(Untitled)

[amy_russo]

Amy was feeling very, very good about herself

Comments

[bass_line_blues]

"Everyone's smoking these days."

There's a young man with a backpack slung over his shoulder; it looks full.

[amy_russo]

Amy turned her attention in his direction.

"High stress times."

[bass_line_blues]

"I guess."

Preston shrugs, easily.

"Still kills your lungs, on top of everything else."

He doesn't sound particularly disapproving; it's just commentary.

[amy_russo]

Amy smiled at him.

"That's very true. I suppose I'd worry about it more if I was certain I was going to live long enough to get lung cancer."

[bass_line_blues]

A sage nod.

"That seems to be the mindset."

He shifts the backpack over to his other shoulder.

"I figure, why stack the odds, though?"

[amy_russo]

"It does, especially if you've had the past couple of days that I have."

She took a drag. Waste not want not.

"Concern for the health of a stranger... you're a rare one."

[bass_line_blues]

"People still get concerned," Preston says, mildly.

"They're just more concerned for their own health first, usually. Which is fair enough."

[amy_russo]

"All true. You're an anthropologist of modern times."

She paused.

"I'm Amy."

[bass_line_blues]

"Preston," Preston says, and holds out a hand, in a friendly fashion.

"Vasquez. Took a couple anthro classes back in freshman year, if that counts."

Preston is still a college student at heart.

[amy_russo]

Amy smiled broadly and took his hands.

"It counts now. I took one myself, but I'll admit it's cause it was required."

[bass_line_blues]

Preston's handshake is comfortable; his hand feels just a little stronger than it should be.

"I took some of everything," he admits. "Dilettante, I guess; couldn't even pick a major until my junior year."

[amy_russo]

Amy nodded, supremely grateful for the brief moment of normalcy. The strength of his hand almost didn't bother her.

"I picked one, but not the one I wanted. I picked something I thought would pay the bills."

[bass_line_blues]

"Well, hey - welcome to the new world," Preston says, with a quick rueful flash of a grin.

"No bills.

So which was Option #1?"

[amy_russo]

"Here's to us making it through one day at a time where I can drive the better car... it's just not purchased." She laughed. It was nice to take the lighter ciew for a change.

She looked down, smiling shyly.

"Art. I liked making pretty things, but couldn't paint the rent."

[bass_line_blues]

"Hey - I get that," Preston says, with another smile; this one lasts a little longer.

"Almost was a music major, here."

Preston secretly likes to think of himself as a free spirit.

[amy_russo]

"Did you go to school here?"

Amy was in a good mood now. First real one in two years.