New York, New Man

Chapter 7

TW for character death maybe?

October 15th. Quarterly exams were underway, Alexander was back to being an antisocial hermit, and the campus Starbucks had never had so much business. John and Eliza had to juggle their shifts with studying, which was especially difficult with the increase in customers. "I'm. Going. To. Break. Something." Eliza growled, hunched over a Biology II book.

"Don't," John said quietly.

At 11pm, they finally closed up and left. "Eliza, do you need a ride home?"

"Actually, that would be kinda nice," Eliza shrugged.

John found his car in the parking lot and unlocked the door, letting Eliza get in first before he sat down in the driver's seat. Eliza turned on the radio, tuning it until she found a station she liked. Of course it was the orchestra station. "Classical music is so boring," John whined.

"Well, I like it, so suck it up." Eliza crossed her arms triumphantly.

John sighed. Eliza was like a little sister to him. Or sometimes, like an older sister. John reached his hand down into the center console, pulling out his pack of cigarettes.

"No." Eliza said sharply.

"Come on, loosen up a little bit."

"John, those things are so bad for you! I don't get why anyone likes them," Eliza was angry.

John was a little afraid of Eliza sometimes, so he slowly dropped the pack and shut the top of the console. Eliza still looked mad.

The rest of the drive to Eliza's house was completely silent, except for the gentle violin playing from the stereo. John pulled up to the curb, right in front of the lavish Victorian house. "Good night, 'Liza." John said as Eliza picked up her backpack and got out of the car.

"Night," she shut the door and walked up the stone path to the front door.

When John pulled into the parking lot in front of the dormitory building, he turned off the engine and put the keys in his pocket. He was about to leave, but then remembered something. Reaching into the center console again, he picked up the cigarettes. He got out of the car, walked towards the dumpster, and tossed the box in the trash.

"So, I still have no idea what I want to do for Halloween or whatever," Alexander said as he and John walked down 118th Street the next morning.

"Okay, I had an idea when I woke up, I'll see if you like it," John shoved his hands in his pockets. "So, my birthday is in a week, and I haven't seen my sister in forever. She lives down in Charleston. Maybe I could go down there and spend Halloween with her? You can come too."

Alexander blinked. "That sounds great. She'd be fine with me being there?"

"I have no doubt in my mind," John grinned.

Exams were finally over. Now Alex was stressed about getting scores back. And about flying to Charleston. The only other time he had been on a plane was to get to New York, and he was a nervous wreck the entire time. "It's only an hour and a half flight," John re-assured Alex as they sat in the gate.

"Plus, I'll be right beside you."

Alexander nodded with confidence.

"Now boarding group B," a woman's voice crackled over the speaker.