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: "September Days"

It was a rainy afternoon. September weather was always so. The trees danced away to some unknown wind and the sky was painted in shades of orange and pink. Amelia was walking slowly and  witnessed it all like some work of art. She smiled so as to clock in another day in finance. These were the moments, she thought, were she would drift away and remember who she really was; an artist.

The train station was filled with co workers who waited for the rain to go away. Most of them never brought umbrellas to work, just for the excuse to get some drinks before heading home. Amelia chuckled  because she understood. She stopped in her tracks near the glass door from the bar, because amidst all those people, there was one who stood out for her. His reddish hair shone more in the yellow light and his laughter was audible even outside. Xander was surrounded by a crowd, something that Amelia learned to shy away from. He noticed her at once and she smiled as if they alone were guardians of some secret. She waved at him and walked past the park towards her car and it did not surprise her to see his car next to hers.

Suddenly she heard someone jogging and turned around to see Xander making his way to her while getting all drizzled in rain drops. Something about that scene made Amelia laugh and as a result she waited for him under her red umbrella.

There they stood facing each other. People have been obsessed with scenes involving rain for centuries, something about the rain or perhaps the couple. Something about seeing a face you love as it searches yours in a totally magical rainy way. Yes, that was cheesy.

 Xander was too big for her small umbrella, which made fair excuse to be closer to Amelia and perceive her perfume; sweet and spicy. He smiled mischievously as he wondered if Amelia was at all like her choice of fragrance. He had been wrong about her before, he was sure that every time he figuratively placed her in a box, she went ahead and crushed the image with spectacular grace.

Amelia remembered how earlier in the day she tried to avoid him. Pretty naive on her part considering how closely they worked together. But here he was, inches away from her. Amelia didn't plan what was coming next, Xander had an idea, one he was desperate for.

No words were spoken. Only touch.
Sometimes words are overrated.
Touch is genuine, touch is universal.

Hands explored the edges and corners of her shoulders. Timid at first, as if unveiling a work of art.  Her face was near his neck inhaling  his perfume until it made her tipsy with desire. She felt warm and radiant under the rain and wind. These september days are always rainy and expectant.

Her red umbrella flew way and with it all her doubts and past inhibitions. They both knew what was coming next and the idea was too consuming. Such a simple thing, lips entwine and sparks fly. Amelia teased around his neck with her lips. Xander cupped her chin and made her lock eyes.

"Amelia, look at me"

She knew the moment she raised her eyes at him, the past would be forgotten. She knew that passion was truly what she needed. Law was right, someday someone would make her burn with an  unknown fire. Law was right...it was Xander.

She looked into the eyes of the man she hardly knew but was desperate to be close to. She finally let someone in. Xander smiled and slowly leaned down and kissed her. Their lips explored lightly as if testing the waters. The temperature was right, the water levels were getting deeper and hot.

It was a rainy afternoon, but nothing could possibly put their fire out. Trust me, you wouldn't want to try. It was passionate, anyone could have told you that. Anyone including Roberto from accounting who just happened to be walking by.

"Evening Xander, Amelia. Tough day at work, huh?"

No one answered back. No one stared at poor Roberto from boring accounting. No one else existed for these two. But surely Monday morning would prove to be an interesting tale.