Amelia and Law: "Hamburg Song"

Amelia had her laptop open and her fingers ready to type. She was sitting at her nearest coffee shop close to  the University and was desperate to begin writing her paper on latinamerican literature due next tuesday. The subject was "100 years of Solitude"by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, a columbian journalist and novelist. She decided to fuse her inspiration with some strong black coffee and the melodies of Eva Cassidy. She always prefered listening to Eva when writing.

 Not far in another red semi stained couch sat a fellow classmate with his own laptop, typing away as if his life depended on it. Danny  was his name, tall, geeky tall actually, with expresso colored hair and porcelain skin and yes, Amelia had noticed him since day one.He always smelled deliciously of citrus and writing ink and always wore pop culture inspired t shirts. He was simply, too cool.  She sipped her coffee and quickly tried to imagine some sort of lame way to begin conversation with him . 

"How is the paper coming along?"
"Hmm, damm it why are you so adorable?"
Hi, I am in your literature class and I wanted to simply worship your hair. Yes, you have great hair"
"Marry me? No, that was lame"
"Shit, I am a dork"
"Amelia, you study words, say something"

Amelia was fidgeting with her fingers and typing crap in her word document as if fighting. Danny, stared, green eyes alert, but  kept on with his work as if not impressed. She was about to raise the common finger when Law entered the coffee shop. He caught her just as her face was flushed with anger, lashing dirty looks to the other side of the room. He followed her direction, and already sensing the situation, tried to make light of it, ignoring his own thoughts.

"Amelia, should I ask why you are staring at that kid like you are picturing his death?"
"It's funny you mention it  Law, I was doing just that"
"Already planning a world destruction, my dear friend? I thought that was exclusive for fridays" 
"Well, I am feeling rather generous today"

Law reached for a kiss on her cheek and sat next to her, a little closer than most days. Amelia did not seem to mind at all, She seemed to be lost in her world of coffee and literature and something else. For months, Law was picturing ways of letting her know how he felt. He needed to let her know how much she inspired him, how he pictured kissing her and waking up next to her everyday, and yes the image of her walking naked around his apartment was a constant. He placed his arm around her and leaned her closer to him. She smelled of flowers and in return rested her head on his chest, something completly normal for her. The coffee shop was playing his favorite song "Hamburg Song"by Keane. He let the words and melodies fill him with courage and confidence. He kissed her hair and took a sip of his coffee.   The moment was entirely sweet and perfect.

"Law, I need to have sex, are you available?"

He almost coughed back his coffee. He stared at her half surprised and half hoping it was not a bluff. As he prepared to reply, Amelia quickly laughed and tickled him under his chest. 

"I'm kidding, sorry. But it's true that I have been in a dry spell lately, and I'm pretty sure Danny wont ever notice me. So,  i was just checking my options. Either way, I'm sure Lydia has you busy with all that foreign affairs sex, you do look a bit skinnier though. Are you being safe? Ok, don't answer that. 

In the middle of her coffee laced monologue, Law leaned closer and gently kissed her. It was his only chance and he went for it. Finally, in all her life, Amelia was silenced with a kiss. The rest of the customers also stared, some "Awws and Oohs"were heard and Danny  looked as if something amusing finally happened. To Law, none of that mattered, he finally did something about it. All he could think of was Amelia's face; as if all life was drained out of her. Then, she touched her lips and smiled.

"Thank you"

"Yeah, anytime" Why was she thanking him? She really was insane and eratic. He hesitated for a second.
"You are aware that I just kissed you, right?"

Amelia smiled brilliantly. Her cheeks were flushed. "Yes, I was there on the recieving end. It was lovely. I'm sorry, I know I have been a bit annoying lately. I read victorian novels as a potential career and yet my love life is shit. So I was thanking you because you reminded me about what these heroines in my books are searching for. 

Law seemed at a loss for words, which was completly normal of his nature. But this was his moment, so he touched her hand, encouraging her to continue.

"Consuming love. Completly ridiculous, passionate love. So, thank's. The kiss helped me remember to keep hoping. Don't worry, I wont tell Lydia. Chalk it up to too much caffeine and Keane music. Was that "Hamburg Song"? Anyways, gotta hit the books.

Amelia thanked the heavens and Freud, that Law could not read her mind for it was a mixture of Gin and expressionist paintings. She saw life in colors, and right now it was red, orange and purple. She felt something, but maybe not enough. His kiss was still in the memory of her lips, that secretly wanted more, but she kissed him on his forehead and made plans for the next day; a poetry reading at Charlottes. The scent of her perfume embraced him. Across the room, Danny stared at him and lifted his notebook, where he wrote:

"FRIEND ZONED MUCH?" and laughed for a second, as if the world went back to it's original dullness. At that moment, Law's phone chimed in a text message from Lydia. "See you soon?". Law replied and all the while, Keane still playing in the coffee shop, "Will you see me in the end? Or Is it just a waste of time, trying to be your friend?"

Law had been in love with Amelia for about a year already, he watched her go through ups and downs, a few breakups and her parents divorce. He hoped that someday she would see him, but somehow he began to understand that hope was probably only for fools. 


Arwenlyn
2015

Xander and Amelia: Fire and Water plus a phone call

Amelia had been up since the early morning. She peeked through her window and stared at the moving trees and the colors of the sunrise. And slowly, the sun came by taking away the sounds of night. Her mind kept playing to last night, oh what a night. She had been singing, she remembered the neon lights, laughter of slightly tipsy co workers and expectant smiles. She remembered him. She could never forget him. 

Her collection of books had become a hazard in her room. She piled stacks of diverse literature and each one had a memory of its own. From victorian classics and George Orwells's "Animal Farm"  to the rather modern erotic novels, yes Amelia's taste was broad. No matter how shattered her hopes have been, she always had her books, her mind, her paintings. Most receantly she was feeling the angst of a relationship gone dry. Eric, sweet innocent Eric had broken her heart more than anyone before. He was her best friend for years. She dreamed of a future and he played along until it was too much to ask from him. His absence only made her yearn for something life changing. She didnt know it then, but life was preparing her for fire.

In the middle of her organizing her young adult fiction novels  she recieved a phone call from an unknown number. Normally she would never bother with answering these types of calls, but something made her think she had absolutely nothing to loose. Eric was gone, Mia was dead. "What the hell?"She mumbled through her breath as she answered.

The instant she heard his voice she knew exactly who he was. For some incredibly stupid reason she started to fix her hair and spray some citrus splash on her skin. His voice made her glow with happiness and she felt so silly by it. She had been wearing sweats and a white tank top that said "Nice Junk". she wondered if he would approve of her brand of humor.

Almost instantly in the conversation, Xander and Amelia talked so honestly and open. No false pretenses, no covering up. She knew his secret and He knew hers. He learned that she  liked to paint when  nostalgia took hold of her  and she learned that he lived everyday like his last. At times Amelia would look at herself in the mirror just to see that-wait a minute- yes, she was smiling. She was happy Xander had called her. But then the dreaded question came up.

"I see Aidan walked you to your car a few times, is He your boyfriend?" Please say no. Please say no.
"Um, no he is not. I have a boyfriend- ah, hmm well had". What the hell was that? What is wrong with me? .
"Well which one is it? Had or have?" Please say had, please say had! 
"Oh, had. Long story. Not my particular favorite subject" Ok, that wasnt so difficult. It's really over.
 "Oh sure I understand " I have a shot! 

Xander was a man of goals and he had his mind set on Amelia since that day at the parking lot. She was not the type of woman he typically dated. Then again his typical taste had given him enough  baggage claim. His  intrigue for Amelia was beyond anything physical or emotional. He couldnt explain how in one conversation he felt himself falling for her mind, the sound of her voice, her convictions. He felt himself changed by her.

Amelia was a natural skeptical when it came to love. Sure she had felt the butterflies but she had an edge to her. Love had not been too kind either. Or was it really love? A love that changes you. No, she had never experienced that. She had never been drawn to men like Xander either, all sociable and expressive. No, this was something new. Her initial reaction has always been to just walk away. Too much fire and she was too much of water. But his voice, deep and rustic...she needed more of it. His eyes were of her favorite color: Amber. His hair the color of sunset. She wondered if she could paint a portrait of him. He was like a work of art. All in one conversation.

They were complete opposites, yes anyone could have told you that.
They were in for a surprise.

And ironically, Monday's  became their favorite day of the week.


 

Chasing Time

She, was waiting for time. She had been waiting for four years, and yet silence is all she always had. Her hands were sweating, and her heart  pounding hard. The wind kept on singing, and leaves fell everywhere near her. She had flowers in her hair and feet. She wanted a future, but decided for an end. Her companion sat next to her licking her cheek and waiting just as anxious. She looked into her eyes and felt she was, heart broken, but not alone. She breathed in the smell of sea breeze and felt comfort. "This is what makes me", she repeated until truth echoed in her entire body. This moment would change her, this she knew. To let go of familiarity, his scent, the feel of his skin. She was letting go a life of one sided passion.

The gates opened, and four years walked in. He made noise as he ruffled the fallen leaves. He was always so poised and calm, she was the wind, the earth, the sound of laughter. He was the stillness in the night. What do you say when confronted by such a face? The face of a child man, the face of innocence. As they stared into each others eyes, he couldnt help but smile and she couldnt stop the tears.

Life passed through their minds. Their life together, was never a clean canvas. It was color mounted into color, the thickness of it all always made it impossible to start over.  He was realism and she was post impressionism. None, could have found a way to merge. When passion from color wanted to dance with his classic lines, they realized how incredibly odd and different they were. Classic lines, classic needs. Passionate colors, diverse sorrows. He wanted a Vermeer painting, all dark and sullen. She desired Edvard Munch, an emotional experience, a physical trance, to ride naked, to be naked to the world.

Finally, He walked closer to her, seeing how this ruffled her like a tree in the mercy of a tornado. Cruelty comes in all shapes. His was likea soothing  balm. She waited for his body and desired no longer his heart. As he came closer, she closed her eyes and said "This is how you made me". He embraced her, and the proximity took her by surprise and chilled her bones. So many years without passion can leave you numb and when you finally feel something, its intense.

"You know what I'm about to do, dont you?"
"I do."
"Can you give me a reason to continue waiting?"
"I have nothing. Nothing to give you."
"Always so still  and cold"
"Always so emotional and passionate"

Nothing.... 

Without a word. Without a touch. Simply gazing into their past and no future. They had no future to call upon. No hope to save them. Could you have saved them? Could you have convinced them to try? To fight for what used to unite them? What would you have said?

She was waiting for time. But she decided time should try to catch up with her. After all, she is the wind,  the sound of singing leaves, she is the moment someone decides to move on. And that moment, is now.

Art from www.artmajeur.com