Masks
Chapter 2
Mystery Girl
Four POV
It's been a long time. Years actually. Since I've set foot in the United States. Sometimes it makes me wonder why I left. Yea, some people will say the obvious reason. To serve my country, but was that really it? They don't know my past, so they wouldn't know why I had to leave.
After getting off the god forsaken plane my phone beeps. I look down to see a message from Zeke.
Zeke: dude. you land yet
Me: Yes, Ezekiel. I just landed.
Zeke: don't call me by ma full name bro
Me: Use correct punctuation and grammar.
Zeke: whatever
I shake my head and put my phone away. I go get my bags and stuff from the airport workers then walk outside. It's a nice day in New York. In a few days I'll be heading to Chicago and living with Zeke until I can find a place of my own. I am not looking forward to living with Zeke. I hail a cab and wait for it to pull up on the sidewalk. The driver steps out and takes my suitcase before putting it into the trunk. I open the door and get inside to wait for him.
"Where am I taking ya?" He asks in his New York accent.
"Fairfield Inn." It may be a bit more pricey than the Comfort Inn, but it's a better hotel for how close it is to the LaGuardia Airport.
I never realized how much I missed the stench that is so much of the city until now. The smell of concrete and metal buildings. The different smells from the people walking by, faint coffee, perfume, cologne, sweat. It's much different than the smells I've become accustomed to over the past, almost, six years. And I'm pleased about that. Most people would think that the smells of the city were disgusting. At least those that live outside the city. What the others don't realize is that the smells of the city are much better smells than the war. Where all there is is dirt, smoke, and gunpowder. Barely a break where there isn't.
The taxi driver pulls over a few blocks away and I don't realize why until I see that there's a bunch of cars at a stop light near by becoming the entrance to the hotel.
"Sorry mate. This is as close as I can get ye."
"That's alright sir. How much do I owe you?"
I pay him the respected amount, plus a tip, before getting out of the car and retrieving my suitcase. I walk a little ways on the sidewalk before turning to watch the taxi leave. After the taxi is well out of my sight I turn around and continue walking to the hotel entrance. It's a few blocks and the sun is high in the sky at noon. It's quite hot but I'm used to worse so it doesn't bother me all that much. As I'm walking I look around. It's a little bit different than when I was last here 8 years ago. Some buildings have changed. Some added. During my little day dream I bump into someone and papers go flying.
"I'm so sorry. Let me help you with that." I say as I drop the handle if my suitcase and bend down to help the person.
"No you're fine. I wasn't watching where I was going. Besides, there's not much damage done. I keep all my papers stapled together and in a folder just in case something like this might ever happen." the girl says. As I'm handing her her papers back that I've gathered, I look up to see wavy blonde hair. Loose and masking her face from view.
She gathers the rest of the papers and puts them away in the folder she mentioned. I stand up and then hold out my hand for her to take.
"Thank you"
"Of course. It's the least I could do after I knocked them out of your hand in the first place." I reply.
As I look at her face I become enthralled with her eyes. They aren't exactly blue, nor are they really grey. They're more of a mixture of both. A storm really. Storm clouds on the verge of pouring rain. Or clouds right after a storm, clearing out. I can't tell which. There are gold flecks, seeming splattered throughout her irises.
When she looks down I realize my mistake of staring. It's hard to help though. She's beautiful. Not only in her eyes, but the way she carries herself. Damn, what am I even saying. I just met her, I didn't even really meet her. I've just looked at her. But still, there is a cloud of mystery around her.
"So chivalry isn't dead in everyone I see." Her words break me out of my trance that I fell into once again.
"I suppose not."
"Thank you for helping me pick up my papers and also, thank you for your service." I'm startled for a moment until I remember that I'm still wearing my uniform.
"Um…" I scratch the back of my neck, a nervous habit I've noticed I have. I lean toward her slightly and quietly say "I guess I never know what to say to that. Like do I say 'you're welcome'? Or nod my head, or what?" I slightly chuckle.
"I never did either, it's alright. When people said it to me, I never really said anything." She smiles and I can't help but be even more intrigued by the women standing in front of me, who's so mysterious. "Anyway, I need to be going. Thank you again."
"Wait!" I call after her. "What's your name?" She frowns a little and casts her gaze to the cement of the sidewalk.
"Believe me. You don't want to get to know me. It would be better if you didn't. For you." Then she gets lost in the crowd and disappears from my sight.
What is her story? I can't help but wonder.
Did she serve in the military? Why did I never see her if she did? Will I ever see her again? What did she mean by I don't want to get to know her, that it'd be easier? On my part? I walk the rest of the distance to the hotel with all these questions buzzing through my head.
Who is she?
A/N: hey readers! Another chapter. I know it's long overdue and quite short for how long it's been since I've posted. My life has just been pretty busy. There aren't any quotes in this chapter and I honestly don't know if I'll be able to work them into this story. It's hard to find the right ones for what I'm writing. Anyway, thanks for reading and leave some comments please!
Bye!
-sunlightstars