The Only Living Boy in New York

THREE

Van

I arrived at my gate with minutes to spare, so I didn't get the chance to toss back a glass of wine at the airport bar like I'd wanted to. Instead, I opted for a glass on the plane, and it arrived quickly, likely due to the first class nature of the flight. We hadn't even taken off yet, but the stewardess  was obviously use to needy people like me and said she'd bring me a glass now, and another when we were in the air. In LA, there are no rules, and the ones in place are meant to be sidestepped. I needed more guidance than this city could offer me.

There were parts of me that I'd refined over the years, and one of those parts was sitting at the front of a plane and paying extra for more leg room and wider seats. It was a must when it came to International flights, but even the short six hour flights within the same country boasted the need for extra space. I peered out the window as the airline workers joked with each other sheepishly on the tarmac and the plane dinged to alert all passengers that the doors would be closing in five minutes. I felt someone sit in the seat next to me, but I kept my eyes fixed outside, wanting to avoid a conversation with a stranger if at all possible. I reached in my shirt pocket for my AirPods and placed them into my ears, hoping that was enough to ward off any communication. I kept my eyes out the window through the in flight instructions, the taxi nonsense along the runway, and as the aircraft took flight and catapulted me into the sky, leaving all traces of LA behind. I'd never felt so relieved.

I was barely paying attention to the music shuffling through my AirPods, and thought I'd be able to pick up any conversation geared toward me by a flight attendant, but apparently my daydreaming out the window got the best of me, and when I didn't respond to the advances of the stewardess and her second glass of wine, I was met with a tap on the shoulder.

I stirred lightly and turned toward the aisle, half expecting to see the stewardess in my line of sight, but instead I was met with a smile and a small bottle and empty glass from the person sitting next to me. I fiddled with the AirPods and removed them from my ears on a casual grin.

"Sorry love, didn't hear anything."

The woman next to me smiled and handed me the glass and the wine on a nod. "I told her I'd make sure you got it, although it's hard for me to make sure of that. Never met a Cabernet I didn't agree with." She moved the bottle around in her hands and peered up at it as if she did this for a living.

I half smiled and accepted the wine from her.

"Should have gotten yourself a glass then."

She shrugged, light brown hair falling around her shoulders in response to the movement. "Not one for drinking on planes. Before and after the flight sure, otherwise, I like to fly with a steady head. Just in case."

I twisted the top of the plastic wine bottle on a small chuckle. "In case of what?"

She watched me pour the wine into the glass and pushed her hair behind her ears as she kept her eyes on me. "In case shit gets heavy up here...I'd rather be sober in an emergency."

I scoffed. "Not me. I'd rather be oblivious."

She smiled slightly and turned her attention back to her laptop. "I'll let you enjoy your wine and music."

She focused her attention to the open document in front of her and began typing furiously like she had never been interrupted with my wine. "Thanks for this." I held my glass up to her, but she only nodded and kept working away, already losing interest in the stranger beside her and I can't say I blamed her.