Kelsi sat patiently at one of the patio tables outside INDAY on W 26th street, a middle point in the city that she had agreed to meet Jason for lunch. There was a relaxed and solemn air that hung over the city today. Memorial Day might be a holiday, but it often carried a weight to it as the country remembered their servicemen and women who watched selflessly over the nation. Apparently the subway was delayed with the bustle of a day off and Jason was still a few minutes away for their date. Her heart did a little flip-flop at the term. Was this actually a date? Just friends catching up? A lunch date? She still wasn't sure if she was ready to call it that. For now, she tried to convince herself it was just two friends meeting for lunch. Yet, a nagging voice whispered that the butterflies in her stomach and the extra care she had taken with her appearance today said otherwise. She scolded herself silently.
Kelsi, get a grip! It's only Jason. Soon "only Jason" was in her view as he crossed the street quickly at Broadway and made his way towards the outdoor table where Kelsi was sitting.
"Hey! Sorry I'm late, not doing so great on the whole making it up to you bit am I?" he said as he flipped off his black aviators and pulled out the chair opposite hers. As if the glasses weren't enough, he looked really...different. Not just because the warm day had him in cargo shorts and a light v-neck t-shirt, showcasing his forearms and broad shoulders that she hadn't realized were so toned, but there was also a confidence in his posture, a glint in his eye that sent a shiver down her spine. Maybe it was just the weather, but this wasn't the Jason she remembered from high school or even the Jason from the other night.
"That's okay, I've had my share of delays on that subway, I used to get so lost when I first moved here." She finally replied, feeling a bit silly for the small talk.
"True, New York has been a huge adjustment from Albuquerque. Can't imagine just moving here without a reason. School has helped a lot to get grounded and make some friends, but I like it, almost like I was meant for the bustle of the city," he replied with a pleased look at the buildings towering around them.
"Oh, I definitely don't feel that, I'm pretty sure once my program is over I'm packing up and getting out of here. I'd have to have a really good reason to stick around this madness." A police car flew by with its sirens blaring to punctuate her point.
"Has there been anything about living here that you like? Besides Juilliard of course."
"Well I guess the city lights are pretty nice, even if I am a little nervous being out at night. My friends and I went out to Brooklyn Bridge Park a few weeks after I moved here, the night was so clear and even though you couldn't see any stars in the sky, the buildings sparkled like a million of them. It was really nice. How about you?" Jason's breath caught a little. He realized he was captivated not just by her beautiful voice, but by the way she saw the world – with a musicians soul that found beauty in the unexpected. Her eyebrows raised a bit and he realized he was staring and needed to say something. He cleared his throat and shifted back in the seat.
"Um I guess the independence, just getting to be on my own. My family has always been a bit overbearing. Hard to blame them, dad in the army, a crazy Italian mom who worried a lot, so it's been nice to have the freedom."
"I didn't know your dad was in the army."
"Yeah he's been around more the last couple years since he switched to a training position, but he wasn't pretty much my whole life. Probably why no one has really met him."
"That must've been hard growing up like that, my dad and I were always close, can't imagine not having him around like I did." Jason fiddled with his sunglasses and looked across the table to take Kelsi in as he hadn't had the chance to yet. She had a light green shirt on under a cropped denim jacket with a few buttons and pins from her collection on the pockets. He could see her tan capris and dark green flats through the glass table. She looked like summer encapsulated and he mentally kicked himself to focus on the conversation again.
"Yeah it was tough, but enough about that, I've already kept you waiting long enough. Ready to eat?" Kelsi smiled softly and nodded, noting the typical guy move to avoid talking about anything too deep. Maybe she'd crack his shell later, but for now she was starving.
"Yeah let's go." The bell above the doorway chimed a cheerful tune as Jason held the door for Kelsi and they ducked into a wave of warm, fragrant air, aromatic with the earthy aroma of turmeric and cumin mingled with the gentle heat of chilies. The cafe's interior buzzed with conversation and the rhythmic sizzle coming from the open kitchen.
"Can't say I have Indian food very often, but it smells great. How'd you find this place?" Jason asked as he scanned over the options.
"A couple of my classmates and I wound up here after we went to see the Empire State Building. They took me all around to see the city since I'd never been and we've been friends ever since."
"So what's good then? What did you get?"
"They have a nice build your own bowl, just pick one of each and watch out for the spice, it is hot! Learned that the hard way."
"Alright, I'll take your word for it. I can do flavour, but not burn your mouth off spice." They laughed and stepped up to place their orders. Once they got their food, they headed back out to the find their table was still open and Jason quickstepped ahead of Kelsi to pull her chair out for her. She felt a slight blush creep over her cheeks, not being used to this gentlemanly treatment from a guy. He sat down opposite her again and noticed the flush in her cheeks just as it was fading away.
"You alright?" He asked as he forked up a piece of his chicken with sweet potatoes. Kelsi turned her attention to her own chicken and mixed greens and tried to keep her hand from shaking as she grabbed her fork.
"Yeah I'm fine, just pretty warm out here." They settled in on their first few bites, both eliciting small nods of approval at the flavours.
"This is good, made a good choice this time," Kelsi remarked before taking another bite.
"Yeah this is great, my mom's a whiz in the kitchen, but it definitely revolves more around pasta and olive oil, lots of olive oil."
"For sure, your parents must be proud of you."
"They are, still haven't gotten any letters saying I'm going to be kicked out and I'd like to keep it that way." Kelsi chuckled as she took another bite of her greens, the heat of the spice burning her mouth unexpectedly. She sipped her water and used the pause to shift the conversation back a few years.
"I feel like we knew each other fairly well in high school, but I don't know much about you before East High. Did you always live in Albuquerque?"
"Born and raised, surprising with my dad in the army, that usually leads to families moving around a lot, but I guess we got lucky. He was gone a lot more than other kid's dads that I knew, but they usually weren't around very long since they were the ones who got stuck moving all the time. How about you?"
"We actually moved around quite a bit before settling in Albuquerque. Phoenix, Sedona, Santa Fe, to name a few. My mom's an obstetrician and there were a few years when the demand for doctors moved us around a bit. I think it was around grade seven she finally got a spot to stay and we were able to settle."
"I'm glad you did," Jason replied with a quick glance before turning his attention down to his bowl, "losing you after high school, it was rough, can't imagine not having you around at all." Kelsi felt her cheeks flush with heat again, completely struck by the tenderness of his comment. She felt it reach out and wrap her in an embrace laced with longing and hope. The call was out, he wanted her in his life, to what extent though?
"Yeah, me too," she said, deciding to push the thought of where this could be going off for a little while longer, "So you didn't move much, did you ever get to travel with your dad?"
"Just the usual family trips here and there, nothing major."
"Is there anywhere else you'd like to go?"
"I've always wanted to go to Italy, pretty cliche I guess since it's my heritage, but the way my nonna, sorry, my grandma, always talked about it, it sounds pretty amazing." He shrugged and forked up another bite, trying hard to focus and not get too lost in the pleasant sound of her voice. The conversation was simple, casual, like friends would have, and he enjoyed it even if he was silently sweating at the spell she had him trapped under.
"No that's awesome, my family is just from good old America, nowhere cool to look forward to going one day."
"Is there a dream travel destination in your mind?"
"Well if I could travel anywhere I'd go to Berlin, so much musical history there. But travel's expensive so I'd settle for New Orleans, yes, also for the musical history."
"Either of those places sounds great, New Orleans wouldn't be that big of a stretch, you'll get to check it out someday." Kelsi nodded as she finished the last bites of her lunch and looked around to take in the bustling city again, until her eyes came back to rest on Jason's. He was smiling that killer smile at her again and she immediately looked away with a slight blush. He let out a small laugh and nudged his finished bowl forward.
"What's the matter?" he asked with a tilt of his head to try and look in her beautiful green eyes as she kept them slightly out of his view. She looked back and partially hid her face with her hand, a small nervous laugh escaping her lips as she tried not to make a fool of herself.
"Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?" His tone carried a slight tease to it and she couldn't help but release another nervous chuckle as she tried to form some words.
"I don't know, like that," she replied with a finger pointed at his stupid grin, "like you're thinking something you shouldn't." Jason quickly slid his hands up in defence.
"Woah time out, Kelsi. I promise you I'm not thinking anything. Alright? You're just looking really pretty today and I'm happy to be here with you. I'm sorry if I made you uncomfortable." Kelsi breathed a heavy breath to settle herself down, she felt stupid for overreacting, but she could hardly help it. The way he looked at her made her feel wanted, as a friend, but also in a deeper way. There was a pull between them that she couldn't deny, something lingering from years ago. He dropped his hands and relaxed back into his seat, still looking at her like she was the only girl around, as though he wouldn't have eyes for any other woman when she was near. She sunk back into her own seat and collected her thoughts with a deep breath.
"I'm sorry too, Jason, it's just, after all this time, I don't know how I feel about this yet." Jason heaved a sigh and cast his gaze up to the skyscrapers before settling his deep brown eyes back on hers.
"That's okay, don't worry, I'm not fishing for anything specific, just want to spend some time with you. I've really missed you these past few years."
"I've missed you too, didn't realize how much until you showed up at the show."
Jason pushed his chair out to stand and gathered their disposable containers into a nearby trash can before returning with a hand extended to help her to her feet. When he pulled her out of the chair, for a moment not even the summer breeze would have fit in the space between them, but he quickly stepped back and let her hand go.
"Then will you give me another chance?" Kelsi smiled and looped her arm around his.
"Sure, let's walk and talk some more." They set out down Broadway, arm in arm like old friends will do, like they had years ago. Kelsi tried to convince herself that it didn't mean much, but the connection that arced between their skin was too tangible to ignore. Lost in the feelings, she jumped at the sudden sound of a horn blasting on the street beside them. Jason couldn't help but chuckle at her as she jerked suddenly, her grip tightening on his arm.
"Geez, you're jumpy! Is there anything you're not scared of in this city?" Kelsi shot him a pointed glance, raising her chin in a prideful expression.
"Not much, but I'll have you know I'm not afraid of mice, spiders, heights, or snakes. All the big ones." Jason chuckled nervously at her response, surprised that she had one upped him.
"Well you got me on the heights, can't say I'm a fan. Even living in a fifth floor apartment gets to me sometimes."
"No way! A big strong man like you scared of heights?" She playfully nudged his side as they strolled along.
"I'm not scared of heights, I'm scared of falling. There's a difference." Kelsi couldn't help but laugh softly, feeling a bit bad for teasing him for his fears, but it was too surprising coming from him as he towered at least six or seven inches taller than her.
"So you wouldn't be one of those guys sitting on a steel beam stories above the city then?"
"Oh hell no, not just the heights, there's no way I could build a building. If it's anything beyond hanging a picture or putting together some furniture, I'm toast."
"My dad's one of those total fix-it guys, never seen anything that he couldn't fix. But he'd still rather tinker with old cars all day long."
"And your mom is a what kind of doctor again?"
"Obstetrician, baby doctor. Guess that's why she only had one kid, sees enough of that day in day out!"
"No kidding. Is that something you want in your life?" Jason flinched, surprised that he had asked something so personal. It had flowed out under the guise of just being something he wanted to keep learning about her, but this question, he regretted the moment the words left his mouth. Kelsi took it in stride, looking purposefully down the street towards the Flatiron Building.
"I'm on the fence still. You?" He thought frantically, searching his brain for whatever answer it was that girls wanted to hear, but the casual vibe of her strolling beside him told him it wasn't a loaded question, she just wanted to know.
"I don't know, I like kids, but can't see myself with a lot of them. Maybe one or two." When they got to the iconic triangular intersection, Kelsi looked up at the odd shaped building and marvelled at it anew.
"It's remarkable isn't it? how someone just decided this needs to fit here and was determined to make it work. Didn't care that other designers might laugh, just got the job done." Jason looked up at the building with her, fighting hard not to drop his gaze down to her beautiful face. She was doing it again, mesmerizing him with her unique outlook on the world. He turned to look at her, but a flag flying at half mast caught his attention out of the corner of his eye as it fluttered in the afternoon breeze. Madison Square Park sat a stones throw away where the final onlookers were clearing from a Memorial Day event.
"Hey do you mind if we go this way? I'd just like to duck into the park for a minute." They crossed the street and made their way down the lush path of the park until Jason came to a halt at the epitaph. The wreaths sat fresh and new, unlike the old dull aches in his mind. He remembered his own childhood, often fearing every knock at the door. Any one of them could someone there to tell him that his dad was coming home in a box. The sting of those memories were only soothed by the fact that he'd heard his dad's voice only last week and he sighed in relief like he knew so many other families couldn't today. Kelsi could see the heaviness on his shoulders and moved her hand to the small of his back in a comforting gesture. She assumed it had something to do with the military connection in his family and offered her support in her own solemn silence.
"Are you okay, Jason?" she asked after a long moment. He shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets.
"Yeah I'm alright, just needed a minute, a lot of good people have given up a lot for what we have. Sorry to dampen to mood," he said with a grateful smile towards her. The feeling of her hand on his back split his focus between the comfort of the gesture and the way it was slightly turning him on. Everything about her felt so good, from her touch to the look in her eyes as she scanned his face with concern.
"Um is there anywhere else you want to go today?" He said with a nervous scratch at the back of his neck. Kelsi looked around the park and her attention was caught by a melody on the far side. A saxophonist began to play a soulful tune, his notes weaving between the rhythmic taps of a snare drummer seated beside him. Laughter bubbled up from a group of dancers enjoying the summer sun and the rhythm of the improvised tune, their moves drew her to lead Jason by the hand further down the path until the music was loud enough to pierce her soul. She stopped a fair distance away, mesmerized by the flow of the notes. Although shy, she was unable to deny the desire to groove with them and began tapping her foot and letting her head rock with the tune. Jason bumped her shoulder playfully.
"You look like you want to bust a move," he said with a mischievous grin.
"I don't know, not with all these other people around." She looked nervously around at the expert movements of the other people dancing in the sun, fearing her own moves would make someone laugh at her.
"Come on, Kelsi, dance with me. Just like we used to." He stretched out his hand with an excited gleam in his eye. Kelsi hesitated, then a smile bloomed on her face as fond memories bolstered her confidence. She took his hand and smiled.
"Why not?" They joined the outskirts of the circle, the music washing over them. Kelsi swayed to the rhythm, her body feeling the music along with Jason's hands comfortably nestled in hers. He mirrored her movements, a playful glint in his eyes. As the beat switched, he spun her out, catching her hand to pull her back in. In that shared moment, under the summer sun, a spark flew between them, igniting a warmth that rivalled the day's heat. He spun her again with a complicated twirl that sent her barrelling back into his chest with a soft thud, causing them both to burst into laughter at the clumsy exchange. Their laughter mingled with the music, a sweet melody in the symphony of the city. Kelsi felt her gaze cemented on his, not noticing that the music had ended. As the crowd applauded the music, Jason released his hold on her just enough to bring her hand to his lips and plant a soft kiss on her knuckles. Kelsi pulled her hand back, turning to applaud the musicians to hide the flush that crept into her cheeks again.
The sun was getting low as Kelsi and Jason spent the rest of the afternoon walking up and down the streets, talking and carrying on about anything they could possibly learn about each other. From Kelsi's phase of tie dying her own shirts when she was twelve, to Jason's hidden talent of slight of hand, their discovery of each other continued to yield more and more hidden treasures in their pasts. They finally settled down on a bench when Kelsi challenged him to prove just how good he was at coin tricks.
"When did you get so good at that?" Kelsi marvelled as Jason masterfully slipped a quarter rapidly across his hands, making it vanish and reappear in various slight of hand moves.
"I got really, really bored in grade nine history," he replied as he held the quarter up in front of her, "here, I'll show you another one. Watch closely." He dropped the coin into his left palm and closed his fingers around it.
"Okay, what am I watching for?" she asked as he extended his clenched fist to her.
"Hold onto my hand, wrap both of yours around it so that I can't open it." She followed his instructions, feeling a slight tremor in her hands as she collapsed them gently over his.
"Now focus really hard, don't look away from my hand until I tell you." She stared at his hand intently until she felt him place a tender kiss on her cheek. Her eyes widened at the surprise of the gesture and she looked at him in shock. He was grinning that killer smile at her again and she couldn't help but laugh. His eyes shot down to his hand and she followed them as she felt him pushing his hand open to reveal the coin gone.
"Wait, what? How did you?!"
"Told you not to look away." They laughed together at the trick, both the slight of hand and the way he had snuck in another kiss. She shoved his arm to nudge him away.
"Charmer." She shook her head and sighed at the fun of being with him, it had been a perfect day. Everything felt different now, like a familiar melody suddenly played in a whole new light. Maybe it was the magic of the city, or maybe it was just him, but she couldn't deny a newfound desire to rewrite their story. Taking a chance on something more felt exciting, a thrilling possibility that danced on the edge of her comfort zone. Deciding that it was time to call it a night, they walked back to the subway station to go their separate ways, neither noticing that they were now walking hand in hand, like it was more natural than breathing. It had been a trip of relative silence that Jason broke when they reached the subway platform.
"I'd like to go dancing with you again Kelsi, that was the most fun I've had in a long time and it's been a while since we got to do that."
"It sure was, what did you have in mind?"
"When are you free next? I'd love to take you out for a night on the town, my friends and I go to Club Cache a lot, it's not far from here, great dancing spot."
"I don't know, I've got rehearsals everyday, Wednesday night I'm playing for an outside event, we have extra prep groups on Fridays and then rehearsals often go late too. Thursday is the only night I have totally free this week, not sure if you want to go out partying on a weeknight though."
"I'll make it work this week, if you can. I can't wait for another chance to spin you around." She smiled at his eagerness and relished in the feeling that he wanted to spend time with her.
"Alright, it's a date then. What time?"