Post by Brittany on Mar 16, 2010 18:56:42 GMT -5
For Every Light On Broadway
Basic Summary: "For every light on Broadway, there is a broken heart." She has always been told; she just never thought it would be her heart that was broken.
Chapter One:
I can feel the rush of the city pulsing through my veins as I stand in the fifth floor apartment of the new built complex. The thrill, the excitement, the fear, all pounding in my petite body, like the harsh waves crashing into the shore. The moment I had for so long awaited now stood before me in cardboard boxes full of clothes and other materials, and the signed lease that is scattered across my impromptu coffee table. Staring at the furnished apartment, nicked with paint from the previous owner, I can only take in the moment in awe. Breath by ever so amazed breath. With my fingers curled at my waist and an accomplished smile pressing it's way onto my lips, I take it all in. The freedom. The accomplishment. This is it, I sigh, my chance to change the world, the chance to actually mean something other than some small town farmer's daughter. The chance to show the world who I really am, the chance I've been waiting for since birth.
Staring around my seemingly lifeless apartment, I take the moment to revel in the beauty of it. Rather it be from the light blue paint that colors the once white walls, or the true feeling of freedom that pulses through my veins as I stand here, I can not help but to think this apartment is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Granted, an apartment overlooking the busy city of New York is entirely different than the small town I am accustomed to, but this is my home now. The home that I have been dreaming of since my sophomore year of high school.
Brushing the paint off onto my faded pair of Lucky jeans, I take the freshly signed lease in my hands, fingering through the living agreement. Two years. This place is all mine for two years, not taking any natural disasters into consideration. For two years, I am going to be in an apartment overlooking the world's most successful city, chasing my dream. A dream that one would have called meaningless, silly and stupid in my hometown, now a dream that seems all but possible. My father wanted me to become a successful doctor, my mother wanted me to become a school teacher, my aunt dreamed that I would become the number one best seller, but I had a different dream entirely. This, I inhale with a smile, this is my dream. New York. Acting. Making a difference. Being someone, instead of just settling. No, this is my dream and it is not, nor never will be, a meaningless mistake.
My phone vibrates in my jeans pocket, dropping the lease back onto the table, I quickly pull the phone from my pocket and I can not control the smile that plays upon my lips when I see her name flashing upon my screen. Even now, after all that we have been through, after all the fights and the long nights, after the tears and the most amazing, heartfelt conversations, she can still make my heart race as if we were two teenage lovers scared of getting caught. Gnawing on my bottom lip to suppress the spastic grin, I glance around the room before I answer the phone.
“Hello?” I answer the phone in a quiet laugh before I collapse onto the sofa, grabbing the remote in my hand and desperately searching for a decent program. Flicking my wrist, I listen as she lets out a sufficiently quiet laugh of her own and I can only think that it is the most beautiful sound I have ever heard.
“There's a view,” She states simply in her melodic voice. Huffing, I shift trying to find a comfort as I brush the golden strands away from my face. At one point in my life, I never thought any of this could be possible, being here in New York, with her, it all just seemed to be a distant dream that was never meant to happen for me. But now, I'm here, in my own apartment, just waiting for the rest of my dreams to unfold and I thank my lucky stars every night that something finally came through for me.
“Are you serious?” I ask with a laugh, slowly jumping to my feet as I tug the tight fitting fabric around my small stomach. I push myself across the hardwood floor that stands before me, as I dance to the rhythm of the song that plays in my head.
“Trust me, just look. There's a view,” She exclaims; I do as I am told, pushing the curtains back from the window and I am instantly in awe of the sight bestowed in front of me. The entire block is lit by the illuminating golden lights of life, tall buildings surround the complex with so many windows that I lose count after the second floor. The streets below the complex are alive with the hustle and bustle of people; couples, children, the elderly, all searching for the answers to their dreams that every one simply brushed away as hopeless. I suck in a hard breath as an indescribable sound escapes from my lips and my heart twists summer salts in my chest. Yes, I giggle, this is quite different than where I'm from.
“This is...amazing. I never thought...I mean, I've always imagined a place like this but now that I'm here...just...wow,” I sigh and that is when it finally hits me that all of this is real. When morning comes, I'll still be right here, wrapped up in the warm blankets of my bed, instead of back home. I won't be awoken by the barking of dogs or my own restlessness to find this all to be a dream. No, I sigh, staring at the string of lights and buildings that stretch far into the horizon, this is real. New York, my dreams, it is finally happening and nothing can ever take this feeling away from me.
“You should see the outside,” She jokes before the sound of a dial tone fills my ear. I chuckle to myself as I shove the phone back into my pocket, gently playing with the silver band that adorns my left hand. It is in this moment that I realize the truth that I have always known; even if I crash and burn, even if I make a fool of myself in front of the producers and directors, at the end of the day, it is all going to be worth it. No matter if I end up working in a restaurant for the rest of my life cleaning dishes, this moment, right here, right now, makes everything all worthwhile.
Grabbing the keys, I shut the apartment door behind me, racing toward the elevator and I catch it before it closes. I nod to the old man who presses the ground floor button before I settle in the back of the elevator beside of a young brunette girl. She smiles at me, her russet brown orbs alive with the city and I can't help but notice how fearless she is when she holds her hand out toward me.
“You're the new tenant of 64-B, aren't you? Hi. I'm Melinda,” She smiles, the slightest bit of southern clearly present in her voice. I smile as I place my palm within her own, gently shaking it, smirking when I notice the chipped nail polish.
“Right. Hi. Sophia,” I smile in return before I pull my hand from hers and run it through the tangles of golden waves that dance around my shoulders. She takes a moment to ponder my answer, turning her head to the side as the numbers flash on the screen above us as we get closer to the ground floor.
“Sophia, huh? That's Greek for one who is wise, did you know that?” She exchanges with a friendly smile. Actually, I did know that, but for the sake of this conversation, I pretend as if I don't and simply shake my head. She nods with the same trademark smile before she returns her attention back to the floor numbers above us.
“I'm not crazy. I just...couldn't decide on my majors, so I took a couple years of Greek. Turns out, Greek and I didn't exactly get along hand in hand. But apparently, I picked up a few skills. Like name recognition,” She beams a proud grin and I only laugh as I tear my eyes away from the mysterious brunette as I hold my breath, waiting to hit the ground floor.
“I'm having a party, Friday. You can...uh...you can come if you want,” Melinda invites with a warm smile as the elevator finally hits the ground floor after what seems like an eternity. I watch as the elderly man stumbles out of the elevator first, clutching to his cane before I turn to face Melinda with a smile.
“Sure, I'd like that,” I nod with a smile before I push myself out of the silver doors. Trotting across the lobby, I make my way outside, smiling in acknowledgment to the doorman who simply tips his hat in return. I instantly freeze, even though it is only October, another sign that I am no longer in the south. I tug at my softball tee, crossing my arms over my chest as I rock on my heels, taking in the sight of the city around me. Towering buildings, flashing lights of success and dreams, the people, the places, the infamous amount of hope that surrounds me, I can barely catch my breath before the city takes it away from me again.
“For every light on Broadway, there is a broken heart,” A familiar voice calls out to me. Glancing over my right shoulder, I smile playfully, watching as the girl takes the last draw from her cigarette before she drops onto the ground below her and rakes her dark hair away from her face.
“Then, I guess it's a good thing I gave my heart away already then, isn't it?” I reply with a chuckle, taking a step toward her. She shrugs her shoulders with a playful sly, shoving her hands into her pockets as she begins to decrease the distance that separates our two bodies.
“I don't know. I've heard that can be pretty risky, too,” She replies, wrinkling her nose, creating those infamous wrinkles upon her forehead. I sigh with a smile, turning my head to the side as a dry laugh escapes from my pursed lips, barely able to contain my excitement.
“Then, I guess I am quite the risk taker, aren't I?” I laughed at the irony of the statement as it leaves my mouth. She stares at me for a moment, her mouth slightly ajar before she bellows her own laughter, her hand upon her stomach before she reaches forward, intertwining her fingers around mine as she pulls me close to her. Instantly, my breath halts in my chest as I find myself staring into the world's most beautiful pair of eyes, the eyes that captivate me and move me to depths unimaginable.
“Yeah, I guess you are,” She smiles at me before she steals a kiss. It doesn't take long before I react to the action, my hands curving at her waist as I pull her close to me, pressing my lips tightly against hers. Smiling mid-kiss, I pull away with a laugh and a warm blush circulates in my cheeks.
“Hmm, Jade. I've missed you,” I blush and she rolls her eyes with a quiet laugh.
“I can't believe you are actually here. This is it. You're going to chase your dreams and become this famous actress, like you've always wanted. Everything you ever wanted is finally happening for you,” Jade whispers, reaching forward as she brushes the stubborn strand behind my ear and I pretend like it doesn't send shivers up my spine, even though she knows that it does. I watch as the smile plays upon her lips, but as quick as it forms, it disappears again behind the lines drawn across her flawless face. The lines that tell a story of where she is from, a story of where she wants to be, a story of struggle and success, a story of love and heartache. A story that tells the world of the amazing woman that I fell in love with all those years ago.
“Our dreams,” I correct her.
“What?”
“We are going to chase our dreams. Everything that we have ever wanted is finally going to happen to us. We are going to do this, together. Just like we always promised. These are our dreams and I'm not about to let any one or anything stand in our way. This is our time, we can't let it pass us by,” I state and she can only smile at me with a swift nod of her head.
“Together,” She states before she steals another kiss. I smile as I wrap my arms around her, pulling her close as we slowly become intertwined around one another, like a perfect piece of woven art. Staring at the city that surrounds us, I can not shake the thought that this is our once in a lifetime shot and once we turn this corner, I sigh, I know for certain, there is no turning back.
