The second time they'd met, Joanne was the one leaving. Offering each other a pleasant smile, they once again didn't dwell on it.
The third time, both girls were riding for a while. They had caught each other's eye, and the customary smile was exchanged. The mystery girl made room for Joanne to sit, and she gladly took the offer. After that they stayed silent, although both were surprised to find that it wasn't one of those stiff, awkward silences but a relaxed, companionable one instead.
By the fourth time, Joanne thought she might have been putting too much thought into this girl. She found herself actively looking for her, eventually finding the girl and sitting next to her once again. The other was turning a guitar pick between her fingers, and she vaguely wondered if the girl played but before she could question her, the girl's stop came and they waved goodbye.
On the sixth time, it was the mystery girl who had found her. She dropped down beside her, looking a little weak. Joanne said nothing though, although the concern was easily seen in her eyes. Her stop came quicker than anticipated.
The seventh time, she was left a gift. It had been the guitar pick she'd seen the girl with another time, the name 'April' scrawled out on one side. She placed it in her pocket and for the rest of the day, she found herself returning to it, turning the pick in her hands and wondering more and more about the girl.
The eighth time was the last. April didn't notice her watching, or at least she didn't think she had. She seemed distressed, almost ill with nerves and she clutched a paper in her hand, occasionally looking down at it then away, as if repulsed by what it said. Joanne was tempted to go over and ask if she were all right, see if she needed anything but in the end, she made no move to help. It wasn't her place, she wouldn't get involved.
When she rides the subway, Joanne still looks for the girl but never finds her and on occasion, although they were far and few between, she would pull out the guitar pick, turning it between her fingers as she thought about all the possibilities the let slip by.