versed in train knowledge.

And after about three trains, Luke felt like he could be aquatinted with it by the time this mini-vacation is up.

"And then you said we'll just take F train, right?"

"There you go. You're getting the hang of it, Magellan," Ashton praised.

"But that'll take us down to Greenwich again..."

"We're going past it. Lower East Side. That's where this club is."

"Oh okay," Luke cooed and leaned on the post waiting for the F train.

"I'm impressed. You've almost got it down like a native," Ashton smirked, clutching their shopping bags of little knickknacks Luke picked up at various shops.

"I just don't smoke as much," Luke cooed.

"Well you can always have another cigarette."

He was thinking about it.

"Will I pick up a habit?" Luke pouted to Ashton.

"No. Not unless the grocery store in Brightwitch is gonna start selling them—which I doubt," Ashton rolled his eyes. But went to pull out out his carton.

"Okay yeah gimme another one, but let's wait till we get off the train. What if someone on there has lung problems."

Ashton put it back in his jacket pocket with a chuckle.

Even if it was warm today, Ashton had insisted on keeping the red leather on—Luke had stashed his in the car. They looked nice. Luke dressed in one of his old band t-shirts he normally wore to bed tucked into some black jeans. He looked chic in the I-just-rolled-out-of-bed-and-threw-on-jeans look. Add a cigarette and he was a native.

On every train, they'd been unable to find a seat. No difference on this one, so they always stood close together just inside the doors and Luke could smell a little bit of the pine air freshener from Ashton's car on the leather. He wondered if he kept it in the car...

A man walked by them talking on the phone in Russian or something, and then another few guys, one talking to his companion in Spanish. Luke smiled and looked at Ashton, who just smirked at him.

"Culture shock. That's what you've got."

"I've been here before, you know," Luke reminded him.

"Oh. I'm sure, but you've been sheltered. Now you're in the real deal, baby."

Luke blushed and grinned. "You know, I always dreamed of living here."

"Well you should," Ashton cooed. "The City might shine a little brighter with a star like you."

Luke shook his head, and his nose scrunched on a little smile. "Stop trying to flatter me..."

"No, in all seriousness. You could be good here...it is the land of opportunity. And you've already got some of that privilege boosting you in the right direction."

Luke hummed. "Well, I can't say I wouldn't love it here. But it's so expensive, and I only have a dent saved up for college."

"Mmm, then don't. If you're not into it, then don't worry about it. But trust me. You're a natural."

Luke thought about it. "Maybe like Brooklyn or something. Isn't it cheaper there?"

"I lived in Brooklyn, so I'm a little biased. And it is, but it isn't. It's cheaper for New York. Lots of elderly."