Chapter One: The Meeting

[backinthsaddle]

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.

Comments

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

"That's... oh, that's awful sweet of you." And it makes her start crying again.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

"It shouldn't be," he says, and puts his hand on her shoulder again. He doesn't want her to cry. And part of him hopes the sleeping pills kick in soon, although he hopes she doesn't fall asleep sad.

[victormakesart.livejournal.com]

She's too exhausted to be freaked out by contact, and she curls another tissue into her hand, and cries, and yawns, and it takes a little while but then she's just so tired, she feels like she's melting into the cushions, and it's disorienting and warm and she's out.

[backinthsaddle.livejournal.com]

He checks to make sure she's asleep, then carefully pulls the blanket up so she's covered. Somehow, it seems less awkward to do than when she's awake. And he really hopes she feels at least a little better when she wakes up.