The Art of Falling

Amanda Johnson

A. Johnson

"I do tutoring because I like teaching. My life's kinda been all planned out since I was born, and in my parent's eyes, there's no room for anything either than Law or Medicine. Definitely no room for music either. I like music and teaching, but I'm not really sure I want to be a teacher or an artist. I'm still not quite sure what I want to do with my life yet, so for now, I don't mind the plans, and I sure as hell don't mind the huge trust fund in my name. Right now I'll just let destiny steer me."

She was my first ever girl friend. We had instantly clicked when we were put in the same group for a chemistry project. We bonded over our mutual love for music and unusual obsession with coffee. She happened to be the only one who knew Frank Ocean, who I thought to be one of the best artists of all time.

Even after the project was finished, we continued meeting up at Starbucks and even went on to form our own little obsession/hobby of finding little quaint and quirky cafes around the city. In one of our adventurous exploring the city on our bikes, (even though her father had hired a driver for her) we found a little jazz cafe where we now spend most of our days.

Sipping some coffee, or reading a book with rich and soft melodies and vocals in the background. We relished in the freedom to just be, without having to speak, in fear of disrupting the peace brought by the music and sometimes the spoken poetry. Soon we ended up creating our own fairly pleasant noise in the small cafe.

Amanda had a beautiful voice and I--I had many things to say and a guitar I happened to learn how to play in middle school. I sometimes delivered performances of my written words and at times, with utmost pride I let Amanda sing them out to the mass, with me playing the guitar like we were some kind of girl group. Well I couldn't sing to save my life, but I didn't dwell too much on that misfortune. Amanda and I had what I liked to call an unbreakable bond, truly, best friends forever.
Yet the closer I got to her, the less I seemed to understand the enigma that she was. She was filthy rich, but had only her elegant gait and mannerisms to show for it. She worked as a tutor which she said she enjoyed and sometimes did odd jobs which she'd only really ever commit to for a month max.

She wanted to be independent, yet she never minded spending money from her Lawyer mom and Surgeon dad. What I liked about her the most, was her gratitude, even when she didn't sometimes get her way, she was always grateful. Grateful for her privileges, food on the table, clothes on her back and for her two very much healthy parents. Unlike most rich kids, she barely ever boasted, nor did she complain much.
The angel in question was currently sleeping with her head across my lap. She had just undid her plaits a few days ago, so I was pulling at her soft curls on my lap, an obsession of mine that would never get old.
To my left, on the three sitter couch, Felipe, who I'd just realized had completely forgotten about his 'date' for the night. "Aren't you sposed to be somewhere today?" I say as I nudge him with my elbow. Slowly he takes his eyes of the screen, turning his head only slightly towards me. He says nothing before turning back to the screen.
Marcus scoffs from in between my feet on the carpet floor. "I told you he wouldn't leave until he finishes the whole season."                                 We were currently sitting in Marcus's living room watching the latest season of 'The originals', I was a fan of the show myself, but I could hardly pay attention to it with the others around, so I usually preferred to watch it alone. On the other side of the room, on the two seater was Arjun and Paige.

Arjun was also actively watching the show while playing with Paige's intricate rings on her dainty fingers. Paige was reading a book, an odd site that had made recent regular appearances. We all knew how much she hated reading, but it was sort of an unspoken rule among us, to just let her be. Usually, Felipe would surely have commented on the unusual behavior, but he was otherwise occupied.

The nerd of the group, Jaden is sitting facing away from the tv on the carpet. He has one arm on the coffee table, pen in hand, carefully scribbling some chemistry homework. On the other hand, he has his bottom lip in-between his thumb and pointer finger, pinching it slightly. A little habit of his, which I find extremely cute.
Amanda lifts her head off my lap, getting into a seating position on the couch beside me. From the corner of my eye I see her take a huge breath in and then out. Seeming to have reached some conclusion she stands up suddenly, walks over to Chris, patting and ruffling his hair, (which he for some reason likes), before closing his book, grabbing the remote off the table beside him, and swiftly turning the tv off. "The fuck!-" Felipe, as expected, immediately bellows out his frustration, abruptly rising to his feet.

"Right enough of this! Come on get up, I've decided we should go to that party Felipe mentioned." Amanda commands."Why now! We were getting to the good part." Felipe protested. "Nope, this damn show is so depressing, besides, when was the last time we went out."
"Yeah, sorry Your Majesty, but we had plans. Plans to stay in and hang out, just us!" Felipe ranted, condescendingly. Amanda scoffed with an eye roll. "Stop being so dramatic, you weren't even planning on staying in tonight."

"So what! Plans change!"

"Well, there you have it, I guess plans do change, now get your lazy fuck-boy ass of that damn couch, we are going out and that's final."
"Oh, Her Majesty has spoken! What, is Little Miss Queen of the Universe jealous because I get more action, because let me tell you-" "Ok stop!" Paige finally interjected. "Wow, yoll guys are on a roll, how many times has that been today." Jaden comments from his position at the coat rack. "I'm surprised they haven't killed each other yet, Jaden pass me my jacket real quick." Marcus says getting up off the couch.
"Ok, fine, let's just do what the Queen says before she starts whining again." Felipe grumbles, unhappily pushing his way to the door. "I do not whine!" Amanda calls after him, the both of them disappearing behind the door leading to the foyer.

"They should just fuck already, I swear all this sexual tension is bordering on unhealthy." Christian comments from the carpeted floor, only now packing his books away