Chapter 1

"Tango," Mark thought. "Terrible dance..." He was riding his bike around Alphabet City. He had just met his ex's new girlfriend at the empty lot turned performance space. Maureen's protest was tomorrow and her new girlfriend had no idea what the hell she was supposed to be doing as production manager. Mark fumbled with his bag, trying to retrieve his camera from its depths. He wasn't watching where he was going and ran into a park bench...with someone sitting on it...

"Oh! Sorry I-" Mark looked up and stopped when he saw who he had run into. It was a beautiful woman who was staring at him through shoulder length brown hair. "I-I'm sorry. I um wasn't paying attention. I should uh start um doing that, huh?"

The woman laughed kindly and said, "Don't worry about it, I'm fine. Are you alright?"

"Oh, I'm fine!" Mark quickly answered.

"Um, you're knee's bleeding..." She pointed to his knee and the blood that was soaking through his pants.

"Huh?" Mark looked down at his pants and sure enough blood was beginning to soak through." Oh," he said in an unnaturally high voice. "Look at that. I'm Mark, by the way." He looked up at her. "Mark Cohen."

"It's nice to meet you, Mark. I'm Maggie Connelly. You make films?" She pointed at his camera that somehow had remained undamaged during the bike vs. bench incident.

"Yeah, I do. Documentaries actually. Most people think they're boring. I believe that they tell the story of something that everyone else is afraid to tell."

"Well, what story is your's going to tell?" Maggie asked him with an actual look of interest in her eyes.

"The one I'm working on now is about the homeless people and people inflicted with HIV/AIDS." Maggie's eyes dulled with sadness(?) as Mark mentioned HIV.

"That's a very interesting story to tell."

Mark smiled widely and noticed how dark it was and asked, "So, what brings you out to New York City at night?" He sat down on the bench next to Maggie and waited for her to answer.

"I just got done on the streets and I- I'm not a prostitute Mark!" She told him through laughter when she saw his face. "I'm a street musician. Trumpet and sometimes keyboard. Anyway, its Christmas Eve and I didn't want to go hang out alone at my loft."

"I was going to get something to eat but I changed my mind and just sat here and people watched. Everyone's always so happy at Christmas time..." Maggie smiled which soon turned into a grime as she groaned and said, "I'm doing it again aren't I? I'm blabbering on and on. I do that sometimes. I get to talking about something on and on about it and can't sto-"

She stopped when she saw Mark's amused smile. " There I go again..."

"Don't worry about it. A lot of my friends do it too. It is getting pretty dark, and cold. New York isn't the safest place at night especially around here. Where do you live? I'll walk you home."

"Oh you don't have to-"

"I don't mind really!" Mark smiled a very corny grin and Maggie smiled a small smile.

"That would be very nice, thank you, Mark." They both stood from the bench and Mark grabbed her trumpet case and his camera before he started to follow Maggie the way she was headed. "I live in a loft on Avenue B. I just moved here about four months ago from Illinois." She sneaked a peek at his face to see if he looked interested at all about what she was saying. She was met with a set of bright blue eyes staring back at her looking very interested indeed.

"I, um, went to school back in Illinois at Western University and majored in music and minored in theatre arts. For about a year after graduation I filled in and played inn bands for people. Then I got sick of all that shit and packed up and moved to New York City. Center of the universe!" She spun in a circle with her arms open wide as she exclaimed the last sentence smiling as widely as her face would let her.

"I've only met one other person other than you since I've been here. I really like Alphabet City though. It's nice to live in actual reality instead of Little Town, Illinois for once in my life..."

They continued walking quietly until Mark said, "I understand the feeling of the living in reality part. I used to live in Scarsdale, it's a few hours away from here. I went to Brown University halfway through my Junior year and then dropped out. I couldn't take the perfect lives and "reality" in that world. I moved to the City and moved into a loft with Roger, my friend from High School. Our lofts on Avenue B as well, right next to an empty lot. Which building are you?"

Maggie smiled and said, "Well, it sounds like the same one as you. I'm on the 5th floor."

"I live on the 7th floor, top floor." They approached the building and Mark gave Maggie a cheesy grin before adding, "See, it was no problem walking you home!" She smiled back at him as they started climbing the many sets of stairs.

"Any last minute advice on living in New York?" Maggie asked.

"Well..."not getting mugged is always good..." Mark answered in mock seriousness.

"Aw, shucks, that spoils my plans for tomorrow!" Maggie kidded with him.

He grinned and looked up, thinking and continued. "There's a protest tomorrow night against our landlord given by my turned-lesbian-ex-girlfriend. It's something to do with a cow..."

Maggie looked at him oddly about his ex but he didn't notice, that or he's just immune to it by now. He continued, "There's also a party afterwards at the Life Cafe. Have you ever been there? It's the best place around. Or any time your ever bored you could also come up to the top floor and hang out with some of the coolest people ever."

"And who would that be? I don't know anyone cool from the top floor?" She said with a smirk. "I'll see you tomorrow then? At the protest?"

"Yeah, it's in the empty lot next door and there are posters for it everywhere." Mark headed toward the flight of gave a small wave and smile before saying, "See you tomorrow then!"

Maggie smiled as she headed into her loft with a smile on her face. She smiled and closed her eyes as she closed her door. She leaned against the door and slid down it smiling as wide as ever.