Run Away With Me

Chapter 10 (Jack's POV)

Oh man, this is going to be so cool! There's 102 stories, and it's over 1,000 feet tall! To some, that may seem too high. Like Kathy. She looks like she's going to be sick. But I love being up high. It makes you feel so big and so small at the same time. And I can only imagine how amplified that will be from up there. The tallest building I've been in was the 3rd floor of the apartment I lived in back in Kansas. But 102 stories! I may have failed pre-calc, but I'm pretty sure 102 is bigger than 3. 

"Davey, this is so cool!" Crutchie says, voicing my thoughts. "When can we go?" 

Davey looks at his watch. "Well, we can go right now if you like. It's 12:11. How about we head up there and then we'll get lunch?" 

We nod, and then Davey heads toward the building. We all make to follow him. I notice Kathy pulling up the rear, and looking rather hesitant. I fall back, remembering her great fear of heights. And when I say great, I mean great. She  wouldn't jump from her first floor window! It was only, like, 3 feet! But, I have an irrational fear of spiders, so I can't really judge. Especially the tarantulas. I hate them. 

"So, 102 stories. 1,000 feet up. Should be a pretty great view, don't you think?" I say. She looks at me with fear in her eyes, and I'm pretty sure I've said the wrong thing. I try to amend myself. "I mean, that's just what I read. I'm sure we won't be going that high. I mean, we'll still be pretty high up. I mean, it probably won't seem that high once we're up there. I mean-"

"You're babbling." Katherine says. I shut my mouth. "But you're right. I'm sure it'll be fun," she says, very un-enthusiastically. I decided to leave at that though. We walked into the building, and Davey went to talk to someone about our tickets and such. It never ceases to amaze me how much bigger things are in New York. 

"Guys," Davey calls, and waves us over. We reach the elevator, and Davey presses the up button. I see a look of disappointment on Jojo's face. We all step into the elevator, and the relief shows on Davey's face when it doesn't creak and moan. That elevator at our apartment has scarred him. Instead, our ears are greeted with subtle 'dings.' I watch as the numbers tick away on the display screen. 56, 57. 71, 72. 99, 100. Finally we reach the roof and step out onto the crowded landing. 

The sight takes my breath away. Splayed out in front of me is New York city. Albert and Jojo push their way to the front, followed by Davey and Crutchie apologizing to people as they go. Crutchie's eyes go wide as he takes in the view. I put my arm around him. 

"Look at us," I say. "High above the stinkin' streets of New York." He looks up and smiles at me. We stand there for a moment and then I look around. I spot Katherine near the door, not daring go closer to the edge. 

"C'mon," I say, pulling her arm. She resists the whole way, and as soon as I let go she starts to run away again. 

"Hey, come back! Where're you going?" I grab her arm and pull Kathy back to the edge. She refuses to look. "You gotta look some time."

"No, no I don't!" Kathy says. 

"Oh come on Kathy!"

She opens her eyes to glare at me, and her breath catches as she looks at the city. I lean in real close. 

"Whatcha think?" I whisper in Katherine's ear. It startles her and jumps. 

"Don't scare me like that!" She screams. "I could've fallen over the edge!!!" I laugh, because we both know that would never have happened. She turns back to the view and sighs. "It's breathtaking." I see my chance and I take it. 

"Just like someone else I know," I say. Kathy looks at me, and for a moment I think we connect, but then she pushes me playfully. 

"Shut up. None of your bribes-" she points at my shirt. "-will make me forget the toothbrush thing." Kathy laughs and walks away. Crap. That's like, a double smack in the face. Not only did I get friend-zoned, but she isn't buying the t-shirt thing, which means I wore this stupid shirt for no reason. Urgh!

Race comes and taps me on the shoulder, wrenching me from my daze. I turn to look at him. 

"Uh, Davey says it's time to go." I nod take one last look at the skyline. This beautiful city. I can only imagine how much more beautiful it looks at night. 

We take the elevator back down and I see a sadness in Davey's eyes as we step out of it. It makes me laugh to myself. We head out the lobby and get in Davey's mini van. Kathy would murder me if I ever called it a mini van, but she can't hear what's in my head. At least I don't think she can. I hope she can't. 

As we head back towards the deli where Spot works, I catch Crutchie looking back at the building. And I can't help think that we're thinking the same thing; that we'd never forget that rooftop. All you could see was sky, for forever. With no buildings in your way. And the cool breeze that blew, even though it's July. And we will probably visit again, and we will probably have a very similar experience. But there's nothing better than the original, baby.