Highway 281
Did She Mention My Name?
Justin pulled his jacket tighter around his body then stuffed his hands in the pockets. Even with gloves on, his hands were freezing. This was his first winter in New York and although the weather was about the same as it was in Pittsburgh, it seemed colder.
Maybe it was just lonelier. He hadn’t heard from Brian since before Christmas. The last time they talked he told Justin that he should concentrate on his painting and find someone ‘more his type’ now that he was in the big city. Justin tried to explain that Brian was his ‘type’ and he didn’t want anyone else. Brian, being Brian, thought he knew best and hadn’t answered any of Justin’s calls since then.
The warmth of the university book store was a welcome feeling. He had started working there just before Christmas. The extra money was very much welcome and he got a discount on books he needed for the class he was taking about modern impressionists. It couldn’t hurt and since he hadn’t finished at PIFA, he figured it would help in the long run.
He had an hour before he started work and decided to take advantage of the small coffee shop in the building. A hot cup of coffee would feel pretty good right about now. He got his coffee and picked a table in a quiet corner. He pulled a sketch pad from his messenger bag and started sketching the view outside the window: cold gray buildings bathed in a cold gray sky and leafless trees with branches reaching out like a weather-worn scarecrow on a stake in a dead field.
He wasn’t sure how long he had been sitting there drawing and sipping at his cooling coffee when he heard a familiar, out of place voice say his name. “Justin?”
Justin looked up and was surprised to see Ben standing in front of him holding a cup of something hot, probably green tea or chai Justin thought.
“Ben.” Justin stood and shook hands with the professor, a smile on his face. He didn’t want to admit that it was nice seeing a familiar face, a face from back home, here in New York. A quick thought ran through his head that it wasn’t the person from back home that he really wanted to see. The thought just took a second as it was pretty much always in his mind. He finally smiled. “Sit down and join me. I sure didn’t expect to see you here.”
“Guest lecturer. A friend of mine is a professor in the English Department.” He glanced at the sketch Justin had laid on the table. “Hey, that’s good. You really caught the cold winter feel to the yard and buildings.”
“Thanks,” Justin said quickly. He really didn’t want to talk about his sketch right then. “So, how are things back in Pittsburgh? I’ve been busy and haven’t been back there since the fall. I miss the diner; there aren’t too many places like that here.”
Did he mention my name?
“I didn’t think you’d been around. I’m sure someone would have said something. Not much has changed. The diner is still the Liberty Diner and except for the over the top decorations…well, you know. Ted and Blake are quite a couple. They got reacquainted at a ski lodge of all places. They seem very happy.”
Justin laughed. “I never got to know Blake well, but I'm glad Ted’s happy. He deserves it. I hear from Emmett every now and then.”
Did he mention my name?
The rest of the conversation was pretty typical for casual friends who haven’t seen each other in a while. They talked of the latest activities on Liberty Avenue but Ben wasn’t one for gossip, which was Emmett’s domain, so Justin didn’t really learn a lot.
Did he mention my name?
Justin took a sip of his coffee. It was quite cool by now, but he was used to that. He’d get so engrossed in a sketch or painting that coffee could sit for several hours before he’d get around to drinking it, and sandwiches would get a little too soggy to enjoy.
Babylon was mentioned in passing. Ben was careful about what he said, not sure what he should say, or at least how much to say. Brian was so closed mouth about Justin that every time his name was brought up, they’d just get a snarky answer.
Did he mention my name?
“Are you here alone or is Michael here, too?”
“Alone.” Ben shook his head. “Michael couldn’t get away. Besides I’m only going to be here for another two days. In fact, if you’re not busy, there’s an exhibit at the Getty that I’d like to see tomorrow evening. You could come with me.”
“Oh, I’ve been wanting to see that. I’d love to go with you.” Arrangements were made. Justin finished his coffee and looked at his watch. “Umm, I have to start work in a few minutes. I really wish we could talk more, maybe tomorrow evening.”
Did he mention my name?
“I need to get over to the auditorium myself. It was great seeing you. Didn’t really expect it. I wasn’t even sure where you lived but Debbie gave me your phone number and made me promise to call. I was going to call you later.
Justin nodded and tried to smile but it didn’t quite work. As he picked up his messenger bag, Ben turned back around. “Justin, he did say to call him.” He winked and smiled.
Justin furrowed his brow and broke into a huge smile. Suddenly, he couldn’t wait for his shift to be over.
8/24/14