anymore. I am never giving up. Ever.”
We stared back out at the island of Manhattan , which from afar seemed so quiet on this beautiful night. I snuck a quick look at Erik, searching his eyes for something, anything at all that might explain if I was more than a distraction. Whatever it was, it was keeping me entertained enough to toss my “no-man” rule in the East River...
***
A short while later, after taking a few pictures to appease his cousins, Erik was back where he’d started, keeping me company on this night-time boat cruise.
A photographer hired by the boat tour was offering his services to anyone who’d listen. He seemed to be scoping out the couples, and when he arrived at the two of us, Erik carefully inched himself away from me.
“How about a pictur e of you and your boyfriend?” said the photographer.
Erik looked like he wanted to ju mp overboard. Suddenly I’m the plague to you? Not so fast. “He’s not my boyfriend. We’re actually brother and sister.” The photographer seemed confused which wasn’t surprising, given Erik’s light brown hair, blue eyes and overall whiteness. These qualities were a stark contrast to my long dark hair and obvious brown-factor.
“Well how about a picture of you and your brother?” he insisted.
“We may be brother and sister but we don’t actually get along,” I said. “So why waste a picture on it?” I scowled at Erik only to find him looking dumbfounded. It was hilarious.
The phot ographer, deciding I was probably on drugs, shook his head at me and walked away.
After he was gone I started laughing and pointing at Erik. “You were so scared! It’s like you were the president about to get caught with his intern or something. Relax, okay? I’ve got enough of my own problems.”
“What does that m ean?” He suddenly seemed curious.
I waved him away with my hand. “Never mind, okay? ” Change the subject NOW. “So anyway I’m a writer for fun. But what do you do for fun?”
He dug his hands into his poc kets and stared ahead. “I like reading, of course. And when I have time...I play around with a guitar.”
I gasped and nearly grabbed him by the shoulders , but luckily restrained myself at the last second. “You’re a MUSICIAN? How am I only hearing this now?!”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I forgot to mention it.”
I slapped him on the shoulder, my earlier restraint now gone. “Yeah right you forgot!”
“Now calm down Romi, it’s just a hobby. Something to keep me busy when I’m not at work.”
I slapped him on the shoulder again. “Liar! Are you in a band?”
He started rubbing his now abused shoulder. “You’re an aggressive one, aren’t you? Anyway I play with some guys when I’m back home. But it really is just that. Playing around. I brought my stuff to New York so I could practice and hopefully improve. “
I planted my feet directly in front of him, so for once it could be me with the probing stare . “You can downplay it all you want, but it’s music, and music is...significant!”
He still appeared nonchalant. “How significant?”
“The MOST significant! I mean how would I experience all my joys and all my sorrows without the right soundtrack?”
I finally managed to replace his nonchalant expression with a smile so I continued. “In fact…the only thing I fear about apocalypse or a brav e new world or whatever is the horror of being robbed of all music. Like they can feed us ‘Soylent Green’ all they want, ‘cause WHO CARES about eating people!” He laughed. “But take away my music…and I’ll cut you.” My eyes narrowed.
“Is it possible to be flattered and frightened all at once?”
I smiled. “Anything is possible.”
The boat rocked back and forth as we stared at each other like googly-eyed teenagers, with my “no-man” plan now dead at the bottom of the river...
***
With the boat approaching Staten Island now, Erik was back with his cousins as I soaked in
We stared back out at the island of Manhattan , which from afar seemed so quiet on this beautiful night. I snuck a quick look at Erik, searching his eyes for something, anything at all that might explain if I was more than a distraction. Whatever it was, it was keeping me entertained enough to toss my “no-man” rule in the East River...
***
A short while later, after taking a few pictures to appease his cousins, Erik was back where he’d started, keeping me company on this night-time boat cruise.
A photographer hired by the boat tour was offering his services to anyone who’d listen. He seemed to be scoping out the couples, and when he arrived at the two of us, Erik carefully inched himself away from me.
“How about a pictur e of you and your boyfriend?” said the photographer.
Erik looked like he wanted to ju mp overboard. Suddenly I’m the plague to you? Not so fast. “He’s not my boyfriend. We’re actually brother and sister.” The photographer seemed confused which wasn’t surprising, given Erik’s light brown hair, blue eyes and overall whiteness. These qualities were a stark contrast to my long dark hair and obvious brown-factor.
“Well how about a picture of you and your brother?” he insisted.
“We may be brother and sister but we don’t actually get along,” I said. “So why waste a picture on it?” I scowled at Erik only to find him looking dumbfounded. It was hilarious.
The phot ographer, deciding I was probably on drugs, shook his head at me and walked away.
After he was gone I started laughing and pointing at Erik. “You were so scared! It’s like you were the president about to get caught with his intern or something. Relax, okay? I’ve got enough of my own problems.”
“What does that m ean?” He suddenly seemed curious.
I waved him away with my hand. “Never mind, okay? ” Change the subject NOW. “So anyway I’m a writer for fun. But what do you do for fun?”
He dug his hands into his poc kets and stared ahead. “I like reading, of course. And when I have time...I play around with a guitar.”
I gasped and nearly grabbed him by the shoulders , but luckily restrained myself at the last second. “You’re a MUSICIAN? How am I only hearing this now?!”
He shrugged his shoulders. “I forgot to mention it.”
I slapped him on the shoulder, my earlier restraint now gone. “Yeah right you forgot!”
“Now calm down Romi, it’s just a hobby. Something to keep me busy when I’m not at work.”
I slapped him on the shoulder again. “Liar! Are you in a band?”
He started rubbing his now abused shoulder. “You’re an aggressive one, aren’t you? Anyway I play with some guys when I’m back home. But it really is just that. Playing around. I brought my stuff to New York so I could practice and hopefully improve. “
I planted my feet directly in front of him, so for once it could be me with the probing stare . “You can downplay it all you want, but it’s music, and music is...significant!”
He still appeared nonchalant. “How significant?”
“The MOST significant! I mean how would I experience all my joys and all my sorrows without the right soundtrack?”
I finally managed to replace his nonchalant expression with a smile so I continued. “In fact…the only thing I fear about apocalypse or a brav e new world or whatever is the horror of being robbed of all music. Like they can feed us ‘Soylent Green’ all they want, ‘cause WHO CARES about eating people!” He laughed. “But take away my music…and I’ll cut you.” My eyes narrowed.
“Is it possible to be flattered and frightened all at once?”
I smiled. “Anything is possible.”
The boat rocked back and forth as we stared at each other like googly-eyed teenagers, with my “no-man” plan now dead at the bottom of the river...
***
With the boat approaching Staten Island now, Erik was back with his cousins as I soaked in
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