backinthsaddle: (Paper)
Cole Dover ([personal profile] backinthsaddle) wrote2011-12-12 07:43 pm
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Chapter One: The Meeting

Homework, the bane of nearly every student's existence.

Cole's sitting on the couch, surrounded by a modest stack of textbooks, a notebook balanced on his thigh as he takes notes. He's deeply involved in his studies, and has been ever since he got home from class an hour ago. It gives him something to do when he's not out running, or at track practice, although he's still not so sure about his major. But then, what guy his age is? It's not like he's had a long time to focus on what he wants to do as a career.
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[identity profile] backinthsaddle.livejournal.com 2011-12-15 03:41 pm (UTC)(link)
"No problem." He's not thinking about the logistics of it yet. Just that she needs somewhere to stay, of course she can stay here because they totally have room.

[identity profile] victormakesart.livejournal.com 2011-12-15 11:38 pm (UTC)(link)
"Lucky this happened during the summer, at least on my world. I'd hate to miss any school. Isn't that stupid?"

[identity profile] backinthsaddle.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 12:28 am (UTC)(link)
Cole remembers about his homework now, and tries not to look too obviously at his books and papers. "You're going to school?" he says, feeling like it's a stupid thing to say.

[identity profile] victormakesart.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 01:04 am (UTC)(link)
She looks over at his books, too, skimming the titles. "Yeah. English major, going into my junior year next fall. So basically I'm never gonna be able to get a job and I'm destined to live in a soggy cardboard box."

[identity profile] backinthsaddle.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 01:12 am (UTC)(link)
He doesn't know her nearly well enough to reply with a zinger about flipping burgers, so he just frowns, a little awkward. "I'm sure it won't be that bad..."

[identity profile] victormakesart.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 01:17 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, no, no, I'll make it work, I was just kidding. I guess I have to work on making better jokes." She runs a trembling, weak-as-an-inchworm hand through her hair. There's something going on with her muscles.

[identity profile] backinthsaddle.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
He interprets that as exhaustion, not thinking of other causes. "Sorry, you probably want to rest."

[identity profile] victormakesart.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 01:30 am (UTC)(link)
"No, oh gosh, no. I got more lyin' down than I needed there. He kinda... tied me to a table and left me for days." Which explains what's going on with her arms. She tries to sound casual, but there's an edge of 'this is excruciating.'

[identity profile] backinthsaddle.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 01:34 am (UTC)(link)
"Why would-" He shuts up, aware that he'll just get more angry if he asks.

[identity profile] victormakesart.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 01:43 am (UTC)(link)
"Huh?" A glance in his direction, she rubs at her elbow.

[identity profile] victormakesart.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 01:53 am (UTC)(link)
"You sure? Sounded like you were gonna ask something."

[identity profile] backinthsaddle.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 02:26 am (UTC)(link)
"I'm sure." As if that was convincing.

[identity profile] victormakesart.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
"I don't mind talkin' about stuff. He's been a part of my life for three years. This has been part of my life for three years."

[identity profile] victormakesart.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 02:53 am (UTC)(link)
"Sure. I know this is a lot to drop on someone all at once. I know this is...." There's that same underlying tension in her voice, a vulnerability, she's keeping it together by a string and heaven's grace. She's a talker. That's how she manages. "I don't feel well."

[identity profile] backinthsaddle.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 04:29 am (UTC)(link)
"Do you need anything? More tea, or something?"

[identity profile] victormakesart.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 04:38 am (UTC)(link)
"Do you... do you have pills that help you go to sleep? I need... um. I, ah. I'm really scared to go to sleep, I really don't want to close my eyes and wake up there and figure maybe that's another hallucination and I'm still there on the table and... I know it's bad to take sleeping pills, but I think I need to. I don't want to go to sleep."

[identity profile] backinthsaddle.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 04:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, uh... I'm not sure. Liam?"

[identity profile] victormakesart.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 04:45 am (UTC)(link)
"Over the counter, illegal, or perscription?"

"The strongest you got." She shakes her head. "No, that's not right. That wouldn't be right. Over the counter. Tylenol PM, I guess, please."

"Two blue pills coming up!"

[identity profile] backinthsaddle.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 05:27 am (UTC)(link)
"Do you want to sleep in a bed? We've got, uh, two."

[identity profile] victormakesart.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 05:42 am (UTC)(link)
"Oh, gosh, I think I'd like the couch, but thank you." She's not going to kick her rescuers out of their beds.

[identity profile] victormakesart.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 05:49 am (UTC)(link)
"Totally sure." Though it's not a very defensible spot. She's too worn out to care.

[identity profile] backinthsaddle.livejournal.com 2011-12-16 06:04 am (UTC)(link)
Cole doesn't feel right letting her sleep on the couch when she's had such a rough time, but on the other hand, he's not sure he wants to push her into something she's uncomfortable with either. He just met her like a half hour ago, for Pete's sake. So he just nods, accepting her answer, not sure what else to do.
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