Sunday in New York

I arrived at the restaurant and rushed in, telling the host that I was expected. He showed me to the table where Amelia was waiting for me. She sat there with that annoyed look on her face, an eyebrow raised and pursed lips.

I started to laugh, "It's not my fault! I was at Barnes and Noble and I guess I got carried away, I was also talking to someone."

"Yeah yeah Avery, books always have something to play in your excuses." She lightly laughed, sipping at her bloody mary.

I just laughed to myself and then gave the waitress my drink order; I ordered an iced tea.

Amelia shook her head at me, "You're such a goodie two shoes."

"What? Just because I ordered an iced tea?" I looked down at the menu.

"Never mind," She chuckled, "So who this mystery person you were talking to at Barnes?"

I smiled and couldn't help but blush. She made a face and bit her lip, "Avery Moore, was this person a mystery man?"

"Don't say it like that, I don't even know his name. I just accidentally bumped into him while I was reading and we got to talking."

"What did he look like?" She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.

"He had dark hair and the lightest eyes. They were green, like a jade green." I softly smiled, "and he was tall. Very tall."

"Everyone's tall compared to you, shorty." She smiled.

"Well, all in all he was handsome." I replied, "but it doesn't really matter since I'll probably never see him again."

"And you have Eric, your jerk of a boyfriend." She rolled her eyes.

I didn't say anything, I knew that was the truth, I just didn't want to admit it. Eric and I had been together for almost four years now, I met him the Summer after high school. I fell in love at first and believed that we would be married, or at least engaged by now. But I was wrong, and I remain the girlfriend, always and forever.

I didn't bother saying anything more on the matter, I just had a light brunch with Amelia as she gabbed about her job and her "annoying" clients, and the latest parties she's been to.

* * *

Later that day I went home and worked on a paper assignment from work, but then got distracted and painted for a few hours. When I saw that it was getting late in the afternoon, around 3-ish, I left home in my jogging outfit and runners. I made my way over to Central Park, that was my favourite place to go for walks and runs. I sat on a bench and checked my shoelaces, then I took out my iPod and selected a workout playlist.

I got up and began to jog at a relaxed pace, letting the sounds of the music play in my ears and the gentle breeze of the day caress my skin. I picked up the pace and began running faster, thinking about work as usual, and my birthday next week. Amelia had informed me that we were going out to celebrate, and much to my dismay I didn't have the heart to tell her that I didn't want to go out.

After a long run, I didn't realize right away that my playlist had ended. I looked down at my iPod, changing the playlist when all of a sudden I ran into the shoulder of a passerby, feeling my body pushed back.

I stumbled backward to a stop and quickly I took out my earphones, "I'm so sorry!" My eyes widened and my jaw dropped. It was him.

"Hi. It's you!" He smiled.

I smiled back, "Hi."

"I didn't think I'd see you again." He grinned.

"Same here." I chuckled.

We didn't say anything for a moment, we just stared into each other's eyes and smiled. My voice was caught within my chest, I was having trouble finding something to say.

He cleared his throat and held out his hand to shake mine, "I'm Hudson."

I gently placed my hand in his, "I'm Avery."

"Do you...do you wanna go for a walk?" He asked, looking down at me from his tall frame.

I softly smiled, "Yeah, I'd like that."

"Cool." He gave a short laugh. We began walking and we must have ended up talking and walking for about an hour or so.

"So, what do you do?" He asked, his hands in his pockets.

"I'm currently an intern at Rolling Stone magazine." I grinned.

"No way, are you serious?" He smiled back.

"Yeah, I'm an aspiring journalist. I managed to get an internship at Rolling Stone. I've been interning for about six months now."

"That's amazing, and a journalist. Where did you study journalism?"

"NYU, I took the magazine course along with the global and joint program. I'd like to work for the National Geographic magazine someday." I looked down at my feet.

"That's awesome, that's really great." He smiled, looking at me. I blushed and looked away.

"Thanks."

"I went to NYU once, I went for a year and dropped out."

I looked at him with a surprised look, "You dropped out? What were you taking?"

"It was for Fine Arts. I just found it boring." He laughed.

I just smiled.

"I'm not saying journalism is boring, I love art but taking a class to understand it was...tedious."

"Oh no, it's okay. My boyfriend thinks that it was a waste of time to go to school for journalism." I shrugged my shoulders.

He quickly looked at me. "You have a boyfriend?"

I looked up at him, "Yeah, I do."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I just assumed you...didn't." He looked down.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you." I sighed.

"No, don't feel bad!" He laughed, "I was just gonna ask you if you wanted to...hang out sometime, but your boyfriend wouldn't like that."

I paused for a moment, "Well...not if we just hang out as friends."

He smiled, "That sounds good...would you like to hang out sometime?"

I grinned, "Today is my only day off, so I don't know when we could meet up."

"Well, what about tonight?"

We both slowed to a stop. I thought for a moment and then nodded with a smile, "Okay." I took out my phone to check the time, it was 5:24pm.

"Okay, should I pick you up? Say around, seven?" He asked.

"Sure, I should give you my number." I replied.

He smiled and passed me his phone, I took it and put my number into his contacts. I gave it back to him.

"I should go, I need to get ready." I bit my lip, trying not to blush.

"Okay...wait, so what are we gonna do tonight?" He asked.

"We'll figure it out when we get together. I've never been one to plan." I smiled.

"Alright." He smiled, "I'll see you in a bit then."

"Bye." I smiled, walking away.

I couldn't help but get excited over this, I never thought I'd see him again. It wasn't even five minutes before my phone rang, I answered it as I continued walking. "Hello?"

"Hi Avery, it's Hudson. I just wanted to make sure you didn't give me a fake number."

I laughed, "I promise you that I will never be that cruel."

"Alright. I'll see you later then."

"Okay, I'll text you my address in a bit." I softly smiled.

"Okay. Bye."

"Bye."

I jumped up from excitement, scaring a few pigeons and weirding out a few people, but I was over the moon. I went home and took a shower, and after my shower I texted Hudson my address and texted Amelia the good news.

"Get out! No way, you're going out with him tonight?" She texted.

"Yes! But it's not a date, we're just two friends hanging out. Like you and me."

"I'm so happy for you! Does this mean you're finally dumping Eric? :)"

"No, I have to get ready, I'll TTYL."

"Don't forget to bring a change of clothes. ;)"

I laughed and shook my head, tossing my phone down onto the couch. Fortunately Eric and I have yet to move in together, so I still have my tiny apartment all to myself. I went into the bathroom to blow-dry my hair and get ready for tonight.