Halo Of Fire: An Angel In Trouble

Next Stop: 137th St

The intercom buzzed loudly, distracting me from the game I was playing on my phone as I lounged comfortably on the couch still in my pajamas. I dragged myself over to the door and pressed the speak button, "Yes?"

"Delivery from Gravel's Taylors."

"Oh great, yeah come up. 4th floor, door 412." I buzzed the guy in and checked the time.

11 AM. I had plenty of time to get dressed and get there. I couldn't understand why my aunt had made such a fuss about me being late. I took the package from the guy, thanked him, and brought it into my mess of a room. Then I checked my phone to see what time the next subway was and exactly how long it took to get to school. My heart sunk. "It takes 38 minutes just for the subway?!"

I rushed to get dressed, opting for the pants rather than the skirt given how cold it was outside. I didn't have time to put any effort into my appearance. I buttoned the white dress shirt, while grabbing my crested jacket and my bag. I patted myself down, metro card and keys, check. I rushed to the elevator which took its sweet ass time to come to my floor and even more time to make it to the ground level. I ran out of the door and with my maps app open on my phone I headed towards the subway entrance. I nearly slipped down a couple of steps as I ran and got to the platform just in time to watch the 1 train close its doors and take off. "Oh no..."

I looked at the time: 11:12 AM.

Thankfully the maps app showed another route I could take. I had to get on number 3 and change on 14th street. I was going to be in so much trouble if I didn't make it on time.

11:13 AM. The number 3 train wasn't in yet. I watched as a mother with three kids attempted to keep them in check as they ran around the platform playing tag.

11:14 AM. I paced the platform anxiously, watching the tunnel for lights that weren't coming.

11:15 AM. Number 3 arrived, screeching to a halt. I hopped on and waited for it to arrive at the stop on 14th street while nervously bouncing my knee and attempting to set my hair in place.

11:19 AM. 14th street - I ran, weaving through the hoards of people, to the platform that said it was waiting for the 1 train. The air was warm, humid, and smelled like piss.

11:21 AM. Departure on the number 1 train. Thankfully it was also running late and I managed to catch it.

11:23 AM. 18 Street Station - a man with a dog in his backpack got on the subway. It was really fluffy looking.

11:24 AM. 23 Street - I patted my backpack to make sure I still had everything I needed. Phone, check. Metro card, check. Keys, check.

11:25 AM. 28 Street - I noticed my shirt was buttoned wrong so I adjusted it and tucked it into my pants. The man with the dog got off.

11:26 AM. 34 St, Penn Station - a bunch of people hopped on. It was packed to the brim and I became considerably uncomfortable. Would I be able to get off?

11:27 AM. Times Sq, 42 St - people got on, people got off. Mainly tourists, someone was speaking in a foreign language, I couldn't make it out but it was not Spanish, sounded enough like it though. Italian, there were Italians riding on the subway with me. I wondered if they were first time riders like me and if they were as terrified as I was.

11:29 AM. 50 Street Station - I noticed a cute guy near the door. He never looked my way but I fantasized a whole scenario of how we would meet and fall in love.

11:31 AM. 59 St, Columbus Circle Station - the cute guy got off the subway and walked towards the stairs hand in hand with a short enough girl that I didn't see her on the train. I sighed.

11:33 AM. 66 St, Lincoln Center - I didn't know what the place was so I added it to the mental list of places to visit when I found the time to explore the city.

11:34 AM. 72 St - the train car started emptying out. An old lady sat down next to me.

11:35 AM. 79 St - nobody got off.

11:37 AM. 86 St - a kid was playing with an old Nintendo console with the volume set on maximum.

11:38 AM. 96 St - I started getting antsy about my arrival time. I felt the anxiety rise in my chest.

11:40 AM. 103 St

11:41 AM. Cathedral Parkway, 110 Street

11:43 AM. 116 Street Station, Columbia University - I didn't think I'd be so close to the Columbia campus, this would be cool to explore.

11:45 AM. 125 Street Station

11:48 AM. 137 St, City College - I finally pushed my way off the subway and followed the crowds of people to the exit.

11:49 AM. I exited from Broadway and 137th St, and headed towards the school.

12:03 PM. Following the blue arrow of the Maps app on my phone while speed walking, I arrived at a gray and white stone building. It had the name of the school on a small shiny plaque by the massive front door. Silver Valley Academy Prep School. I was out of breath but with what little energy I had left I ran up the steps and pushed the door open.

12:05 PM. "You must be Ms. Grigori. You are late, young lady."

Hello reader and welcome back! I hope you liked this chapter and that you'll give me a vote and a follow if you did! Add the story to your reading list so you get updates when I post the next chapter too! I hope you're having an amazing Mother's Day <3
Veronique