Hi y'all! I know that I am writing another story, but I love the idea for this story, so I hope y'all love it too. I am a gigantic history lover, so I am incorporating some of my knowledge and love for history into a cute little story (I actually don't know how long this story will be).
Also, for those of you who don't know, I uploaded a new chapter to Two Way Door (FINALLY!).
Before I start writing this chapter, I do want to go ahead and explain that American history has never been a perfect story. I don't really know how to express myself in other words besides a few situations that I will involve in this story, but I do need to say that I will include so heavy topics.
This story will include subjects such as: racial segregation (there will be no racial slurs, I hate those words), feminism, the Holocaust, and war. I'm making this story up as I go, but these are just a few subjects that I have in mind as I write the first chapter. If any of you are uncomfortable with any of these topics or familiar with them yourselves, just know that I am here for you. If you don't want to talk about it, then that's okay, but I am always here to talk to, and I am not a judgemental person.
I also would like to clarify that some of these characters are really horrible people, but just because I write a character like this, does not mean that I am one of these characters. As much as I wish that there weren't people like this, I can't change the fact that people like this do exist. I write characters like this to teach a lesson to other people.
I know that I got one hundred percent serious there, so I hope y'all enjoy!
Lucas Friar steps off the steps of the train with two small eggshell colored suitcases. He breathes in a fresh breath of the New York air. He is caught off guard when he is shoved out of the way by a taller man. The man yells, "Hey! Get out of the way, knucklehead!"
He begins to move with the rest of the crowd until he exits the train station. He's never been in the city before, so he is liable to get lost. He sets one of his suitcases on the ground before reaching in his pocket and pulling out the address of the cafe that his best friend owns.
Because of his lack of knowledge of the New York streets, he decides that he is going to have to ask somebody where to go. He picks his suitcase up and walks over to a pretty brunette woman wearing a long violet dress standing on the street corner. He sets his suitcase down and takes his hat off as he approaches her. He gets a little nervous because this woman is so pretty, and he doesn't want to seem like a creep or act like a fool in front of her.
"Excuse me, ma'am?" He grabs her attention. When she turns her head, Lucas notices how friendly she is as she greets him with a smile. "I was wondering if you could point me to the direction of this address?"
Lucas show the piece of paper to the woman. She takes a look at the address written on the napkin and immediately begins beaming.
"I sure can. As a matter of fact, I can take you there. I was just headed that way myself," The woman replies joyfully. Lucas smiles, grabs his suitcases, and begins walking with the woman to the cafe.
As the two begin to talk, Lucas learns that the woman's name is Riley Matthews. She works for his best friend at the cafe, and she is really happy to work for him. She says that his best friend is a one of a kind guy, making Lucas smile. He's always known his best friend to be that way.
"So, how do you know Isaiah?" Riley asks him.
"Zay? We've been best friends since we were born at the same hospital in Texas," Lucas replies. Riley smiles and turns left on a street corner.
"Wow. You two being best friends? That's not heard of. But like I said, Isaiah is a one of a kind guy. I guess that makes you the same," Riley comments.
Not many people do hear about a colored man and white man being best friends in these times. Lucas knew when he met Zay that he was gonna be his best friend. The two never looked at people as a black man or a white man. They saw each other as men. They saw each other as brothers. Lucas doesn't know what he would do without Zay by his side.
"We're almost there. I bet Isaiah is really excited to see you. Unless I mistaken, I thought I heard him talking about one of his best friends from Texas moving down here. What a small world it is," Riley says.
"I know. I'm lucky that I found you. Otherwise, I'd be hearing people name calling for hours," Lucas says, making Riley giggle.
"Gotta watch out for them New Yorkers. They can get very feisty, especially some of the women, trust me. But you'll get used to it after a few weeks. My best friend was really feisty when I met her, now she's just feisty to everyone else besides me," Riley converses. Lucas is taking in the essence of the city while he talks with Riley, and he is excited to see the name of the cafe that his best friend owns right in front of them.
"Well, here we are. The Huck and Jim Cafe," Riley says. Lucas sets his suitcase down again and opens the door for Riley to walk through. She smiles at him before walking inside. Lucas follows her closely, looking at the extravagant decor on the inside. Everything about this club screams Isaiah Babineaux, and it makes Lucas's heart smile to see his best friend's pride and joy be so successful.
Riley points to the bar and says, "Farkle, can you please pour this man a drink?"
A man stands there and nods at Riley with a wink. He is wearing a white button up with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His bow tie sits comfortingly around his neck, and his silky black vest is buttoned around his abdomen. His sandy brown hair is slicked back to one side. He pours Lucas a small glass of scotch and sets it on the bar where Lucas meets him and thanks him for the drink.
"You must be Lucas," The bartender says. "Zay has been talking about you moving up here for weeks."
"Yes. It's nice to meet you," Lucas says, holding his hand out.
The bartender grabs his hand and says, "My name is Farkle. Farkle Minkus."
Lucas nods and lets go of the bartender's sweaty hand. He clasps the glass of scotch with his fingers and brings the glass up to his lips, sipping on the bitter alcohol.
"This is a nice place. I'm really happy that Zay is letting me move in with him. We haven't seen each other in years," Lucas says. "He's one of the most trustworthy people I know."
"Zay is the cat's meow. I don't think you'll be waiting long for him to show up. He lives upstairs, but he's probably backstage with the talent right now," Farkle says leaning his hand on the bar.
"Who's the talent around here?" Lucas asks.
A smile comes across Farkle's face when he replies. "Well, we have some very beautiful dames who sing here every once in a while. Maya Hart and the one you came in with, Riley Matthews." Lucas smirks when he sees Farkle blush when he mentions Riley. Lucas could tell that Farkle has a thing for her the moment she called his name.
"So you carry a torch for her, huh?" Lucas asks. Farkle's face goes to a deep shade of red when Lucas asks him that question. There is no doubt in his mind that Farkle has probably liked this girl for a long time.
"Lucas Friar! You're finally here," Lucas hears the voice of his best friend from behind him. He stands up and greets Zay with a hug and a pat on the back. "It's about damn time."
"I know. It felt like I was never gonna get out of Texas. I'm really happy to be here, and I can't thank you enough for letting me move in," Lucas tells him. Zay smiles and shrugs his shoulders. To Lucas, Zay has always been a stand up guy. He could always trust Zay with anything, so when Lucas's mother came up to him and told him that he had to stop being friends with Zay, Lucas decided that it was time to leave Texas and be with his best friend in a new land full of opportunity.
Zay pulls him aside, and they begin to walk around the cafe. "Did you talk to your mother before you left? Don't get me wrong I'm still happy that you are here to say, but I can't suppress the feeling that the two of you aren't on the best of terms."
"I...haven't. Yet. I'm gonna write her a letter tonight and send it to her tomorrow. I just had to get out of that place as fast as I could," Lucas explains.
"No, I understand. First they tell you that you can't be friends with me, then they want to arrange a marriage for you. I would want to run away too. Especially if my parents told me that I couldn't be friends with me," Zay says, eliciting a chuckle from the both of them.
They stop at the top of the steps that leads to the main floor of the cafe where there are tables full of people of all kinds, and a stage where a jazz band plays. Lucas looks around at the entire vicinity and is in awe that his best friend made this place all on his own. Zay had no help when he came to New York looking for opportunity. Lucas still has the letters that Zay sent him, telling him that he's been working in many places. He remembers reading about Zay going overseas to earn money over there. He also remembers how hard it was to work that hard and save as much money as he did during the Great Depression.
"You've really outdone yourself here, Zay, but I am really proud and happy for you," Lucas says.
Zay smiles and looks around at his success. Times are still hard, but they seem to be getting a little easier. Now that World War II has started, the production of guns, ammunition, helmets, armor, etc. have been out of this world, and things seem to be getting a little less depressing.
Lucas's eyes catch the sapphire ones of a blonde woman from across the room. She is walking towards the two of them. He grabs Zay's shoulder to stop him from walking down the steps towards the crowd of people.
"Whoa! Who is the broad?" Lucas asks.
Zay looks at the woman coming in there direction and smiles. "Who? Maya? She's one of the singers here. One of the most talented that I've heard, along with Riley. They both sing really well together. They know how to put on a great show, but you don't have a chance with her."
"What?" Lucas says offended. "Why wouldn't I? Is she married or something?"
"No. She's not your type, and she will let you know in a heartbeat that she's not interested," Zay explains.
"Why? Did she turn you down?" Lucas teases.
"No, but I've seen her viciously turn down other men who I've had to kick out of my cafe. This happens a lot so trust me. She won't be interested in you, bud," Zay says, smiling at Maya when she meets them.
Lucas can't help but look her up and down. Her long blonde hair comes reaches just under her shoulder. She's wearing a silky gold dress that reaches the floor and silky white gloves that goes past her elbows. She's wearing a pearl necklace that hugs her neck along with a matching bracelet that she wears on top of her glove. Lucas takes in the blonde beauty, and smiles at her when she pays her attention towards him.
"Hello there. My name is Maya Hart," She greets him with a smile. "You're really cute."
Lucas tips his hand to her and tries to hide that fact that his face is now a crimson color. Zay smirks at the both of them and wraps a gentle arm around Maya's shoulder. She's way shorter than she looked when she was walking over to the both of them.
"You must be Lucas. Zay says great things about you," Maya says, cutting the awkward tension when Lucas doesn't even bother to tell her his name back.
"Yes. I am. And I've heard great things about you too," Lucas replies.
Maya brings her hand up to her chest and acts flustered. "Mr. Babineaux, are you bragging about me again? You know how easily flustered I get."
"It's hard not to brag on you and Riley. You two are just fantastic," Zay replies.
There conversation is interrupted by the crowd clapping and cheering. The three turn around and see Riley on stage, preparing to sing a song. Lucas glances back at the bar and sees Farkle standing there not taking his eyes off Riley for a second. Lucas chuckles to himself and pays attention to the pretty brunette on stage.
"I hope you all are enjoying your time here at The Huck and Jim cafe!" Riley greets them as she receives plenty of cheers for that statement alone. "Well, enjoy the music, and enjoy yourselves!"
Maya cheers for her best friend and holds two thumbs up for her. Riley smiles at her before singing her first lyrics. Lucas isn't gonna lie when he says that Riley has a really beautiful voice and is incredibly talented. He just wonders what Maya sounds like when she sings. He wonders a lot of stuff about Maya, but a mystery is always a fun thing. He always reads mystery novels. One his favorites is And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie. Maybe it would be easy for him to read Maya and figure out her mystery.
Lucas gets the feeling that he's really gonna like here in New York.
Okay! I hope y'all liked this first chapter of my new story! I am so happy and in love with. I am literally patting myself on the back.
There will be so many things to happen in this story. I have so many things planned for these characters, so I hope y'all like it!
Love y'all!