“You act like I'm still a child.” Sia lets out an audible sigh. “I get it, don't worry, we'll be back. Okay?”
Her mother pushes her glasses back in place, steeples her fingers and lays them across her lips. She doesn't say anything else, just gives her daughter a simple look.
Sia turns and walks right past me. I stand in limbo for a second, not sure if I should follow her or stay right where I am. She glances back at me, nodding her head, and I quickly walk to her side.
Her fingers angrily slam the button of the elevator, trying to force the doors open. She watches the light above as it moves from one floor to the next until it finally lands on our floor. Sia slips her body in the elevator before the doors are even halfway open, leaving me to wait an extra second until I can get in too.
There are a few people inside, all of them taking a step back to make room for us. As soon as the doors are closed, I reach for her hand, but she swats me away, and inconspicuously shakes her head no.
A man behind us coughs, and another woman starts talking loudly on her phone. Glancing back, I look at the people, and smile at the few who actually make eye contact. I get one smile back.
What planet am I on?
I feel like I stepped into a totally different world. Back at home, people you don't know will strike up a conversation about anything. They'll smile and listen, ask questions and give answers. Before you realize it, you've shared your entire life story.
It's not like that here. The taxi driver barely spoke a word to me. She grumbled about the traffic and yelled at a few people who were still crossing the street after the signal changed green. When we pulled up in front of the building, she practically kicked me out, barely giving me enough time to close the door before pulling back out onto the road.
The double doors open, and Sia takes a long step out, beelining for the exit. She half waves at the doorman who gives me a shitty look as he holds the door open for us. Sia takes a hard right, walks a few feet, then steps off the sidewalk and throws out her arm to hail a cab.
In seconds, a yellow car pulls up next to her, and she yanks the door open and climbs in quickly, with me right behind her. “Sixteen-thirty nine Centre Street,” she says.
Settling into the seat, her eyes fix out the window as the taxi darts back into the flow of traffic. I can see the driver looking at us in his rear-view mirror.
“You're not from around here,” he says. Sucking in a rattled breath, his eyes don't deviate. “You look like a deer in headlights, kid. Did you come to find your big break? Hoping to cash in on a some of the money floating around?”
I'm about to answer, but Sia quickly cuts in. “No, he's not. He came for me if you must know.”
“And what makes you so special?” he asks, grunting with a laugh as if he's amused by her tone.
Her lips purse tight, about to lay into him. Resting my hand on her leg, I give it a tender squeeze. Sia looks over at me. I smile pleasantly. “How about you just drive and mind your own business,” I snap. Veering my stare, his shoulders roll forward and his hands clench tighter around the wheel. We drive in silence until he pulls up to our destination.
I hand him some cash for the ride, and Sia and I leave the taxi without saying another word. The driver, though, mutters something under his breath before pulling away.
“I know you're probably not getting the best impression of New York right now.”
“I didn't come here for anyone except you.” Gripping her hand, she gives me a more relaxed smile.
“Come on, I want to show you something.” She pulls me toward an industrial looking building. It has a brick exterior with so many windows I can't count them all. A set of dark green doors hang loosely on the hinges, and a few crumbling steps lead up to them. As we get closer, I can see broken and loose bricks on the building’s façade. Looking up the face of the building, I half expect one to fall from above and hit me on the head.
“What is this place?”
“It's my little secret.” Reaching for the door, she gives it a good pull. “This is my home away from home, I would say.”
The inside is clean, much friendlier than the exterior. The halls are lit bright, painted a periwinkle blue, the floors are dark wood, waxed to a shine I can see my reflection in. Our feet echo, rattling around staircases and up through the other levels.