You Promised

New York State of Mind

~Ivy~

Have I told you that I love New York? 

Probably not. 

Well, I love New York.

I wake up every day in my dorm and just take in the view of the tall skyscrapers and the people below, walking to their jobs in such an unconscious hurry. 

New York is so fast-paced, very different from California. People here are all about creativity and business. While, California, In my opinion, is about fun and exploration.

Which I love! There's no place like home. But I think the change of scenery was good for me. 

I miss my mom a lot, along with all my friends back home. I'm actually on my way back from my literature lecture, my friends and I have a group face time appointment set up before I head to my next lecture. 

I walked down the sidewalk and decided to take a look around at my surroundings. The school did not have an actual campus. There was absolutely nothing separating the school from the regular life of the city. 

I think that is what I liked most about it. College campuses are sometimes isolated and you would probably have to take a bus or train to get out of the area and explore different places in the city. NYU was built different and I loved it. 

As I was walking, I decided to stop at this little locally-owned coffee shop. When I walked in the bell at the top of the door dinging signaling the employees of my presence.

"Hey Ivy, the usual?" one worker said from across the shop.

I nodded happily.

Okay, so maybe I have been here before.

Maybe every day. No biggie.

I mostly came here to write my papers, read a book or just simply unwind from the fast pace of the city. 

To me, this shop is like the rest stop in the middle of a road trip. It's refreshing.

Okay maybe the rest stop was not the best comparison, but you understand what I am getting at. 

I went up to the cash register to pay for my coffee and my muffin. 

"It's always good to see you ivy," the middle-aged woman from behind the cash register said, as she took my money and tapped a bunch of buttons. 

"Always happy to be here, Ms.Hunter." I smiled, took my food and walked to my favorite corner of the cafe. It wasn't secluded but it was secluded. 

It was a small yellow leather couch with a white throw blanket draped on the back of it. The color of the couch blended perfectly with the brown brick walls that surrounded it. Above, there were golden fairy lights that hung from the sky, coming together in their own array of beauty. 

Sometimes at night, they turn off all the other lights except for the fairy lights and it is truly a sight for us all.

I pulled out my phone and looked at the group chat with my friends from home. 

Yasmin- "Bitch, when is Ivy gonna text us for this damn call, I got shit to do too!"

Ace- "What do you have to do, drugs?" 

Isabella- "You are so quick to assume Ace, It is a dick appointment with Richard."

Richard- "Dunno what yall are talking about but leave me out of it."

Oh, did I mention, Yasmin and Richard, are most definitely dating? Honestly, I feel as though there is a lot we need to catch up on. Things have changed. 

After I finished my muffin, I put my trash and dishes away and waved goodbye to the family who owns the place. As I started walking down the sidewalk, I slowly adapted to the fast pace of those around me. 

Soon, I rounded a corner and went into my dorm building. I walked past my roommate at reception. 

"Hey Ivy!" said Raina

We hit it off well on move-in day. She is majoring in art just like I am. We are both homebodies but I guess she wants to change that since she keeps finding an excuse to take us to a party or something. 

"Hey girl, how is it hanging here?" I said as I walked up to the desk.

"Listen, I don't know if people are having an orgy in one of the rooms but this one girl has checked in at least 14 girls and guys in the last hour, it's a good thing I am not an RA, I am not trying to see all that." She said disgustedly.

I laughed and talked with her about my boring lecture until someone came to check-in, so I went up to my room to prepare for that facetime call. 

When I walked in, I took my shoes off in exchange for some brown slippers, I don't trust the floors sometimes. I threw my back in the corner and sat at my desk with my phone and laptop. I unlocked my phone and texted the group chat telling them I was ready. 

My phone started ringing in less than 30 seconds. 

Damn these mfs fast...

As soon as I answered I was met with the screams of my friends saying hi. I smiled and said hi to everyone.

"The gang is all here!" Isabella said, flailing her arms in the air excitedly.

"Hey Ivy, how is New York? Have you tried the pizza? Is it cold?" Shawn asked frantically. 

"Damn Shawn just google it," Mason said annoyed as he sat next to him. 

"Yasmin..baby who's that..?" Richard said in a raspy voice.

"DAWG I KNEW YALL WERE FUCKING!!!!" Isabella said.

Everyone laughed at how red Yasmin's face got after she said that. I smiled because they were what I missed most about home, aside from my family. I looked at everyone and noticed that Gabriel wasn't in the call. 

I looked down at my nails and sighed. I can't say that things went down well between us. I am not exactly proud of it either. However, I just feel like it is better this way for us to stay away from each other for now. 

Okay honestly, I miss him a lot. I do. I just don't know how to handle a long-distance relationship and clearly neither did he! I mean I'm pretty sure he's fine. He and his siblings are so close and he's going to school. He's fine, we can talk about it another time.

I leaned back in my chair and started telling them everything about New York and how art school is. 

Maybe I will go back and visit soon...