patrick.

Patrick was starting to fall in love with living in New York. He had been there for four months and definitely had to adapt to the new city, but he was finally beginning to find the sparkle in the Big Apple. He was unsure at first. The west coast was the complete polar opposite of what he was used to. The people were nicer back home, and he could walk into a coffee shop without the line being packed like sardines, but the little downfalls were in no comparison to the grandeur of the city. 

Patrick passed the Empire State Building every day on his way to work. The view of the skyscraper never got old. He felt like a tourist every time he craned his neck to view the top. The pizza couldn’t be compared to anything else, and the amount of diversity was refreshing. He was glad he made the decision to move for his career. 

The loneliness definitely hit him at times, though. Patrick found himself exploring the city constantly, forcing himself to learn the streets and discover new gems. His newest location was Grand Central Station. He wanted to take the subway to see Coney Island. The station itself was stunning. He found himself gazing at the elaborate tile on the ceiling, and listening to the gorgeous piano music playing. 

Patrick made it to his subway stop a few minutes later, finding out that the piano music wasn’t a recording. A rather attractive boy sat at a public piano, his fingers effortlessly flowing over white and black keys. He smiled and approached him from behind, humming softly as the familiar tune of “Piano Man” by Billy Joel was played. Jonathan joined him without hesitation, his hand playing a simple tune in unison as he joined in to harmonize with the younger man.

“We’re all in the mood for a melody, and you’ve got us feelin’ alright…”

Blaine called New York City home for years now.  They had a tumultuous love affair. Sometimes they loved each other fiercely.  She treated him well and gave him opportunities that he would never be able to thank her for.  Others?  Others they were two sides of their own separate storms.  Crashing violently together leaving him wondering why he ever thought setting foot on one inch of concrete here was ever a good idea.  She always fought her hardest then.  Did the most damage.  Stripped people and emotions away without a second thought.

Yet?  He never left.  Because–deep down–he loved her more than anything. New York City was his one constant that showed him many faces and left him reeling from the spin but had his devotion through thick and thin and everything in between.

It’d been over a year since the last collision had him rebuilding everything he lost.  He was a different person.  Grown into someone that–perhaps–he’d always been but it took being alone to find.  Sure–he had friends but they were living their own lives. Finding out who they were and what they were capable of.  The one thing Blaine learned the most during this calm?  

Yes.  He could make it on his own.  

The sun was back.  He was happy again.

Life became a simple adventure with small twists and turns but had it’s routine that rarely changed.  He’d wake up in the mid-morning after working at the bar in Little Italy and go through his morning ritual.  Though there was less gel and less pomp and circumstance to it. Then?  For the better part of the afternoon–he’d wander around and spend time with his constant and find something new or not so new to do. Like the piano experiment in Grand Central.

Just as he was near the last few lines–a stranger joined him on his bench.  He wasn’t the first but he was definitely the first to ever sing along.  Blaines eyes lit up with an old familiar twinkle of sunshine.  “It’s a pretty good crowd for a Saturday. And the manager gives me a smile.  ‘Cause he knows that it’s me they’ve been comin’ to see. To forget about life for a while..”