Hey guys,
I know I owe you a Duplicity update and that's coming up soon. This story just kinda spilled out of me so be sure to let me know what you think. The other stories I'm working on like the Nicole and John story and the Suzy and (unnamed) are coming. So hopefully once Duplicity is finished I'll give those my full attention. :) Special thanks to TJ for helping with editing on this chapter.
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He didn't look like he belonged there.
Everything about him was wrong.
As the rumbling subway train barreled down the tracks, Rya sat in her seat and discreetly stared at the mysterious man. Ear buds fit snugly in her ears but no music played. She always thought the train provided the best symphony. Tons of metal in a constant rhythm beat with a deep hollow bass. The sound of acceleration and the intermittent screech of the brakes. The high pitched squeal that rivaled Steven Tyler's scream. The thunderous quake of the windows' vibrations accompanied by the quiet chatter of the train's passengers... Yes the train ride was always the best music.
It was the one thing Rya always found solace in. It was also the best background music for looking at people.
She never let her voyeuristic tendencies show. Her head was always tucked in a book with her buds in place. It was to conceal the stark truth. She loved to people watch. It had become one of her favorite pastimes.
Oftentimes she'd imagine what they did for a living, who their families were, their deepest fears. Most were familiar faces who took the same route at the same time as her. Others were visitors who ventured out of their orbits for the day.
Blessed and cursed with an overactive imagination, Rya passed the time giving these strangers personalities and lives. Bombarded with bodies shuffling in and out everyday of the weekday commute, she had a lot of material to work with.
At her 22 years of age you would think she would be over this phase. She quickly figured out it wasn't one. While her parents often complained about her zoning out and going to la-la land, they didn't know she was the self-proclaimed queen of the place.
Now as this mysterious man stared into space, Rya was stumped. He could be a graduate student, just like her. Instead of going into the hospital administration field like her, he could be working towards his PHD. Maybe he was a scientist trying to discover some new kind of molecular theory. His name could be... Carlos. From... Costa Rica. Yeah he could be a Carlos. He was single, of course. He had no kids, but had a dog. A chocolate Labrador. He had a big family he liked to visit on the weekends. He liked to read and write poetry. And he preferred to make love to spicy Latin music.
Rya muffled a laugh; he was so not a Carlos. He was too serious for that, he was almost broody. He looked to be in his late twenties, but wore a neutral expression as though he didn't want to be bothered. Oh well she'd think of something. This was the fourth time she'd seen him on the same northbound E train around nine at night. He got off a couple stops before her while she stayed intrigued. He was the only person who couldn't fit in a story.
Maybe it was because he still looked like he didn't belong. And yet as the subway's symphony drawled on in the background, she wondered if that was the point. He was like the concerto's centerpiece. A presence that, at first glance, looked like it didn't belong, but his allure captured even the most cynical. Emerging from the shadows and presenting himself... purely for our entertainment. At least Rya's entertainment.
He never looked anyone in the eye, though, like it was for their own protection. His gaze would be too much to bear. His face never held warmth. He never spoke to anyone. Not even on his phone. Never texted either. As custom, he always took the same seat on the train. Back straight, shoulders rigid. Always on guard.
The following day was uneventful for Rya, except for the weather, nothing really changed.
Navigating a New York City winter was tricky. Heads and bodies covered in layers of warmth were everywhere. Intermittent sniffles and watery eyes from the unforgiving wind was common. The cold was felt in their bones.
As Rya sat on the subway platform bench bundled in her layers of thick coat she waited for the train. She spotted the mystery man. An oversized beanie concealed her thick dark tresses. Reading glasses lay precariously on the bridge of her nose as she pretended to go over some material for class. She slowly burrowed herself in her coat like a turtle seeking shelter. With only her eyes exposed, she slyly took advantage of the unlimited viewing access to the man standing across from her. What was the deal with him? And why was she so interested?
She had to admit he was, well... nice to look at. There was something in his faraway gaze that made her unable to look away. It was as though his irises held a magnetic pull that held her in a trance. Perhaps it was there that the story could be found.
His heavy frame leaned on a column of the subway platform. All the other commuters walked about, trying to find the exact spot they knew the train would eventually stop; in order to rush in and claim a seat. They were all oblivious to the mysterious man and Rya the spectator.
Clothed in a skully hat, bubble jacket, jeans and boots; all normal attire for the average male living in the north and yet Rya could sense this was no average man. Blessed with being over six feet tall, he wore his muscular build well
. He had a perfect sun-kissed tan like he spent hours on a tanning bed to get it just right. A set of long lashed doe eyes were so dark, they looked to be almost black; like pools of tar. Only to be surrounded by tumultuous waves of dark brown hair.
Rya wondered what it was like to run her fingers through it. And then there was his beard. For some reason, his well-trimmed short beard made Rya's heart pulsate. She sometimes imagined what it would be like to have that soft beard run down her back. The tingling feeling resonated in her nether regions. There was something about him that made him look so powerful. So masculine.
He never paid any attention to her though and she was ok with that. Observing him from afar was much better.
Suddenly she noticed his gaze shift to a man dressed in an expensive suit. He narrowed his eyes at him. After a moment, he straightened up and pushed himself off the wall. He slowly walked towards the dapper gentleman. The business man had a faraway look. He clutched his suitcase and his hands trembled slightly. Light sweat graced his forehead and temples.
Rya watched rooted in place as fear clutched her chest. Her eyes widened as the man slowly walked closer and closer to the platform's edge. The fresh polish radiating off of his Italian leather shoes seemed to glare at her. The mystery man cautiously stepped closer to him undetected. His gait was like a tiger stalking its prey.
The platform's tremor of the oncoming train made the commuters sigh in relief as their ride arrived. The tell-tale horn signaling the train approached seemed to startle Rya out of her panic-induced daze. She got up and took steps towards the man as well.
Finally he was within reach. He didn't even notice someone was behind him as his eyes were glued to the oncoming train. He stood precariously on the yellow edge. The ominous dark tunnel gradually illuminated by the train's intense light. He clutched his briefcase to his chest as his body trembled. He mumbled words to himself. No one seemed to take note of what was happening.
Rya let out an inaudible cry for help. When she realized her voice was lost for some reason; she waved her hands and pointed towards them as she tried to get anyone to listen.
Just as the gush of wind blew over them as the heavy train flew by... the man in the suit tried to jump, yet the train bellowed on without consequence. The man in the suit looked down in confusion as he realized his arm was secure in another man's grasp.
He let out a cry of frustration or maybe it was relief. Tears fell down his face as he was hastily pulled to a secure place on the platform. The man whispered something in his ear. The man in the suit's eyes widened as he spoke. His chest rose erratically and nodded quickly several times. The mystery man whispered something again. The man in the suit clutched his suitcase and stumbled out of the station in a hurry.
Rya's mouth dropped. By the time she reached them, the man in the suit was already gone. She looked at the mystery man now more intrigued than ever.
"W-w-what did you s-s-say to him??!"
"Hmm?"
The man looked at her as though he didn't know what she was talking about. He walked away leaving her with her question unanswered. At that moment, the northbound train came and they both boarded. Rya rushed to be in the same train car as him.
She wasn't done with him yet. Normally an introverted girl, she seldom spoke up. But this was different. She felt a burst of courage.
