Streets of Manhattan

James sniffed, "Maybe I'm just fucking crazy? Who thinks about a girl who liked them two years ago still? I feel so bad for myself and Luke! God damn it I feel bad that I have to vent to you and make you feel like crap. You don't deserve. I try to keep my self shut out but I can't."

" I'm just stupid that's it. I'm stupid for letting a girl take over my emotions like she did. Claire was right Luke. I'm not cut out for this love shit. You may think I'm some smooth talking lucky guy but at least one day you'll end up with some girl like Ash or hell even Alexis! Who really cares about you."

James' voice dropped, "I'll always be alone."

Luke stared at his friend, beyond alarmed. James wasn't the huggy type. Luke exhaled sharply.

"That's stupid," he said quietly. "She was one girl, James. You'll find soneone who'll take you with your faults. Not without them."

He hated himself for dissing Evelyn the way he was doing, but James looked so down, the words came automatically. "She didn't know you, and she didn't want the real you, James. You deserve better."

"Yeah, yeah I know." James said defeated having heard the speech from him, and Ashlee hundreds of times, he knew he deserved better than Evelyn but until he got over her, there wasn't anyone else.

"I don't know dude, I just want to have fun, and I feel like I can't and it s weird cause despite Ash's slutty roommate she kind of gave an Ev vibe, but honestly I would never get with her, yeah probably in the old days I'd do her, but now." James shrugged, feeling raindrops on his head.

"Listen, I just want to go back to the apartment and go to sleep. I've had a shitty day dude." James sighed exhausted, starting to walk but not too fast so he didn't leave Luke behind.

Luke sped up a bit to keep in pace with James. Above them, thunder crackled across the sky and he shivered, tugging his jacket's zipper up.

"Well, yeah, but the best way to move on would be to go out there...maybe give this whole dating thing a chance. Screwing random girls won't help you find a replac - um, a better girl."

He grimaced. He'd almost said that James should try finding a substitute. That would never help him get over her; it would simply remind James exactly who he was trying to replace.

***

Oriana had split up with Ashlee on the walk home. Like she wanted to share a path home with that snitching bitch.

She had some "business" to deal with. The trip to the fair had gone well for her, Ashlee aside. And James had been excellent eye-candy while she scoured for customers.

Usually, her customers were less than better looking. Especially the ones who wanted her dwindling supply of marijuana. She'd killed the stupid plant before her landlord found it under its damned red light.

Oriana turned her mind to less depressing subjects. Her jobs brought in good income. Way more than if she worked at some gay cash register. But it was tiring, always looking over her shoulder for the ever-present law. There were days she just wished she had a real mother, and a dad who didn't take off god-knew-where, leaving his kid with his staggering bills.

And her mom was a psycho. Oriana winced. That was harsh. She was schizo.

The black-haired girl changed topics again, feeling depressed. Her mind focused on pretty blue eyes instead and she grinned.

James was a lot more fun when Ashlee wasn't around, Oriana reflected sourly. Back at his door, he'd talked to her, albeit in his suggestive way, but that was fun. She never usually had the time to flirt. And God knew the only people she'd screwed were never ones she'd choose if she had a choice.

She'd definitely go see him sometime when Ashlee was at school.

Oriana walked quickly down 33rd, and entered a building.

***

Evelyn was glad she wasn't wearing heels. Because the damned raincloud over her head seemed determined to drown her before she reached home. And so she ran like the gates of hell had opened behind her, ducking into every shade she found. Her white-shirt was horrifically see-through and she'd zipped up her black jacket over it. Her dark hair clung to her shoulders and blinded her. She didn't have time to make a ponytail out of the mess.

Way to celebrate, Evelyn fumed, almost skidding over a puddle and headfirst into the storefront window of a bakery. She caught herself on the wall and stood under the store's awning for a moment, breathing hard.

It struck her she had no idea where she was. In freaking New York.

((No idea what to do... I'll just reply later?))

James nodded, "Yeah, yeah I know."

***

Jacob walked through the rain he heard the thunder rumbling above him, and he just shrugged, he never minded storms so much, but it was a bit cold out and it raining sideways didn't help.

Jake walked past an alley, and as soon as he did he felt something nudge him in the back of his leg, he turned around to look but there was no one behind him, he kept walking when he felt another nudge, he looked around, and below him he heard a bark, he looked down and saw a dark brown looking mutt underneath the street light.

Jacob lowered himself smiling petting the dog behind the ears, "Aw! Hey there boy, what are you doing out here? Its cold out." Jake checked around on him trying to look for a collar, but he really couldn't tell with all the rain, but for what it seemed it didn't look like he had one.

"Aw you're a stray huh?" Jake said, petting him still, the dog licked his hand happily and Jacob laughed, and he thought, if Seth could have the stupid cat in the dorm, then he could bring the dog, it was only fair.

"Well come with me then, boy its cold out here."

The dog barked happily, and Jacob continued walking, the dog walking along beside him, Jake knew he was prolonging his way home but he needed to, because a cat was a lot easier to sneak in then a dog, he was just hoping that a guard wasn't around when he brought back his new canine friend.

Jacob rounded the corner, the dog walking next to him, he walked past the closed bakery, and he saw a girl standing underneath an awning of the bakery, he stopped for a minute and upon closer inspection he realized he knew that girl.

"Evelyn?" He said loudly hoping she would hear him over the rain.

Luke felt his clothes stick to his skin and he grimaced. He didn't mind light rain. A thunderstorm wasn't something he wanted to be caught out in.

He glanced down at James, who was trudging along silently. The rain battered his face but James didn't seem to mind it at all. His eyes looked a million miles away.

"Hey, James, you want something to drink?" Luke asked carefully. He stuffed his wet hands into his pockets, shivering. They were still a good distance from 32nd street. "Maybe there's a cafe, Starbucks or something. I'm cold and it might make you feel better."

***

Evelyn had almost fallen asleep, the rain's rhythmic pattering over the awning a lullaby to her. She loved rain. It felt like home, Seattle, or like those rains she walked home under, in Ash Creek High with Ashlee.

When a voice called her name, Evelyn jerked upright and peered through the sheet of water that cascaded over the edge of the awning. She thought she recognized that voice. "Jacob? What the hell are you doing out at this time and in this weather?"

"Yeah sure, whatever is closest." James replied not looking to Luke

***

Jacob walked under the awning, and his new friend following him underneath, Jake shook his head and the rain from his head splattered onto the the dry window of the bakery, the dog did the same sitting next to him, Jake responded, "Um well I was bored of being in our dorm all day, and Seth was driving me nuts so I decided to take a walk, maybe grab some coffee, and I did and when I left it started to rain and I made a friend." He grinned.

The dark brown mutt went up to Evelyn and nudged her leg with his wet nose, like he had done to Jake earlier.

Jacob smiled, "How about you, what the heck are you doing here waiting for the next canoe?"

Luke stared at James and then ahead at the puddle-filled road. He veered right - knocking James straight into a puddle the size of Africa.

Luke's face broke out into a dimpled grin as he peered down at James. "Whoops."

***

Evelyn eyed Jake in amusement, crouching to pet the dog. Ashlee had a dog, and Evelyn had liked Rocket well enough. "Lex and I were actually out for a celebration," she explained, focusing on the dog more than Jake. "But, um...she left earlier. I went back for a Danish from Tim's and got caught out here. You going to take him, or her, back to the dorms?"

James felt like he almost drowned in the lake-sized puddle, he looked up at Luke who was giving him a stupid grin.

"Ha, ha. So funny Lucas, really, thank you." James sat up in the puddle completely soaked, and he got up laughing sarcastically at Luke, and he pointed at him, walking past him.

James then turned around and shoved him into a puddle near the one Luke had pushed him into.

***

"I don't know if its a boy or a girl, I've been calling it boy, and he seems to respond to that. Oh, and hell yeah I'm taking it back, if Seth gets to have his prissy cat, I can at least have a pet that won't plot some sort of vendetta on me." Jake watched as Evelyn pet the stray and he asked, "Why aren't you wearing a coat, are you aware its typhoon season?"

He chuckled, although his sweater was wet, he figured he might as well offer, he took it off, "Here, I know its wet, but you look far worse than I do at the moment."

Luke spat out a mouthful of mucky water, grimacing. "Gross, man." He leaped up and attempted to shove James into another. "That was sickening." But it had made James smile, so it was working.

He grabbed a palmful of dirty water and smacked it on James' face.

***

Evelyn shook her head vehemently. "No, it's fine. I love rain." She stepped toward the edge of the shade. It was getting cold and she was catching a flu. "But I'm going to freeze." She smiled briefly at the dog - she never had a problem with fake-smiling at animals (not like they could tell it was fake). "Your suite is going to be chaos. I don't know if you realized it, but cats and dogs don't get along well."

James choked, and could smell the water, it smelled gross, he bent down and picked scooped up a huge puddle of water into his hands and splashed it into Luke's face, laughing.

***

"I don't care, as long as I don't have to deal with that cat, the dog can stay. Speaking of which I don't wanna just call him dog, he needs a name. Besides, if anything that stupid cat spends its time plotting my death, so maybe the dog will help me, but we need to name him, yes we do." Jake talked to him affectionately petting him, he always had a soft spot for dogs.

Luke choked it out, beyond disgusted. He splashed some more water on James and then sneezed.

Once. Twice. Thrice.

"Aww, crap, I need a coffee."

***

Evelyn managed another smile. "Well, you can stay here and name him as long as you want to. I'm gonna head home before I reintroduce influenza back into the world."

James found his mood lifting and he was laughing at his sneezing friend, "Bless you, and yeah..." He settled himself a bit, "Yeah a coffee sounds good I'm practically numb out here."

***

"Hey what kind of a guy would I be if I let you walk back alone, all the creeps come out at night in the city." Jacob told her, the dog barked as if to agree with Jake's statement.

"See even um... Lucky agrees." Jake said naming the dog there on the spot.

Luke glanced around at a street sign. "37th. There's a Tim's on 35th by the 7-Eleven. Let's hurry." He rubbed his bluing nose and took off at a quick jog.

***

Evelyn snorted softly. "Lucky? Come on, Jake, you're dragging him to Lucifer's Domain. That's not lucky at all."

She ignored his damsel-in-distress comment, stepping back out into the pouring rain. "And I can definitely escort myself home. "She glanced around for a street sign. "Tim's was at the corner two blocks away. I can catch a subway from there by the 7-Eleven." Se'd wanted to walk a bit, admittedly, but it was probably dangerous.

"You're right naming him Lucky probably isn't a good idea, maybe give him a boxers name, like Rocky or Mo Ali." Jake laughed, "Or something tough so when Luce sees him coming he retreats back to his solid gold litter box."

"You sure, I can take you back, but alright if you want to take on the city yourself go ahead." Jake said to her.

***

James shivered just realizing how cold it had been, "Yeah hurry up lets go."

Luke led the way down the street. They went on a few more minutes till they crossed to 35th. "There it is."

Before Jake left Evelyn, he looked her over and he realized she wasn't looking that great, she had probably caught something from standing out in the rain

"Hey you look like a drowning rat with a cold." Jacob said curtly to her.

***

James walked into Tim Hortons holding the door open for his friend, James was greeted by the aroma of coffee, and the warm air made him realize just how cold he had been outside.

Before ordering he looked at Luke, and he did not look too great, it probably hadn't been one of the smartest ideas for them to throw each other in puddles in the middle of fall, "Um dude you're not looking too hot, after we leave her wanna stop at 7/11 and get some asprin or something?"

Evelyn sneezed, shaking her head. Her sudden bout of flu tickled her temper. "Really? Your ingenuity astounds me." She sniffled, turning away. "Your dog's going to drown, you should really not dawdle."

***

Luke almost shook his head. The cozy coffeehouse made him want to move in right then. But James had a point. "Yeah, aspirin and a hot smoothie."

He and James got their orders and then stepped out again, walking down the street to the store. Luke glanced around. Not many people were out on a night like this. Even New Yorkers weren't totally insane.

He glanced up as he and James entered the store. A bakery stood down the street, and what looked like a girl and a guy with their dog were the only other people. Luke squinted, positive he almost recognized that yellow-brown head of hair.

He shrugged and followed James inside. A dizziness rose in his throat.

[[Luke and James to 7-Eleven]]

Jacob had a solution to his problem he picked up the soaking pup, and zipped him up in his sweater, "There now he won't drown, listen you look like Seth's damned cat before it hacks up a fur ball, I suggest you get some meds, before you do hack up a fur ball."

Clearly the bad weather was getting to them both. Evelyn narrowed her eyes and wiped water off her face - before a rush of rain brought it right back.

She realized her teeth were chattering, either in annoyance or because she was so cold she couldn't feel her fingers. "Was it the sneezing that gave it away? Or the fact I'm blue in the face?" She turned around and crossed the street, arms wrapped around her thin frame to contain some warmth. Jake's jerk-side was clearly returning.

Jake followed her, "Ah come on don't be over sensitive, its just a joke, listen you'll die out here and you need someone like me out here to protect you."

Is he for real?

Evelyn threw a disgusted glance over her shoulder at Jake, patience wearing. She was beginning to see why he and Seth were friends.

Yeah, he'd definitely come on fake before.

"Someone like you?" she called back. "If I wanted a high BP, I'd jump off the Brooklyn Bridge."

"Oh come on chicka don't get all overly sensitive it was only a joke, but then again maybe I shouldn't hang out so close to you I might catch your rabies." Jake said catching up with her.

Evelyn's stomach lurched, and not because she felt sicker. She froze up for a moment, and looked up at Jake at her side, face paling even more than it was from the cold. For a second there, he'd reminded her so much of someone else.

"Stay away from the bad boys," was what she and Alexis had agreed upon.

Evelyn swallowed and then sniffled irritably so she could breathe. "Yeah, you should probably start running." She was taking Jake's idea of getting meds seriously. Waiting out the storm in a store didn't seem like such a bad idea either. She veered toward the 7-Eleven and sped up even though every footstep hurt her head, hoping he'd leave her alone.