Zayn POV
The weather was starting to change, the shift in the wind, shorts being replaced by pants and jackets, the air had a crisp smell to it. I don't know what I'm doing here. Needed to get away from London, I should have went to Dubai or LA where it's nice but I chose New York. The massive amount of people from all different backgrounds pulled me here. I've spent the last two days doing nothing. Lounging in my hotel, drinking, fighting the urge to smoke but I've finally given up cigarettes, no turning back now.
Today I've decided to venture out. Let the sunlight hit my face, feel the air on my skin. But with my luck, its cloudy out. The day looks bleak. I pull the hood of my jacket over my hair, slip my sunglasses on even if it's cloudy. Things are just easier that way. I can avoid the questions, the gawking, the fans.
I'm staying on the Upper East Side, all these sections of New York City have always confused me but it's not like I have somewhere to be. I can get lost in the city for the day, the week, the rest of my life if I want to. I head down the steps to the subway. Today I just feel like riding the rails. Studying people. People have always interested me.
It's still early in the morning, the train is quite crowded as it's Monday, everyone is anxious to get to work. I see small children crying to their mothers about how tired they are, men tapping their feet waiting for their stop to arrive, women shifting uncomfortable in their seats, people without homes pulling in as much heat from the train as they can. Their are too many people here to actually study them individually without getting distracted. The noise, the constant stop and go, doors open, more people get in, people fight to get off, I find myself lucky that I had the career that I did, I never have to be like that.
We lose the lights every once in a while,sometimes they flicker. People sit next to me, take up more of a seat then I do, people smell. Some people talking loudly on the phone, on too personal things if you ask me. People listening to music too loudly. I saw someone picking their nose, reminding me to take a bath in hand sanitizer when I get home.
I see were passing through neighborhoods, this subway takes us to the financial district. We stop at West 14th Street when things get a little more calm. That's when I see her. Have you ever seen the movie Big Fish? When he sees the girl and time literally stops? I place my hand on my chest and remember to breath as she quietly steps over the gap and takes a seat on the train. She hasn't made eye contact with me, or anyone on the train to be honest. I swallow with all my might, I feel as though I've been struck by lightning, all the noise is gone. Just me and her, even though she doesn't know it.
She sits, crossing her ankles and pulls her bag away from her shoulder. Her long brown hair flowing past her breasts, I notice some of her long fingers wrapped in a few small bandages, I have no idea where they could have came from. I sense her angst when she starts digging through her bag a little faster, trying to find something. I notice when she finds what she's looking for she places her other hand on her chest and breaths a sigh of relief. A book. I can't tell what it is, I do know it's older, or else she's read it quite a few times.
I study her as she smiles slightly, turning the pages quickly. Engrossed in her book. She has it low on her lap so I still can't figure out what it is that has her so intrigued. I give up for a second when we stop again and more people get on the train, I stand to give my seat to a pregnant woman. I don't mind, I inch just a little bit closer to her, supporting myself on the overhead rail. I want to speak but its as if my voice is gone, the words are formed in my mouth but they just won't come out. And she's yet to look at me.
We stop at Broome Street and she puts her book away quickly, throwing her bag over her shoulder and standing, squeezing past me with ease and waiting by the door. I turn to watch her as she waits by the gate, we stop briefly, then just like that, she's gone.
