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No one likes having class at 7am. No one. At yet, fifty some-odd students file their way groggily into the small lecture hall in the history building – almost every single one of them clutching either a styrofoam cup, a travel mug, or (in the most extreme cases) a can of energy drink. Allura’s not surprised how many are clinging to their cans of the latter and wonders as she pushes her way into the room if they’re okay. (But she knows the answer to that. Even if it is only the first day of the term.) At least it isn’t hard to find a seat somewhere decently far back.
Slowly, the hall fills up until eventually only a few seats are left scattered throughout. Allura’s taking a drink from her own mug when someone asks, “Hey. Any of these taken?” She shakes her head, not even glancing towards the voice. “Awesome. Almost didn’t make it in time.”
The nearly-tardy new addition noisily takes a seat, Allura very pointedly making sure to only watch from the corner of her eyes while she gets her notebook and a few pens out – whoever it is (perhaps a halfling) is mumbling to themselves as they get set up.
Then she feels a tap on her shoulder.
“Hey – can I borrow one of those pens?”
She looks up, “Hm? Oh – Yeah. Here.” She knows better than to hand over one of her nice ones – the odds of ever getting it back are slim to none, but she has enough she can lend one out every once in a while.
Turning to deliver the pen, Allura comes face to face with a halfing – just as she’d guessed – with warm skin and what would probably be even warmer eyes if they didn’t look half-dead to the world so early in the morning. ( She’s kinda cute .)
“Thanks. I’ll get this back to you after.”
Brave words. (She’ll believe it when she sees it.)
The professor is still nowhere to be found as the clock at the front of the room moves past the top of the hour – maybe he forgot (unlikely) or is running late (more likely). Maybe he shouldn’t have scheduled class so early – if getting here was going to prove to be an issue. She rests her head in her chin, staring blankly at the whiteboard while she waits and daydreams about treating herself to a pastry after this. Seven slowly ticks into a quarter after and just as a few people are starting to whisper about, a grim-faced man comes striding into the hall. Class begins almost immediately after that.
About halfway through the two hour period, everyone in the room looks about as wonderful as Allura feels. Which is to say, everyone looks miserable. A post-class pastry isn’t going to be enough of a reward for sitting through this, she thinks as she drains the last drop of coffee from her travel mug and stifles a groan. More coffee will be needed for sure .
The sound of a can opening right next to her jolts Allura from her thoughts and the telltale sound of bubbles fizzing directs her attention to the halfing. She turns her head just in time to watch her pour a monster energy into a half-empty cup of what has to be lukewarm coffee. Just the smell of it makes her stomach turn over, but then she watches this mystery chaos woman lift the concoction to her lips and down most of it in one gulp. Allura isn’t sure what’s more impressive – that the halfing does this with a straight face or that she doesn’t immediately throw up afterwards.
She stares in awe until the halfling catches her eye, “I’m gonna die,” she whispers as if it answers any question at all and then winks, tips the cup back once more, and drains the rest of the cup.
Allura keeps her eyes on the whiteboard for the rest of the class.
Forty-five minutes later, everyone in the hall makes a mad dash for the door, Allura included. The sun’s shining when she steps out of the building – she’s going to have to shed the sweater when she gets to the cafe.
“Hey! Pen girl!” The monniker stops Allura dead in her tracks halfway down the stairs. She turns to look and flying after her is none other than the chaos committer of coffee crimes herself, brandishing the borrowed pen like a sword. It’s an unexpected turn of events, but seconds later, the borrowed pen is thrust into Allura’s hand with a haphazard thank you . “You move fast, you know. Didn’t even give me a chance to hand this back!”
“Most people don’t bother.”
“They do for pretty girls.” Oh? Oh! “Anyways – you’re probably on your way to the café, yeah? I’m headed that way. Mind if I walk with you?”
Allura just nods.
“Do pretty pen-having girls have names?”
“Sometimes they do, I think.” It’s a rather clever remark, Allura thinks. A thought that’s rewarded with a rather incredulous look from the halfling. “I’m Allura.”
“ Allura . Yeah that fits. ‘M Kima.”
“Well it’s good to meet you, Kima.”
The café isn’t too far from the history building. (Thank the gods for small mercies, right?) As they walk, Kima rants, “I hear Vord is a hardass – he’s like famous for it – honestly what gives? This guy’s gotta know we’ve got like sixty other papers to write – I can’t turn in a page of crap three times a week and take his stupid quizzes. What’s with gen-ed classes and busywork anyways? And syllabus day – gods, it’s such a waste of my time. Why give me the syllabus beforehand if you’re going to waste almost a full two hours monotonously going over every single section of it. And he was late! If I don’t kill him by the end of the quarter, someone owes me a drink.”
“If we survive this class with no casualties, I’ll buy you a drink myself.”
Kima’s face lights up, “Yeah? I’ll hold you to that.”
“I’m a lady of my word.”
“Well it’s a date then!”
Allura only has time to stare after Kima, dumbfounded, as the halfling pulls the café door open before her shock is quickly turned to panic. Shaun’s at the register. Shit. Of course he’s working today – he’s going to tease her mercilessly with the way her cheeks are burning. Kima’s already ordering – Allura hears triple shot and mocha and then coldbrew . It’s certainly too much caffeine for someone of her height and Shaun looks like a cross between concerned and almost impressed.
Kima pays and steps to the side, “‘m gonna wait over there, yeah?”
Allura, again, simply nods, trying to ignore the incredulous look Shaun is giving her as she orders and pays for a latte and scone. Before goes, she leans in and whispers to her friend, “I’ll venmo you twenty if you give her decaf for even one of her drinks.”
“Did you hear what she ordered? I was already planning on it – new friend?”
“She poured half a monster into her coffee.”
“And lived ?”
“That’s yet to be determined.”
“Damn. Okay, yeah. Hey. I’ve got class until late tonight – want to get some wine and complain about our workload?”
“It’s Monday, Shaun – and I’ve got an 8am tomorrow anyways.”
“You’re no fun.”
“Yeah, yeah. Hey people are waiting for their coffee, you know.”
Shaun makes a face and then waves her off. In the time she’s been talking to him, Kima’s snagged them a table to wait at.
“He seems nice.”
“Who? Shaun? He’s incorrigible. Funny and a good friend, but absolutely incorrigible .”
They talk for a while, Allura goes to pick up their coffee and treats when their names are called out. They keep talking and Allura fully loses track of the time. Eventually, Kima has to dart off – bemoaning how far it is to the kinesiology she’s got next. “See ya Wednesday, Pen Girl. Save me a seat?”
And just like that, she’s gone. Allura doesn’t think she even waited for an answer. There’s not much time before her own next class, she realizes. Luckily the science building isn’t too much farther.
She’s hardly had time to set her bag down when her phone buzzes.
iMessage – Shaun Gilmore. she’s cute
[ reply ] shut up [ seen 9:43 ]
Venmo:
Shaun Gilmore has requested $20 - “when’s the wedding?”