Page 20 of Fallen Thorns
“Fully manage.” Mars nodded, somehow also using their hands to answer the question.
Rani looked star-struck, her mouth forming a silent ‘wow’.
“Do you play an instrument?” Mars pursued the topic, realising Rani’s investment.
Rani sucked in her lips in an embarrassed motion, side eyeing me before answering. “I played the clarinet in primary, very badly though. I begged my parents to pay for lessons because my friends were doing it and I wanted to skip science on a Thursday. Alas, it didn’t last long. I split my lip on the reed four weeks in and my teacher shouted at me for not wearing enough lip balm. I stormed out there and then, leaving the instrument and waltzing back to my science lesson as if I’d just quit a high paying job and freed myself from the shackles of corporate life. True story.” She tapped the table.
I snorted, I had heard that story many times before and it never ceased to brighten my day. Just picturing the scene was enough, but the way she told it made it even funnier.
“Arlo tried to teach me piano in the summer, but my coordination said no.”
Mars looked up, surprised. “You play?”
I shrugged, not wanting to make myself out to be something I definitely wasn’t. “A bit. Mostly just my own stuff though.”
“Oh, that’s even better. Original. You’ll have to play for me sometime.”
Are we really friends now?
I mumbled something between a ‘yeah’ and ‘hmm’, which thankfully cut that avenue short.
“Anyway.” Mars wafted their hand, sensing the conversation was burning out. “Enough about music. I must seem a bit weird just plonking myself amongst you and rambling nonsense. I just get a bit excited sometimes. I really need to cut back on the caffeine.”
Caffeine. Hmm.
Rani bobbed her head pleasantly. “Don’t be daft. Any friend of Arlo’s is a friend of mine. Ramble away.”
Mars took in a visible breath of happiness. I feigned agreement with a nod.Is that really what we are? Friends?
My right leg started to bob under the table while Rani shuffled through her study notes, stacking them into a neat pile and capping her highlighter pen. This was now a three-way conversation.
“So, Mars, what do you like to read? Tell me what Arlo recommended. He has the weirdest taste.” She winked at me, and I watched Mars smirk too. They’d prepared for this question.
Without having to think, they said, “Well, we met in the history section.”
Rani covered her mouth with her hand. “Oh, say no more.”
“Hey! Am I that predictable?” I cut in.
Rani burst into a fit of hysterics, her deep brown eyes glowing with sincerity. “Arlo, I mean this with all the love in my heart, you are a walking leather-bound textbook.”
I feigned an offended expression.
“But that’s why I love you. You’ve definitely taught me a lot with all your interests.”
Mars watched this whole interaction play out, looking between us as if finding the right moment to join in.
“So, Rani, how long have you and Arlo known each other?” they asked.
“About two years? We went to the same sixth form, but only properly got to know each other once we learned we both had offers here.”
“Rani took me under her wing,” I added. She winked in acknowledgement.
“You’d expect it to be the other way around.” Rani said, gesturing to my height with an up and down motion of her head. That garnered a laugh from Mars, who I figured was probably a similar size to Rani. I was acutely aware of how much space I took up in comparison to my current companions, but I kept my face the same, swallowing it down.
Rani noticed.She always does.“No, but enough of my teasing. Arlo is the sweetest guy you will ever meet.” She leaned close to Mars, who listened intently.“He’s always there to talk to, always there to cheer you up. He’s my best friend.” Her leg playfully kicked mine under the table.
I choked a little when she said that. No one had ever proudly announced me as their best friend before. I was always ‘everyone’s friend,’ but never anyone’s ‘go-to’ person. It was a notion I never gave any power to, and I was shocked by how much it meant to me to hear that. Not another painting on the wall.
