New York, New York (Ella)

[James Lawrence]

Takes place December 31st, 2014 in New York

The streets of New York were always thick and congested with traffic and pedestrians. The city that never sleeps. The bright lights and billboards, stark against the night sky. On New Years Eve, it was notably worse. More people, tourists mainly, attracted to Times Square with one goal in mind; to watch the ball drop, live. 

James was one of those people, standing next to Ella in the crowd of a million plus. An endless stretch of people, eager for midnight to come. The pair had come early enough to secure a decent spot with a good vantage point. Even though it was her first time in the city, he didn't have the patience to stand out in the cold for more than seven hours. Time could be spent better elsewhere. 

They'd been out for a few hours now. James made sure they'd both dressed in layers and stop for a coffee beforehand. The long empty cup hung loosely in his gloved hand, the crowd growing a little uneasy as time progressed. Now that there was only fifty minutes until midnight, the excitement was creating a buzz. Performances were still going on and kept things entertaining as everyone waited.

It was their third day in the city; the trip was almost half over. There wasn't enough time to experience everything. James had taken her to one of his favourite venues the first night, a hole in the wall with good acoustics. Manhattan offered a lot in terms of places to visit, including Central Park along with a lot of the other popular tourist joints. And now, Times Square. He shifted, which was hard to do given the proximity of everyone. Including her. "Everyone's getting a little restless now," He spoke loudly, due to the noise of other conversations going on around them. "It's different seeing this in person."

[Ella Robbinson]

For someone so used to sleepy towns and quiet, simplistic day-to-day living, city life was a complete stretch. It was impossible to get a really good grip on what was going on. Ella was positive she'd kept her head up for most of her first day in New York. Tall buildings and busy paths. A grand amount of people bustling through - living their own lives, yet they all interconnected for a place called home.

Everywhere they went, she followed a beat behind. To not have to lead was such a relief. To not feel any stress and just be able to soak everything in? Even better.

Ella almost thought she got used to crowds, except right in that moment she was standing pressed around literally over a million people. Over a million, adrenalin-kicked beating hearts created a sea of undefinable rhythms; her own included. She'd seen the momentous ball drop time and time again on TV. But now, she was there. In the moment. Breathing that air and simply standing within a ground breaking experience.

"Have you ever been here for this before?" Ella asked, her voice elevated too. For everything he'd given from his own arsenal of experiences, it would have surprised her to hear him say no.

Without a word, she reached towards him, her hand filtering down the sleeve of his jacket to find his hand. If nothing else, she didn't want to lose him in the crowd.

[James Lawrence]

James had no problem guiding Ella through the streets that were still familiar, despite time. He didn't know if he could ever forget his way through the main areas of the city and the neighbourhood he'd grown up in. He looked out for her, maneuvering around the city folk and their morning routines to work, entwined with tourists who also took the time to soak in the sights. It was easy to tell the groups apart; one had their head to the clouds and the other stared at grey pavement.

It was hard for him to distinguish each and every conversation going on around them, a lull he desperately tried to keep at the back of his mind. James winced, the beginnings of a migraine forming as a side effect to his power. Less than an hour; he'd be alright. Especially in her presence.

Shaking his head, James answered "I haven't, no. I'd watch it on screen somewhere." The television screens, both at home or at the bar. The crowd was a lot to contend with, as he was finding out firsthand. "Something I took for granted." There were many years he could have gone, but opted not to.

The contact against the sleeve of his leather jacket wasn't something James was paying much attention to. There were a lot of people, and chances were it was a stranger brushing up against him. Until a hand searched for his. Glancing down, he noticed that it was hers and accepted, entwining their fingers together. Physical contact, despite the layers of separation between gloves. A simple squeeze, to reassure her that he wasn't letting go.

"So, tell me, what do you think of the city so far? Enough to convert you?" He asked, turning his head to face her with a smile. A genuine question with a hint of a joke.

[Ella Robbinson]

How James lived here for so long and didn't get himself to this place was mind blowing. Ella found herself wearing obvious surprise over the fact, but she did her best to keep her face in check. There were far more important things to keep in the loop than the look she wore. An experience, shared. He really wasn't kidding.

Without a look, Ella had taken a gloved hand she didn't really recognise. She kept her face up, eyes out over the crowd as she felt the generous squeeze to her fingers. She squeezed it in response.

Finally, when he spoke again she looked at him. Refusing to acknowledge the point of contact as it were, she kept her eyes on his. Despite the headache and the pounding qualities of her heart - likely from the rhythm of the million, she knew - she smiled; "Convert me? To what?"

[James Lawrence]

The surprise that came over Ella's features didn't catch James' off guard. Understandable; he'd grown up close to Times Square and the thought to come watch it in person never crossed his mind. Maybe the crowds of people on top of the already congested streets was enough to turn him away from the annual tradition. Besides, he had no reason to come by himself. There was nobody to share the experience with. And now, there was someone.

The reciprocated hand squeeze gave James a rush; such simple, physical contact and yet it was enough to make his heart falter, momentarily. He held on, as eye contact was made. Two pairs of dark eyes. His weren't paying attention to anyone, or anything else.

"Convert you to city life." He answered, giving a vague head nod to their surroundings. To the bright lights and towering skyscrapers. The people from all different backgrounds. "Sure is different from Pilot Ridge." His gaze held steady, despite James wanting to close his eyes. To escape the headache that could only be formed by at least a two hundred thousand conversations.

[Ella Robbinson]

The idea of living in a city, or being converted to city life, had Ella pondering in her own thoughts for a few spare moments. Silence tenfold despite the noise of the crowd. "It's beautiful, in its own way." She reasoned, initially. It was the smartest way to go about it. "I'm not sure how long I could live amongst it, though. It's hard to block everything out." After all, even if every day wasn't New Years, the crowd was still a crowd compared to the residents of the sleepy town they came from.

"But I'm okay. Right now." It was manageable, and completely worth it.

A small step amongst the crowd and she brought herself even closer. As much as she was trying to block out the amount of people brushing shoulders with her and accidentally bumping around, it proved difficult without something else to focus on.

[James Lawrence]

His eyes tracked down the length of her face, flickering mainly between her eyes and her lips. People everywhere. At least two coffee shops and bars on every corner. Everything he missed about the city that James could go on about for hours. Instead, he settled on bringing Ella to the center of it all.

"Good point." James said with a nod. The city could be vast and overwhelming to someone who wasn't use to New York. It took time to adjust, and he was sure she could if she wanted. "You kind of... just get use to it." It was hard to explain. "You don't necessarily have to block everything out." And maybe that's why James still wasn't tired of the constantly changing town. A new rotation of characters every couple of minutes, passing by on the streets, likely never to see them again.

Even the crowd they were part of. Everyone would go back to their respective lives.

It was reassuring to hear that she was holding up okay, despite the million faces around them. Right now, anyway. Squinting at the closest clock, James said "Good. Cause I think we still have about thirty minutes or so." Still a bit of time. The hosts were just talking at this point, so he didn't pay much attention towards them.

What James did notice was an arm inching closer towards his. On a night like this, contact with other people was inevitable. Bumping shoulders and stepping on feet, to name a couple. He turned slightly, brushing against Ella in the process as he edged closer. The crowd was getting a little restless, and so was he. Hearing everyone talk about it made it difficult to ignore. "Not something you want to do every weekend." He commented, about the tradition of New Year's Eve.

[Ella Robbinson]

The simple explanation James offered wasn't completely lost on Ella. Distant as she might have been to new ideas, there was clarity to be found in the belief that someone just 'got used' to anything. Perhaps it was the quieter connotations of the simpler town that just aligned her to easier power-based coping mechanisms.

There was still time; about half an hour or so, and although it meant the crowd would continue to grow, where they were likely wouldn't change.

She felt him breach the distance, too. The familiarity made the crowd a lot easier to handle, given the context of where they were and what they were waiting for. Half an hour or so, but so many people likely wished it would be sooner.

"Maybe not every day." She replied, amending his statement to the best of her ability. It wasn't as if the city was particularly far from where they were; an hour flight. A six hour drive. "But it's been... Good. Great, even. A lot different from what I expected. Then again, I don't really know what I expected."

[James Lawrence]

The general area where James and Ella was already packed full of people. Personal space was a concept lost a few hours ago as the crowd tried to edge closer for when the ball dropped. More movement and he brushed his shoulder against hers, a momentary jump in his pulse. He quickly recovered, eyes crossing the minimal distance in between to her own face.

The million plus people of New York City wasn't overwhelming throughout the day, but when everyone was gathered in the square it was a little nerve-wracking. Despite all the people, James had enjoyed the night so far, especially in her presence.

"I'm glad you've enjoyed the city." James said, taking a moment to look up to the sky, a smile on his face. Brown eyes settled back on familiar features. "Untouchable." He said, a single word.

"Did you expect it to be untouchable?" James further expanded. New York City was one of the most romanticized cities in the world and although he spoke fondly of his hometown, he knew there were faults. 

[Ella Robbinson]

Untouchable. Really, it was a completely perfect word. Ella mused over it before he explained it further. The amendment turned question was helpful. The conversation more so given the ample distraction it provided.

"Yes." She replied, honestly.

Picking up an entire life - small as it was - still felt like too much of a stretch. And there he was, standing as someone who'd done it. Despite the fact that it failed, he still tried. It was a feat far too commendable for her own mentality. Momentarily, in her own silence, she pondered this fact a little too intently for the place they were in.

"Places like this always felt too far out of reach." She finally added, but she knew he knew that about her already. Still, it was completely different to say it.

[James Lawrence]

James nodded, replying "Understandable. The city does give that sort of impression." He would have been subject to the same thoughts, had he not grown up in the suburbs just outside of the metropolitan area. He was accustomed to the skyline, while others saw it as something more. Something they couldn't be a part of. Untouchable.

Her confession wasn't surprising; why else would she stay in a small town in Vermont for so long without a desire to explore elsewhere?

"But, you're here now." He added, as an afterthought. In the city that felt unattainable and out of reach. It just required forward behavior on his part to bring her out of the familiarity of Pilot Ridge. It seemed well worth it, since she admitted she was having a great time in New York. "Just seeing the image of the city and being here are two different things, though. As you now know."

The connection between James and Ella was lost momentarily, as he let go of her hand and draped an arm around her back, his hand resting on her waist. Loose, but secure enough not to lose her in the increasingly excited and loud crowd. Drawing closer to her.

[Ella Robbinson]

Ella took a moment to listen to what he had to say. To take it in for what it was and what it clearly represented. It was as if he was doing his best to remind her that prior thoughts of unattainability weren't what mattered any more. Like looking back wasn't necessary - nor was any potential berating connotations to that decision - because staying in the now was more pressing.

It was supposed to be everything. At least, everything in that moment.

"Now I know." She repeated, dark eyes glancing out across the crowd. She felt immediate panic when she lost his hand, and the lack of a connection forced her eyes and her attention back to him completely. But that hand found her seconds later, this time around her waist to bring him in even closer. Hitting shoulders with others and feeling that tension made the newfound connection even greater.

"You're different when you're here." Ella pointed out finally, leaning in a touch despite the fact that she knew he didn't need the words so close to his ear. At the very least, she could drop her tone and stop shouting over the crowd, "Do you feel like you fit better here?"

[James Lawrence]

While most New Yorkers would scoff and roll their eyes at the tourists with their starry-eyed wonder, there was something endearing to be found in the way she saw the city. From a different perspective. It really was a whole new world. During their trip, James found himself staring at her reactions and what caught her attention while sightseeing. Not the landmarks themselves, but at her. He knew them all.

The corner of his lips tugged up into a smile as his eyes landed on hers, glancing at the crowd. His hand found comfort on her waist. Closer. His entire focus was solely on her, which was hard with the background noise of the crowd.

James raised an eyebrow, his gaze on her face. Watching her lean in closer. With his ability, there was no need. But she did anyway. "Good different?" He asked, wondering what her answer would be. Maybe it was just an observation on her end; something she'd noticed in their time spent in both Vermont and New York. He tilted his head down, creating less space in between. "Yeah," He answered, "I think I do. More people like me." There were people who achieved success in the city, but for every successful person, there were at least five like himself who failed. Some stayed, and some left. He was part of the latter group.

"You asked me awhile ago if I regretted coming back to Pilot Ridge." James brought up, possibly misquoting exactly what she said. "And I don't think I do anymore."

[Ella Robbinson]

Certain movements were inevitable. Despite the fact that Ella knew by now that he could hear like no other, the thought to lean in to catch his attention was far too normal. Too mandatory for a person to deter from despite greater knowledge. As it stood, she had little knowledge of where his attention had been for the entirety of their trip. He showed her the wonders of a city; he was only attuned to her.

But her eyes, entirely, were attuned to taking everything in.

"Just different." She replied, honestly. As if there were no greater distinction of him available. As if there were no changes that made a version of himself any better than another.

What struck Ella in a strange way was the response he gave to her own question. How his first point of call was to mention that people seemed to like him more in this particular city. A small shot of guilt, then, as she wondered if her presence did little to amend this fact when they were in Pilot Ridge. He surely had better people to spend his time with. People that suited him better. People that weren't the girl from high school who seemed so sink into the shadows before he held a light on her.

But the moment passed, and in its place he altered a response to an aged question.

"What does that mean?" She asked, genuinely.

[James Lawrence]

Landmarks of the city became part of a daily routine. Times Square seemed so much less significant when you walked past it everyday, past the taxis and the neon lights and people from all classes. The Empire State was just another building, adding to the New York skyline. The difference was this time around, James had someone to share the experience with, something he could safely say had never happened before. She was the landmark on this trip; the only person or place that was worth noting.

It was easy to get distracted and lost in her when she was taking in the new surroundings. The sort of glances James had been stealing would have been noticed back in the small town, back in the comfort of the town she knew.

Different, neither good or bad. Hearing that without either adjective attached to it. High school had dragged his reputation through the mud, but he had no one to blame but himself for that. A tarnished image was left when met with the trainer and here, he was just another nobody. There were too many people in New York to care about one asshole with a cigarette in his mouth and a guitar in hand.

His gaze moved up to the clock. Ten minutes. A softer version of a smirk appeared on James' face. "It means just that. I don't know where I'd be or what would have happened if I stayed here."

"If I stayed here," He added on, "Then we likely wouldn't have met each other again."