⌜lost cities*⌟

“You will be too distracted by everything else to notice any rats. Plus I think the crowd, lights, and sounds, scare them away.” Noah bit his bottom lip. “I’ll tell you what, next time I hear about a rager there I’ll let you know. I just need your number so I can send you the details.”

“That must be one incredible party not to notice them,” Amelia considered but she had to admit that she was curious. She didn’t like to leave things unexplored and while she wasn’t the try-anything-once type of person, the idea was out there. “Alright but promise me I won’t be getting random calls in the middle of the night when the rats form an army and you need backup. I’m not the girl for the job,” she joked as she wrote her number down and passed it along. Contacts were everything in New York.

Jamie listened to her words, still looking down the tunnel. They resonated with him, even if it didn’t look like it, as he fought a smile. He won, but just barely. Even on the busy platform, with voices all around them, he could pick up the sincerity in her voice. Maybe, he thought, she was speaking to their friendship, not just parties and whatnot. Though he couldn’t be too sure. People were difficult to read. Some people were easier than others, Amelia usually being one of them. Those were the people he got on well with. 

With his hands still stuffed in his pockets, he followed Amelia onto the train and sat down with her as soon as two seats side by side were available. It began to move and he could feel her excitement. It was infectious, and although Jamie would not call himself an extrovert, when he was with Amelia he was. He felt different. Like he could at least pretend to be the person he strived to be, but in all likelihood never actually would. 

“Can I at least get some hints?” Jamie asked, smiling innocently (which was was probably a long shot for anyone who knew him well enough). “And what are these snack you have?”

“Pumpkin seeds!” Amelia answered back happily, looking down towards her bag. She meant to be answering his snack question but she couldn’t help but give the hint at the same time. She was unsure if it would be too obvious so she pulled her bag up to her lap and reached inside to pull out a ziplock bag of toasted pumpkin seeds. “Toasted them myself...” she said into the seemingly endless tote, searching for more options. “There’s also mango chips... kettle corn... gold fish... ahh...” she paused, forgetting what else she’d packed and unable to find whatever it was. “Call me Marry Poppins,” Milly joked finally pulling her nose from her tote. She poured a few pumpkin seeds from the plastic bag and offered them to him with a mischievous smile. “You’re going to love it I promise. I know you trust me.”

The train jostled as it moved underneath the city. The light bouncing through the dark tunnels sent shadows across her face but her hope for the day was still strong. As the stop got closer and closer, Amelia’s toes bounced against the floor. Fall always brought a certain electricity to her home but today felt different. “We’re going to go explore and escape and let life happen,” she mused in between bites of her snacks. “A day where neither of us have to think about a thing.” 

The idea of drawing had always appealed too Nevaeh but she’d never done it, she preferred too admire art…or steal it. She could admire it but she probably wouldn’t have the patience to actually sit there and draw anything that was for sure. With a shrug Nevaeh decided to sit beside the girl hoping this would mask a friendship if anybody walked in; some kind of albi and more than what she’d had around five minutes prior.  ‘’It’s OK, I was just supposed to be meeting a friend but I think they’ve bailed.’’ — There was a smidgen of truth in there but not much. Nevaeh’s hazel eyes dropped down as she looked at the page once more and a small smile pulled up at the corner of her face. If she ever sold this for big money there was probably a very good chance Nev would be trying to steal it at some point in her life.

‘‘Me? I don’t draw, I’m just an admirer of art.’‘ She states with a curt nod. ‘‘I’m more of a writer, express myself with words or music. Drawing always…took too long. With words I can convey what I mean or think or even feel within a sentence. Art takes hours…’‘ She chuckled. ‘‘I’m way to impatient.’‘ She just shrugs as she crosses her legs. 

‘‘How long have you been drawin’ ?’‘

A small frown formed at the corner of Amelia’s lips when she commented on her friend bailing on her. Although, she had to admit, it wasn’t such a terrible place to find yourself forced into alone time. She was a bit biased, as it was one of her favorite spots and truthfully she wasn’t alone. She inched over to give her room to sit down and offered a peek of her drawing, brushing bits of extra coal pencil that had broken off and littered the page. “I find that drawing let’s me escape for a bit but I think the same can be said for any passion... whatever that passion may be. Writing, art. It’s all an escape. I think most things are worth the time to learn if there’s even just a little bit of interest.” It was one of Amelia’s favorite topics, diving into passions and self discovery. “It leads to human connection which is an entirely different topic but I won’t go off on that.”

Considering her question for a moment, she found herself at a loss. “As long as I can remember I suppose. It’s not something I do terribly often but on days like today, I can’t help but sketch where I can.” 

At the other woman’s words, Holly found herself wrinkling her nose in disagreement, and then shook her head. “If only that were true,” she answered. “I think I’m just well practised at pretending it’s all good when I’m out. The five siblings I have were a great rehearsal. When you spend years trying to keep humans calm, dogs are a piece of cake.” She chuckled lightly. “I’m used to chaos, what can I say? I thrive on chaos in fact.” She did like to think of her upbringing as a dress rehearsal as such, it had prepared her for a hell of a lot.

“No kidding!” Amelia said as gently as she could, not meaning for her genuine awe to come across harshly. She shifted her tote on her shoulder and smiled down at the dogs, imagining what it would be like having to deal with two times the amount of responsibility. “I think I could take a few notes from you. Someday at least, when I have more than Honey to look after. I suppose life prepares you where it can right? And where it can’t, we figure it out along the way.”

“Stop putting our fuckin’ plastic in the ocean for one,” he spat, completely uninterested in continuing the conversation. Most of what tumbled out of his mouth was just another reason to get pissy and continue what he was doing. Of course he was worried about carbon emissions and greenhouse gasses. For someone who didn’t care about anything or anyone— the planet was both of those things. “Gas-fuelled cars should be replaced with electric. Integrate more solar panels. Start growing our own foods. Population control.” Probably should’ve avoided saying that one. A beat. “Doing our part.”

Amelia just sat and nodded along, her features set to a faux seriousness. Sure everything that he was saying was right on the mark and she agreed entirely but there was just something about the way he was just letting it all out to her in the garden that she found almost comical. She knew better than to let him in on that thought though, so she sat and listened until he’d finished. He seemed like such a serious fellow... one with the weight of the world and there was still something pure about the way he cared about the planet so intensely. “Are you this passionate in all matters?” she finally questioned, truly curious. 

Raising his eyebrows, Tommy let out a small chuckle as Amelia spoke about her job. Her work had always interested him. For the man, he couldn’t imagine a working environment where people were calm, never stressing out. In fact, the man couldn’t remember the last time he had experienced a stress-free day, but he concluded that was all a part of the process (at least that is what he told himself to cope). “Anybody try to steal some artwork recently? Or graffiti it? Because that would be fun.” He quipped, a smirk falling onto his lips. “Oh, I can’t even get into half the scandals. This week alone I covered up three affairs,” He joked, shrugging his shoulders. “All in a day’s work I guess.”

Milly’s hand moved to her lips, her fingers resting there in mock consideration. She gave a tap before answering, “Not this week but I am truly waiting for the day when Banksy makes their mark... but if anyone touches my sculptures, they’ll have me to answer to.” Her warning was a weak one no matter how serious she was about her pieces. It was like a dandelion threatening a forest, it just held no weight. “Can you imagine though?” she mused. The thought of her coworkers reactions was one she couldn’t resist entertaining. The community would lose their minds. Returning her attention to Tommy, her brows shot up. “You’re kidding?” her question came out quietly, leaning forward as if no one around them should hear before recognizing the look on his face. “Wait you are. You had me so excited! Give me something incredible to live for here.”

“I haven’t seen any mutants but the rats can get pretty damn big.” Noah held up his hands to indicate the biggest rat he’d seen there and laughed. Normally he would go to high end establishments to party but some of the best nights have been spent at hidden invite only events. Parties, raves, whatever you wanted to call it, anything that allowed him to forget the world and lose his mind was time well spent. “I take it it’s not your scene, Gowanus? I don’t go there often but it’s fun when I do.”

Amelia’s nose wrinkled at the consideration of a rat as large as he’d seen. The thought sent a slight shiver through her and she shook it out. Rats were a norm in the city but rats the size of small dogs or worse? She’d rather not. She shook her head his question, “I don’t suppose I have the right contacts for nightlife over there. Am I truly missing out? I can’t say no to an experience as unique as that... I guess I shouldn’t count it out. If I see rats that large, I’m out.”

It came as a shock when Amelia began to babble almost, her sentences running into one another, the words pouring out of her. Lucian knew how she felt, though, because he found himself doing the complete opposite —- saying nothing. Sometimes it was easier to stay silent for fear of saying too much. There had always been an awkwardness when around the woman in front of him, one usually masked behind side and sarcastic comments, anger and resentment cast in her direction, yet aimed at someone else. Meeting on neutral ground, so to speak, made him uncomfortable. He didn’t know how to act. It was easy to make a big show and run your mouth when you were surrounded by a group of other people.

Eventually, though, they cleared their throat and found their voice again, nodding their head as they spoke, “It sounds like a really great project.” Because it really did, there was absolutely no denying it. In fact, it sounded like the exact type of thing they’d have involved themselves in already if they hadn’t been so anxious about actually showing their artwork to other people. “Bryant Park you said?” Even if they didn’t involve themselves, they’d at least swing by to take a look, their interest now piqued. He was sure it showed in his face, too, even if his words didn’t completely portray that.

She sat perfectly still. Afraid to make a movement, to say more than she had. Amelia was thankful for the peaceful moments that the two had between them for the time being and she was afraid that if she made any sudden movements that it would burst and everything would go back to what she knew. That wasn’t what she wanted, it never really was, but it seemed to be something that neither of them really had any control over. It was bigger than the two of them. Her sense of responsibility in it never faltered and sat heavy on her chest, even in the garden. 

“Thank you...” she quietly responded. “Yeah, Bryant Park. You’re welcome to stop by at any time. If that’s something you’d be interested in... you might find that people will surprise you,” Amelia added. She hoped they wouldn’t take her words harshly. “If you know anyone else interested, I’m sure they’d be happy for more entries.” 

Jamie narrowed his eyes at her when she called him by his full name – not that he was embarrassed by it. He was proud to be named after his uncle. But the thought did bring on a wave of sadness. With Halloween and the anniversary of his uncle’s death around the corner, his emotions were sensitive. He wouldn’t let her see that, not now at least. She was happy now, and he wanted to feel that too. “Yeah, it’s not bad. Still playing a decent amount. Grayson and Will had people come over after a show the other night and they passed out so I had to stay up to make sure people left.” He paused to take a breath. A long string of words for him. “Would have been better if you were there.” His own sentiment had him turning away, looking down the tunnel to see if the subway was near. 

Amelia gave his arm a squeeze before letting go and curling up in herself. Twisting her arms in front of her and clasping her hands, she gave a small bounce on her heels as he spoke. Her focus was caught on the empty train line in front of her, the sounds of a nearing train stirring her excitement once more. She could feel the tunnel breeze coming towards her at full force and it sent her blonde hair flying just in time for Jamie’s admission. Her gaze followed the direction of the train that was blitzing by them, destined to stop at another station. “You know I’d be there in a heartbeat,” she said, her words following the passing train. She knew that they had a way of balancing each other -- keeping each other sane. It wasn’t something that she knew how to explain, but it was obvious from the moment that she’d met him. They were like two equal weights, keeping a scale at ease. “I’ll always be there,” Amelia allowed. 

People shuffled from one corner of the platform to the next, allowing room for train arrivals to come and go. It was a small worry that their train had switched to express, being the weekend that was a likely occurrence but her worry soon subsided when it arrived promising a hasty trip to Grand Central’s nearest stop. Amelia shuffled her way on board and placed herself nearest the opposite door so she could score a seat once enough people exited. “Step one down, only a few more to go!” Milly promised cheerfully, hoping Jamie’s patience with her didn’t dwindle with the long journey. 

“What?” Jamie asked in shock. “Why can’t I know?” But he quickly settled when he saw her pull out some food from her purse. Curious now, he peeked his head into her bag, wondering what else was in there. Hopefully she came to impress. He hooked his arm in hers, tentative again, but still trusting. “Wait, really? Where the hell are you taking me?” He laughed slightly, a hint of nerves still in his voice. But he racked his brain, recalling every conversation they had had about leaving the city. Every idealized adventure-to-be. “You’re lucky I don’t have a curfew tonight.” No pre-show naps to work around. 

“Jamie Theodore Cyr, I am getting you out of this city.” Amelia announced her plan with confidence. Although she wasn’t planning on telling him exactly what they’d be doing, she couldn’t help teasing along the way. Adventure was something they both needed desperately it seemed and her only regret was that Honey had to stay behind. “Oh -- right. I forgot about curfews... important band business. Disaster averted though. You’re all mine for the day and I can promise you it will be well worth the trip.” She made her promise as they ducked towards the subway that would take them over to Grand Central, and then on to pumpkins. She dodged strangers passing by quickly on the steps, not letting go of Jamie as she went. “How is all of that by the way?” she questioned, finding a place on the busy platform to wait. 

“It’s hot,” he sighed, flipping through the book he’d split with his middle finger and thumb. It was seasonably chilly, but every so often, the sun would come out and beat down upon the city. Emerald pools glinting in the sunlight became whiskey brown with the overcast. It was almost inconvenient what with all the changes. “I thought being on the coast was basically an invitation to the rain and snow. Guess with climate change, that’s gotta be a different story. A fuckin’ decade from an irreversible hot house state and we’ve got our rose-coloured glasses sitting high.”

Amelia nodded, not fully allowing his response to sink in until a few moments later. She expected a polite conversational response... you know, the one most people give back out of social norms when asked about their day by a stranger in the supermarket or on the streets. However, she got full honesty in response. She slowly looked up from her sketch book and over at him. She pulled her work closer to her chest as he spoke, her eyebrows knit together in concentration at what almost seemed to be a rant. She rested her chin on her fist, propped on her knee and listened intently. “...Mhmm, and what do you propose that we as a society should do about that?” Milly didn’t bother covering her amused smile, she was interested to see what he’d say next. 

Jamie tapped his finger against the receiver, mulling over Amelia’s proposal. It was quite vague, but he trusted her. He had no other commitments, anyway. “Okay,” he agreed. “I’ll be down in a sec.” 

He shot into his room and threw on some jeans and a sweater; then his snapback, turning it backwards on his head; and finally his jean jacket. He grabbed his keys hanging from its designated hook beside the front door, and left in record time. 

“Hey,” Jamie said, opening the glass door with his back, hands nestled in his jacket pockets. “So, what are we doing?” 

While waiting for Jamie, Amelia stepped back out onto the sidewalk and tilted her face to the sun. It’s warmth contrasted the cool fall air that had finally arrived to the city. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, her excitement just as prevalent as it was when she’d left her apartment. She heard the creek of the door and Jamie’s familiar voice and she nearly danced as she turned to him, “It’s a surprise. I’m not going to say a word until we get there so don’t even try...” she began but reached into her bag and pulled out the corner of her bag of snacks she’d packed. “But I have snacks so you’re set... but if you will come with me...” she said, offering her arm in a dramatic old fashioned way, “we have a train to catch at Grand Central.” 

“I do.” If there was one thing that Lucian had always been, it was honest, even with people he’d clashed with the past. Anyway, hadn’t he been honest with her when they’d spoken before? Maybe the words hadn’t been exactly kind, but there were certainly honest. As Amelia began to explain exactly why she was sketching what she was, they became interested, listening intently, the smallest of smiles beginning to creep across their features. “Oh?” A pause, letting the silence wash over them for several moments. “That’s… good to know.”

The words bubbled around her, unable to contain them. It was one of those rare circumstances where Amelia just didn’t know how to act... stuck in between trying to prove her innocence in simply existing and also trying to make it right. She felt the sentences forming, boiling over. “It’s in a donated space,” she explained. “The owner is part of the project. He wants to connect strangers on the street. He said that it starts with connection, then understanding, then community... which is something we need. It’s non-profit...” she babbled on. “The tips are going to donation.” Her words were like a freight train, unable to be stopped. Once she was able to finally stop herself she just shook her head. 

“Oh, same. So much.” Holly nodded, laughing as she looked down at the dogs circling her ankles. “These two definitely keep me on my toes. As do the two I have waiting at home for me.” She knew it was ridiculous, really, the fact she even had so many dogs, but she’d been unable to help herself. “It doesn’t surprise me she won’t jump in a bag,” she responded, chuckling very gently and shaking her head for a moment. “Awful isn’t it? The animals are running riot!”

Amelia mentally did the count, staring down at the two in front of her. Her amazement undoubtedly showed and she snapped her jaw shut in an attempt not to be rude, she was just truly in awe. “You are a remarkable woman...” she said lightly. “Truly, my one is a handful enough. You have the patience of a saint I’m sure.” The comparison was one her mother used often when she was growing up... apparently Amelia was quite a task, or her mother’s nerves were just consistently on end. 

Nevaeh wasn’t supposed to be here as she felt her chest constrict with fear, this wasn’t how this was supposed to go. A quick exchange was the plan and then there was a no show which in this line of work usually meant the recipient had been picked up by the cops. If Lucas was here he’d have made her bolt, told her to leave now and save herself but something didn’t feel right about leaving. Maybe it was the cheque she was supposed to be getting at the end of it? She kept in the grumble that was sitting on the tip of her tongue. 

The words caused her to jump almost taking two steps backwards in her defensive state as she looked down to the blonde. Well she definitely wasn’t Harold. Which once again was a bummer as her hazel orbs began to look for escape routes in case they showed up with reinforcements. But after a few moments her mind clicked that she hadn’t answered her. 

‘‘Y-Yeah it’s beautiful.’‘ she manages to utter as she looks to her right and left and back to the woman eventually her eyes catch sight of the drawing. ‘‘You draw?’‘ She asks to try and pass the time. Nothing wrong looking normal now was there, Nev? Keep it cool.

Amelia had almost forgotten she’d said something by the time a response came. She’d been so lost in her work that she was even surprised the words left her lips in the first place. Then again, it was almost ingrained in her to acknowledge everyone around her... a trick from her mother during her socialite days. The answer wasn’t one she expected and she took note of the way it came tumbling out of the woman. Amelia’s shoulders tightened in response, her skin prickling at the uneasiness that sat in the air. She was intuitive but it usually got her in trouble, so she’d found a way to ignore it in most cases. The garden was her place of peace so it wasn’t a stretch that it was for others too... and who was she to question that. “I’m sorry I startled you,” she began giving a quick glance just in time to see her check the surroundings. She seemed harmless enough, so Amelia decided to let it go. “I sketch occasionally, when I feel called to do so... do you?” she wondered aloud, hoping light conversation would ease the woman about her presence. 

“I just think it’s be more about education, which I’m not looking for that. I’m no longer in college, I don’t want to learn.” Noah admitted. “Not that I did much learning then either.” He muttered with a laugh. “Don’t talk bad about Gowanus, there are some great secret parties that go on around there.”

A cackle broke free from Amelia and she quickly covered it, nodding. “Got it... strictly no learning... couldn’t have that.” She considered his insight into Gowanus for a moment. “Yes, partying in the fog of night. Tell me... is it true what they say about giant river rats and mutant creatures there? Or is that only after midnight.” Amelia joked, knowing a small handful of people from the area. She’d personally never travel there intentionally but could see the charm of it if she tried hard enough.

When Lara’s beloved best friend Tegan said she wanted to meet in Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Lara knew something was up, this was such a unusual spot for them to meet, neither of them have been fond of the nature, let alone the gardens. This was either a cruel prank or Tegan was up to something, either way Lara found herself sitting on the bench and glaring at happy-go-lucky people as if they were very rare species. Eyes glued to the her Iphone’s screen, she looked at the blond as soon as she’d noticed someone the stranger started talking to her. “Yeah,” She started, wrinkling her nose. “Way too peaceful for my liking.”

Amelia slowly stopped sketching just long enough to glance over at the girl nearby, her tone causing her curiosity to halt her work. She studied her for a moment and smiled back at her work once more. “For someone not so fond of peace, this is truly a curious place to be...” she mused, hoping not to speak too much out of turn.