I glared out the window of the noon train. There wasn't much in the way of scenery, unless you counted seeing junkyards or other passing trains. Every once in a while the train route would allow us to pass through some small farm country. But, even then, it still wasn't all that amazing to look at. I swished through songs on my iPod as I sang along to the one currently playing. Fortunately, for me, I was sitting alone in the open coach compartment. It wasn't unusual for the train to be completely empty during midday. As I began singing to the next song, I could feel the train begin to slow. I glared out the window as the train pulled into the station with a big plaque reading "Trenton Station". I was now in Trenton, New Jersey. Just an hour's ride from Townsend, Delaware, where I started. I was on my usual Friday trip to Seabrook, New Hampshire. Being I had Fridays off, I would go up to visit family, and then stay the weekend. This was a kept up tradition since college, which I graduated about two years ago. I could see people shuffle back and forth on the station platform, and for whatever reason I realized I had to pee. Still singing aloud, I got up and headed to the train restroom.
I washed my hands while watching myself sing to Twin Sister's "All Around and Away We Go". I laughed at myself as I tried giving what I thought was a seductive look into the mirror. I've always thought I wasn't much to look at, but, apparently to everyone else, I was movie star beautiful. I had always been compared to Nina Dobrev when it came to my looks. From my face and dark brown hair down to the way my voice sounded and the way my body looked. Yes, it was true. Even I had to admit it was kind of eerie. I continued singing as I exited the train restroom. I immediately stopped once I saw another passenger sitting in the same open coach train compartment as me. Knowing that I had been heard, I simply smiled as I made my way to my seat. It was a guy about my age, maybe a little older. He had golden brown eyes, short light brown hair, a squared off face, with neatly trimmed facial hair. He was the very definition of the word handsome.
After I sat, I once again went back to gazing out the train window. Within five minutes, the train was on the move again. I pondered to myself on whether to give him a quick glance or just keep my eyes on the scenery outside the train. I finally decided to give him a quick look over. He sat just four rows in front of me, on the opposite aisle. I stared at him before noticing he was turning his head toward me. Without thinking, I quickly turned my gaze back to the train window. I could feel my cheeks blush as I knew I had almost been caught. A few moments passed by before I noticed him out of the corner of my eye, standing next to me. I paused the song I was listening to and looked up at him. He looked about six feet tall, and had a very muscular build. He wore a blue cardigan over a grey buttoned up shirt, navy colored jeans, with black converse shoes. He definitely looked dressed to impress, in a casual sort of way.
"Excuse me," he said in a mildly husky voice. "I don't mean to bother you, but being we are the only two within this compartment, may I sit next to you?"
"Yea, sure." I smiled.
"I'm sorry, how rude of me. I'm Brian."
"Hi, Brian. I'm Claire."
"It's nice to meet you Claire. Let me just go get my stuff."
As he walked over to retrieve his things, which consisted of a brown over the shoulder book bag and a black leather duffle bag, I moved my purse out of the aisle seat next to me and onto my lap. While he walked back over to sit next to me, I smiled while also feeling my cheeks blush once more. I nervously wrapped my headphones around my iPod before shoving it into my purse.
"So, where are you headed? If you don't mind me asking." He said putting his bags onto the floor in front of him.
"No, not at all. I'm headed to Seabrook. What about you?"
"Portsmouth. I'm staying with my brother for a week."
We talked for a good hour as the train clanked along the track. We talked about the different facets of our lives, the colleges we went to, our families, our tastes in food, and the many other interests we had. He told me about his career as a chef, and how the restaurant he works for would be moving to Portsmouth in two weeks; he also shared how this trip to spend a week with his brother would not only be a good opportunity to visit him, but to also look for a place nearby where the restaurant was to be opened. I told him about the small publishing company I work for in Townsend as an assistant editor, and how I was making my weekly visit to Seabrook to spend the weekend with my family.
"No luggage?" He asked seeing only my purse.
"Don't need it. I keep some spare clothes at my parent's place."
"I have to be honest about why I wanted to come sit next to you," he smiled. "It's just you're very beautiful, and I heard you singing in the restroom. I'm sorry, I definitely lack tactfulness."
"Thank you. You're not so bad yourself." I giggled while looking into his golden brown eyes. "Also, tactfulness is overrated."
"When I got on the train I heard your amazing voice coming from the restroom. Then when you came out, I knew I had to get to know you," he said nervously blushing. "Plus, you also look eerily like the actress Nina Dobrev."
"I get that quite a lot," I laughed. "But, just between you and me, I think I'm prettier."