I stayed in my room for the rest of the night. I didn't want to talk to my mother or my father. Every now and than I would hear a knock at my door.
"Please open the door Maria." My father would say.
I didn't answer. I finely drifted off to sleep. The next morning I was glad that I didn't have to wake up to my mother shaking me and screaming in my ear. I got dressed and fixed my hair. My hair was practically unfixable. It was curly and difficult to brush through because of all knots. Once I managed to brush through my hair I walked out of my room. My mother was just standing looking out of a window in the kitchen. She wan't looking my way. I didn't want to talk to her. I needed some time away from my mother and her criticism. I snuck into my parents bed room. I got some money so that I could go out and have breakfast. I snuck out of the door. I walked out of the apartment and down the hall. I looked behind me every now and then. Was mother following? Did she notice the money was gone? I took a deep breath as I walked down the stairs. I walked out of my apartment building and down the streets. I had been walking fot a couple of blocks when I heard.
"Hey Maria!" I heard.
I turned my head to where the voice was coming from (across the street). It was Jack. I hadn't even realized that I was passing his usual spot.
"Hey Jack!" I said waving to him.
He hurried to me across the street.
"How goes it?" He asked.
"Oh... fine." I said hesitantly.
"You sure about that?"
"Yeah... Hey do you know anywhere that I could get some breakfast?" I asked changing the subject.
"I think so but it ain't got none of that rich food you're used too." He joked.
I laughed.
"Thats not a problem."
"Okay follow me. I'll sell my papes on the way."
He handed me a newspaper. I then took out my monry to pay him.
"You don't have to pay me now." He said. "You can wait till later if you want?"
"Okay."
Jack led me through the crowded New York streets. He kept a close eye on me so that he wouldn't lose me in the crowd. He lost me once but than found me and grabbed my hand. For some reason... I felt myself blush.
"There you are!" he said as he took my hand. "Come on lets go."
He gently tugged on my arm. Then we finely reached our destination. The door read Tibby's. It didn't look very big from the outside. But that didn't really matter.
"Well here we are." Jack announced. "I know it isn't as nice as what your used to but-"
"Don't worry it's fine."
We stepped through the door and sat down at a table. I looked around and studied the place. It wasn't too small but it wasn't to big. It was crowded with tables though. It seemed as if somebody had tried to cram as many tables in one space as possible until they wouldn't fit anymore. But that didn't mean that it looked to bad.
"What are you getting?" He asked me.
"What do they have?"
"Oh yeah I forgot how you've never been here."
He showed me the menu. I decided to get pancakes while Jack got a sandwich. As I began to eat my food me and Jack started to get into conversation.
"So how has things been?" I asked.
"Oh okay. Same as it is everyday."
"What is your everyday. It isn't like I would know."
"Okay I'll go through my usual day. I wake up every morning early for work and buy my papers. After I sell all of my papes I go out and have drinks with my friends or just take a walk around town or something. It isn't very existing" Jack explained.
Even if he didn't find it very stimulating I found the whole idea of freedom exciting and intoxicating! I longed for a life like that. A life with no boundaries.
"It sounds like fun." I said.
"Trust me it ain't."
"I'm eighteen and I haven't had a sip of beer in my life! It has to be more fun than my life."
He laughed a little.
"Well I would give my life up any day for yours." He told me.
I looked at him for a moment. I could see that he meant what he said. I could see the seriousness in his face.
"If you were in my place you wouldn't say that." I said.
He smiled. "Maybe I would. But I wouldn't know."
Once we finished eating our food we stood.
"I brought money for breakfast, I'll-" I started.
"No, don't worry I've got some money. I'm sure that it's enough to pay." He said cutting me off.
"Well okay but I haven't paid you for the newspaper yet so I should really pay." I persisted.
He laughed a little.
"Come on stop! I've got some money let me pay the bill."
He gave me a nice smile. I felt myself blush suddenly!
"Fine." I said giving in.
Jack paid the bill. We left Tibby's then.
"I should get going. See you again tomorrow?" He asked hopefully.
"Yes I'll meet you at the usual place."
He started to walk away. Then I remembered the newspaper that I was holding in my hand.
"Wait!" I called out.
He turned around. Because of how I'd said it there was a look of concern on his face.
"I didn't pay for the newspaper!" I said.
His face concerned melted away into a smile.
"No don't worry about it! No charge!" He said.
He winked at me and walked away. I watched him as he disappeared into the crowd.