The subway jostled its passengers like a toddler shaking its box of crayons wildly, tons of people grumbling irritably to themselves as they accidentally brushed against the others hitching a ride on the public transport system. I held on tightly to my stack of books, deciphering the monotone colors of brick as they zoomed by, only half listening to my friend's rambling as she spoke loudly, completely oblivious to the agitated glares she was receiving for disrupting the dull silence in the subway car.

"And he said the layer was way too thin!" Annabeth complained, huffing as she shifted her weight from one hip to the other, "I mean really, how does my art teacher think I'll be able to finish my clay cube project if he's constantly correcting my work? Newsflash, it's art, it's supposed to be all about artistic influence."

"Uh huh," I murmured neutrally, my mind wandering far from the conversation at hand.

"Um, hello?" Anna snapped her fingers in front of my nose, "Did you even hear half of what I said?"

"...Hm? Oh!" I smiled sheepishly, twisting fully to face her, "'Course I heard you!"

Anna raised a brow dubiously, idly tugging at the ends of her nearly black hair. "Honestly, you daydream so often I don't even know how you function, sometimes."

"Compared to you?" I countered, laughing softly, "Your head's stuck in the clouds for half the day!"

"That's different," She insisted, "I'm just mulling over the tons of ideas I have in here," She tapped her forehead, "You, on the other hand... I don't even know what's going on in there."

She smiled, leaning over to rap her knuckles against the crown of my head teasingly. I rolled my eyes playfully, pushing her hand away and nearly tripping over myself as the subway jolted to a stop.

"So? There's no harm in being in my own little world," I giggled as we shoved our way onto the platform, "It sure is better than this reality, that's for sure."

Anna shrugged in partial agreement, pushing her big black-frame glasses further up on her nose. "I still wish you'd come back to this world and suffer with me, at least."

"Hey, I'm talking to you now, aren't I?" I gestured to the grimy floors and claustrophobic walls as we headed toward the stairs to the street, "I'm suffering with you. My reality smells way nicer than this gross subway."

Anna laughed, her breath hitching and releasing at odd intervals like it always did when she was especially amused. We emerged into harsh sunlight, not a cloud in the sky as we headed down Houston. I glanced over at my friend, her eyes morphing from her usual dull blue to turquoise in the new lighting. I gazed out at the bustling city street, packed with businessmen and entrepreneurs shuffling past, brushing my chocolate colored hair out of my eyes as I looked up in awe at the skyscrapers blooming in the sky for the umpteenth time.

"How's your book coming along?" She idly asked, like she always did when there was else to talk about. As of today, she'd repeated the question about three times. I laughed softly.

"It's going well," I answered like I always did, though I still couldn't get past the second sentence of my fifth chapter. Anna nodded in approval.

"You gotta let me know when you're finished," She told me, "And then I'll make your title cover, so everyone will see and read your work."

I sighed inwardly, throwing on a fake grin to reassure her, though I had absolutely no idea when or if is even finish the novel. I changed the subject quickly.

"So how'd that date go?" I casually hinted, secretly hoping for a bit of juicy gossip.

"Ugh," Anna groaned, "Another bust. I swear, all the guys in our school are idiots. I've sworn off dating altogether. It's official."

I grinned, throwing an arm around her shoulders, "Welcome to the Lone Wolf Club. I've been expecting you, my friend."

Anna giggled, "So, we're gonna be loners together, huh? Just the two of us, no guys to hold us down?"

"That's the plan," I agreed, "Dating's overrated anyway. Why have a boyfriend when you can have fun instead?"

"...Still," She commented a bit uncertainly, "You never even wonder what it'd be like to...fall in love?"

I wrinkled my nose slightly. "Love? Nah, it's so time-consuming. I'd rather play my guitar and write and draw my life away than spend it doting on some guy."

Anna smiled a little, nodding slowly, "I dunno, Sadie, guys are already going crazy over you. You're drop-dead gorgeous. The way I see it, the dudes will be doting on you. "

"Yeah right," I rolled my eyes, "Dating is not a game I'm gonna play. Can we play soccer or something instead?"

Anna laughed, shaking her head dismissively as she turned to head to her apartment complex. "I just have a feeling you're gonna meet someone someday who'll turn your beliefs around, Sadie."

"Yeah, whatever."

"See ya tomorrow!" She called over her shoulder, pumping one fist in the air and shouting, "Gotta blast!" Before sprinting through the crowd and into the building.

I giggled, heading down the street, my hazel eyes glued to the ground as I mulled over the prior conversation.