![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
Le Freak C'est Chic
May. 9th, 2008 09:35 amI managed to freak out a guy in the Tube this morning.
It all started in Mile End, when I was waiting for the District Line train. I noticed him straight away: tall, shaved-head, blue shirt tucked into jeans, cream-coloured leather belt, neon New Balances and a red cap. He had a backpack flung over his shoulder, iPod plugged in, and he was reading a hardcover book.
We got inside the same carriage. I tried to read my book but something about him was distracting. I'd seen his face before. So I stared. He occasionally looked up from his book to scan the carriage, or the outside (especially when we were held in Whitechapel for a few minutes.) He'd catch me staring at him and look away. He took one of his earphones out, which I thought was a signal that he was open to conversation; but there were people between us, and soon he took an empty seat and returned to his book.
Train chugged along and I lost interest in my book. I had to speak to him. Finally, I managed to scoot closer when many people left and I noticed that he was reading Catch-22. Do I say hello or do I walk away? He was now more interested in the slim bloke that had walked in and stood near us.
Finally, when I got out at Embankment, I mustered all my nerves (my heart was beating fast) and tapped on the window. He didn't hear me. I asked the girl beside him to call him. He turned around and looked at me. I mouthed "I am your neighbour!" He smiled and shook his head. I said again "I am your neighbour." He continued to smile, but underneath I could tell he was thinking "Psycho!"
I walked away, feeling embarrassed and crazed.
It all started in Mile End, when I was waiting for the District Line train. I noticed him straight away: tall, shaved-head, blue shirt tucked into jeans, cream-coloured leather belt, neon New Balances and a red cap. He had a backpack flung over his shoulder, iPod plugged in, and he was reading a hardcover book.
We got inside the same carriage. I tried to read my book but something about him was distracting. I'd seen his face before. So I stared. He occasionally looked up from his book to scan the carriage, or the outside (especially when we were held in Whitechapel for a few minutes.) He'd catch me staring at him and look away. He took one of his earphones out, which I thought was a signal that he was open to conversation; but there were people between us, and soon he took an empty seat and returned to his book.
Train chugged along and I lost interest in my book. I had to speak to him. Finally, I managed to scoot closer when many people left and I noticed that he was reading Catch-22. Do I say hello or do I walk away? He was now more interested in the slim bloke that had walked in and stood near us.
Finally, when I got out at Embankment, I mustered all my nerves (my heart was beating fast) and tapped on the window. He didn't hear me. I asked the girl beside him to call him. He turned around and looked at me. I mouthed "I am your neighbour!" He smiled and shook his head. I said again "I am your neighbour." He continued to smile, but underneath I could tell he was thinking "Psycho!"
I walked away, feeling embarrassed and crazed.
