Dangerously Yours

New friendship

I wake up to my phone buzzing against the floor.

For a second, I don't move. My body feels heavy, like I never really caught up on the sleep I missed. Then it buzzes again, more persistent this time, and I force myself to reach for it.

JESS

Cafe on 3rd. Be there in 20.

I stare at the message longer than I should.

Part of me wants to ignore it. Stay in bed. Pretend I'm not here, not in this city, not living this life. But another part—quieter, but stronger—reminds me I said yes.

So I get up.

Getting ready is easier today. Still slow, but not as exhausting. I pull on something simple, brush through my hair, and try not to overthink it. By the time I leave the apartment, the city already feels different in daylight. Less intimidating. Still loud—but softer around the edges.

The café isn't hard to find. It's small, tucked between two buildings like it's trying not to be noticed. Warm light spills through the windows, and for a second, I just stand there, taking it in.

Then I go inside.

Jess is already there, sitting by the window, scrolling on her phone. She looks up the second I walk in and smiles like she's been waiting longer than she'll admit.

''You made it,'' she says as I sit down.

''Barely,'' I reply, pushing a strand of hair behind my ear.

She laughs. ''You look better than last night.''

''That's not hard.''

''Give it an hour,'' she says. ''Coffee helps everything.''

I'm not sure if that's true, but I ordered one anyway.

—

It's... easy, talking to her.

Easier than I expected.

At first, it's small things—where I'm from, how long I've been here, what I think of New York so far. I told her about England, about quiet mornings and streets that don't feel like they're constantly moving. I don't tell her everything, but I tell her enough.

She tells me about the city instead. About how it never really slows down, how you either keep up or get left behind. About the club— what to expect, who to avoid, how to handle certain situations.

''You'll get used to it,'' she says.

''I don't know if I want to,'' I admit.

Jess shrugs. ''You don't have to want to. You just have to survive it.''

There's something honest about the way she says it. No sugarcoating. No pretending.

I respect that.

—

We stay longer than planned, coffee turns into conversation, conversation into laughter. For the first time since I got here, I forgot to feel out of place. I forgot to think about last night, about what's waiting for me when I go back.

It feels... normal.

Or at least close to it.

—

After we leave, we don't go far.

Jess pulls me into shop after shop, barely giving me time to think before we're somewhere new. Clothes I wouldn't usually pick, things I don't need, things I'd never wear back home.

''Try this,'' she says, handing me something without explanation.

I gave her a look but took it anyway.

At some point, I stop questioning it. Stop overthinking every choice, every movement. I laugh when something looks ridiculous. I actually look at myself in the mirror instead of avoiding it.

''This suits you,'' Jess says, leaning against the door frame.

''What does?''

She gestures vaguely. ''This. You not looking like you're about to bolt.''

I roll my eyes, but I can't help the small smile that follows.

She's not wrong.

Somewhere between the café and now, something shifted. I feel lighter. Less... trapped inside my own head.

More like myself.

Or maybe someone I forgot I could be.

—

We end up sitting on a bench later, bags at our feet, the city moving around us like it always does.

Jess glances over at me, like she's deciding whether to say something.

''I know a place,'' she says finally. ''They throw huge parties almost every weekend. Not like the club—just people, music, drinks. Fun.''

I hesistate.

Parties were never really my thing. And now, everything feels even more unfamiliar than before.

But then I think about last night.

About how tense I felt. How everything sat too heavily on my shoulders.

''Fine,'' I say after a second. ''But if it's terrible, I'm blaming you.''

Jess grins instantly. ''Deal.''

I shake my head slightly, as a slight laugh leaves my mouth.

''We can share a cab, I'll get it to pick you up at 8pm tonight.''

For the first time since I got here, I'm actually looking forward to something.