The man at Broadway

Four

He was seemingly bored. Very much done with them stalking. Jane followed behind skull hat guy, her drink in her hand as she stared to the front of her, he contributed to sweeping, not even paying attention to her. Gale stared from a far, her hands trembling.

Jane leaned against the metal pole, beside Gale. She sucked the straw from her cup, imitating Gale as she stared longingly at skull hat guy, he was oblivious. No small comments, no laughing. The air was filled with a dreadful silence.

"I think he's done." Gale muttered causing Jane to gulp, her face pale and cold. She nodded gently. Gale let a small breath escape from her lips, she felt torn.

"Maybe he's just playing hard to get." Jane burst, in attempt to lighten the atmosphere. Yet it was like lighting space with a match; impossible.

Gale ignored Janes comment, her mouth was dry yet she slurped her drink continuously. She needed him. They needed him.

Perhaps he felt intimidated by their laughter, or maybe he was just retiring from the childish atmosphere they maintained. They never meant to push him away.

Skull hat guy walked past them, his head almost facing them. Jane stood up straight, alert. She raised her hand in attempt to gesture a wave, yet quickly shot it down as skull hat guy turned away from them. Gale giggled softly at Janes stupidity, foolishness. The air pushed all words out of Janes mouth, she was broken.

Suddenly, her words revived, her last word sat on the edge of her tongue as skull hat guy walked by once more. This was it, it was time to get him to notice her, to talk to her! To love her.

Janes throat moistened, her shoulders stood straight as he slowly approached the girls, she took in a deep breath, her lungs filled with anticipation. He walked closer.

"Hello!" Jane exclaimed, almost too excited. Her voice breaking at the end as if she used every part of energy she had remaining inside of her to blurt that one word. And he walked past, oblivious.

Jane swallowed hard as he continued to walk away, drifting further and further apart. Janes lips parted, Gale staring at the disappointment beside her.

This was it. Gale knew, she knew it was over, Gale was empty, Jane still leaking with hope. Gale dropped her hand on Janes shoulder to comfort her, a small chuckle escaping her lips to brighten the mood, to her failure.

"Let's just get this bus, okay?" Gale smiled with sympathy. Gale had as much love for skull hat guy as Jane, easily. Yet her love was concealed, she felt the need to confine it, she was smart. Jane nodded once, her lips pressed tightly together.

"Okay." she mumbled.