Red Shoes, Black Coffee (Red & Black #2)

1 | Salt and pepper

Okay, so before I start, I wanted to dedicate this chapter to @ViolettStarr3236. I really liked how you asked whether RSBC was still going to be about Jed and Ada (in fact, you were the only one who thought to ask that one question I've been waiting for). Good job. You'd make a great John Watson. 

And finally answering the question... 

Who if not Jeda? ^^

***

Ada

"Why is it always salt and pepper in the shakers?" Levi asks, staring at the spices intensely. He picks up both shakers and holds them at eye level, furrowing his fair brows. "Why can't it be turmeric and chili pepper? Or cinnamon and Parmesan cheese? Why something as plain and boring as good, old salt and pepper?"

I raise my gaze from my bowl of rice, eyeballing him. For the past few months, Levi has held the position of my best friend but I swear that in moments like this, I have no idea why. "Because people are normal and about eighty percent of them don't even know what turmeric is?" I suggest. 

A quiet giggle comes from Julie's side. She has that weird habit of laughing at the things I say when I'm not even trying to be funny. I never protest because it's nice to make someone laugh but this doesn't stop me from questioning her every time it happens. 

"I know what turmeric is." she says. 

I throw her an exasperated glare at the same time Levi claps his hands together, then throws them into the air in a triumphant gesture. "Told ya!"

"Levi." I say, closing my eyes. "Please. People are starting to stare."

I open my eyes and he lowers his arms. Propping his elbows on the chair's armrests, he leans back in his seat, scoffing. "Like I care."

I shake my head, swirling the water in my bottle around. There are only ten minutes of my break left, then I have to get going for my next class. Juilliard Colloquium is one of the courses I'm not eager on skipping. And not only because it's mandatory.

 Grabbing my lunch tray, I stand and wait for Levi and Julie to follow. I need to patiently let them finish their engrossing conversation, - still concerning the types of spices in the shakers, - until I can head over to deposit my dishes. 

Levi is a Bachelor of Fine Arts student in Dance department. He's tall, blonde-haired, blue-eyed and built like any aspiring ballet dancer would. He's got that careless demeanor and a cheerfully gloomy aura surrounding him the one that can make you laugh through your tears when he makes you realize how pathetic human life really is, finishing it up with a sarcastic joke. Levi's also the type of a person who can be a cynical pessimist while going through life with a smile and making others smile in return. It was his beaming face that made me believe the choice I had made might not have been completely terrible when I spotted him on the freshman gathering on my first day as a student of Juilliard.

Julie is quite Levi's opposite. She's small, quiet and doesn't deal well with attention. Her full name is Julie Ann but I think only Levi calls her that, most probably just to make himself feel special. She's got huge, gray eyes and hair that is neither blond or brown. It's mine and Levi's favorite topic for a discussion, since I claim it's still blonde and he's positive it's already brown. Julie herself likes to refer to the color as 'bronde', which neither I nor Levi consider a real word. 

Julie's also an aspiring dancer, which can be observed the instant one's eyes lay on her. She's petite, - I could wrap my hands around her waist and make my fingers meet, - and has that innocent grace radiating off her. She comes from Florida while Levi originates from Ohio. I have no idea how I ended up with the two of them as my friends, but after eight months in Juilliard, I no longer wonder.