Rudy Takes On Boston

chance

I was walking down the street headed towards the T station listening to my music when someone tapped on my shoulder. It was a fit, young man with blonde hair and blonde eyes. I took out my AirPod as he asked,
"Do you by chance know how I get to Riverside station?"

"I'm actually headed to that stop so you can follow me if you'd like" I responded.

Normally random men on the streets of Boston give me sketchy vibes, especially when they are going to the same place as I am. However he was different...his eyes were kind and he seemed genuine. I turned to head down the stairs to the train and he followed as he stated,
"My name is Rudy by the way."

"I'm Aspyn. Nice to meet you. You are just visiting the city I'm assuming?"

"Yes if it's that obvious." He laughed, "I have family in Natick who I am staying with for a while and I wanted to come into the city. I've never been."

"Well this is just one little part there is so much to explore and do here."

"Well maybe you can show me one day." Rudy said

I smiled as we reached the platform and the green line appeared. We got on but it was filled so we stood holding on tightly to the bars. For some reason Rudy gave me this feeling that I want to be friends with him. He was dressed in light jeans rolled at the ankle with Birkenstock's and a graphic t shirt halfway tucked into his jeans. His smile was kind and just seemed like he was on the right side of humanity-by just looking at him. This made me nervous to ask him questions because he might easily destroy this image of him that I have in my head. The train began to empty out and I asked him where he is originally from.

"Alaska actually" he responded.

"Woah that's awesome I've always wanted to visit because the nature there just seems out of this world."

"Yeah it really is. I always love going home to it, it refreshes me mentally and physically."

Oh yeah I like him already I thought to myself.

"So where are you from?" He continued.

"Well I normally don't tell strange men where I'm from but since I asked you, I'm from a town in Western Mass but I go to school out here."

"What are you studying?"

"Nursing. I want to become a midwife or NICU nurse practitioner." I explained.

"So you are gonna do great things then wow."

"I guess you could say that" I laughed.

As I realized we were only a few stops away I didn't want this conversation at end. We made some more small talk as the T pulled up to Riverside station.

"Well it was really nice meeting you Rudy."

"Same to you" he responded as he watched me sit on a bench outside the station.

"Hey do you need a ride I have my car here."

"Oh no it okay my school has a shuttle that picks us up" I explained.

"Nope", he states, "you helped me navigate the T so I will drive you to school."

We argued back and forth but he ended up winning as I got in the passenger seat. I began to direct him back to my school and the feeling of not wanting to end our conversation grew stronger. I can't tell his vibes though, he's just being nice I concluded in my head. We pulled up in front of my dorm.

"Thank you so much you really didn't have to" I said as I saw my friends and waved to them.

"My pleasure, and hey maybe I'll see you around sometime again" Rudy told me.

I closed the door and laughed at the statement as I walked up to my friends. This is a big city with no way of contacting each other-we won't be seeing each other.

"Who was that?" My friend asked.

"Oh no one important..." as I explained the story over dinner.