I had traveled to the Big City for a job and I had just boarded the subway car on my to my first full day of work.
As expected at that hour of the morning there was no place to sit and only a few places for me to stand. I looked for an unoccupied strap but there were none. I joined a lady at a pole and managed to hold on as the car lurched forward.
I nodded and smiled at her which of course is not done in subway cars but I am from Texas so that part of me was never going away. However I had adapted to my new world a bit by immediately pretending that the victim of my friendliness and everyone else in the car had vanished.
I did see a small smile cross the ladies lips before she disappeared.
Our route had one particular curve that caught me by surprise and almost threw me into the woman. I managed not to make contact but still muttered, "Sorry" to her.
As I returned everyone in the car to invisibility I saw a quizzical look on her face. She was likely wondering from which planet I was from.
We got off at the same station and if she wondered if I was following her she quickly had an answer since once above ground I turned left as she turned right.
She was at the platform that afternoon as I headed home. She looked in my direction but did not see me, or pretended she did not. I am somewhat tall and a redhead so most people can easily spot me in a crowd.
I boarded the car past hers and rode home. I did not turn to look and see if she was watching me walk away since I had already forgotten about her. Mom was on the phone with another catastrophic phantom event to relate.
I did not see her the next morning until we were walking up to the sidewalk. Again I nodded and smiled and again she had no reaction except that whisper of a smile.
That was the best response from a stranger I had gotten in the Big City so far so I was happy with it.
We were in the same car going home that day but since there was a strap for me to hold onto I did not keep her company at her pole. She was only three feet from me so I took the opportunity to study her.
She was perhaps in her early thirties, about five-five, brunette, with big brown eyes. She was pretty, not beautiful, not cute. Her face had enough character that a guy would not get tired at just looking at her.
She wore a large old sweater over a smart business suit. She wore sneakers but a quick look into her large bag revealed high-heeled shoes inside. It was apparent this was her world.
It was not mine but I had to make the best of it for at least a few months. The money was good and the company had set me up into a nice flat at what used to be a hotel. I was comfortable but I very much missed my family.
I had been in the Big City for a week and had not made even one acquaintance. I was shy for a big friendly galoot.
My ruminations distracted me enough that the curve caught me by surprise and I had to quickly correct my center of gravity. I manage not to crush anyone but when I looked at the woman her ghost of a smile was accompanied by an almost imperceptible shake of her head.
I gave her an embarrassed smile and made everyone in the car vanish, except her. I wanted her to vanish too but she refused to do so. I turned to the window for relief but soon noticed that I could see her reflection on it.
I took a minute and decided that it was OK to look at her as long as I was not doing so directly. I saw her glance in my direction then glance at the window. It occurred to me that if I could see her reflection she could see mine.
I did not see a sign of disapproval, if anything her expression showed curiosity. We continued to glance at each other on the window until it was time for me to get off.
I admitted to myself that I found her fascinating.
Not "I would like to fuck her" fascinating but more of a "coffee, long conversation, and kiss on the cheek" fascinating. I started to look forward to my subway rides, a minor miracle in itself.
During the week that followed I managed to be at the pole with her about half the time. I nodded and smiled and she almost nodded and almost smiled. We studiously did our best to ignore each other after that.
By the end of the week I had found just enough nerve to always get on the same car she usually rode and go straight to her pole. I no longer checked to see if there were straps or seats available.
That Friday I nodded and smiled to her and I was rewarded with a small nod and a slightly bigger smile than usual. I made everyone vanish but again she refused to do so.
Actually, I think she could have taken credit for making everyone else vanish for me.
My chin was just even with her forehead. She would have to look up to see my face so that morning I concentrated on her smell. She smelled clean; she apparently showered in the mornings like I did. Her perfume was very subtle and vaguely familiar. I liked being near her.
I was ready for the curve that morning and held steady through it but the lady gave me a quick look as if making sure I was OK. We again exited together and climbed the steps together. We nodded at each other as we went our respective ways.
I was in the Big City overseeing the installation of new hardware and software in one of our biggest clients offices. That Friday included my first meeting with the techs that were going to be responsible for the transition. I did not get out of the building on time and missed my usual subway ride.
I did learn that one-hour after my normal ride the subway became much more crowded, and resolved to be prompt or very late from then on.
It irritated me that it would be Monday afternoon before I saw the lady again.
I missed her again the Monday morning, as I had to get to work early and get the AV equipment set up for what would be daylong presentations.
I did get out on time that afternoon and managed to make my way to the pole she was holding. There was another guy there but as soon as she saw me she made room for me between them.
I realized she was using me as a shield. I nodded and smiled as I squeezed myself between them.
The guy made a sound that gave me the impression I had just crossed into his hunting grounds but I was too big to challenge. After a few minutes he went in search of new prey.
The lady and I had squeezed together a little when I positioned myself between them but after he left neither of us made a move to separate. I had placed my hand high on the bar and she had placed herself nearly in front of me.
My position would not be steady enough for the curve so I put my other hand on the pole. She was now between my arms although they were not touching her. Our body contact increased a bit during the curve.
She had room to move forward but did not.
I had room to move back but did not.
We were still in the same position when my station suddenly showed up.
My hand briefly slid softly past her shoulder as I turned to leave. When I got off on the platform I turned and looked at her. She smiled. A real smile. The best smile I had seen in a long while.