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libraryledge · 1 month ago

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A Quick Escape (A Story Inspired By Marty Supreme)

A/N: New photos and this video from Timothée Chalamet's latest role in the film, Marty Supreme are circulating online. This got my creative juices flowing, and I wrote a story that is very loosely inspired by them. Enjoy!

The Manhattan air was finally crisp and cool. After a week of working non-stop at the local elementary school, I figured that I deserved a moment to rest. The plan was to curl up on the couch in my apartment and read a sweet romance novel. I had a kettle of spiced apple tea brewing on the stove, so I could sip on something warm as I read. Nothing could have disrupted this pleasant mood.

“Bam! Bam!”

I heard a loud noise suddenly invade the serenity of the environment.

Startled, I rushed to the window, and opened it to see what the commotion was. Much to my astonishment, I spotted a young man in his late 20’s climbing down the fire escape. When he spotted me, he gave me a guilty look.

“Sorry!” he exclaimed immediately.

“What are you doing?” I asked him, more bewildered at the unusual scene than upset that he interrupted my plans.

“Uh…would you believe me if I said I’m on my way to work?” he asked sheepishly.

I raised an eyebrow suspiciously and replied, “You take the fire escape down work? There’s at least seven more stories below you! Isn’t that dangerous?”

The man adjusted his position on the rickety ladder he was grasping onto and replied, “Perhaps, but at least it helps me leave my apartment unnoticed.”

He paused awkwardly and said, “Well… most of the time. Unfortunately, my briefcase didn’t live to tell the tale.”

He looked past the ladder of the fire escape, all the way down to the ground. I followed his gaze to the concrete New York sidewalk, where a large black suitcase was sprawled upon a bed of autumn leaves.

“Oh! So, that's what that was!” I replied in amusement. “Do you work in an office?”

The young man didn't look like he worked behind a desk. His brown hair was gelled back, but a few rebellious curls refused to stay slicked back. He wore black sneakers, green cargo pants, a white tank top, and a light blue dress shirt that he left unbuttoned despite the cool air. The fellow didn't have the appearance of a typical office worker, but one couldn't judge a book by its cover.

“Me? No!” the young man said immediately as he shook his head rapidly. “In case it isn't obvious, no one has probably ever been less suited for regular employment than me”

He chuckled and slowly made his way down from the ladder and onto the flat ground in front of my window. His laugh was infectious and I had to smile.

“So what do you do besides ending up on strangers' fire escapes so early in the morning?” I asked generally intrigued to learn more about this quirky human being.

“I’m a ping pong player. You know?” he replied as he used his hands to imitate the gesture of hitting a ball with a paddle.

“Really? That's pretty cool,” I said. I was not an athlete myself, but I admired those who were athletically inclined.

"Normally it is, but today might be kind of tough because something tells me that I’m going to need new paddles,” he admitted with a sigh as he looked down at the suitcase lying on the pavement.

“Oh, shoot! Are they expensive to replace?” I asked empathetically.

Being a teacher meant that I understood how pricey buying supplies was.

“Eh…not too bad. Besides, I have my ways,” he replied mysteriously and left me wondering what he meant, but I knew better than to pry.

Noting the confusion in my eyes, he quickly added, “Nothing illegal of course!”

I laughed and replied, “That’s good to know,”

“Let’s just say I’m a player in more ways than one,” he said slyly.

I furrowed my brows in confusion.

The man’s face, which was already flushed from climbing down the fire escape in the cool fall breeze, turned even rosier as he realized how odd his statement sounded. He ran his hand over his face in embarrassment.

“Gosh! I’m not making this any better!” he exclaimed. “Poker! I meant to say that I make extra money playing poker.”

I chuckled at his awkwardness, as it was slightly endearing.

“Oh, ok! Are you any good at it?” I asked with a smile.

He shrugged modestly and said, “Good enough to finance my budding career in ping pong. Actually, that’s where I’m headed right now. There’s a local club that hosts poker tournaments on the first Saturday of the month. I was hoping to make some extra pocket change."

“Wow! Impressive, but I still don't get it. Why do you have to sneak out through the fire escape to do this?” I asked curiously.

The man chuckled, "My mother has been staying with me for the past few months, and she worries about the risks that I take."

“I can't imagine why," I teased.

He rolled his eyes good-naturedly and said, “You probably think I'm a mess, especially after our not so typical meeting, but I swear I’m a relatively sane person."

'Would a sane person have to confirm that?’ I joked as he shrugged, uncertain how to respond.

“I'm only teasing you.” I said. “Everyone needs to take risks in their lives. How else will we learn anything? I'm a teacher, so I should know a thing or two about that.”

The man gave me a genuine smile and replied, “You're a teacher? That's awesome! What do you teach?”

“Kindergarten,” I said, returning his smile.

“Oh boy! Here I thought I was living life on the edge. You must have your hands full! Now I feel really bad for making such a ruckus on your day off," he said apologetically.

“Nah! Don't sweat it." I said. "Honestly, as much as I love the weekend, it does tend to get a bit lonely, especially after being surrounded by so many students during the week. I could always use something to keep me on my toes.”

He laughed and looked down at his own feet, which were no longer perched upon the fire escape.

“Well, I guess I better get going. I’ve kept you long enough.” he said as he glanced at the ground level, which was several stories below us.

I followed his gaze. “Are you still going to take the fire escape down?” I asked him in amusement.

“Well, at this point, I'm kind of committed aren't I?” he replied half joking because he really didn't have another way down.

“You could always come in through my window and take the stairs down,” I suggested.

“Are you sure that's the most responsible thing to do? I mean you don't really know me,” he said awkwardly.

“Perhaps not, but I would feel responsible if you fell to your untimely death because I didn't lend you a hand,” I said with a playful shrug.

“Besides, you seem like an honest fellow. A little quirky, yes, but that never hurt anyone. It spices things up.”

Suddenly, I flung my hand over my mouth.

“Oh, gosh! My tea!” I exclaimed as the man stared at me in bewilderment.

I opened the window, wide enough for him to fit through, and offered the young man my hand to guide him into my living room. He placed his cold palm in my warm one, and I made sure he made it inside safely. Then, I rushed to the kitchen to turn off the kettle.

“I was brewing some apple cinnamon tea when I heard you outside,” I explained as I poured some in a mug and handed it to him. He looked at me in surprise.

“And before you protest, yes it's safe,” I said as I poured some for myself in a mug. “You can trust me.”

“I know,” he replied sincerely as he placed the mug to his lips. A warm expression crossed his face.

“This is delicious!” he proclaimed as he drank more of the tea.

“Don't act so surprised,” I said in amusement.

“No, no, no! That's not what I meant! Spice is usually not my thing, but when paired with the apples, oh it's heavenly!” he exclaimed, as he downed more of the hot beverage.

“Glad you like it. I was planning to drink some myself as I read Little Women. It's my favorite book,” I said as I drank from my own cup.

“I've actually never read that one,” he admitted. “My mother loves it. I always felt like I should give it a chance. I just never had the attention span to sit down and read books in general.”

“Ping pong seems like it requires a good amount of concentration, so I'd say you do have it in you to sit down and focus on a good book,” I said, raising an eyebrow with a grin.

“Touche,” he said, eyes glistening.

We were quiet for a second. Then, he broke the silence by saying, “Well, your hospitality has been too kind, and I don't want to impose any longer.”

He ran his hand over his hair, freeing up more of his curls.

“It has been no trouble at all, but you better get on your way if you want a chance to get those new paddles,” I said.

He smiled and replied, “ Yeah, you're probably right.”

He handed me the empty mug. “Thank you so much for everything,” he said almost a little shyly.

“You're welcome,” I said genuinely. “I mean that. You're welcome to drop in anytime. Maybe use the front door next time.”

He grinned sheepishly at me. “I appreciate that,” he said as I opened the door for him. He waved at me, and I returned the gesture.

“You might be a little strange, but don't be a stranger,” I ribbed playfully.

“Alright. Enjoy Little Women,” he said with a grin as he gestured to a copy of the book upon my coffee table.

“I will. Hopefully, you'll get around to reading it sometime,” I responded.

"Yes. I will be sure to keep you updated when I do. I'll see you around!” he said, giving me one final grin before he bounded down the flight of stairs to the ground floor.

I walked back inside and headed over to the window, which in all the commotion, I'd left open. I was about to close it when I saw the young man at the bottom of the apartment building, picking up his abandoned briefcase. As if he felt my gaze upon him, he looked up. Smiling, he waved at me, and I waved back, watching as he rushed down the street amidst the crisp and cool air of New York. The day was meant to consist of rest and relaxation, within the warm confines of my apartment, but the interaction with my neighbor left me with an unexpected feeling of coziness, as I wondered if I would be seeing him again soon.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading! Please let me know in the comment section or my "Request Box" if you have suggestions for potential story ideas. I'd love to hear them!

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