I think it was summer when our eyes meet for the first time, but what really made me fall for you was your smile.
I was reading The Great Gatsby on a bench in Central Park, New York, it was my first time to the Big Apple and I liked it but there was a lot of people rushing around, shouting into their phones and it made me feel small, I was out of my mind if I wanted to sing.
The clock said it was 9:30, meaning I've only been on this bench for half an hour but it felt like and eternity, I couldn't concentrarte on the book even though I've read it about five times. In between sentences I would stop and look at the people passing by thinking of where they were going and why, so as all ways I started making little stories in my head about these strangers.
*ring *ring*
I pulled my blackberry out and looked at the screen "unknown", I pressed answer "hello...?"
"Hey may I please speak to Marina Diamandis?"
"Umm.. Yes you're speaking with her, who is this?"
"Hi Marina you're speaking with Mike Horgan, the director of Music Inc."
"Ohh good morning Mr. Mike, I wasn't expecting your call till four!"
"Sorry about that Marina, one of my clients called and I have to go out of town, but considering I made you come all the way from the UK, I would like to invite you to coffee, how about that."
He gave me directions to the nearest Starbucks, I waited out side sitting under an umbrella really nervous, I was going to meet someone who was going to make or break me. A bold guy in dark sunglasses came up to me and introduced himself, he looked about 45-50 years old, he had a small gold hoop earring and a Hugo Boss jacket, with a dark blue shirt and black pants. He had a very intimidating look but I wouldn't let myself show fear.
We ordered coffee and a M&M cookie, we talked about my family and my friends, when he looked at me and said, "I would like you to sing for me."
My heart started to pound, I even thought he could see it through my gray shirt. He then stood up and yelled, "Ladies and Gentlemen I'm Mike Horgan and I would like to audiction Marina in front of all of you!" Some turist in fanny packs pulled out their cameras, a lady with her friends who looked like they just had botox injected in their faces clapped and a little boy who was giving trouble to his parents stopped and saw. I got up from my seat, my legs felt like they weighted thousand pounds each, my palms got sweaty but I maneged to get up.
"Hello everyone, umm I'm M.. Marina and I'm going to preform Cindy Loper's song Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." The crowd clapped.
I cleared my throat and mind and started singing.
When the song was over, I looked at the crowd and everyone was quiet, a man in the distance coughed, then all of the sudden everyone started to cheer, a couple even stood up, I let out a long breath and realized that the worse was over.
I was staying at Stella's flat in Queens, I met Stella when I went to London for a school exchange program. I looked down at my phone and stared at the screen looking at the indications to get to her place using the... Sub. I wasn't very good with public transportation because in Wales everywhere I had to go, I could walk. But New York was the opposite of Wales, it was big and everything happened so fast. I looked up to see The Empire State Building and smiled, I've been looking for it all morning, out of the blue this guys runs past me and grabs my handbag, when I finally realized I was getting robbed I shouted Theif, theif! But my voice got lost with all the noise coming from a near-by construction site and no one bothered to chaise him or help me.
I had no money to get to Stella's flat, so I decided to walk, it can't be far right?
Half an hour later, I sat down on a bench tired from walking, my throat was dried. I decided to rest because I hadn't slept in the flight to come to the USA, the plane arrived at 6 am and I took a cab to Stella's flat, she emailed me saying that her boss wanted her to come in earlier then usual but that she left her keys under the door mat. I lied down thinking I could rest my eyes for a minute or two.
I jumped of the bench when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket, I checked the time and was shocked to see I went to sleep at 10 and woke up at 1! My eye lids felt heavy and my breath stank. Feeling sleepy and confused I say across the empty street a girl, she had blonde hair and a small nose. I got up from the wooden bench and stared at my reflection in a shop's window. I had bags under my eyes, my hair which was curly and neat when I got here was now frizzy and knotted, my gray top with a poodle wearing sun glasses twinkled in the light, my jeans looked messy and dirty and my white converse snickers were well black from a puddled I stepped in.
I sat down again, my tummy started grumbling. I looked at the girl in front of me again, she looked about 18 and she was reading The Great Gatsby. Inside my pocket was my phone and a mint! I put the mint in my mouth and crossed the street, I sat down next to her and looked at her book and realized she was at Gatsby's party, my favorite part. I straighten my hair with my palms and whispered,"That's my favorite part."
She didn't react she kept on reading, maybe she didn't hear me or maybe she's ignoring me because I'm annoying, after about 20 seconds which felt like six hours she placed a book mark that had flower print on it and closed the book, she then turned around and smiled.
That smiled warmed my heart, after Mike left her and everyone return to their coffees she was left alone.
"Oh" she mumbled as she stretch her hand, "I'm Marina.''
The blonde girl shook her hand and smiled, " I'm Elizabeth but you can call me Lizzy"
