first american title | tenya iida

two

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lydia's pov

I shuffled my playlist for the fourth time, hoping to get something that wasn't the same over-done pop-punk song. While I did love that genre of music, now was not the time. I need something upbeat, something that would make me feel like I was in a movie montage while I explored the city of San Fransisco. 

Iida didn't show up. It didn't bother me and I wasn't going to take it personally. He seemed very clammed up and uptight, he probably acted like that towards everyone. I don't know why, but I had taken a liking to him. While he was undeniably attractive there was something more that drew me to him. Like most things though, I never stuck with it. I doubted that it would be different with him. Staying put had killed my parents, and I wouldn't let the same thing happen to me. On one hand I wanted to have fun, on the other I knew I'd break him when I inevitability left town, changed my number, and left without a trace. 

Once the bus ride to downtown was over with, I decided to go towards Oracle Park. Or Candlestick Park, depending on how old you are. There were plenty of buildings surrounding it, some businesses, some homes. There was a small candy shop that I came by at some point. I went inside and was greeted by the sweet aroma of taffy. It reminded me of childhood. I strolled through the isles, picking out a large piece of strawberry taffy and purchasing it.

I walked for a long while. I bought a few odd trinkets from shops. All in all a good experience for me. I noticed that it was almost four and groaned. I picked up an extra shift today, so I had to show up. 

I worked at a small pet hospital as an apprentice. Before I moved to San Fransisco, I had a few years of training at Uc Davis as a veterinary. I got an undergraduate degree in veterinary medicine, so I can only work as an apprentice or assistant. Doesn't bother me, pay is enough to support me and I'm not strapped into the job forever. The hospital is very, very small and can only care for three to four animals at a time. We can't care for anything larger than a goat, though. Even then that's difficult to care for. Once inside my work I changed out of my normal clothes and into scrubs. 

My boss, Jennifer, gave me a smile. "Lydia! Glad you're here. Out little friend Cole is having problems breathing again and I'd like if you could watch him and see if you can find a pattern or trigger for it. If it gets really bad dose him with insulin, half of what you usually would. I already gave him some this morning," She told me.

I nodded. "Anything else?" I asked.

"Um, well you could fill out paperwork. Just keep all our patients in check for now. I have to preform surgery on a dog with a broken limb, so. I'll see you soon kid." She waved goodbye and left the room.

For the next few hours I filled out paperwork and watched over Cole. I concluded that he was having problems breathing when ever he left his head down, which told me that he probably had something pushing against his trachea. Jennifer came in on occasion asking if everything was going okay. When my shift ended, I scrabbled out of the office and to the bus station. I got to my apartment and changed into my favorite red dress. It laced up the back and synched my body. I touched up my makeup and decided to go out. San Fransisco was sure to have upbeat,  fun clubs.

I called an Uber and directed them to the nearest club they knew of. It was named Love + Propaganda. It costed me forty dollars to get in, but once inside I could see why. It was packed, there were lots of lights and a DJ. I immediately went to the bar and bought myself a drink. The dance for was packed but I decided to join in on the fun. 

It was hot and sweaty, but it was fun. I found myself between to fairly attractive guys. We made out, I left after a while. I bought a new drink because I left mine alone and I can guarantee someone put something in it. I wasn't and idiot. I knew how easy it was to get roofied. I left the club soon after. It was nice to let go sometimes. 

I stripped from my dress and took a shower. In the background I had music playing. Soft, sad music. Music that reminded me of when I lived in Tennessee. What a bad choice that was. Often I missed the little town that was there, but then I remember how cramped and awful it was. Maybe a bigger town would have been better. I hated it there, so I ended up moving away after three months. Then I came back to California and lived in San Diego for about a year, and now I'm here in San Fransisco. 

I briefly wondered how Iida lived. He told me he was thirty and been living in San Fransisco for ten years. I wonder what had drove him to move here from his home in Japan. I could hear his accent but it wasn't too thick. He was very fluent English. I kind of wished he would have hung out with me today.

The shower water was getting cold so I shut it off and stepped out. I lavished my legs in vanilla lotion before going to bed. The large comforter was soft and reminded me of when I was very very little. I wouldn't trade that feeling for the world. My dreams were filled with unfamiliar faces that I had met ages ago and feelings of confusion and wonder. 

When I woke up I outstretched my limbs. The morning sunshine hit my face gently and made me smile. For breakfast I ate leftover pizza and a glass of milk. I worked out and watched tv and wrote down my thoughts. The cactuses that sat on my window-sill needed water, so I gave it to them. I cleaned my room as well. All before ten. 

I sighed, satisfied with my morning. I wondered how tomorrows morning would go, and if I would see Iida again. I sort of hoped that I would. I wanted to be his friends, since I didn't have any here and he seemed so uptight he probably didn't either. On Monday morning I'll have to see if he's there. And then we can talk.

~*~