Jungle (z.m.)

II

These days these new girls, they got me nervous. They go to school and do bottle service.

Orchid strutted down the busy New York street, phone in hand, her head was down concentrating on the text she was sending. Orchid smiled down at the text she received moments later form her roommate, Mariana.

When will you be home? It's lonely here.

Orchid chuckled before she responded that she would be home as soon as her shift at the bar was over. Orchid first met Mariana last year. They were both freshmen at New York University, and were assigned as roommates. Both girls were utterly terrified of the foreign university. They tried their best to comfort each other, pushing aside their own worries, and the rest was history.

Orchid's phone vibrated in her small palm once again, and again, and again. She rolled her eyes before finally checking the obnoxious messages from Mariana. She continued responding to Mariana as she resumed her stroll to the bar. The cold air began nipping away at Orchid's exposed arms, goosebumps arose on her arms, the light hairs standing up.

Glancing up once, she cautiously turned the corner. She quickly responded to Mariana's text as she continued her stroll. Just one more block. Orchid was out of breath. Her forehead was lightly damp from the few drops of sweat she shed, and the once cold New York air was now cooling her down.

Her phone vibrated once more, only this time she ignored it. She was desperate to reach the bar. She picked up her pace, seeing the bright logo of the bar in the distance. Orchid's black cut out boots pad against the cracked concrete.

The bright blue logo of the bar had finally shun down on her, creating a blue contrast against her ochre skin. Orchid turned the corner, making her way to the back entrance. Once again, her phone vibrated in the back pocket of her jeans. An exasperated breath left her lips as she yanked out her phone from her pocket. Her eyes glared down at the black phone in her hand. Obviously it was none other than Mariana.

I'm bored out of my mind. Can't you just call in sick?!

Stop ignoring my texts.

Answer me.

Hello?

Orchid scoffed before replying.

Go get some friends.

Orchid continued her model-like strut towards the back entrance of the bar. Her head hung low, eyes glued to the bright screen of her phone. Blindly walking, she couldn't defeat the scent of cigarette smoke. Glancing up, Orchid let out a loud yelp at the familiar dark figure leaning against the back-door door of the bar. Without realizing, Orchid dropped her phone. Cursing under her breath, she quickly bent down, picking up the small metal object.

Zayn let out a light chuckle as he threw his finished cigarette on the ground near Orchid. Orchid stepped away from the cigarette with its dying flame. Zayn stood casually against the door dressed in dark apparel featuring a leather jacket. His bad boy façade taking the breath away from her lungs. The wind blew and Zayn's dark strands of hair danced with the wind. Remembering that she had just dropped her phone, Orchid checked her phone for any cracks or scratches. Zayn watched as she examined the sleek cell phone. Her eyebrows pinched together, and her textured hair hiding her face.

"Is it cracked?" He asked.

"No," she said slipping the phone in her back pocket. "You're lucky it's not."