CHAPTER THIRTEEN
Georgina
Mariz kept tugging me, demanding that I hurry walking.
"Alright, alright," I huffed. She asked me to come with her to an antique shop. She said she spotted a cute vintage couch that would look very good in my apartment. I wasn't even interested in buying a new furniture but she was so adamant in going that I finally relented, if only to get her off my back.
We waited when the pedestrian light turned green before we crossed the street. We walked a few blocks down 7th Avenue and we entered a squat little shop. It was filled from floor to ceiling with vintage stuff, most of them were furniture but there were little baubles as well. A middle aged man with receding hairline and a bright smile on his face greeted us.
Mariz approached the man and said, "Hi, I'm Mariz and—" Mariz didn't get to finish what she was going to say because a blond girl in marching band costume burst into the shop. A hat with white plume sat atop her head, in one of her hand was a baton. Her smile was so dazzling, it was almost blinding.
"Hi Georgina!" she greeted. I was surprised she knew my name. I wracked my brain if we had met before but I came up with no memories of her. "I'm Anne," she introduced herself. "Can I ask you to step outside?"
She must've sensed my unease because she added, "Don't worry it'll be just for a bit."
I turned to look at Mariz, expecting her to mirror my confused expression but she only grinned at me and gently pushed me to the door. Anne was already opening it, expecting me to follow her.
"What's this about?" I asked no one in particular. My question went unanswered.
Outside the shop a whole band was waiting for us, complete with cheery and colorful costumes. They were playing an equally cheery tune in their various instruments. Anne was now holding a microphone. She approached me and said into the microphone, "Do you like surprises, Georgie? Because you're in for one tonight."
She thrust the mic under my chin and I only managed to croak, "W-what do you mean?"
"Just wait and see, or better yet follow the music!" she announced with a flourish of her hand. With that she walked over to where the other baton twirlers were. She disappeared behind the crush of girls with plumed hats. The music grew louder, cheerier and the band started moving.
"What's going on?" I asked Mariz.
"You heard Anne, let's follow the band." She tugged me on the hand, urging me to follow the marching band. As confused as I was, I let her guide me through the crowd.
This was a flash mob. It wasn't uncommon in New York, much less in Times Square. A lot of performers did flash mobs in busy areas like the Square but I'd never seen one as lavish as this. And I certainly never expected I'd be in the middle of one.
We trudged down 7th Avenue, the band's music was all around us. Up ahead I could see circus tents flanking the part of West 42nd Street where the pedestrian plaza was. A ringmaster stood on a raised platform, under an arc painted with the letters "Welcome to Times Square, Georgie". He was wearing a glittering red topcoat with gold trim and a tall hat. On his both sides were jugglers in colorful outfit, fire performers spitting fire and contortionists bending their bodies in impossible positions. Smoke billowed out from the smoke machine just as the two fire breathers spit fire in perfect synchrony.
Without warning the music stopped and all the lights dimmed, even the giant screens on the side of the towering buildings. Everything fell in a hush. Just then another kind of music played, it was ethereal and sweet to the ears. Everything was still dark but a blinding spotlight shone on us, illuminating a crush of ballerinas moving gracefully to the sway of the music. They made a perfectly synchronized pirouette before landing on their feet. They continued their hypnotizing moves, all the while parting in the middle to make way for me and Mariz. The ballerinas danced to the beat of the music as they, and the spotlight, followed us.
I didn't even notice we arrived at Duffy Square, the northern part of Times Square, until I spotted Chaplain Francis Duffy's statue standing proudly at the center of it.
The spotlight moved from us to a dark silhouette standing on a raised dais in Duffy Square. My heart lurched at the sight of Atkins standing there, amidst the crowd, the beautiful cityscape and the center of the spotlight. Despite the grand event and superfluous outfits of the performers here tonight, Atkins still remained himself in his usual outfit of blue jeans and plaid button down shirt. In his hand was a microphone. His eyes were only on me. There was uncertainty in them, but also joy.
The ringleader from the flash mob helped me up the platform. My legs were shaking so badly and I prayed not to trip. Along the way I was so engrossed in the show that it didn't occur to me who was waiting at the end of the parade. I was happy and definitely surprised to see him, but also unsure. What could happen tonight?
The performers gathered below the platform, eagerly waiting for whatever Atkins was going to say. I was eager to know what he was going to say.
"Thank you for coming here tonight, Georgie," he said onto the mic. "Well, we didn't give you much choice."
The crowd chuckled.
"Georgie, I am a foolish man, in every way a man in love is foolish, and I'm in love with you."
Our audience let out a collective sigh.
"But I also made a stupid thing— I hurt you and I let you down. I assumed the worst without talking to you first. I said a lot of painful things to you. And my mistakes have been haunting me since that day. I am a foolish and stupid man, indeed." He kneeled in front of me and shot me his sincerest apologetic look. His eyes were boring into me, conveying all the regret and remorse he was feeling.
Around us, the giant screens shone to life, and instead of the usual commercials, they all blared the same message: "I was such an idiot and I'm sorry. Will you forgive me, Georgie?"
"You are such a beautiful, intelligent and extraordinary woman, the most remarkable person I know. I love you and I don't think I deserve you but I will spend the rest of my life trying to prove to you that I do. Will you give me another chance and forgive me?"
Should I? I thought being with Atkins so soon after my previous relationship blew up in my face was wrong. I thought I was rushing things, jumping from one thing to another to cover the pain. But if I was being honest with myself, I was happy, truly happy with him. He made me feel it was okay to be me, he helped me up when I was down. He was always there for me. Just when I thought no one was going to love me as much as Matt did, he showed me he could.
I wasn't a brave person, the truth was that I was a coward and I was afraid to be hurt again, afraid to burn and bleed. But also, I was afraid of losing him again. I almost lost him once, would I let him go now that he was here again?
Should I take a chance with him? But then, how could I not? Maybe a chance was all it took to not be afraid anymore.
"Atkins, I was afraid. I was afraid of loving again but you showed me how it felt to have someone care for you, fight for you. I still am afraid, but I can't bear to think not taking a chance, taking a leap of faith, with you. I love you too, and I forgive you."
The crush of people cheered around us. All the lights that shone and made the night brighter. Confetti rained down on us. Atkins stood and hugged me so tightly and I hugged him back. I didn't notice a single tear of happiness wetting my cheek until he wiped it away with his thumb.
"Why are you crying?" he asked, his face full of hope and love, but also concern.
"I'm just happy," I chuckled, and he embraced me again.
Behind him stood Lukas, Mariz, Clyde and Zang— my friends. No doubt they helped make all of this a possibility. I beamed at them, conveying my deep gratitude with a smile and unspoken words. It was a perfect night, the kind that I thought only happened in fairy tales.