Chapter Text
8:37 a.m, same time everyday.
8:37 am, "Stand clear of the closing doors"
Everyday the same thing. Lexa pulled her beanie lower to cover her ears as she took her usual spot on the train, leaning up against the door. It gave her the ability to see the whole car, even if no one paid attention on the train. She watched as everyone was sitting there messing around on their phones, or reading the paper. Some actually pulled out a book. She tended to pay more attention to them. They had the sense to appreciate the feel of paper and flipping pages to the feel of plastic and pressing buttons.
Lexa snaps out of her"people watching" haze when she realizes that the train already reach the end. She starts to think about how after two years the trip seems to get shorter and shorter. She made her way out the train doors, pushing past the impatient people trying to get on. "You know if you'd let us off, you'd have more room to get on." Lexa mumbled pushing her way onto the platform. Why do I do this? Lexa thought as she looked at the massive amount of people trying to get on the escalators. Just then her phone beeps alerting her to an email - You've Just Been Paid -
Oh yeah that's why
5:17 pm "This is the train to Newark Penn Station. Next stop Exchange Place. Stand clear of the closing doors". Another day down. Lexa leans against the door wondering if anything exciting will ever happen.
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"That's the last of it" Abby says as she puts a box labeled supplies down. Abby just received a position at JCMC and moved here with her daughter Clarke. "You are only a train ride into one of the most beautiful cities in the world." She said trying to cheer Clarke up. "I guess" Clarke replied. Clarke knew her mother was right. She hadn't felt inspired to draw anything in a really long time. "I'll head to the city tomorrow" Clark said. "It's probably easier to find a job there then it is here anyways." Abby smiled. Maybe she'll finally start feeling like herself "I'm ordering pizza for dinner tonight. Is that okay?" "Make sure to get one with pepperoni!" Clarke yelled down.
Clarke really didn't want to move here but she knew this job was a great opportunity for her mother. She knew she could also use the change of scenery since everywhere in her old town reminded her of him. If Clarke was being honest, the view from her bedroom was amazing. Nothing quite compares to the New York skyline. Digging through boxes, Clarke found her sketch pad and some pencils. As she waited for the pizza to arrive, she sat by her window and drew the Freedom Tower. Zoning out, Clarke was startled when she heard the unfamiliar buzz of the doorbell. She made her way downstairs just as Abby yelled "Food's here!". "You don't have to yell." Clarke replied making Abby jump. "I didn't realize you were there." They made their way to the kitchen and Clark wondered if things could ever get back to normal.
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Weekends were always Lexa's favorite part of the week. I mean who didn't like the weekends. Nor only did she not have to work but she could take her people watching to more than just the train. She grabbed her camera and headed to the train station. It wasn't exactly the best day but clouds did make for some great photographs of skyscrapers. Making her way down to the platform, she was already taking photos of the massive amount of people going to the train today. She tried to remember if there was some type of festival or something going on. Not that she really paid attention to that but she though it could be a good chance for some photos. Lexa pulled out her phone to check if anything was going on in New York, which of course there was, it was New York. She wasn't paying attention when she felt a bump on her left side.
"Sorry"
Lexa looked up to see who bumped her but all she saw was blonde hair and a blue jacket making her way down the platform. A smirk spread across her face as she took a hip shot of the platform.
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"Sorry" Clarke said but didn't stop walking down the platform. She was surprised at the amount of people waiting for the train. Clarke managed to get to the end of the platform just as the train pulled in. She figured the first and last cars of the train would be the least packed and she was right. Clarke was surprised she was able to get a seat. As the train began to fill with people, she couldn't help but scan the car. She made it a habit of carefully observing her surroundings. Although most of the time she's forget what was around her the instant she focused on something else. Summer Festival Central Park June 7-14. I guess that a good place to go. She quickly looked up how to get there. "Please stand clear of the closing doors" Clarke jumped at how loud the door alarm was. Laughing at herself, she watched as a girl just barely made it in before the doors closed. The first thing she noticed was the girl's camera. It was a high end DSLR. After admiring the camera, she looked up to see the greenest eyes she has ever seen. Clarke quickly tried to avert her gaze when she realized that she had been caught staring.
Wow she's beautiful
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She doesn't know why but she decides to follow the blonde to the end of the platform. The train pulls in as she's making her way to the end. The train must be in a rush because she hears "Stand clear of the closing doors" almost immediately. She runs to make it into the car just as the doors close. She catches her breath as the train pulls out of the station. Lexa leans against the door, like she normally does, and almost instantly recognizes the blonde hair sitting across from where she is standing. Lexa notices the girl staring at her camera and can't help but smirk. When the blonde looks up, Lexa forgets hot to breathe. She's never seen such beautiful blue eyes before. Unfortunately, the girls looks away when she realizes Lexa is staring back at her. Lexa notes the pink hue forming on the blonde's cheeks.
Wow she's beautiful
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Clarke makes it to Central Park and decided to check out the festival she saw the ad for on the train. The park is massive but she quickly locates the festival. She walks around for about an hour, stopping at various vendors and checking out their merchandise. Clarke spots and empty bench and decides to rest. She pulls out her sketch book and starts to quickly sketch out some of the vendors. After about eight small and quick sketches, she decides she really isn't that inspired. Clarke looks up once more and spots something familiar. Right beside the vendor she just drew, Clarke sees the same green eyed brunette from the train. She sits back down and decides to sketch one last drawing.
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Central Park is always a sure bet for good photos. Lexa made her way to the festival snapping pictures along the way, especially of the pond. She took candid photographs of a man reading a book on a bench smoking a cigar. He was a good sport and even posed for her after he realized she was taking pictures. Lexa was always relaxed behind the camera. It was her mask. It kept a certain distance between the subject and her. Lexa finally made it to the festival and watched as people walked around the different vendors. She stopped next to a table that was selling spray pain art. Lexa was amazing with a camera but not so much with any other form of art. She turned around and decided to take pictures of the outskirts of the festival. She lifted her camera and as she looked through the view finder recognized the blonde from the train. She stared at the girl for a few moments before taking the picture. When she went to review the photo, she couldn't help but feel a weird connection to it. When Lexa looked up, she noticed that the blonde was no longer there. Lexa turned around to head back to the train station but was met with blue eyes.
"Hi. I'm Clarke"