Burnouts

Days of Our Lives

Scene 1: Subway Station

Leo Rylin

"Are we almost there?" Heather asks excitedly.

"Sure?" I laugh as we approach the stairs to the subway.

She gasps and pulls me back before I could step down. "What are you doing?"

"...making sure we don't miss the train."

"We're taking the subway?" She says in horror.

"Yeah..." I furrow my eyebrows at how nervous she looks. "Heather...how can you live in the city...and not use the subway?"

"Easily...limos are cleaner and less crowded."

"Sure, but limos don't have dog-sized rats or homeless people sleeping on the seats."

"Leo, I'm not getting on-"

"This one is kind of nice. It's the others you should worry about," I tease.

"Not a chance. I'll get us a taxi instead."

"No, let's go now. You'll love it. I'll have you sit on my lap, and I'll wrap my arms around you to protect you from the creeps," I grab her nervous hand and start leading her down the stairs with me.

"Does it always smell so bad?"

"Pretty much," I laugh.

She watches me put the subway tokens in and huddles closer to me while looking worriedly at other passengers.

What sort of subway horror stories have you heard from your friends and family who've never taken the subway?

"You come here alone?"

"Heather," I laugh, "kids take the subway alone. They're actually the biggest criminals you're gonna find up here. Luckily, it's way too early to be dealing with them this morning."

"Do you use the subway to come see me?"

"All the time."

"Oh, no," she says guiltily.

"No, it's okay, come here," we approach the platform and stare down at the tracks. "See, it's not so bad. Just a lot of standing." She starts to turn her head toward the low light and grimy walls, but I turn it back, "and some sitting if it's not too crowded."

"I feel so out of touch," she sighs.

"What do you mean?"

"Do you think I'm too sheltered? You know, clueless?"

"As opposed to what? Knowing how to play tag in abandoned buildings while avoiding stepping on needles?"

"As opposed to knowing people do that."

"Tell you what," I pull her to me so that we're pressed together. "After breakfast, I'll take you around on the subway and show you all the best graffiti throughout the boroughs."

"An extension to our date?" Heather smiles. I think the word just makes her happy. I'm your boyfriend, I'll do whatever you want, whenever you want, but calling it a date is just the cherry on top, huh?

"Yes, hot dogs in Coney Island, and then a walk through South Bronx because....you want to do that for some reason."

She laughs and playfully rolls her eyes just as the train comes in screeching beside us.

"Well, why wouldn't I want to?"

"Because you're very muggable, and I don't know how much fun you'll have interviewing the homeless youth."