Eventually, I gave Daniel an ultimatum. He didn’t follow it, and we broke up. I finally decided enough was enough. I had to start chasing my dream and move to New York.
And here we are: summer 2018, and I’m finally making the move.
Newark isn't the prettiest or most glamorous place to live; at least, that's what my friends and family keep telling me. Whatthey don't realize is that I found a two-bedroom apartment for only $1,000 a month, and it's just five minutes walking distance from New Jersey Penn Station. That means my commute to NYC is about 30 minutes, door-to-door, depending on where I'm headed.
“You’ve been standing there for like 10 minutes staring into space! Can I get some help here? How does this place not have an elevator?!” Evan screamed.
I guess I was zoning out, lost in thought, and forgetting I was in the middle of a move. Maybe I thought if I stood still long enough, Evan would just do everything.
“Oops, I was just thinking about life. Typical me. Thanks for starting with the small stuff. Let’s start taking this damn couch up the stairs. Two floors isn’t that bad!” I chuckled.
This move would’ve been a lot easier with one or two more people. That couch definitely dented the stairwell in a few places. Great start! Luckily, five hours later, we finished and could finally return the U-Haul to a nearby Home Depot. Thank God there’s one just ten minutes away.
Finally, we're back in my new apartment, sitting on my worn-in yet comfy couch.
Evan looked at me and blurted out, “Let’s get fucked up. Where can we go?”
Evan and I aren’t the type to search for crowded bars. We’d rather find a dive bar where we can talk about nothing at all.
“Um,” I replied, “how about Parker’s? It looks old, but the website says $3 beers!”
Evan perks up. "You don't have to say more. Three-dollar beers are all I can afford. I just looked it up, and it's a five-minute walk. I love this for us!"
As Evan and I wander the streets of Newark, I am pleasantly surprised at how nice it looks. All I’d ever heard were negative things, but it wasn’t bad at all. I live in an area called theIronbound. I’m not entirely sure what that means, but I’m getting a good vibe.
We made it to Parker's, and I have to say, it's way nicer than I expected. The crowd of about twenty people is diverse and friendly-looking. Still, I had no interest in talking to anyone but Evan.
We find a little nook in the corner and sit down while the waiter strolls over.
“Do you have a bucket of Bud Lights or a pitcher?” I ask.
The waiter replies, “I can get you a pitcher for ten bucks. That work?”
I practically yell, “Yes!”
As the waiter walks away, I am in shock at how cheap everything is. I grew up in a place where things were affordable, but New York City? Not so much. I’ve heard horror stories. Newark, thankfully, has its own price range.
I smirked at Evan. “So, any thoughts on rejoining my fantasy football league?”
One thing I love almost as much as my guitar is fantasy football. I only have one league, mostly made up of old high school friends I barely talk to. Evan used to be in it, but he quit because he doesn’t care much about football.
“Fuck that shit! I follow one team, the Philadelphia Sparrows, and that’s it. No one’s got time for fantasy football,” Evan snaps.
“Well, worth a shot,” I snicker. “Remember that time I kissed Carter Elliott? What was that, like four years ago?”
Evan’s eyes lit up. “Holy shit, I forgot about that! I remember how shocked I was that you kissed a guy, that's for sure. But Carter Elliott? That was next level.”
He continues, “Who would’ve guessed the first guy you’d actually enjoy kissing would end up being an NFL running back!”
“Right?” I chime in. “Oh, what could have been. I really thought he was into me, but seeing him with that college girl, Sarah, after we kissed? Yeah, no interest in me.”
I'll never forget hearing Carter's name during the 2015 draft, called in the third round, and how excited he looked on TV. He was great in college, but I was surprised he went that early. The Boston Wolverines must've been desperate for a running back, or they really saw something in him. Either way, I was thrilled for him.
I never thought much about that kiss afterward and never mentioned it to anyone except Evan. I've never hidden my attraction to guys; it's just not something I feel the need to talk about all the time.
“Evan,” I said, “I still think it’s hilarious you had Carter on your fantasy team last year.”
“Yeah, and he might be the reason I stopped playing. He had some good games but was so inconsistent.”
