Bobcat

Cigarettes

Chapter Songs:
Night Like This - LP
Night Vision -Transviolet

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I walked down the steps towards the subway near my apartment in my dark jeans and brown leather ankle boots. I pulled my champagne leather jacket around me as my dark slightly naturally curled hair fell against my shoulders. I looked up to see Jordan, a smile forming on both of our faces. Her shoulder length straight blonde hair hung around her full face.

We pulled out our subway passes. The station was packed. It was a Friday night. I didn't expect any less. Jordan and I made our way to the B line, waiting for the train to pull up. She was playing with my hair. I just smiled. She was a weird one but I really was grateful for her. I had been telling her about what happened earlier today with Dylan and my drawing and about how I was drawing another guy from class.  The train came, and I linked my pinky with hers, pulling her onto the train, still grinning when she called him a nub.

She leaned against the pole in the center of the train, her black Chuck Taylors seeming just right for her short black dress. She signed to me, asking me who the guy was, attempting to keep our conversation private. 

I just stared at her not knowing what to say at first. I had no idea who the kid was, but she wasn't even paying attention to me as I signed a quick 'I don't know'. She was staring behind me. I couldn't help but to glance over my shoulder, following her line of vision. 

Dylan and Nova were sitting towards the back. Nova had her head on his shoulder, cuddling against him, but Dylan's eyes? His eyes were on me. I knew what was in his head. I knew what he was thinking and there was no way I could possibly convince him any differently. I waved slightly to get Jordan's attention. 

"Let's get off at the next stop and walk." She nodded before winking at him with her mouth open. His face went red as he quickly looked away, sliding his arm more firmly around Nova. I laugh instantly. Gottem. She always knew how to get me out of an awkward situation. It was essentially just to make it so awkward to the point that they leave. His face was still red and he wouldn't look at us as we got off the train, our pinkies linked. We practically skipped up the stairs to the main road.

The city was noisy and fast and I remembered why I fell in love with New York. It smelled like hotdog vendors and old newspapers and cigarette smoke. It's everywhere I wanted to be. I didn't get into the performing arts school, but I did the second best. NYU was one of the best choices I had made in my life so far. It gave me this great sense of adventure and freedom, and it gave me Jordan to enjoy it with. It was the city of dreams and passion and romance in America, and I wished we had just walked to begin with. I enjoyed looking around at the people and the neon lights and high scaled tops of the city. I didn't even realize we were there until she pulled me into a small doorway.

After showing our IDs to the guy at the front desk, we walked through the curtain to the back room. It smelled of alcohol and cigarette smoke and sweat, but also of the sweet smell of hookah. There were tables lined against the wall surrounded by booths, a hookah on each table. People surrounded them, blowing smoke out the side of their mouths as they listened to their conversations. There were three pool tables on the other side of the room and a large glass lined bar set in the middle, a small dance floor in front of the bar. It wasn't as full as usual, but it was only college kids permitted. I was surrounded by people like me that wanted things out of life. The sound of cue balls hitting solids and stripes echoed against the slow, calming EDM music.

We approached the bar, each getting a drink before asking for a hookah. I looked around before gently nudging Jordan's side, nodding towards a girl in the corner that couldn't take her eyes off Jordan. Her face split into a smile as we followed one of the workers to a near by table. We were only two tables down, but there was a group between us. She'd find a way to say hi. It was Jordan anyway. Her lack of ability to hear didn't take away from who she was as a person for a single second. I admired her for it.  I shook my head as she gave the girl the same open mouthed wink she gave Dylan. This girl. She picked up her spout from the hookah and took a drag, looking around the bar. I pulled my phone out, checking it. I had a missed call from Nova. I wasn't going to call her back though. I bet Dylan said something, making the whole situation bigger than it actually was.