acontritemess | I am the queen of first impressions

I am the queen of first impressions

[She was late. She'd had to go back to her flat three times because she forgot her keys, then her books, then her shoes. All in all, it was a typical day in the paradise that was Pandora's life. The one thing she had going for her was the bus had been five minutes late, which meant she hadn't missed it. She practically ran from the bus stop, down the steps, into the rec center, and into the cafe...

...and directly into someone who was trying to take a seat a table. The folder he'd been carrying went everywhere, her book (the Complete Works of H.P. Lovecraft, and the Oxford English Dictionary with it) slid under an adjoining table and out of site and she clapped a hand over her mouth in shock.]

Oh my God, I'm so sorry! Here, let me help!

[She bent down to begin picking up the scattered papers.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[In lieu of his professor doing any work pertaining to teaching, the task falls on Terrance. The papers were going to be graded quickly and then he had planned to take some notes on his recent thoughts and tests. His machine is so close to being completed and he's growing more anxious away from the experiment.

Maybe that's why he doesn't expect the girl bounding through the door and running straight into him. He curses softly under his breath as he reaches down to begin gathering the students papers.

His head thumps against the girl sending Terrance reeling back onto his ass. He blinks looking over at her with a raised eyebrow]

I got it. Your book went that way.

[He points beneath the table before gathering up the out-skirting papers that were well away from her head.]

[It wasn't like this was the first cute guy she'd literally run into before, and it probably wouldn't be the last. She mumbled a thanks and retrieved her book from beneath the table he'd motioned toward, then moved back to help him collect papers. Frowning, she looked up at him apologetically.]

I'm sorry...again. I'm Pandora. Do you...want anything from the cafe? On me...it's...the least I can do.

[Pandora is an odd name but he doesn't care enough to ask. He gathers the thin pieces of paper before lightly tapping them into a somewhat neat pile. At her offer he looks up at her, his expression measured as he took note of her attire.

If she works here she probably don't have a lot of money and he got the feeling this happens to her a lot.]

You don't have too.

[He holds out his hand to her to get the rest of his papers. He's just going to order a small black coffee to get through these papers.]

[At the beckoning of his hand, she holds the papers out, smiling up at him sheepishly.]

I get I don't have to, but I'm going to. [Her chin is set in a firm line.] So, what are you having?

[Terrance isn't really in a mood to fight with someone so he relents and bows his head.]

Small black coffee.

[He shifts through his papers, counting them and then nods when he's sure he has them all. There are only 32 students in the professor's class and there are 31 papers because one air head hadn't turned it in.

Without saying anything else Terrance finally takes a seat at a table and begins to skim over the papers. He honestly expects her to forget or ignore him until he leaves.]

[Pandora nods, totally awkward. She's used to feeling just a little left of in place with people, but the cold way this guy, who still hadn't told her his name, was treating her was making her nervous.

Nervous and Pandora usually led to really bad situations and a lot of messes. Just thinking about that made her even more nervous.

She drew his coffee, though, once she was clocked in, and made her way carefully, cautiously, to his table. If she tripped and spilled this it would be hot, it would ruin all the papers she'd already tossed on the floor, and...no. She wasn't going to think about it right now.

She cleared her throat when she got back to his table and set the coffee down carefully.]

So. Here you go. [She licked her lips nervously.] Um...do I get your name, or should you just be Tall-Black-Coffee?

[Terrance looks over at her genuinely surprised at the arrival of his coffee. He looks up at her and for a long moment he's at a loss for words. Most people, most girls, like to pretend he doesn't exist and he gave her an easy out. She had the perfect chance to just walk away. No social obligation of coffee needed.

Yet here she is.

He takes the coffee, moving it away from her and away from his papers. It doesn't take a genius to know that she's clumsy.]

Somehow that nickname feels misleading. Terrance. [He pauses before releasing the coffee when it's in a safe location.] Thank you Pandora. I don't think I've ever met a box before.

[She smiles prettily, pushing a bit of hair behind her ear.]

Technically, not a a box. I just opened it. And most of the time, I'm left hoping I won't...do anything like earlier.

[And she continues to smile.]

It's...nice to meet you Terrance. I hope I didn't ruin too much.

[A single eyebrow rose as he looks up at his cute waitress.]

You didn't ruin anything, love.

[Which is the truth.]

So is Pandora your first name? [He isn't sure he likes it. Pandora's box is a process that generates many complicated problems as the result of unwise interference. He doesn't particularly see her as a complicated problem.]

[She looks a little surprised. If she was honest, she hadn't expected him to actually do or say anything beyond his short answers. She smiles, pushing a bit of hair behind her ear.]

Ah, no. Most people call me Dora...actually. It's...lame, I don't really like it. My first name is Remi.

[He likes Remi better.]

Okay, Remi, why do they call you Dora?

[Terrance takes a small sip of his coffee tasting the bitter brew before swallowing. He then places it down and begins rummaging through the papers. He's still listening to her but he stopped looking at her.]

[She worries her lower lip with her teeth for a moment and laces her fingers together.]

I guess because Pandora's a mouthful? [And she chuckles, slightly nervously.] I've never really questioned it.

You should question it.

[It's spoken as a passive comment and began to riffle through his papers.]

I'm finished holding you up. You should get back to work. [The statement is pointed out as if it's the most logical thing in the world. Not that Terrance is incredibly interested in grading these papers but it needs to be done if he wants to keep moving forward.]

Well, I think I'm okay with you calling me Remi. [She smiles again, looking back toward the counter.]

...I think I'm holding you up more than the other way around.

[Terrance shrugs, he's already started reading one of the papers and multitasking comes easy to him.]

Not really, you're the one who's at work.

[He's going to call her Remi. Even if she doesn't want him to because Terrance likes calling people and things by their names. Names are important.]

[Her eyes darts to his still unread stack of papers, then back to him.]

I don't think I'm the only one.

[Terrance leans forward, reaching for his coffee as he spoke.]

Guess so.

[He takes a small sip of the drink feeling the warm liquid trickle down his throat. It's a comforting feeling and it leaves him feeling more relaxed. Even with the drink it will be obvious to Remi that he's awful at holding a conversation.]

[She smiles at him before stepping away only to turn back.]

So...I get off in three hours. If...you're still around, maybe we can...or I can join you for coffee?

Maybe.

[It isn't a no though Terrance's focus re-centers on the papers in front of him. It'll probably take him close to three hours to finish grading all of them. He debates leaving now but in the end he stays and begins his work.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

I am the queen of first impressions

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject