Location: Metropolitan<br/>Tag: The Doorman, Charlie Winchester, Mr. Woods the tea shop owner<br/><hr class="bbc-hr bbc-hr--3"/><br/><br/>Running down the stairs, Jasmine’s sneakers squeaked on each step, the irritating sound echoing in the halls. Her hand tightened at each new flight, controlling her path while she darted around the bend to the next set of stairs, fingers sliding down the cool metal rail.<br/><br/>She jumped the last two stairs when she made it to the floor she wanted and barged into the long vertical rod, keeping the doorway to the lobby locked from non-residents. Slowing down a little on her way out of the Gramercy, she waved politely to their doorman and rushed past him to the glass double doors. She still couldn’t believe she lived in a building so upscale as to have the extra security of a guard/doorman double checking everyone that arrived.<br/><br/>Emerging from the grand building, Jasmine stopped for a moment, taking a deep breath and enjoying being outdoors. Yes, the air was muggy because of city pollution, but the sun was shining and the warmth caressing her cheeks made her smile. She heard the beautiful and inspiring wave of notes from the corner and found the street proformer, a young violinist, when she looked over. The girl's body flowed, moving in a dance of emotion while creating a transcendent melody with her instrument. Jasmine admired the girls skills and always wondered why she was playing on a street corner instead of somewhere more worthy of her abilities. Jas had thrown a few dollars into her collection a few times, but she was in a hurry today and decided she would just have to drop a few extra bucks in the next time she passed by.<br/><br/>Jasmine spent the afternoon running around the city. She picked a book up from the antique store on the opposite side of town. The professor she TA’ed for had asked her to grab it before their classes tomorrow, so Jasmine had needed to pick it up today. After that she was taking the bus to the East end, there she visited a shop she found her first semester. It carried a specialty tea she had fallen in love with and she dropped by at least a few times each month for a refill.<br/><br/>The familiar sound of a bell clanking when she opened the door to the tea shop made her smile. She loved the old fashioned way to ensure the shopkeeper was alert to any customers arriving. Calling out to the elderly owner, Jaz chatted with the old school gentleman, Mr. Woods, for a few minutes.<br/><br/>No, she hadn’t found a nice man yet, yes she was still in school and her studies were going well.<br/><br/>How was his granddaughter recovering from her broken arm, had his youngest son and his wife had their baby yet?<br/><br/>Back and forth they questioned each other, exchanging information and warm smiles. She always loved being in his store. The exotic fragrances seemed to seep into her clothes after a visit and the alluring scents soothed her throughout the day.<br/><br/>Mr. Woods handed her the stiff little paper bag with her preferred blend, “Thank you Mr. Woods,” smiling and packing the tea into her backpack.  “I’ll see you again in a few weeks.”<br/><br/>With a final wave, Jaz backed out the door and made for her last stop. Running down the steps to the underground train, and forcing herself through the turnstile after slipping a token into the tiny slot, she made it onto the subway just as the alert beeped out and the doors swished shut.<br/><br/>Now she needed a couple of hours of research at the library and she could return home. She hoped Sarah was settling in and getting comfortable. Maybe she could stop at the ice cream shop on the way home and get them a celebration treat. Listening to the “clank clank” of the tracks, the train car rocking as it speed through the underground system, Jasmine relaxed and leafed through her phone, making sure all the roommate ads were removed so she didn’t have to worry about any more applicants. Especially creepy ones.