"There's a coffee shop at the 73rd called Arte, just around the corner of Columbus. Its under my friend's place. Why don't you meet me there say... around 4?"
"Why do I have to go all the way there to meet you? Your place's a lot closer. And I'm older. You, little one, should come to me."
"If you want the money, you'll come to me big brother. Anyway, I'm meeting a friend at the same coffee shop and I'm going back to work after that."
"Which friend? Liz?"
"Which friend? Liz?"
"No, not Liz. Why?"
"She's hot."
"Hmm, she's also dating a guy."
"What happened to all your single hot friends?"
"Nothing. They're still there. If you don't come, you'll have to wait to get the money on the weekend, okay?"
"I need it for tomorrow morning, Kit." Victor said thinking of all the trouble he could get into for skipping early on his class. But then again, he really needed the money. "Damn it, fine. I'll try to get there before 5."
"Be there at 4."
"Fine."
"'See you later!" she said in a sweet voice and laughed when Victor answered with a grunt before hanging up. She put the cellphone back in her purse and hailed a cab that was passing by.
***
Victor was running late. Kit was going to kill him, and then leave his body to the flies at the closest gutter. She was a schedule freak. Thinking of being scolded from her in the same day he had to borrow money had him quickening his step. Daring a glance to his watch, which was showing he was already 20 minutes late, made him sigh. He was so distracted that nearly got run over by a cab that was passing by. Between horns and yelling, he decided it was a better idea to run. And run fast.
His Ear Training II professor had not been very happy about letting him leave class earlier, so she glued to his side until the there were only 20 minutes left of class. Studying at Juilliard had been a dream for him since he was a little boy and had heard one of his Americans friends tell about her mother studying there. Being british, it had been expected of him to apply to the Royal Academy of Music, but he had his dreams set in New York. When Kit had been offered a job in Manhattan, he could no longer pretend he liked studying Law as their father had pushed him to. It was the perfect opportunity to move to New York and study the thing he loved the most in the world: music.
His mother had scheduled him piano lessons since he was 5, when he would rather be doing anything other than to sit at the piano and have Mrs. Collins, whom had never had much patience with him, make him sit and practice for what seemed like endless hours. She wore round spectacles and sweaters that always seemed to smell like mould. Victor thought she tried to cover it but splashing enormous ammounts of a very sweetened floral perfume. Maybe that was why whenever he came across floral scents, his stomach seemed to try to push every content out.
He and Kit only shared their father's blood. His mother and father had divorced and remarried when Victor was 8. His stepmother had been much nicer but not any less strict than his own. A year later Kit had been born and from then on, they had become inseparable. Between their father's tight work schedule and her mother's work with charity and society engagements, they were left alone with nannies and housekeepers for most of their lives.
Their father, now a widower, still lived just outside London and carried his life as a retired lawyer, enjoying his hunting and Cuban cigars. That was not even close to the life he wanted for himself, so, at the first opportunity, he had moved away. He had spent 3 years studying music in Paris but had needed to come back home when Kit's mother had passed. After that, his father had pushed him into Law School so that, one day, he would be able to take over the family legacy. The family legacy; there wasn't much he actually hated in his life, but the mention of family legacy brought cold rage in his veins.
Their father, now a widower, still lived just outside London and carried his life as a retired lawyer, enjoying his hunting and Cuban cigars. That was not even close to the life he wanted for himself, so, at the first opportunity, he had moved away. He had spent 3 years studying music in Paris but had needed to come back home when Kit's mother had passed. After that, his father had pushed him into Law School so that, one day, he would be able to take over the family legacy. The family legacy; there wasn't much he actually hated in his life, but the mention of family legacy brought cold rage in his veins.
Kit had been smart enough to engage in her love for ballet from a very young age. Her mother had had the dream of being a ballerina since her childhood but had never managed it. Therefore, they moved to New York, away from their father's bitterness and the much too imprisoning, family legacy.
***
He had reached the 72nd street and was about to cross when his phone signaled a new text message. Kit was stuck on traffic and was going to take another 30 minutes to get there. Victor swore under his breath and looked around. He wasn't hungry and if he arrived at the coffee shop before Kit, he'd be at his fourth or fifth cup when she arrived. He had a gig that night and needed his hands steady and his mind clear. He was about to wander around when he remebered a store he'd been wanting to check out for a long time. He had few great loves in his life and his and enormous collection of records was one of them. They went from Beethoven to Coltrane, covering Bob Marley and Iron Maiden.
If he remebered well, all he had to do was intersect the Verdi Square into 73rd street and he would be very close.
When he entered the store, his heart warmed. There were records from floor to ceiling and stacks in the middle. There was only a girl and an older man browsing the store which made it, if possible, even more perfect. Crowded places, and worse, crowded stores, gave him the creeps.
Fifteen minutes later, he already had eight records under his arm and was poring over the back of a rare Miles Davis record when a song started to play on the store stereos. It was one of those one-famous-song only band. It was far from a great song, but since he had heard them over and over in the streets and radio streamming, that he just sang along anyway.
"Heey, heeey, heey. Your lipstick stains..."
"Heey, heeey, heey. Your lipstick stains..."
"Hmph." the girl that had been poring over records across from him gave him a briefly annoyed look and moved to the back of the store. She had long wavy black hair that was held back by one of those bands that, well, held back hair. He didn't kknow the name of those things Kit was always buying everywhere she went. She had a purple coat and pale pink scarf on, even though, inside the store was warm, and was wearing black spandex and sneakers. Adding the big crossbody bag, had him smelling dancer, especially since she had the legs to go for it. He walked to the back of the store and stopped by her side while examining another record, and as the song reached the chorus, he joined it. For some reason, the girl seemed very irritated at something and somehow, it appeared he was having something to do with it. She put back the records she hab been examining and wandered to the front of the store.
The funny thing is that if she hadn't seemed so annoyed by him, he wouldn't have been so interested in coming close to her. So, he followed. When she noticed it, she gave a loud sigh and put the pile she was holding over the stack and was about to leave when he grabbed her arm.
"Hey, I..." he was about to say something, he knew it, but when she turned with a glacial stare, he forgot what it was. Wasn't it interesting? He had irritated someone in a store he had never been to, by simply standing there. "I'm sorry, but do we know each other?"
"I don't think so. Could you please let go of my arm?"
"Not yet. You'll leave if I do."
"I'll leave because I want to leave. And you're still touching me."
"Why are you so annoyed?"
"Do you always grab strangers in the streets because they're annoyed?"
"Why can't you answer any question directly?"
"Why can't you just let me go?"
"Only if you promise you'll stay."
"No." she answered, but this time there was a hint of a smile in her lips. He was loosening the grip when she looked at him again and left the store. He didn't know why, but she made him smile as well. He put the pile he had been holding over hers and left after her. When the store clerk complained about the records left, he waved and kept walking.
***
"Great. Now the crazy man is stalking me!" Lumi quickened her pace and pushed her gym bag closer to her body. She'd been living in New York for a while now, but still was afraid of the crazy people that seemed to sprout everywhere in this city. She had been annoyed by Kit's text message telling her she was going to be late. She hated when people left her waiting. But Kit, she was the only person Lumi would never expect to be late. While Lumi counted minutes, Kit counted seconds. Once, they had agreed to meet for brunch on Sunday and Lumi who had been held at the door of the shop, had gotten an annoyed look from Kit for arriving 11:01.
She gave a backward glance, and the British guy was still following her. He was handsome, she had to admit. Okay, absurdly handsome. And the accent had made him even sexier. He had dark blond hair, light blue eyes and very broad shoulders. With his 6'2'', over hers 5'2'', he had her tipping her head back to look at him when he had gripped her arm. He had a big nose, but somehow that had complimented his eyes and cheekbones. She had a thing for noses. For some reason, people's noses were always the first thing she looked at.
She decided that maybe a public place would save her from the crazy man and aimed at the coffee place. If she entered her building which was over the Café, he might try to follow her home.
There were so many cars rushing by, she had no choice but to stop.
"Hey!" he yelled. She didn't turn. "Hey, your scarf fell while you were running!" she put her hands over her neck and saw that it had indeed fallen. This time she turned and he was still running, now holding the scarf on his left hand.
"You know, people are always saying how Americans are crazy, and I never really got it. Why the hell did you run? Are you mental?!" he asked leaning forward, trying to catch his breath.
"Am I what? You're the crazy one. You grab my arm and then start to follow me. Of course I ran, who wouldn't?" she asked and reached for the scarf. He pulled it out of her reach. "Would you please give me my scarf back?"
"Not yet. Only after you answer me why were you annoyed."
"You ran after me because you wanted to know why I was annoyed?!"
"Hmm, yes." He was about to start laughing when she grabbed the scarf, turned on her heels and crossed the street. He swore, checked his watch and saw that he about to be late again. Strangely, her direction seemed to be the one he had to take, so he ran until he reached her again.
"Oh, what do you want now?!" She had Asian brown eyes. But didn't seem like any he had seen before. Maybe she was Thai or Korean.
"Okay, look, we're both looking crazy by now. How about we stop and start over?"
"I'm late for a... date. Maybe some other time. Bye." She said and entered the Arte Café. It must be fate he thought. It was a pitty she was going to meet some guy. But since he had to go in as well...
"Aff..." she said when he sat across from her. The Café was nearly full but still had a few free tables. "So, what is your name?"
"My mom taught me to never talk to strangers."
"But we're not strangers anymore. We've been ah... encountering for the last forty minutes. We're past the strangers point. You are...?"
"Meeting someone, so if you don't mind, the chair you're sitting is occupied." Lumi was about to get up and sit at another table when Kit came in.
"Hey! You two know each other?!" Kit had just arrived and found her friend and brother in what seemed a heated discussion. "Oops, am I interrupting?"
"Yes."
"No." They both answered at the same time.
"I see. Well, who wants coffee?" Kit had her red curls in a messy ponytail that suited her well. Lumi had always envied her coloring, never having the courage to dye her hair that color. She was wearing a silk navy blue blouse tucked into cream colored slacks. Her blue eyes shot amusement at them while she tried to capture what was going on between them.
"This is the friend you were meeting?" Victor asked Kit. "You said you had a date." he complained turning his attention to Lumi with a frown. "Oh, are you a lesbian?"
"Oh, shut up." Lumi replied. She was about to get up to get coffee and a muffin she had seen in the balcony when Kit passed by her saying she would take care of it.
"You must be... Anne." Victor searched his memory. He remebered when Kit told him about a friend that lived above the Arte a few weeks back. She was going to spend the weekend over and had given him the phone in case he had to reach her. With a smile, he realized he had Lumi's phone number.
"No. Anne's my sister."
"Lumi, you want a bagel?" Kit asked from the balcony. Lumi nodded back with a sigh. And noticed his smile. "What?"
"Nothing. So Lumi, tell me, why are you so weird? Why were you so annoyed?"
"If I want to be annoyed, I will. Why does that has to be any of your business? You annoyed me, I left. The end. You are the weird one. You grabbed me, stalked me and now keeps saying I'm crazy."
"All right, I'm sorry." he said with a sheepish grin. "Really."
"Yeah, I can see how sorry you are."
"So, you dance with Kit?"
"We dance at the same school, different genre."
"Juilliard. I study..."
"Okay, three coffees and three bagels." Kit brought a tray to the table an sat. "So how did you two meet?" Victor was about to answer when he looked at the clock over the balcony and saw that it was nearly five-thirty. He had a sound check at 6 in the other side of the city. He had to leave and fast.
"Kit? Did you bring the money?"
"Of course." She opened her purse, took the envelope and passed it to him. "Don't spend it all in shoes, sweetie."
"Ha. All right ladies, I have to go." He downed the coffee, grabbed the bagel and gave a light kiss at his sister's cheek. Since Lumi had been watching him over her cup, he took her hand and kissed it. "I hope I annoy you again soon." She pulled her hand back and watched him leave.
"So tell me," Kit said trying to hide the smile from Lumi's again annoyed expression. "why are you so annoyed with Victor?"
***
"All this because he was singing Hey Soul Sister? That is so... stupid. It was better before I knew that detail. But why did you kept holding the grudge?"
"Ah, it seemed more fun that way." Lumi answered laughing. "I have no idea why that clung to him so badly."
"Me either. Vic's been working hard to prove our father wrong."
"Why?"
"He disowned Victor after he decided to study music. He badgered him until he gave in to Law School. But he was miserable from the very start. So, Victor's been having to pay for everything himself."
"What about you?"
"My mother left me a trust fund in order to pay for my ballet education. It was very lucky for me to have the same dream for my life as she did."
"Yeah..." But Lumi was now thinking of Victor. Victor, Lumi thought with disgust. Of course his name was Victor. She thought of how I was going to get a kick out of it. I did.
***
While Lumi was at the Café I was upstairs trying to decide what was I going to wear for my... meeting with Professor Walker. I arrived home around 4 and had been doing anything but getting ready. I don't know, maybe my mother had been right my whole life. I left eveything for the last second on purpose. I had no idea why. In the end I decided for dark blue jeans, a floral dark red shirt rolled up to my elbows with a white snug underneath. Simple, casual and romantic. I left the building at five-thirty and ran to the 72nd subway station.
I entered Amos Café at a quarter past six. It was still quite empty, since they had live music after seven, usually it only started to fill at that time. I gazed around but there was no sign of him. Since we'd never exchanged numbers, we couldn't call each other. He couldn't possibly have left already could he? I was only fifteen minutes late. I scanned the few tables outside and there was no sign of him yet. Since my only option was to wait I sat at the sofa chairs by the window.
I was doing my best not to watch the door when he came in. He had a leather dark brown coat, a crossbody bag and seemed out of breath. He glanced right at me and moved to the balcony to talk something with the waitress. She nodded, he thanked her and came in my direction with a smile. He pushed his bag's strap off his shoulder and sat while brushing out of his coat.
"Hi. I'm so sorry. My class ended later than I had thought."
"Summer course?" it was starting to seem that he had brought me here for a polite turn down. If the whole point was to say thanks, but no, thanks, why had he followed me to the damn patio?
"Ah, no. Thank God I haven't been elected for that this year. I'm taking German this summer."
"Of all languages I wish to learn, German is not on the top of the list."
The funny thing is that if she hadn't seemed so annoyed by him, he wouldn't have been so interested in coming close to her. So, he followed. When she noticed it, she gave a loud sigh and put the pile she was holding over the stack and was about to leave when he grabbed her arm.
"Hey, I..." he was about to say something, he knew it, but when she turned with a glacial stare, he forgot what it was. Wasn't it interesting? He had irritated someone in a store he had never been to, by simply standing there. "I'm sorry, but do we know each other?"
"I don't think so. Could you please let go of my arm?"
"Not yet. You'll leave if I do."
"I'll leave because I want to leave. And you're still touching me."
"Why are you so annoyed?"
"Do you always grab strangers in the streets because they're annoyed?"
"Why can't you answer any question directly?"
"Why can't you just let me go?"
"Only if you promise you'll stay."
"No." she answered, but this time there was a hint of a smile in her lips. He was loosening the grip when she looked at him again and left the store. He didn't know why, but she made him smile as well. He put the pile he had been holding over hers and left after her. When the store clerk complained about the records left, he waved and kept walking.
***
"Great. Now the crazy man is stalking me!" Lumi quickened her pace and pushed her gym bag closer to her body. She'd been living in New York for a while now, but still was afraid of the crazy people that seemed to sprout everywhere in this city. She had been annoyed by Kit's text message telling her she was going to be late. She hated when people left her waiting. But Kit, she was the only person Lumi would never expect to be late. While Lumi counted minutes, Kit counted seconds. Once, they had agreed to meet for brunch on Sunday and Lumi who had been held at the door of the shop, had gotten an annoyed look from Kit for arriving 11:01.
She gave a backward glance, and the British guy was still following her. He was handsome, she had to admit. Okay, absurdly handsome. And the accent had made him even sexier. He had dark blond hair, light blue eyes and very broad shoulders. With his 6'2'', over hers 5'2'', he had her tipping her head back to look at him when he had gripped her arm. He had a big nose, but somehow that had complimented his eyes and cheekbones. She had a thing for noses. For some reason, people's noses were always the first thing she looked at.
She decided that maybe a public place would save her from the crazy man and aimed at the coffee place. If she entered her building which was over the Café, he might try to follow her home.
There were so many cars rushing by, she had no choice but to stop.
"Hey!" he yelled. She didn't turn. "Hey, your scarf fell while you were running!" she put her hands over her neck and saw that it had indeed fallen. This time she turned and he was still running, now holding the scarf on his left hand.
"You know, people are always saying how Americans are crazy, and I never really got it. Why the hell did you run? Are you mental?!" he asked leaning forward, trying to catch his breath.
"Am I what? You're the crazy one. You grab my arm and then start to follow me. Of course I ran, who wouldn't?" she asked and reached for the scarf. He pulled it out of her reach. "Would you please give me my scarf back?"
"Not yet. Only after you answer me why were you annoyed."
"You ran after me because you wanted to know why I was annoyed?!"
"Hmm, yes." He was about to start laughing when she grabbed the scarf, turned on her heels and crossed the street. He swore, checked his watch and saw that he about to be late again. Strangely, her direction seemed to be the one he had to take, so he ran until he reached her again.
"Oh, what do you want now?!" She had Asian brown eyes. But didn't seem like any he had seen before. Maybe she was Thai or Korean.
"Okay, look, we're both looking crazy by now. How about we stop and start over?"
"I'm late for a... date. Maybe some other time. Bye." She said and entered the Arte Café. It must be fate he thought. It was a pitty she was going to meet some guy. But since he had to go in as well...
"Aff..." she said when he sat across from her. The Café was nearly full but still had a few free tables. "So, what is your name?"
"My mom taught me to never talk to strangers."
"But we're not strangers anymore. We've been ah... encountering for the last forty minutes. We're past the strangers point. You are...?"
"Meeting someone, so if you don't mind, the chair you're sitting is occupied." Lumi was about to get up and sit at another table when Kit came in.
"Hey! You two know each other?!" Kit had just arrived and found her friend and brother in what seemed a heated discussion. "Oops, am I interrupting?"
"Yes."
"No." They both answered at the same time.
"I see. Well, who wants coffee?" Kit had her red curls in a messy ponytail that suited her well. Lumi had always envied her coloring, never having the courage to dye her hair that color. She was wearing a silk navy blue blouse tucked into cream colored slacks. Her blue eyes shot amusement at them while she tried to capture what was going on between them.
"This is the friend you were meeting?" Victor asked Kit. "You said you had a date." he complained turning his attention to Lumi with a frown. "Oh, are you a lesbian?"
"Oh, shut up." Lumi replied. She was about to get up to get coffee and a muffin she had seen in the balcony when Kit passed by her saying she would take care of it.
"You must be... Anne." Victor searched his memory. He remebered when Kit told him about a friend that lived above the Arte a few weeks back. She was going to spend the weekend over and had given him the phone in case he had to reach her. With a smile, he realized he had Lumi's phone number.
"No. Anne's my sister."
"Lumi, you want a bagel?" Kit asked from the balcony. Lumi nodded back with a sigh. And noticed his smile. "What?"
"Nothing. So Lumi, tell me, why are you so weird? Why were you so annoyed?"
"If I want to be annoyed, I will. Why does that has to be any of your business? You annoyed me, I left. The end. You are the weird one. You grabbed me, stalked me and now keeps saying I'm crazy."
"All right, I'm sorry." he said with a sheepish grin. "Really."
"Yeah, I can see how sorry you are."
"So, you dance with Kit?"
"We dance at the same school, different genre."
"Juilliard. I study..."
"Okay, three coffees and three bagels." Kit brought a tray to the table an sat. "So how did you two meet?" Victor was about to answer when he looked at the clock over the balcony and saw that it was nearly five-thirty. He had a sound check at 6 in the other side of the city. He had to leave and fast.
"Kit? Did you bring the money?"
"Of course." She opened her purse, took the envelope and passed it to him. "Don't spend it all in shoes, sweetie."
"Ha. All right ladies, I have to go." He downed the coffee, grabbed the bagel and gave a light kiss at his sister's cheek. Since Lumi had been watching him over her cup, he took her hand and kissed it. "I hope I annoy you again soon." She pulled her hand back and watched him leave.
"So tell me," Kit said trying to hide the smile from Lumi's again annoyed expression. "why are you so annoyed with Victor?"
***
"All this because he was singing Hey Soul Sister? That is so... stupid. It was better before I knew that detail. But why did you kept holding the grudge?"
"Ah, it seemed more fun that way." Lumi answered laughing. "I have no idea why that clung to him so badly."
"Me either. Vic's been working hard to prove our father wrong."
"Why?"
"He disowned Victor after he decided to study music. He badgered him until he gave in to Law School. But he was miserable from the very start. So, Victor's been having to pay for everything himself."
"What about you?"
"My mother left me a trust fund in order to pay for my ballet education. It was very lucky for me to have the same dream for my life as she did."
"Yeah..." But Lumi was now thinking of Victor. Victor, Lumi thought with disgust. Of course his name was Victor. She thought of how I was going to get a kick out of it. I did.
***
While Lumi was at the Café I was upstairs trying to decide what was I going to wear for my... meeting with Professor Walker. I arrived home around 4 and had been doing anything but getting ready. I don't know, maybe my mother had been right my whole life. I left eveything for the last second on purpose. I had no idea why. In the end I decided for dark blue jeans, a floral dark red shirt rolled up to my elbows with a white snug underneath. Simple, casual and romantic. I left the building at five-thirty and ran to the 72nd subway station.
I entered Amos Café at a quarter past six. It was still quite empty, since they had live music after seven, usually it only started to fill at that time. I gazed around but there was no sign of him. Since we'd never exchanged numbers, we couldn't call each other. He couldn't possibly have left already could he? I was only fifteen minutes late. I scanned the few tables outside and there was no sign of him yet. Since my only option was to wait I sat at the sofa chairs by the window.
I was doing my best not to watch the door when he came in. He had a leather dark brown coat, a crossbody bag and seemed out of breath. He glanced right at me and moved to the balcony to talk something with the waitress. She nodded, he thanked her and came in my direction with a smile. He pushed his bag's strap off his shoulder and sat while brushing out of his coat.
"Hi. I'm so sorry. My class ended later than I had thought."
"Summer course?" it was starting to seem that he had brought me here for a polite turn down. If the whole point was to say thanks, but no, thanks, why had he followed me to the damn patio?
"Ah, no. Thank God I haven't been elected for that this year. I'm taking German this summer."
"Of all languages I wish to learn, German is not on the top of the list."
"Why?" he asked laughing.
"Doesn't seem useful enough for such a hard language. I wish I could speak Japanese, French, Italian, even Russian. Maybe German, but only if I'd learned these already."
"You know, I thought the same thing. That's why I'm only starting to study it now. My French, Italian and Spanish are fluent. I haven't dared to try Russian yet, though."
"Wow." I really was in awe. Then again, here, students took French and Spanish in school. The only language I spoke fluent other than my mother tongue was, well, English. "Is German as hard as it looks?"
"It is. But it is also very interesting. Anyway, I'm taking it mostly for my Law studies. Many texts, important ones, were written in German."
"Yes, I remember you saying in class once, that it was one of your ambitions to read Kelsen's Pure Theory of Law in its original language."
"Exactly..." right after what I had said, I realized I had brought up the fact that I had been his student. During the awkward silence, the waitress came to take our order. When she left, I caught him looking at me for a long time.
"What?" I asked after a while.
"Ah... nothing. Hmm, so how was your first year at NYU?"
"Amazing. Really. I've had some technical difficulties, but made it through."
"Technical difficulties?"
"I've been fluent in English for years and got very good grades in my TOEFL, but I still find some trouble in technical terminologies. Mostly I retort to slang and coloquial terms and most professors are against it."
"Have you told them English is not your mother tongue?"
"I don't have to." I said with a smile. "You people take one look at me and have no idea where I come from, but you know I'm not American."
"Is that bad? Personally, I think that looking like an American is showing overweight and heart problems. Here in New York for instance, we have so many cultures mixed up, you can't really tell an American from a foreigner."
When our order arrived I took my hot cocoa cup and brought it to my lips. I've always had what my mother called a "cat tongue". I simply can't stand to drink or eat anything too hot. And, as usual, I burned my tongue. When I closed my eyes, he reached out and had a concerned look.
"Are you okay?"
"I am. It's just a little too hot." I said and tried for a smaller sip. Eli sipped his cup and after settling it down on the saucer, he gazed around and cleaned his throat.
"Anne... I've thought about what you said and still can't decide what to do about it."
"Hmm. Sorry for the trouble."
"It's not trouble, it's just that... well..." he cleaned his throat again and pushed his hand through his hair. "The thing is, I don't know how to deal with this."
"Deal?"
"Yeah, you know... being a professor and..."
"And?"
"You know."
"I don't think I do."
"Professor Walker?" a girl that was passing by us stopped by our table. "I thought it was you. Hi," she said to me. I caught a slight frown in her face before she turned her attention back to him. "I'm so happy the semester ended."
"Hello, Claire. Yes, so am I. But you did good, your grades were great."
"Weren't they?" she gave him a shining smile. "Okay, I have to go. See you, Professor. Bye" she waved and left. He watched me over his cup for a few seconds, thinking and then slowly lowered it back to the table.
"Anne..." he said after a while "I'm very sorry."
"It is. But it is also very interesting. Anyway, I'm taking it mostly for my Law studies. Many texts, important ones, were written in German."
"Yes, I remember you saying in class once, that it was one of your ambitions to read Kelsen's Pure Theory of Law in its original language."
"Exactly..." right after what I had said, I realized I had brought up the fact that I had been his student. During the awkward silence, the waitress came to take our order. When she left, I caught him looking at me for a long time.
"What?" I asked after a while.
"Ah... nothing. Hmm, so how was your first year at NYU?"
"Amazing. Really. I've had some technical difficulties, but made it through."
"Technical difficulties?"
"I've been fluent in English for years and got very good grades in my TOEFL, but I still find some trouble in technical terminologies. Mostly I retort to slang and coloquial terms and most professors are against it."
"Have you told them English is not your mother tongue?"
"I don't have to." I said with a smile. "You people take one look at me and have no idea where I come from, but you know I'm not American."
"Is that bad? Personally, I think that looking like an American is showing overweight and heart problems. Here in New York for instance, we have so many cultures mixed up, you can't really tell an American from a foreigner."
When our order arrived I took my hot cocoa cup and brought it to my lips. I've always had what my mother called a "cat tongue". I simply can't stand to drink or eat anything too hot. And, as usual, I burned my tongue. When I closed my eyes, he reached out and had a concerned look.
"Are you okay?"
"I am. It's just a little too hot." I said and tried for a smaller sip. Eli sipped his cup and after settling it down on the saucer, he gazed around and cleaned his throat.
"Anne... I've thought about what you said and still can't decide what to do about it."
"Hmm. Sorry for the trouble."
"It's not trouble, it's just that... well..." he cleaned his throat again and pushed his hand through his hair. "The thing is, I don't know how to deal with this."
"Deal?"
"Yeah, you know... being a professor and..."
"And?"
"You know."
"I don't think I do."
"Professor Walker?" a girl that was passing by us stopped by our table. "I thought it was you. Hi," she said to me. I caught a slight frown in her face before she turned her attention back to him. "I'm so happy the semester ended."
"Hello, Claire. Yes, so am I. But you did good, your grades were great."
"Weren't they?" she gave him a shining smile. "Okay, I have to go. See you, Professor. Bye" she waved and left. He watched me over his cup for a few seconds, thinking and then slowly lowered it back to the table.
"Anne..." he said after a while "I'm very sorry."
"Ah... oh it's all right." I said a little too quickly. So, it was a no. I was expecting it, of course. I just wanted to get out of there. I grabbed my cup and gulped down my hot cocoa, burning my tongue and throat. In the rush to get up, my crossbody bag's strap slipped down my body and trapped my legs. I stepped out, looked at him once more, a little more mortified. "I have to go. It's all right. I'm sorry for the trouble again. Bye!"
"Anne, wait." But I was already walking out of the Café. I remembered that I hadn't left any money to pay for what I had so I turned back to the balcony and gave the waitress more than enough money to pay for everything plus her tip and left. The night had fallen and the wind was very chilly. Of course, I was still warm enough in humiliation and shame. When I stopped to put on my coat, Eli caught up to me.
"What is the matter with you? Why do you do this? Say things, get up and leave?"
"What? I... had no reason to stay and embarass any of us any longer. I'm... sorry about it all. I hope this mess doesn't interfere at the..." he was staring intently again. My eyes were drawn to his lips and then I became aware of how close he was.
"Shut up. Goddamn it." cursing, hr put his hands on my shoulders and kissed me.
Later I'd think that he was a pretty good kisser, but at that moment, I was shocked out of my senses. One moment I was mortified and the next he was kissing me with such intensity I was losing my balance. When he pulled apart, his brows were knit over smoky eyes. He sighed. "And what are we going to do about this?"
"Ah... I..."
"What am I going to do about you?" he asked angrily.
"Ah.. Hmm.." I was starting to sound terrifyingly stupid. It wasn't that the kiss had knocked me out, it had, but I really still didn't know what to say.
"Did I hurt you?" when I shook my head, he looked around "it's not very wise to stand near an alley like this. Come, my apartment is two blocks from here."
"Your apartment?" suddenly it had downed on me that he had understood things a little too different than I had expected. I was not going to have sex like that out of the blue. Was I? "Wait, why are we going to your apartment?"
"So we won't stand in the middle of the damn street." he glanced at me and realized what I had been thinking "don't worry, I won't attack you or anything. I suppose we need to talk and the Café wasn't such a good idea anyway. Okay?"
"I guess..." but before I could finish, he took my hand and pulled me across the street.
***
"Nice place." I said from the doorway. We had climbed two flights of stairs and he had opened a dark wooden door to a neat small apartment. The walls were all light gray except for the one behind the couch, that was navy blue and had a painting of what seemed London at night. There was a huge bookcase against the wall to the left and a corridor to the right. A triangle dinner table was covered in papers and books. Over the black couch was a pillow and a blanket with more books spread. I stepped inside and was drawn to the bookcase. It was surprinsingly varied. He had copies of Hobbes and Locke, Shakespeare, Kierkegaard, Nietzche and of course, an enourmous collection of his own field of study. Anthropology, Sociology and Law were spread in all of the eight full shelves.
"I'm sorry about the mess. Usually only my sister comes over and when that happens, my nephew only makes it even messier."
"You'd have to see my apartment to call this messy. I live with my younger sister. I don't think I have to say much more."
"Maybe I'll get to see it sometime..." he had taken his coat off, dumped his bag on the floor by the door and was gathering the things from the couch. "why don't you take a seat? Would you like to drink anything?"
"Ah... no, I'm good, thanks."
"I'll be right back. Get confortable."
Oh God. Things were speeding up and I had no idea of what he was expecting. Well, I'd asked for it. But... No. I'd asked for it. I did want this. I took a deep breath and ordered myself to stop worrying and enjoy. I'd been wanting an opportunity to talk with him, really talk, and not discuss some subject, for a long time. I was feeling my heart rate settle when he came back. He sat next to me, put his arm over the couch and rested his cheek on his hand. When he just kept staring at me with those gray eyes, I nearly sighed while my heart sped up again;
"You seemed so concentrated, what were you thinking about?" he asked.
"Ah... That you have a very impressive book collection."
"You know, when I moved here I had more books than furniture. I only bought the bookcase because I had too many and didn't want to get rid of any. Then, I needed a place to read, a place to study, so couch and table came."
"Seems like a good plan to me. I have a book collection back home too. It's not as big as this but I'm quite proud of it. I've bought many since I arrived here but I think I won't be able to take all of them back."
"Do you miss home?" he asked and placed his other hand over mine.
"Sometimes, I do." I answered looking at our hands. "But I've wanted to live abroad for so long, that it's not so much missing home, but the people. Having my sister here makes everything easier. She came to study dance at Juilliard. So it's a dream come true for the both of us."
"It was your dream to study Law at NYU?"
"It was. Not so much Law, but NYU. I know it seems silly, but I've always wanted to live in New York, and NYU came with it."
"Why not so much Law?"
"I swore my whole life that I'd never study Law. And then, it seemed like an answer to a problem so I chose it. I studied Anthropology in my city's Federal University for a while, but gave up. It was too complicated, it took the whole day. Anyway, I ended up at Law. Why teach?" Was it looking like I was trying to push as many subjects as possible to avoid discussing what had happened downstairs? Because that's exactly what I was trying to do.
"Why not? To tell the truth it was never in my plans. I wanted to do research, being a lawyer never really attracted me before. While doing research for my doctorate in London I figured teaching was a way to get an income and to keep tuned in. I don't know. Right now, I know I'll teach as long as I can. It's really great. Being able to participate in someone else's construction of mind, of knowledge, of life. It's rewarding."
"I've thought about it myself... I've never been good with oral debates or things like that, but teaching would be a nice option to try."
"After you finish your masters, you should definitely try for a teaching post with a scholarship for a doctorate. It's the best option. And you get to spend a while studying in other countries. What?" he asked with a smile.
I'd been observing him intently while he talked. I was definitely attracted to him on both levels. His shirt had the first buttons open and was showing the droplike pendant again. He hadn't shaved and his feet were bare. He seemed very much at home and that calmed me down. I turned my palm up and his hand closed over mine.
It felt like hours, we just sat there looking at each other, but it only lasted seconds. I put my bag on the floor and leaned in, looking into his eyes, and let my lips touch his.
It had been a long time since I'd felt my head spin like that. I felt his lips moving over mine and warmth spreading through my body. He leaned and I ended up caught with him on top of me. My head was shouting a warning but I desperately wanted to ignore it. His hands were everywhere, and mine wanted to do the same. When his phone rang, I felt both relief and frustration. We sat up and he went to his bedroom to take the call. Oh my, I had very nearly... No. This wasn't the way. And, if I wanted this to be serious, and to be taken seriously, this was definitely not the way. When he came back, I was standing by the window.
"Are you hungry?" I asked.
"I... yeah. Want to order something?"
"Actually I was thinking about cooking something."
"You cook?"
"A little."
"Hmm, I can only cook enough not to starve. I don't think I have much more than eggs in the fridge. I usually get take out or eat at the University's cafeteria."
"That's so sad. Wasn't there a little grocery store downstairs?"
"There is."
"Hmm, let's go there buy some igredients and you'll have a treat tonight." the thought of going to the store buy ingredients and cook for him had me cheered up. He smiled and nodded.
"Just let me get my shoes."
***
"What? You've never heard of sukiyaki?"
"Nope. What is it?"
"Japanese food. I'll cook it for you sometime. I'm a specialist at it."
"Hmm, I'll keep it in mind."
"Let's see..." I was standing in front of the tomatoes trying to decide what was I going to make for dinner. I wanted to impress him with something that wouldn't take too long, but enough time in kitchen to have some fun. "What do you think of spaghetti?"
"Sounds really good. I haven't eaten a homecooked meal since Thanksgiving."
"Thanksgiving... that's November?"
"Yeah."
"Poor thing. Grab basil and minced meat. We'll make our own meatballs. I'll get the tomatoes, garlic and the spaghetti."
"Okay."
***
The garlic was frying in the olive oil while Eli was making the little balls of the meat I had seasoned. It was nice to be in the kitchen with him. I thought he was going to sit down and watch, but he said he wanted to help. After washing the ingredients, and chopping the tomatoes, he was now entertained with the meatballs. The spaghetti had boiled nicely and was just waiting for the sauce.
"You know, I don't think I've never had a real meal prepared in this kitchen before."
"Really? Doesn't your sister cook?"
"Ha, next to her, I'm a chef."
"Okay, I'm ready for the meatballs."
"Coming."
When the sauce was ready, I poured it over the spaghetti. Eli was setting the table when I came out of the kitchen. He had lit up candles and opened a bottle of wine. There were glasses and plates neatly arranged. I couldn't help not being touched by it. I went back in the kitchen and waited for him to call. He put music on and came in.
"What?" he asked when he saw me smiling. When I simply stood there, he blushed. Who's the cutest?
"I had no idea you were such a romantic."
"Hmm."
"No, don't. I love it. Do I bring the dish to the table?"
"Yeah, there's a folded dishcloth on the table for you to set it over."
"Is that Kings of Convenience?"
"It is. Do you like them?"
"Love them."
***
It felt like hours, we just sat there looking at each other, but it only lasted seconds. I put my bag on the floor and leaned in, looking into his eyes, and let my lips touch his.
It had been a long time since I'd felt my head spin like that. I felt his lips moving over mine and warmth spreading through my body. He leaned and I ended up caught with him on top of me. My head was shouting a warning but I desperately wanted to ignore it. His hands were everywhere, and mine wanted to do the same. When his phone rang, I felt both relief and frustration. We sat up and he went to his bedroom to take the call. Oh my, I had very nearly... No. This wasn't the way. And, if I wanted this to be serious, and to be taken seriously, this was definitely not the way. When he came back, I was standing by the window.
"Are you hungry?" I asked.
"I... yeah. Want to order something?"
"Actually I was thinking about cooking something."
"You cook?"
"A little."
"Hmm, I can only cook enough not to starve. I don't think I have much more than eggs in the fridge. I usually get take out or eat at the University's cafeteria."
"That's so sad. Wasn't there a little grocery store downstairs?"
"There is."
"Hmm, let's go there buy some igredients and you'll have a treat tonight." the thought of going to the store buy ingredients and cook for him had me cheered up. He smiled and nodded.
"Just let me get my shoes."
***
"What? You've never heard of sukiyaki?"
"Nope. What is it?"
"Japanese food. I'll cook it for you sometime. I'm a specialist at it."
"Hmm, I'll keep it in mind."
"Let's see..." I was standing in front of the tomatoes trying to decide what was I going to make for dinner. I wanted to impress him with something that wouldn't take too long, but enough time in kitchen to have some fun. "What do you think of spaghetti?"
"Sounds really good. I haven't eaten a homecooked meal since Thanksgiving."
"Thanksgiving... that's November?"
"Yeah."
"Poor thing. Grab basil and minced meat. We'll make our own meatballs. I'll get the tomatoes, garlic and the spaghetti."
"Okay."
***
The garlic was frying in the olive oil while Eli was making the little balls of the meat I had seasoned. It was nice to be in the kitchen with him. I thought he was going to sit down and watch, but he said he wanted to help. After washing the ingredients, and chopping the tomatoes, he was now entertained with the meatballs. The spaghetti had boiled nicely and was just waiting for the sauce.
"You know, I don't think I've never had a real meal prepared in this kitchen before."
"Really? Doesn't your sister cook?"
"Ha, next to her, I'm a chef."
"Okay, I'm ready for the meatballs."
"Coming."
When the sauce was ready, I poured it over the spaghetti. Eli was setting the table when I came out of the kitchen. He had lit up candles and opened a bottle of wine. There were glasses and plates neatly arranged. I couldn't help not being touched by it. I went back in the kitchen and waited for him to call. He put music on and came in.
"What?" he asked when he saw me smiling. When I simply stood there, he blushed. Who's the cutest?
"I had no idea you were such a romantic."
"Hmm."
"No, don't. I love it. Do I bring the dish to the table?"
"Yeah, there's a folded dishcloth on the table for you to set it over."
"Is that Kings of Convenience?"
"It is. Do you like them?"
"Love them."
***
"You are not going to believe what happened to me today!" Lumi shouted from the couch as I came in.
"You won't either. What happened?"
As she related her day to me, I walked to my bedroom and stripped out of my clothes. She followed me still talking and then into the bathroom. I slipped under the shower and let the hot water ease the tension away.
"And then, he kissed my hand and left! Can you believe it? Crazy, crazy, crazy."
"Definitely. Was he handsome?"
"Ah... british accent, tall, broad shoulders, blue eyes, dark blond hair..."
"Hummm, seems very hot."
"Very, veeery hot. What about you? Oh yeah, your date with the sexy teacher. How was it?"
"Perfect." I turned around and hugged her. "I just left his apartment."
"You just... you slut. You slept with him!?"
"No.." I said laughing. "But you know what? I wanted to. Badly. But we talked, and kissed. Mostly. We cooked dinner and had it by candlelight. It was amazing."
"And then you left?"
"And then I left."
"And?"
"And what?"
"What now?"
"I don't know. We didn't make any plans."
"Aff... there we go again... with his three day late answer and a whole week to respond..."
"Yeah... I guess..." but my mind had already wandered off. Somehow, summer had come right on time.
