4/26/2003

 

05:33 PM

New York Public Library -- SoHo

 

 

 

            A large brick building, unimaginatively rectangular, built in the classic uninterestingly angular style of the 1960s. The building is typical of the time - ugly, boring, nightmarishly inefficient to run, prone to leaks in its pancake flat roof. But it was cheap to build. So now, some 40 years later, the place smells a little musty, the curious combination of scents that arise when books are kept slightly damper than is really good for them. And there are thousands of books on every topic imaginable. There are a number of computers with internet access available, although like the building they were purchased based solely on price, so naturally they run windows, which means naturally half of them don't work at all, despite weekly reloads. The whole library is like this: A for effort, but only a C - or less - for execution.

 

------

 

Finals. Finals suck. And the reason that finals suck is because Terrance has to study for them. Studying sucks. Really. Especially when he's got so many other things going on right about now. However, at this very moment, the only thing that matters is the fact that he needs peace and quiet and study time. And that means... no Murray. Luckily, Kiana from across the hall was home and well... ta da! Instant babysitter.

 

But focusing on the matter at hand, Terrance is bent over the table, on the edge of his chair and peering down into a book. Meanwhile, there's like five or six other books spread out all around him. Not to mention notebooks, folders and about four pencils. He's taken up the majority of the table! He sighs and snatches up his calculator and throws his pencil into his mouth, chewing on it a bit nervously. And then the typing of the numbers commences. "Hrm..."

 

Her home away from home these days, this place. Rahne steps into the library, nodding a shy hello to the librarian at the front desk. She's so glad the dry cleaners closes at five on Saturday. Yay - free time. And what better place to spend her free time than where the books live?

 

She makes her way over to the shelf, walking as if she knows just where she's going, and plucks a book off of the shelf without even taking a look at the other. She cracks it open, flipping the pages a bit, before finding a spot about three-quarters of the way along. Eyes locked onto the book, she starts distractedly wandering into the table area, not really looking where she's going, although her peripheral vision keeps her from walking into any objects that are too big. Unfortunately, someone's left a school bag sticking out from under their chair, and the strap gets caught around her ankle. She goes to take a step, but her foot doesn't quite cooperate, causing her to stumble. With a sharp noise of surprise, she keeps herself upright, but her book goes flying.

 

Hey, it's not TJ's fault he left his school bag out there. Really. He didn't have anywhere else to put it. The table's practically packed to capacity with books on all his subjects and... well... the floor seemed safe enough. He really wasn't expecting a crowd at the library. Or anybody to even come down his aisle. But alas, his instincts kick in (or some animal's do) and he's all over it, before he even knows it. The calculator is dropped to the table and there's some quick spinning of him in the chair, before his arm goes all outstretched and he snatches the book out of the air. Only a second to blink, before he just smiles and turns towards the Rahne. "You okay?" Yeah he caught the whole stumbling thing too. He's weird like that.

 

Rahne has, by this point, gone bright red, and she just nods sheepishly, now carefully extricating her foot from the strap. She casts a quick glance around, going a bit pinker at the attention she's managed to get from the others nearby. "Ach. Aye, thanks," she says quietly, ducking her head as she timidly reaches out for her book. The fact that she's an idiot is too busy racing through her mind for her to manage any conversation beyond that at this point.

 

Friendly smile, even though she totally interrupted Terrance's study session! Then again, he was studying math and he hates math so... it's time for a little break. He sighs a little bit and then leans back up against the table, letting Rahne take her book. "Sorry about that." is offered, complete with an apologetic shrug. "Finals." There. That should explain everything, right there.

 

Rahne hugs her book to her chest, and almost seems to find some measure in comfort from it; either that, or she's finally calming down. Either way, the pink is slowly receding from her face, and she musters up a shy smile in return. "Tis ... all right. Just a skite, no damage," she replies, her voice still kept low, but now more clearly marked by a Scottish accent. At his comment, she looks confused for a moment, then nods as a look of recognition crosses her features. School, right. Some people still do that sort of thing. She casts a look at the table, studying his supplies almost wistfully for a moment, before returning her attention to him, although she never quite meets his gaze, always keeping hers averted. "I dunnae want to keep yeh, then," she mumbles, "Sorry to ... intrude."

 

Why not? Is he ugly or something? Does he have some kinda' weird gaze? Does he have a boogie in his nose? Terry's just trying to be polite and kind, like he always is. He's a nicely nice guy. "Oh, it's no intrusion. Trust me." He smirks a little bit at himself and gives a dismissive wave towards the table full of crap. He snatches up the calculator and clears it before tossing it back down onto the table. "It's math. Heh. Which automatically means it's time for a break."

 

Rahne ducks her head, smiling shyly again. "Ach. If yeh're shoore," she replies lowly, still hugging the book to her. "Thank yeh for, eh, savin' my book." She tucks her hair back behind her ear, only to have it fall forward again immediately. But it doesn't seem to actually bother her; rather, the tucking is just a habit - the hair never actually stays. She studies the floor, somewhat awkwardly, as she tries to figure what else to say.

 

Terry chuckles just a little bit and offers a small shrug. He's always shrugging. "No problem. Like they always say, a book is a terrible thing to waste." He blinks for a moment, knowing he totally got that phrase wrong, but deciding to juse move on. He's certainly not going to just dwell. Not when he can change the subject! "So uh... you're not from around here, are you?" He's totally going by the accent here, and talking low as to not disturb those stickler librarian types.

 

Rahne certainly doesn't have a problem keeping her voice low enough to appease the librarians. At his first comment, she just offers a grin and a quiet chuckle, covering her mouth as she laughs. "Ach, no. Sc - Scotland," she replies, hesitating before finally going ahead and saying it. "'ere now, though." That's right - just don't ask any questions as to the hows or whys, and she'll be set. She shifts slightly, still standing somewhat awkwardly. "Er ... yehr ainsel'?"

 

Okay, while he may be seriously multilingual when it comes to animals and all that, he sure as hell don't speak Scotland Yards. Or Scottish. Or whatever it is. So there's some much blinking at her words. "Me-uh... ainsel?" He looks a little clueless and then just flashes a bright smile. "So you came all the way from Scotland to New York?" He sounds a little surprised by that, because of how... blech... New York is. "Um... why?"

 

Rahne looks a bit sheepish, as that pink threatens to take over her face again. "Ach - yehr ain-... Where are yeh from, I mean?" There, she'll just put it differently. "Jus' to ..." She pauses, trying to think an answer that's not a lie, but certainly not the whole truth. Somehow 'the neighbours kept trying to shoot me' doesn't seem the sort of thing she's wanting to share with a stranger. "Jus' to get away. See a new place, eih? Why not?" She offers a nervous chuckle, again covering her mouth as she does so.

 

"Cuz there's a lot better places over here in the US than New York. You must've not been here long, eh?" Terry figures she hasn't had a chance to meet those rude and crude New Yorkers yet. It's a jungle out there... or a big apple anyway. "Me? Oh I'm from Philly. Er... Philadelphia." He just smiles, not wanting to assume she doesn't know anything about the United States, but not wanting to assume she does either. Sigh, what a dilemma.

 

Rahne shrugs slightly, hunching her shoulder up quickly before dropping them again and tightening her hug around her book. "S'where I wound up. Dunnae much mind it." Granted, she's has slime spat at her, but at least no one's taken any potshots yet, so it's still winning out in her experience. "Yeh ... dunnae like it 'ere?" she asks, looking almost apologetic for being so nosy.

 

Nah. Not nosy. Terrance actually enjoys a conversation that doesn't involve something furry or scaly. It's nice to just chat with normal people every once and a while. Reminds him that he's still human. "Oh, it's okay. I mean, some of the people here are nice. You just gotta' find 'em." He smiles and offers a hand. "I'm TJ. One of the nice ones."

 

Well, if he felt like talking to something furry, it could be easily arranged, but Rahne's hardly about to morph here. She smiles crookedly at the comment, hesitating just briefly before reaching out a small hand to take his in a light, timid shake. "Rahne," she replies with a bit of a nod. "S'nice ... to meet yeh, TJ."

 

"Rahne. Huh. I like that." TJ flashes a quick smile before realizing that he's still shaking her hand and finally manages to pull his hand away. He does that alot. Ahem. "Oh hey, don't let me keep you from your book." And he gives a quick nod towards the book that he caught with such little effort. He just needed a break that's all. Just a small break.

 

Rahne blushes at the compliment of her name, even though it was hardly her doing. "Thank yeh," she mumbles softly, seeming somewhat awkward in just how to take a compliment. "Ach, aye." She looks down at her book, releasing her grip slightly. "S'no' goin' anywhere, but I'll let yeh get back to yehr work, then, aye." Tucking her novel up under one arm now, she casts another glance over at all of his school supplies, then looks back to TJ with a smile.

 

"Oh joy." Terry relies with a bit of an eyeroll. It's obvious that he'd rather do anything but study right now, but why bother trying to not study. Especially, these damn mathematics. "Maybe, I'll see ya' around, Rahne?" There a bit of a hopeful tone to his voice, but nothing too obvious. He probably just finds her Scottish ways and accent interesting or something. Either that or he's stalling so he doesn't have to have to get back to work or anything.

 

Rahne smiles, looking a bit surprised that he actually seems to want to see her around again. Huh - go figure. "Ach aye. I'm 'ere when I ... can be," she replies with a bit of a shrug, even as a blush flares up in the apples of her cheeks again. "See yeh later then, maybe." She looks hesitates, starting to turn away, as if not quite sure what to do. She doesn't want to seem in a hurry to take off, but then, she doesn't want to keep him, either.

 

Terrance doesn't want to her to be in a hurry to take off either. And he doesn't mind being kept, as he's pretty much bored out of his mind. He should've brought Murray with him, but then there'd be all kinds of hijinx and he'd never have got any studying done. Of course, it's not like he'll get much studying done with her around. But she is kinda' cute. Hrm. Where's Murray when he needs him?! He's the mack! "Say uh... if you're not busy, maybe you could stay and keep me company?" He even reaches to pull out the extra chair some. See? Gentleman!

 

Again, Rahne looks somewhat taken by surprise that she's actually welcomed to join him. Or he's being very polite. But no, she mustn't think like that. "Ach, aye, all right," she agrees lowly, a shy smile gracing her lips again as a faint blush tints her cheeks. She fidgets a moment, before sliding into the chair he's pulled out.

 

He's a nice guy. Nice guys always finish last though. He proceeds to not think about that kind of stuff and he slides down into his own chair next to Rahne's. He frowns as he stares at the study sheet in front him. Looks like some really angry Algebra. Hrm. "Know what I hate? This." He waves the study sheet around a moment. "I'm in school for Zoology y'know? When am I ever gonna' need to know the square root of the circumference of pi?" He rolls his eyes and tosses the paper back onto the math book, before looking over at Rahne. "My bad. Math kinda' irks me."

 

Rahne gets settled into her seat at Terry's table, careful not to disturb any of the school stuff he's got splayed all over it. She takes her book out from under her arm and tries to find her place again, having to flip back and forward a few moments before finding the proper spot. She rests is on the edge of the table, angling it upwards, but looks at what TJ's waving around instead of reading straight away. "Ach, erm, s'a tad beyond me, I'm afraid," she replies quietly, Scottish accent coming through rather heavily despite the softness of her voice. She eyes the math a moment more, but finds herself completely lost, and so just looks down to her book. Yes, she understand words; she'll stick with those.

 

Terrance might, just might, remember the young girl who was 'babe-magneted' by Murray in the cafe the other day. Loren is not somebody to hang around libraries...except when she needs to. She has to study sometimes, after all, if not as much as most people. She's actually, right now, though, dumping a couple of books on the returns desk and glancing around. Hey...that guy looks familiar.

 

Terry's in the zone right now. But he gives a small smile to Rahne. "S'cool. Thanks for listenin' though." He turns his attention back to his work and snatches up his calculator. Going quiet for a short time, he stares at the study sheet and gets to pressing some buttons. Whatever he's trying to do isn't working out too well and he just gives up. Again. Such a quitter this guy. Turning his eyes back towards the cute one in the seat next to him, "So! Whatcha' readin'?" He loves distractions.

 

Rahne blinks, having managed to get completely wrapped up in her book even in just that brief moment of quiet. It takes her a moment to withdraw, but soon enough, she looks over at him with a bit of a smile, lifting the cover of the book to reveal its title to be 'The Bell Jar'. "Sylvia Plath," she adds, in case he isn't familiar with the novel. "Been workin' on it for a fair while now, but I havnae had much time to read." Using up all of her speaking quota with that lengthy explanation, she now lapses into silence, taking a moment to cast a quick glance around the library.

 

She would, thus, notice that having returned her books, the small, dark-skinned girl is making her way over to their table. Loren's head tilts a little to the side. Yup. Same guy...she peers around. Any sign of any little monkey-like creatures? Poor Terrance. It's always Murray they're looking for.

 

Terry's a little bit busy right now, studying Rahne. Ack! Wait, not studying Rahne. Studying, while Rahne reads. Although it does seem like Terrance is paying way more attention to the girl in the seat next to him, than his books. "Never heard of her." He offers a small shrug, but at least sounds mildly interested. He tilts his head though at that next bit and ponders. "How come ya' don't like... check it out?" -Everybody- has a library card, right? Loren continues to go unnoticed, but most unintentionally, since TJ's back is to her. As far as Murray goes, he's nowhere in sight. Hm.

 

Rahne offers a shy smile to the girl heading in their direction, although she just assumes she's heading for a nearby table and the Scots girl's gaze quickly goes back to Terry. "Ach, she's a poet," she adds, continuing along in her Sylvia Plath lesson. His question gives her pause though, and she awkwardly looks down at the table a moment, mumbling, "Dunnae have a card," by way of explanation. Such is the plight of having no form of ID or a legal reason to be in the country.

 

Which, after the shoelace incident, worries her a little. Loren approaches TJ, still from behind, then, for reasons that probably escape most in the area, ducks down for a moment to peer under the table. Checking for lemurs, perhaps. Rahne's smile is returned after a moment...somebody smaller than her who isn't a total kid is unusual, but Loren's smile seems quite genuine as she straightens up, hesitating near their table.

 

That is so not fair! Everybody should have a library card! "You don't got a library card?!" He blinks a little bit and shakes his head, as if not believing it. As a matter of fact, the look on his face shows that he doesn't believe it. "Well, we're gonna' have to change that, aren't we?" He gives her a little wink before leaning back into his chair a little bit. "Until then, I'll just have to let you check it out on mine." Loren's still not seen as she's all being stalkery behind him.

 

Rahne casts another sidelong glance to Loren, as she goes about checking under their table, but then - who is she to question? Going a bit pink, she shakes her head a bit at Terry, looking surprised and disbelieving. "Ach, I canny do that. S'right kind of you, but I just couldnae," she offers quickly in reply, her voice even lower than before. She has no real reason for not going for it, just that she'd feel almost rude taking advantage of his kindness like that. She looks quickly again to Loren, but almost immediately away, both curiosity and shyness colouring her features.

 

Loren saw no lemur under the table. So, after a moment, she pipes up, "Hello, TJ." She hasn't realized she's inadvertantly sneaksneaked up on the poor guy, it wasn't her attention. Rahne is offered another white-tooth smile. "It's a small city." Referring to the pair of chance meetings, no doubt.

 

TJ is about to try and rebuttal Rahne's non-acceptance of his kindness, when he's snuck up on. Which is a bad thing to do to somebody so nice and stuff. Bad Loren! No Murray for you! Teej spins around in his chair and then blinks as he spots somebody who looks familiar. Huh. "Small city, big apple. Go fig." is the response she gets from him with a small smile. Done being polite, he turns back to Rahne to finish what he was saying a moment a go. Or was going to say, anyway. "So yeah. Today, I'll check you out the book. But you gotta' promise to bring it back on time."

 

Rahne studies Loren a moment, though she quickly averts her gaze as she's offered a smile, and she returns it with a somewhat sheepish, albeit pleasant, one of her own. "'Lo," she greets softly, blushing slightly just at the simple syllable. At Terry's gentle insistence, she nods quickly. "Ach, o' coorse, o' coorse," she promises sincerely, looking fondly down at her book. Hers to take home, even for a little while? Yay!

 

Loren didn't do it deliberately. She blinks. "Didn't mean to startle you there." The smile she returns is a bit larger than Terrance's. And there doesn't seem to be a Murray at all right now. She'll have to try and seduce the lemur with food another time...besides, can't have food in a library. Her eyes flick to Rahne and she offers, in a friendly way, "I'm Loren."

 

See how easy it is to make friends... without Murray? Of course, they won't stay his friends if the lemur doesn't make an appearance later. Or at least soon. But since Murray's miles and miles away, they're just going to have to be stuck with Terrance. Nyah. "Coolness." He lifts up in his seat and digs into his back pocket to get out his wallet and from there he digs around for his library card. Bingo. "Here ya' go..." And the card is slid across the table towards Rahne, before he gives Loren gets a small smile. And a couple of blinks, because she's smiling at him like that. Weird.

 

Rahne nods slightly to Loren, although her gaze never lingers for more than a moment. "I'm Rahne," the Scottish girl replies politely, with her usual accent. "Ach, I dunnae how to thank yeh," she offers to Terry, as he passes over the library card. She picks it up, fighting to get short nails around it from the flat surface of the table, and studies it a moment, an indulgent smile on her features.

 

What's weird about it. "You don't have your little friend with you," she notes, referring to the definite absence of a Murray. She considers. "I wouldn't mind a pet like that myself...am I making a pain out of myself?" The small girl glances between the two, lingering a bit longer on Rahne, whom she hasn't met before.

 

TJ just smiles and shrugs. "Yeah, he's stayin' with a friend while I get some studyin' done." He waves a hand at all the books and papers that're all over the table. He chooses to ignore the second part, because he will not take part in making somebody feel unwelcome. He's too nice for that sort of thing. Besides, Rahne's talking to him also. Must divide attention and all that. "Don't worry about it. As long as I don't have to pay any past due fines, consider it even." is tossed at Rahne, with a smile also.

 

Quirking an eyebrow, Rahne looks faintly curious now at the 'little friend' comment, though she continues studying the library card. A child, perhaps? Ah, a pet. Still, she can't figure why it would be surprising that he didn't bring an animal into the library - little does she know, really. "Ach, no," she replies, looking up quickly, as to whether Loren is being pest-like, before looking slightly uncertain and casting a glance to Terrance. She doesn't mind, but she doesn't want to speak for anyone else. Now her attention returns to Terrance, and she nods solemnly, obviously quite meaning what she said earlier. "Promise," she vows lowly, offering him a small, shy grin.

 

Loren nods. "Yeah, I would imagine he'd get all jealous that you're paying attention to your books, not him." She smiles. "But you'll be thinking that I'm only interested in Murray, not you." Is it true? Maybe, maybe not...

 

TJ just manages to smile and stuff at Rahne, before he has to turn his attention to Loren again and he listens very carefully. Trying to figure out what the girl's implying because she has to be implying something. Girls always imply. It's their nature. "Nah. Murray's not the jealous type." Lies! His head tilts at her next wordage and he blinks. "How do you mean?" He continues to blink innocently and look as clueless as he possibly can. Because he's so lost right about now. All he came here to do was study.

 

Rahne glances from Terrance to Loren, then back, as they converse, and she seems content just to listen for the moment. Besides, she'd hate to interrupt. Not wanting to seemingly intrude or stare, she casts her gaze down to her book, although she doesn't really read - just skims over the part of it she's already read, most of her attention still fixed on the two nearby.

 

Loren shakes her head. "I mean...that..." She tails off, perhaps she's not sure what she's getting to herself. Okay. Books. Books are suddenly much more interesting. "I mean I didn't just come over to say hi hoping you'd have him with you," she finally says, somewhat lamely.

 

Ohhhhhhhh! He gets it now. TJ chuckles a little bit and nods. "Oh, okay. Gotcha'." He has no idea how he's supposed to respond to something like that, when he didn't even imply that she did. He was just being nice and conversating like he always does. He turns his attention back to Rahne, to make sure she's still there and following the conversation. Just in case she's not, "We're talkin' about my best friend, Murray. He's a lemur." Oh like -that's- just going to clear everything right up.

 

Rahne pauses, furrowing her brow a moment, before looking up slowly from her book, blinking at TJ. "A ... lemur?" she replies slowly, as if the word were foreign to her. She's never really had a chance to visit a zoo, and strangely, lemurs have just not really come up for her before. Still, she smiles politely and just nods her head, lest he think she in any way disapproves or anything bad, as she figures 'lemur' is probably just some American slang term she's not familiar with yet.

 

Loren nods. "And he's unbelievably cute...and he untied my shoelaces." Still...this is starting to get, distinctly, awkward. This entire scene, that is. TJ is probably thinking she's some crazy stalker. Relax, girl. Be normal girl...or as close as you come, anyway.

 

"Yeah! A lemur." He pauses for a moment, only because of the fact that he's trying to remember if he has a picture of the little guy in his wallet or something. He doesn't. Which sucks, cuz he wanted to show Rahne. "He's really cute. You'd like him." His eyes go back over to Loren now as he tries to figure out why she's stalking him. Nothing really to say or to add, because he's in the middle of looking at her, expectantly. Like, waiting for her to ask for what she wants.

 

If Rahne looks somewhat confused by this all, it's only because she's still under the assumption that Murray is a human friend of TJ's, and that the word 'lemur' is just some adjective she doesn't quite comprehend. Thus, she nods very slowly at the shoelaces comment, though still retains her polite smile at the whole thing. "Ach, aye, well ... tis good, then," she replies generically, unsure of quite what to say to all of that. If she was of the sort to ever think such things, she might think that Terry was even trying to set her up with this guy, but fortunately, that sort of thing would never even occur to her, so she's just plain old lost.

 

Loren finally gets herself focused. "I'm sorry." For what? "I just want to be, I don't know...friendly. I'm not normally like this." Focus. Get those wayward emotions back under something resembling control. "I'm normally like...normal."

 

TJ has to focus on Loren for a moment now, because he's only becoming more and more confused. His head stays tilted while his eyes search for some kind of reason for this odd behavior. He keeps on smiling the whole time though, because he's a friendly type of smiling guy. "So... if you're not... normal, right now, then what exactly are you?" He's trying hard to understand, without seeming like a jerk. Thus why he looks over at Rahne for confirmation or at least some help!

 

Rahne is quickly becoming convinced that people in NYC are very, very odd; no doubt, she's not the first one to come to such a realization. It confuses her, yes, although it doesn't seem to upset her too much. Weirdness she can handle, so long as it's a nice weirdness. Still, she's also at a loss for how to reply to that, and she's still busy puzzling about this Murray fellow who needs to be left behind for studying, and likes to play with people's shoelaces... So, Loren gets another polite smile and a dismissive wave of Rahne's hand, towards the apology. "Ach..." she offers lowly, nothing really to follow that killer opening.

 

Loren has made a total, total fool of herself and is sort of wishing the floor would swallow her up. "Embarrassed. I'm not very good at making small talk with strangers." Murray makes a good small talk lubricator, but Murray's not here...and she's oblivious to how lost poor Rahne is. "And I should probably think about going anyway."

 

Terry has no idea what's going on through her head right now, so he can't help out the Loren. He's an animal telepath, not a regular telepath. "Well, okay?" He shrugs his shoulders a little helplessly as he doesn't really care if she stays or goes. He doens't know her well enough to care, really. "See ya' 'round, Loren. I'll tell Murray you said hi."

 

"Ach, no need to ... be embarrassed," Rahne offers, blushing a bit herself while saying it. She reaches a hand up to tuck a strand of fiery hair back behind her ear, only to have it fall forward again. "Small talk's no' easy." And that's the understatement of the year for her. "T'was nice meeting ... yeh," she offers sincerely, her own voice seeming to fade as she speaks, not quite sure if Loren's leaving, or just feels she should, or what. She's dreadful at these social situations, really.

 

Loren is usually better, she's not quite sure why this suddenly turned out so awkward. "Thanks...perhaps we'll meet again." And she turns to start to sort of drift off into the library stacks, looking, one presumes, for whatever she came here for. . o ( Way to go, Loren. Now he thinks you're nuts. Maybe you are. ) she thinks to herself.

 

Terrance just kind of watches Loren go, wondering if he did something. He blinks a little bit and offers a small wave, way after the time where she's gone. He sighs a little bit and then looks over at Rahne. "I didn't say anything... uh... bad, did I?" He's totally lost and trying to figure out what he did to make people want to go away.

 

Rahne still isn't quite exactly certain just what happened, so to Terry's question, she just shrugs a bit, eyes going wide. "Ach, no' from 'ere," she replies, somewhat non-committally. She glances to where Loren's gone off for a moment. Then scratching her head, she returns her attention to her book, which, while it may be about a suicidal and crazy young woman, still seems to make more sense than the real world at the moment.

 

Terry sighs a little bit and looks off at the stacks for a bit. Coming up with no kind of answer and no Loren, he turns his attention back to his studies. He should probably get to work for real this time. Make sure that he knows this stuff. He snatches up his pencil and calculator again, and gets to typin' away, once more. Still on the same problem that he was on when he started all this mess. He should just give in and call his parents. They're math wizzes.

 

Rahne studies Terry a moment, as he works, peeking out from behind fiery strands of hair. She tries to think of something to say. Something reassuring perhaps. Or just something casual and conversation-like. She opens her mouth for a moment, but looks blank, and closes it with a soft snap. She'll just read her book then, and let him work. She begins to wonder if maybe he wants her to go too, although through nothing of his own doing. She just always tends to assume that, even when people are actively saying otherwise.