Chapter 153: New York City
Wednesday, January 11th, Late Morning
It was a Wednesday late in the morning, and she was in her favorite coffee shop. Typically, she would work from home, and only would work at a coffee shop when she had a meeting or on Sundays. Today, she didn't feel like being home, and she left it. The people she was avoiding didn't know where, what, when, and the name of her favorite coffee shop.
Her head was down over her laptop; it was a veteran of the last few years in New York. It was a local purchase, as her college laptop died not long after she came to New York. This one was the second laptop she bought in New York. Her job made her burn out laptops quickly, and she was always going through them. Generally, she had two, and one was usually getting serviced.
"Ellie, is that you?" a familiar voice asked. Ellie slowly looked up to see Dawson standing there. He dressed for the cold weather, his jacket was open, and he still wore a knit beanie. Dawson is holding a cup of coffee.
"Hey Dawson," Ellie said, and a real smile broke on her face, and removed her reading glasses.
"Hey, how you doing?" Dawson asked, and took a seat across from Ellie.
"Tired and busy," Ellie said.
"I hear you," Dawson said.
"I hear that's what being an adult, always tired and busy," Ellie said.
"I heard that too," Dawson said, "You're dressed differently."
Ellie shrugged, "I had meetings," she said.
"Meetings," Dawson said, "Just the sound of the word gives me chills."
"The nature of my job," Ellie said and shrugged. She looked at the reflection in her screen and regretted having her pulled back and held in place by a headband.
"Ever just want to get away from it all? Get out there and see the world?" Dawson asked.
"Once, I did, and actually did it," Ellie said.
"You did? Where did you go, and how did it end up?" Dawson asked.
"It ended up," Ellie said, and paused, thinking about how to answer the question, "Interestingly."
"Interestingly? In a good way, or in a Chinese Curse sort of way?" Dawson asked.
Ellie laughed, "I'd tell you when I know," she said.
Dawson laughed, "I see. So where did you end up?" he asked.
Ellie laughed again, "How do you think I got here?" she asked.
Dawson laughed, shook his head, and smiled, "So, like most people in The City, you're not from here," he said, "I forget."
Ellie nodded, "That's true," she said, and looked at Dawson, noticing a bit of a tattoo sticking out of his sleeve on his arm.
"Like the ink?" Dawson asked.
Ellie shrugged, "I don't know, I haven't seen it all," she said, "Yet."
Dawson smiled and stood up. He slipped his heavy winter coat off and dropped the jacket over the back of the chair. Slowly, almost teasing, he rolled up his shirt sleeve to expose the sleeve tattoo on his arm.
Ellie slowly studied his tattoo, as Dawson attempted to flex his arm muscles. She noted the definition in his arms and the bulk; to her eyes, they looked like they were vanity muscles. These were not hard-earned lean muscles for work. These were hard-earned in the gym just for the look. She apricated the artwork and intricate coloring.
Having Kay as a sister taught her a few things about art. Kay had the artistic bend. "Very nice work," Ellie finally said, as Dawson took his seat, again.
"Thanks, do you have any ink?" Dawson asked.
"I do, a few of my family members do as well," Ellie said.
"Oh really," Dawson said, "How many do you have?"
"Three," Ellie said.
"Do I get to see any?" Dawson asked.
"Maybe, they're all very personal to me," Ellie said.
"Well, could you at least tell me what they are?" Dawson asked.
"I did the girlie thing and had words tattooed on me," Ellie said.
"All three?" Dawson asked.
"No, just my first and third," Ellie said.
"What's the second one?" Dawson asked.
"Oh, that's my Tarheel," Ellie said.
"Tarheel?" Dawson asked.
"The symbol of the University of North Carolina," Ellie said.
Dawson picked up his smartphone and clicked through a few things and nodded. He looked up, "It says it's also a nickname for someone from North Carolina," he said.
"So, I've heard," Ellie said.
"Did you go to the University of North Carolina?" Dawson asked.
"Yeah, me, Lawrence Taylor, James Polk, Vince Carter, Hakeem Nicks, and Michael Jordan," Ellie said.
"Who?" Dawson asked.
"Never mind," Ellie said, "Where did you go to college?"
"Stoney Brook," Dawson said.
Ellie nodded, "Sure," she said.
"How did you end up at UNC?" Dawson asked.
"It's where my Dad and Mom went, and my brother was there when I was going to college," Ellie said, "I didn't want to go college where I didn't know anyone."
"Why?" Dawson asked.
"Long story," Ellie said, "But I'll sum it up this way, I had a rough a few years in high school."
"We all had rough times, especially in high school," Dawson said.
Ellie nodded, "Work is no better," she said, and looked at her laptop.
"Working for the man that is," Dawson said.
Ellie nodded, "Need to work," she said.
"Can't be king of the world if your slave to the grind," Dawson said.
"That's what I heard," Ellie said.
"What do you want to be?" Dawson asked.
"I want to get my book published," Ellie said.
"You wrote a book?" Dawson asked.
"Yes, I did," Ellie said, and left out the rest of the statement, twice.
"I'd like to read it," Dawson said.
"I can email you a copy," Ellie said.
"Thanks," Dawson said, grabbed a napkin and wrote his email address on it. He slid the napkin over to Ellie; she took it and looked it over. Finally, she folded it and put it in her pocket.
"You're welcome," Ellie said.
Ellie turned to her laptop and tapped on a few keys. A moment later, Dawson's phone dinged, he looked at it. He smiled and nodded.
"That was fast, and you didn't even look at the napkin when you sent up the email," Dawson said.
Ellie shrugged, "I have excellent visual recall," she said.
"That's interesting," Dawson said.
"Not really," Ellie said.
"I wish I had that," Dawson said.
Ellie shrugged, "It's a gift, I guess," she said.
"Not everyone is so gifted," Dawson said.
Ellie nodded and looked at her laptop. "I do have to finish my work," she said.
"I'm sorry to be bothering you," Dawson said.
"You're not bothering me," Ellie said.
"But I'll let you get back to work," Dawson said, got up, grabbed his coat, and coffee. With a smile and a nod, he left. Ellie nodded and went back to her work.