A Weekend in New York City: The Most Magical Place

4 guys. 19 years old. A car. And a 14 hour trip. Passing through several states on the way to the place my heart calls home. There were long hours of driving through the country. Every so often a town would pass us by. Slowly, ever so slowly, we crawled our way there. Stopping for a late dinner, getting back in the car, driving some more. Drifting in and out of conciousness. Not able to decide if I should stay awake for the entire trip. Wanting to savor every moment.

Finally, a glimpse of dazzling lights on the horizon. 1:30 AM. And then there it was. New York City. My true home. Trying to find our way into the city, making several wrong turns. And then we were there. Right on 34th Street. Drove around, saw the buildings, people, and places that I love so much. Slowly, exhausted, made our way out of the city. Drove towards Long Island. 2 AM. Left our luggage at his house, jumped back in the car. Explored a part of New York I had never seen before. Took backroads, drove in circles. 3 AM. Back at his house.

Changed our clothes. Jumped in bed, passed out, exhausted. The trip was finally over. Woke up to his dog's nose placed obtrusively in my face. Saw sunlight creeping through the windows. Stretched. Then I remembered where I was. Couldn't believe I was finally back. Jumped out of bed, packed my bag, changed my clothes, and was ready to go before anyone else. Jumped in the car. Cold. No. Beyond cold. Frigid, but in a good way. Defogged the windows and made our way to the train station. I jumped out, wished everyone lots of fun. Ran to the ticket counter. "Round trip to Penn Station, please." Perfect timing. The train was there, and was already boarding. I ran in, found myself an empty seat. Sat down, eager for the train to start moving. That took more time than the actual ride, or so it seemed. So many people. So many different people. The train stopped. I jumped off. Bought a day pass for the subway.

Times Square at last. Even more people. So much to do. COuldn't figure out what to do with myself. Walked around, passed time. Taking in the sights, the people, everything. I was as close to feeling at home as I ever did. 5:30 PM. Jumped on a subway down to Chelsea. Climbed up the stairs into the street. So many people like me. Went to the apartment, met Rich. We talked. And talked. Decided we were hungry. Went to Spice, ate Thai. Never had it before, so why not? It was good. Spicy. Hence the clever name. I forgot my money. ::SIGH:: We talked more. Walked around. Went back to the apartment. Talked. Yet again. We decided to go out that night. Called several people.

Mike. Mike. Adam. Then he showed me the apartment. The building. The roof. You could see the Empire State Building from his roof. We looked down over the edge. Saw Mike ..1. Went down, opened the door for him. He came up. We sat down and talked. Passed the time until you could fashionably go out to a bar and not worry about it being too early. Went to Barracuda. Ran in. Nobody stopped me. Mike bought me a drink. Sour Apple Martini. My dear friend, it has been too long. Sat at a table at the back of the bar. Sat and talked. Sat and drank. Adam calls. He has arrived. I run to the door, waiting for him to come in. I see him. So cute. I didn't know what to say. We hugged. I led him back to our table. Went to the bar and got some drinks. Drank a Long Island Iced Tea.

Rich was eyeing the one guy. Really hot. Told him to go for it. But he didn't. After some more talking, we decided to leave. I wanted to go to Xth. Everyone saying, "That will be boring! I've never heard of it!" Convinced it would be fun, we set off for 44th and 10th. Arrived. Literally, 5 people in the whole place. So I was wrong. Then left for therapy. So crowded. People everywhere. Music. Video screen. Drinks. Went to the coat check. Adam bought me a Cosmopolitan. We stood there. Sipping our drinks. People bumping into me. Making me spill my drink. So I drank it all. Rich wanders off to talk to a friend. Mike, Adam, and I just stand there for a while. "Let's go downstairs." I manage to say. We make our way. After almost falling down the stairs, I make my way to the restrooms. Time to break the seal. I come back out. We stand around for a while. Talk. Adam jumps up onto the table and sits there. I tell him to sit in my lap. He does. We sit there, holding each other. Everything around me slowing down, living in the moment. Not letting go. Adam has been up for too long.

He is about to fall asleep. He says his goodbyes. Then we walk out and down to his car. We sit there for a moment, holding hands. Then we drive back up to therapy, still holding hands. We arrive back at therapy. I'm about to get out of the car. Then, "Can I kiss you?" Why can't I be more creative. But before I have time to think, he says "Of course." Closer. We are so close now. Our lips meet, gently, softly. Everything was in slow motion. It was beautiful. Perfect even. Not cheesy in-the-park-under-the-moonlight perfect. Spontaneous. That's perfect. It seemed to last forever. Yet still not long enough. I didn't want it to end. The best kiss I've ever had. He was tired. He had to go. We said goodbye.

I climbed out of the car, in a daze. I managed to get back in to therapy. Found Rich and Mike. Had part of a chocolate martini. Sooo not made the right way. We decide to leave. Go to coat check, get our coats. Walk out, back to the car. Drive back down to Chelsea. Back in the apartment. We sit and talk for a little while. Then I pass out on the bed. Slept the rest of the night. Woke up, sunlight pouring in through the window. Did I sleep until early afternoon? Ha, no. It's only 8 AM. I lie there, passing in and out of conciousness. 10 AM. Rich wakes up. We get up, change. Decide to go to Krispy Kreme. One coffee and two donuts later, it's time to go. Rich has to go to the office, and I'm off to explore some more. We say our goodbyes, hug, and go our seperate ways. I am wandering around, trying to decide what to do. Then I remember. Andrew! I call him. He answers. We talk, decide to get together.

He has some things to do first, so I wander around some more. My phone dies. I panic. Then I remember there was a Cingular store. I run in, "Can i please please please plug my phone in? I'm supposed to meet a friend, and it's gonna be kinda hard with no phone!" They are amazingly kind, and let me charge my phone up. I happen to receive a call from Joshua. He is a few blocks away from me. I pull myself together and rush up there to see him. I arrive at the Wendy's on 55th Street, and there is Joshua and Patrick. So I get to see both of them. Josh is doing great, and Patrick is a sweetheart. This is good. Closure. At last. Several hours and blocks later, I am called by Andrew. We decide to go out for dinner. We are going to meet up on 72nd Street. I make my way up. I arrive a few minutes before him.

He climbs the stairs out of the subway station. So adorable. We meet, hug. Then it is off to the restaurant. We walk in. He has been there so many times, that they know him. We get our table, sit down. Drink some water. Start talking. And completely forget that you are supposed to order food in a restaurant. We order, and then we sit and talk alot more. So much in common. Our food arrives, we eat. Talk. Open our fortune cookies. Get up, he pays the bill. Then it is off to wander about. We end up at Tower Records. We go through every CD we can find. Hate that one. This one is fabulous. Never heard that one. It is 9pm. I have been texting Adam. I want to see him again before I have to leave. He isn't sure if he can make it. His friend has been very ill. Adam wants to be there with him. What are friends for? I want to see him. But it is all good. I'll be back soon enough and I'll get to see him again. I feel like I have left a part of me in New York City with him. Andrew has to go walk a dog. We make our way up. Into the building.

I wait in the lobby. He gets the dog. Comes back, and out we go. We go to a nearby park. I recognize the park from last summer. Memories. We walk around, talk. Yet more things in common. After we walk the dog, we head back to his apartment. We sit on the floor. Drink peach nectar. Listen to music. Talk. Then we decide that we want to cuddle. We just lay there. Listening to music. Cuddling. Talking. Time passes. I have to be back on the island at 1 AM. I don't want to go. I stay. We just cuddle. Talk. Then it gets to be 1:15 AM. I decide that I have to go, if I value my life. We get up. Put our shoes, coats on. Make our way out. Walk a few blocks. Arm in arm. Talking. We get to 92nd Street. Hail a taxi. Hug goodbye. Kiss on the cheek. I don't want to go. Andrew for sure is at least going to be my best friend when I get to the city.

Someone I can talk to. Relate to. Taxi ride down to Penn Station. I get on the train. It's almost 2 AM. On our way out. No one told me I would have to change trains. I end up in Massepequa. Dan drives out to pick me up. It is 3 AM now. Dan, Mallory, and I are in the car. We see a diner that is open 24 hours. We stop. Grab a bite to eat. Talk. Get back in the car. Off to nowhere. We take random roads. Cut back. Fly down the empty highway. Jones Beach, next right. Pass it up. Off to a gas station. Its closed. The bathroom is a priority. In a panic, we find another one that is open. Run in. Relief. Back to the car. Driving more. Jones Beach, next right. Again. This time we take it. Drive down another long empty road. Pull off to one parking lot. Out of the car. So cold. Run across the sand. Air biting at my nose, cheeks. Lighthouses off in the distance. The ocean. It was there. Cold. Run back to the car. Jumped in. Locked Mallory out.

Finally we are off again. Music, laughter. Dan and Mallory are so cute together. It's so sweet. More music. Oldies. Rock. Anything went. More laughter. Driving. 6 AM. Exhausted, but not tired. We head back. Drop Mallory off at her house, they hug goodbye. Then it is back in the car. Back to Dan's house. We quietly go into the house and softly climb the stairs. I crawl into the bed. Immediately I am asleep. The best day I've had is over. I want to remember it forever. We wake up a few hours later. Easter dinner. Turkey, lasagna, rolls, mashed potatoes, dressing. So good. And then to top it off, Dan's mother gave us each a chocolate easter bunny. It was nice. I really enjoyed it. Then it was time to go. Back into the car. That is where I am now. 4 guys. 19 years old. A car. Another 14 hour trip. I have just had the best time of my life, and I wish I could relive it all over again. Actually. No. I don't want to relive it. I want it to continue. I think I have finally found the place I belong. So I'll be back for good someday, to make my life and make my way.