Watching

Monday morning seems like such a pain. People jam themselves into trains and suddenly forgetting their manners. The guy in front of her seem to be reading some mystery novel and the guy behind her had his backpack close to her head. The woman with the extremely large bag stand so close, she can see her fake eyelashes. Riding the R train, the girl try to make space for other passengers. The train stop dead forcing people to shift forward bumping into each other. The guy reading the mystery novel brush against the girl, "Sorry" he said. She nod her head with a slight smile, hair falling into her face.

The guy is good looking with pale skin and a very nice smile. She can see his shiny white teeth for a brief second when he apologize. She can smell her after-shave. He went back to reading his book. The girl stare at him, forgetting where she was. How lovely his skin is - smooth and tan, just like those romance novels. The girl quickly shake herself out of her thoughts. How foolish to think of someone you don't even know. Yet she couldn't help herself as she stare at the side of his face. He turn around, letting someone move, facing her now, his nice, clean left hand holding on to the pole. The same pole her right hand is holding onto. Now his hand was only a few inches above from hers. She look down at his shoes. She didn't want him to think she was staring. He didn't even look up from his book as the train move, stop. In the motionless train, the girl try her best not to think negative thoughts. She stare down at her own shoes, not wanting to draw attention to herself.

The train started again this time moving people backward with a jolt. She grab onto his arm impulsively. Balancing herself, so as not to fall onto anyone. "Sorry" she said as she remove her hand from his arm. The guy said nothing. Another jolt and the girl falls into the guy's arm, apologize to him. He help her stand up. "Thanks" she said. Adjusting her coat and bag, the girl wish to say something else to him but could not think of anything. He nod his head in acknowledgment. She grab on to the pole. The train's moving in a steady pace now. Then stop. Once again the train move then stop. The girl was restless wanting to run away and forget about going to work. What's there for me anyway? She held on to the pole even though the train is not moving.

There was no talking. Quiet swept over the train. The distance sound of a moving train is the only sound that seem to be present. The girl look around her and back at the guy. The guy is still reading his novel. The guy was wearing a brown leather jacket and white Nike sneakers with faded blue jeans and a crisp white shirt. His hair is comb back, slick and smooth. He read with an intense look on his face, engross in the book. The girl try not to stare at him but could not help herself. She thought of talking to him or at least maybe stand closer to him. She quickly abandon those thoughts. How foolish, why would he talk to her, she thought. Her purse her lips together, she decide to forget it and stare up at the advertisement. Finally the train started to move again. The girl watch the guy as the guy walk out of the train at the next stop. She stare at the back of his head. The girl sigh thinking she will never see him again.