The Man on the Steps [On Hold]

T h r e e

The week passes on as usual without sight of the man on the steps. I've been constantly wondering whether he has left and is soon to return or if he is gone permanently. I hope the former because I am still interested in him.

I exit the taco place, wiping a bit of sauce off of my cheek. It's Friday meaning my weekly restaurant visit is due and done. I have another four tacos in a box for when I get home and the weight of the bag takes my balance off by little. The incessant beeping of horns and yelling of the occasional man refuses to flatter my ears, yet I've grown used to it so it doesn't bug me as much as it used to. 

I see my apartment in the distance but my refusal to wear my glasses today has left me with my nearsightedness. I see something unusual on the steps and squint my eyes to get a better look. It doesn't help my sight much better so with my free hand I bring my left index finger up to my eye and stretch the skin slightly with the pad of my finger. It advances my view, therefore allowing me to get a better idea of who or what it is.

I see a man, the same man on the steps, as I get closer and I feel an uninvited smile come through. Once again, he holds a coffee cup in his hands and shivers slightly in the October breeze of Manhattan.

I pick up speed as my excitement to actually speak to him comes pouring out. I frown where only I can actually tell that I am frowning when the question of why I am so excited flashes in my mind. I don't know him and he doesn't know me. So what is it I am so excited for? I shrug it off as my previous assesment of it being simple curiosity comes back.

I come closer to the steps and his eyes come up and meet mine. Emerald green. That is the color of his eyes. For a moment my breath is taken away as I stare longer into them. Then the sudden realization that I am staring at a stanger and have suddenly ceased movement wakes me up. 

His lips pout in the slightest way and his eyes are ones of nervousness and confusion. He sends me a small smile and I send him one back. This is my time to talk.

"Hi," I say in that non creepy way that you can tell a stranger hi.

"Hello," He says politely and sets his coffee down temporarily. He wears the same thing from last Friday. Worn out clothes, yet he pulls it off.

"My name is Vivian. Nice to meet you," I reach my hand out to shake his hand and for a second he hesitates before reaching out as well and shaking my hand.

" 'M name is Harry," He says his words with a slow drawl and I notice that his words are said in an English accent.

"British, am I right?" I point out with furrowed eyebrows.

"That you are. American, am I right?" He does the same expression as I did and does a shy laugh after he said it. I do too and nod.

"Yep. So not to sound creepy or anything, but what are you doing out here? It's beginning to get pretty chilly," I ask. My curiosity comes out and I take a seat next to him. I realize it is a bit weird to just ask someone that but it's the way I make friends and typically converse. That and I'm curious as to why he's here and who he is. 

He fidgits before answering and rubs his hands together. "Um, just seeing the city, you know. It's quite brilliant here. Lot's of things to see and hear," His voice is quiet yet deep and raspy and I lean in just a tad bit to hear him better.

"I get you. I've been living here for ten years and I still haven't gotten completely used to everything," I say. He nods his head and his stomach growls. His pale cheeks blush a deep pink and he apologizes.

"Sorry, it's been a while since I ate," He says. I wave my hand to brush it off and grin.

"It's fine. I have some food if you want," I raise the plastic bag containing the box and four tacos and he immediately begins shaking his head and reaching for his cup of coffee.

"Oh no. You don't have to do that, I don't want to take your food," I take the box out of the bag to his disagreement and open it. 

"I insist. Here, I already ate and I have all this and I already know I won't finish it all. Better for someone to eat it than to just throw it out." 

He eyes the food like it is tempting him but shakes his head sadly. "I don't have anything to pay you back with right now and I'm not too hungry," He says, when his stomach rumbles a second time. 

"Harry. Honestly it's okay and you don't have to pay me back. Here," I use a fork to seperate one taco from three and move it so that the three are on his side. "We'll share." He sighs and eyes me.

"Are you sure?" He asks nervously and I nod. 

I move the food closer to him. "Yes of course. Now eat up because if you don't then I'll definitely have leftovers." He grins brightly, showing his rows of teeth and thanks me. He picks one up and eyes it heavinly. I take a bite out of mine and the array of flavors hits me.

He takes a first bite and moans softly. I swallow and say,"Good huh?" He blushes slightly and nods. He finishes his first one quickly and goes to his second one. I hand him a napkin and he takes it willingly.

For a few minutes we make small talk about the food, the weather, which is cold and breezy, the city, and other similiar things to that. He finishes the last one and thanks me again.

"No problem," I say kindly. I believe a lot in first impressions and I always try my best to make sure that the people I meet leave with a good one of me. Besides, he seems like a genuingly nice person though I barely met him. Maybe we could become friends at one point. Well, not that we aren't now but so far it seems more like the beginning of one.

"Hey, you aren't secretly a murderer, serial killer, or kidnapper, right?" I ask both jokingly and seriously. He grins shyly and shakes his head, letting his dimples appear. Oh, dimples. That's definitely a plus.

"No," He picks up his coffee and takes a patient sip, letting the moisture from the cup coat his finger tips and leave a warm feeling. "Are you?" He asks. 

"Um well I'm pretty sure I haven't killed anybody or kidnapped so I'm going to have to go with... no," I say and he stifles a laugh. He sets his cup down and faces me.

"Well good. I wouldn't want to have to turn into your accomplice."

"Well you never know. That might change in the future," I warn, of course not serious about it. I would never actually kill somebody. Well, not in real life that is. In my head that can be a whole other story.

He raises his eyebrows. "Joking," I point out. "Well," I look up at the darkening sky and sun setting in the horizon. Though it's hard to see with all the buildings I can barely make it out. "It's getting a bit late so I think I should head in," I jerk my thumb towards the apartment's door and his once smile grows into a nervous frown.

"Okay yeah. Late. Yeah it's getting late. Um, thank you again for the food. It was great," He stands up awkwardly and I do as well. "Nice to meet you, Vivian."

In a way his awkardness is a bit... adorable per say. Not that I like him or anything. It's not like I can't think somebody isn't adorable.

"You can call me V," I shake his hand and wave goodbye. He does as well and I walk back inside.

"Bye," I hear barely hear him whisper as the door shuts behind me.

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