Amelia

Have you ever met someone that you immediately started to crush on? You're not sure if it's because of the way they smiled at you or how they laughed at your generic joke. You think that it might be because they remind you of a happier time in your life or that they take you away from your currently miserable one.

Regardless of how it was, when I met Amelia, she had a way of grabbing my attention. No matter what the topic was, when she was speaking i was listening. It was almost as if I was the desperate student for the teacher, who was there only to make you suffer day in, and day out.

Let me take you back to about 10 months ago.

The train ride into New York City is a long one no matter what part of the tri-state area you come from. Hundreds of thousands of us desperate saps, come crawling out of the underground for a chance at a top paying job and the ability to live comfortably. What we walk away with, is debt, a decent bagel and overpriced living arrangements. There are perks, there is always something to do, and always so many people to be around. Some we get to meet, some may sleep with you, and some might even pickpocket your monthly metro card in the crowded subway.

There is always someone. You rarely will see the same person twice, the statistical chance of meeting someone at the same bar from outside of your block or even your borough is one out of powerball.

That reminds me, sorry Jake, that awesome girl from queens is not going to some hole in the wall bar near union square again. We all thought she was in high school anyway.

When you do see someone more than once, we all as new yorkers will do the same thing. We play a game. Some play the game a bit sicker than others but a game nonetheless. We create this game of who they are, what they do. Why did they push their way to get off the subway? Did their significant other just go into labor? No she is definitely running from the cops because she robbed an atm in the lower west side. Sometimes, you're even attracted to the person.

That's when Amelia walked onto the subway.

I'm sitting on the 4 train. Or it may have been the 5 train but where i get on, they are both going to the same place I need to be. I'm coming from uptown, heading to wall street. "This station is Grand Central".

There she is, as she steps on, I immediately notice her. She has this beanie hat on, the type of hat with one of those puffy rabbit tails on the top. It's a big ball of puffy white with white letters below it, all placed on a deep navy blue background. Some university out west, clearly, she's a college girl. Can't be sorority though, the hat is too modest and fun.

As she looks around, you can just see that slight disappointment yet non-surprising look as she sees there is no seat available. I mean, obviously there isn't going to be a seat available, it's 7:45 AM at Grand Central.

Wrong.

I have a seat, and I happen to be a guy in a suit who has spent way too much time watching Audrey Hepburn movies. So, of course I offer her my seat. I am a gentleman. It also gives me the chance to have a real look at her.

She has a narrow little face, but a petite frame that allows her to show her perfect pearly whites. With teeth like that she has got to have an orthodontist. Westchester girl for sure.

I notice her septum is pierced because it's wiggling as she politely declines my over-patriarchal seat offer. She is like Lola bunny come to life, with her little puff ball and wiggling nose.

I return the smile and just look down at my backpack as I awkwardly sit with Lola freaking bunny standing over me on the subway. She takes out a book. Of course, it's paperback and looks as if it was bought at a second hand book store. The cover is exploding with faded color and images of the human face, representing the cosmic collision of our senses. Or some other hipster bullshit description that doesn't matter.