Science sucks.

[prophecy_boy]

Oh, God. Why did those professors have to assign so much homework? All at once, no less. Reading assignments on top of written reactions to said reading on top of research papers... it just wasn't human. In fact, Connor might go so far as to say it was absolutely amoral. He was really beginning to hate college, and the long hours spent at the

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[dawnie_summers_]

I'd basically just come to the library to wander around and kill time. Not like sitting in the hotel room while Buffy's off to see Angel again would really be any more fun than here. And hey, maybe I'll stumble across something interesting, have a slim chance of talking to people.

Much better than spending the day by myself endlessly flipping channels in my opinion. Once we figured out where we were going to be staying, I could register for school again. Until then...

I noticed a guy, looked to be about my age, maybe a slight bit older, looking like he was really annoyed and really lost at the same time.

"Need a hand looking for something?" I offer, even though I really don't know my way around the library at all. Sometimes two sets of eyes is better.

[prophecy_boy]

"Need a hand looking for something?"

Connor looked up to see that an unfamiliar-looking girl had joined him in the aisle. He smiled and shook his head a little, glancing at the unorganized shelves again. "They don't exactly do a great job of keeping things in order here... wouldn't wanna waste your time, though. My problem, not yours. And I'm a big boy... I can find a book on my own, I think." He smiled again, hoping she didn't think he was ungrateful. It wasn't that he didn't appreciate the offer, he just wasn't so hot on accepting help from strangers.

He looked back to the shelf and his smile flickered and faded. "... except for, you know, now... when I can't."

[dawnie_summers_]

"Not like I exactly had some grand plan and schedule to keep to today or anything." I smiled to the boy. "I'm more or less here 'cause it's more fun than spending the day by myself, as sad as that sounds."

I could tell he was trying to act like he didn't need any help, but he still looked hopelessly lost to me.

"My name's Dawn." I said, figuring I should at least introduce myself, "Are you sure you don't want to some help? I really don't mind. I wouldn't have offered if I did."

[prophecy_boy]

He hesitated for a moment, before smiling again and nodding, giving in. "Sure... thanks," he told her, withholding a sigh. "I'm looking for... well, first off, some book called 'Modern Biology.' I know I saw it over here last week, but now I can't find it again... either the librarian is blind or just lazy." He shrugged and pocketed the card he had been holding.

"I'm Connor, by the way. ... nice to meet you."

[dawnie_summers_]

"Likewise." I smiled at the introduction, "As far as the librarian goes...might not be their fault. In a city this size, it's entirely possible that someone checked it out. Unless of course you checked the computer and it said it was here...in which case disregard everything I just said."

Wow. He must think I'm some sort of total spaz. Way to make an impression.

[prophecy_boy]

"Yeah, I checked the computer, it should still be here... but I guess even that's not a guarantee," said Connor, skimming over the next set of shelves. "I mean, this place does get pretty busy... uh, it's a green book with white print on the cover, if that helps any."

He gave her a sheepish sort of smile. "I'm not usually this lost. I've been in here so much the past couple of weeks that everything is just starting to look the same, I guess... I could use a break from the library. Unfortunately, it's not an option." He cringed inwardly. Way to ramble. He hated to admit it, but he was just as self-concious as other guys his age. First impressions were important. Well, kind of. He just didn't want this girl thinking he was a complete idiot because he couldn't find a simple biology book.

[dawnie_summers_]

"Okay, Green cover, white text. Got it." I nodded, as started scanning over the shelves in search of the book. "And don't worry about it, okay. School tends to be kinda draining at times. Plus...how many people come through this place in a day? Stuff might get pulled off and shoved back in a completely wrong spot right?" I shrugged slightly.

I assumed by way he was talking that he'd almost rather be anywhere but here. But on the upside, at least I sorta had something to keep me busy for a few minutes. "So how many hours you figure you'll be stuck in this place today?" I asked curiously.

[prophecy_boy]

"I dunno... four, five? Depends on how much I get done, I guess. Could change, though. My friend gave me a ride here, I'm done when he's done." Connor began to run his finger along the spines of the plastic-covered books as he moved along the shelving unit. "Sorry, I don't really mean to sound like a complete stick in the mud... I could be worse places, I just wish I was here for some reason other than this enormous research paper."

[dawnie_summers_]

I shook my head slightly, "Stick in the mud? What are you talking about? I don't know many people who actually want to spend their entire day researching." I pointed out to him. "At least you're here with a plan. Unlike me. Who's just...here."

[prophecy_boy]

Connor laughed a little, moving on to the next section. "Honestly, I'd rather just be here than be here to do work. Don't get me wrong, I'm not lazy or anything, it just gets old after doing the same kind of busywork over and over for months at a time. At least you're not tied down. You can walk out anytime you want to. Lucky," he said with a grin, glancing over at her.

[dawnie_summers_]

"And go back to my hotel room, that a share with my sister, who's more than likely not there, and do what?" I laughed slightly. "Trust me, helping you look for this apparently very allusive book is a lot more fun. At least I have someone to talk to this way."

And who so far doesn't seem to think I'm weird or totally insane or anything. Nice change from the way things usually are. I couldn't help but smile to him for a moment.

[prophecy_boy]

"Sorry I'm not better company," Connor apologized with a small smile. "Hotel room? You're not from LA? Huh. Here visiting family or what?" he asked her, then paused in his movements as he went back to face the shelves. "Ah... here we go," he said, pulling a thick, obnoxiously sea-green volume from the shelf. "Found it. Thanks for your help, though, I probably just would have gotten frustrated and blown it off if I'd been left on my own."

[dawnie_summers_]

"First of all, you're great company considering you had some strange teenage girl come up to you and offer to help you look for a book." I smirked. "I'm just glad you finally found it. As far as the hotel goes, I'm originally from L.A., but my family hasn't lived there in years. Sunnydale, then England for a while. My sister and I decided to come back to the states, just currently lack any kind of perminant residence." I explained, trying to keep the babbling to a minimum. "What about you? Have you always lived here, or did you move out here for school or something?"

I knew I should probably leave him and let him get his research done, but I was having fun talking to him. And he didn't seem like he really wanted to be pouring over books right now, so a few minutes couldn't hurt, right?

[prophecy_boy]

"What about you? Have you always lived here, or did you move out here for school or something?"

"No, I live here, with my uncle. Nothing all that exciting. I've never really been anywhere interesting, like England or anything. I've always just... been here. It's okay, though. I mean, I like LA alright. Why did you come back from the states? Didn't like England? Everyone's always talking about how great Europe is, I didn't think anyone who moved there would ever want to come back."

He was giving her a run for her money when it came to rambling, and he knew it. He was a champion rambler, given the chance. It helped that he was looking for an out as far as his research went. This was more interesting than reading about amoebas any day of the week. Really. A human being talked back, unlike a textbook. There was some variety there, even if the conversation was still relatively mundane. Anything was better than research work.

[dawnie_summers_]

"That's my sister for you..." I laughed slightly. "I'm very rarely clear on her logic. But if being here makes her happier, it's all good. Not like I was super attached to being in England, you know? Didn't really know many people there that weren't my sister's friends, and I liked being in California just fine." I told him. "Which isn't to say England wasn't cool. Woulda been cooler if we'd gotten to spend more time in London...lots to see and do there. But yeah, not apposed to being in L.A. again. Hopefully we'll stay. Be kinda nice to stay in one place and have an actual place to call home again."

Babbling, again. Right...wonderful. At least I managed to omit any mentions of slayers or anything else that Connor would think extremely weird. Always a plus.

[prophecy_boy]

"But in the meantime, you get to hang out at a hotel and the public library. Well, sounds like a good time. Do you usually come to hang out in the life science aisle?" Connor asked, glancing up at the sign atop the nearest shelf. "I didn't think anyone came back here unless they had to. Or unless they owned a microscope or something."

Oh, no. He most certainly was not a conversationalist. Being socially inept was part of being eighteen, he had learned, and he didn't expect it to change anytime soon. In the meantime, he could only hope that his inability to make decent conversation wouldn't dig him into too many holes.