"It's raining, Ary." bạn don't open your eyes as he approaches you.
"I know," bạn said. bạn can hear the patter of the rain on the rooftop. It's a soothing rythmless Muse to your ears.
"Wouldn't bạn prefer to be inside?" he asks, standing over you.
"If I wanted to go inside, why would I be out here?" bạn snap.
bạn sigh and open your eyes. Alek stares blankly at you, letting the rain drops fall on him and soak his jacket.
"I'm sorry, Alek," bạn apologize, shame forcing bạn to look down at your hands. "I just..." bạn trail off, the words dying on your lips as bạn realized bạn have no explanation. For once, bạn have absolutely no answer.
Alek lowers himself onto the ledge beside you. He rests one hand on his knee, letting the other dangle over the edge. He silence helps bạn collect your thoughts.
"I just get so frustrated sometimes," bạn mutter, still staring at your palms. "This whole team thing is crazy. I tình yêu it but..."
He looks over at you, waiting patiently for bạn to find your words.
"Sometimes I just... I just want to scream," bạn admitt finally.
"Then do it," Alek permits.
bạn look over at him, your wet hair falling in your face.
"Really, go on," he prompts. "I don't mind. I won't even listen. See?" He places his hands over his ears. It's very comical.
bạn shake your head. "I think that may scare the neighbors," bạn say, meaning the occupants of the apartment building you're perched on.
bạn listen to the patter of the rain as Alek falls silent once more, thinking over the matter.
"Alright," he says slowly. "Let me hiển thị bạn something." He stands and reaches a hand down to help bạn up.
bạn look from your partner's outstretched hand to the ledge, searching for an excuse to stay where bạn are. Why are bạn looking for one? bạn ask yourself. After all, this is Alek. Cool, calm, trusting Alek who would never do anything stupid and drag bạn down with him.
Finally bạn nod and take his hand, careful not to slip on the wet ledge as he leads bạn off it. He releases your hand and leads bạn to the firescape.
bạn follow him down down down the ladder to the sidewalk below. Across the street. Over the avenue. And down the steps to the underground subway.
It is crowded down below, as usual. bạn weave through the throng of people, keeping an eye on Alek's green coat. He leads bạn to a door set in the tường at the edge of the crowd.
Alek punches in a sequence and the door clicks open. After a cautious glance over his shoulder, he grasps your hand and quickly pulls bạn through. Before the door is fully closed, you're jogging down the empty, dimly lit corridor after your partner.
The hall suddenly ends. Literally. It's like someone cleaved off the rest of the corridor. bạn follow Alek to the edge and realize it opens up to the tunnel.
"It's safe, I promise," he reassures you. Then he turns and climbs down a short ladder leading to a small platform. Beyond the platform are the tracks.
"The engineers use these gaps for repairs," Alek explains as bạn drop from the gap to the platform.
"I still don't understand why we're here," bạn remind him as bạn dust off your jeans.
"Wait for it," he says simply, watching the tracks.
After a moment bạn feel the floor begin to vibrate beneath bạn feet. The silence is gone and is replaced bởi a growing roar.
"Alek," bạn say nervously.
"It's the tiếp theo train," he says. "Count to ten, then let it all go!"
bạn finally understand. The roar of the train will surely cover any scream. It is an ingenious idea.
Not seeing any reason not to, bạn shut your eyes.
1... 2... 3... bạn think of every time you've been outsmarted. 4... 5... 6... Of every time bạn have gotten annoyed, angered, frustrated.The floor of the platform is shuddering so hard it's becoming difficult to stand in place. The roar in your ears is defining.
7...8...9... bạn think of every time you've wanted to slam a door. cú đấm a wall. Cry and yell and scream at the hàng đầu, đầu trang of you're lungs, but didn't because it would be immature and childish. 10.
bạn squeeze your eyes shut and scream as loud as bạn possibly can.
It's like popping the lid of a fizzing bottle, only to have it explode. And that's what bạn do. Explode.
bạn scream and scream, adding to the thunder as the train rushes past. The sounds mix to a single voice.
bạn scream and yell and scream scream scream.
Finally, bạn feel the air escape your lungs. bạn yell a final burst, then slowly open your eyes, panting. The end of the train comes and goes.
bạn feel light as air. It's a new feeling. A great feeling. bạn grin widely. Just because bạn can.
bạn look over at your partner. His face is red as a beet and he's breathing as hard as bạn are. Alek had taken his own advice. He faces bạn and grins as widely as bạn are, his eyes glittering emeralds.
"Better?" he asks.
bạn nod truthfully. "Much."