Physics is Phun

[a_time_slip]

It was a nice, bright and sunny day in one of the citys park, and Janie sat on a bench watching people walk by.  She promised herself that later that night, she'd seek out her friend who couldn't come out during the day, and she'd visit with another friend later that afternoon.  Anything to stay away from her temporary home at Vito's

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[vito_the_mook]

"You're ignoring me," Vito said. He seemed to ignore the little knot of wannabe thugs off to the side, and settled on the bench beside Janie. "And yes, I'll give you space, if you need it, I just want to know if there's anything you want or need to talk about. Because honestly, it's nicer to be open about what's going on in your head with the guy who's sharing a TV, sink and stove with."

[a_time_slip]

"I didn't want you to notice" she said, feeling bad about it. "You're one of the nicest guys I have ever met and it's nothing to do with you."

Janie wrote a bit more, finishing up a problem before carefully folding the paper and looking over at Vito.

"I try to stay away from your stove."

[vito_the_mook]

"That's probably for the best," Vito said, and smiled. "What're you working on?"

[a_time_slip]

"I... um. Physics. Sometimes they're all that makes sense to me. It's a hobby of mine." She offered the paper to Vito so he could see her work.

"We should talk, however. I ignored you because I feel guilty."

[vito_the_mook]

Vito looked over the page that Janie showed him. "I understand a lot less of this than I'd like to," he admitted. "I've read The Elegant Universe and it mostly made sense to me. This is just a little too abstract for me to look at and get.

"Anyway ... guilty about what?"

[a_time_slip]

"I can explain it." Janie said, smiling a bit. and going off on a physics tangent. She drew a few symbols on her paper and told Vito what they were for, even started to write a 'simple' equation.

Then, she realized that maybe he wasn't interested in the equations at that moment.

"I, uh- but you need to understand. Some things about myself I can't tell you, I can't tell anyone. and I'm really terrible with being in functional relationships."

[vito_the_mook]

"Umm ... "

Vito looked at her for a minute.

"Okay, why are you unable to talk about these things?"

[a_time_slip]

"I would prefer to explain this math to you than my own personal problems." she said "But, I can't tell you because it was... work related. There is a lot of history between Lynn's father and myself and a lot of that had to do with work that I am not allowed to discuss.

"I can tell you why I feel so terrible and what happened but fear I'll hurt you and that would be horrid. You must have realized that Lynn and I have been keeping secrets. She does like you, however."

[vito_the_mook]

"It's a lot harder to hurt me than you probably think," Vito said. "I know it's a tough world, bad things happen. I like her, too, she seems like a brilliant kid."

[a_time_slip]

"The other night, before the storm, I had trouble at the bar job. He came in and managed to start a fight and I went home with him that night after getting fired."

She paused "That's why I'd insisted on casual, but this seems more than that somehow. And, I'm still getting my own place once I figure out how the schools work with no records and I have the money. Please don't throw me out."

Janie smiled when Vito said Lynn was brilliant. "She's evil, but still amazing."

[vito_the_mook]

"Wouldn't throw you out, and I figured it was something like that. Is he Lynn's father?"

[a_time_slip]

"Yes." Janie confirmed "You haven't met him yet, but Lynn's been over there a lot. I've been over there- he has an extra room with some of my things and I've been spending time with his son too. But it's not- It's a complicated situation and I think you should know."

[vito_the_mook]

"It sounds complicated, and I can't even get too upset about it. He's Lynn's dad, so he's a part of your family, I wouldn't get in the way of that."

[a_time_slip]

"He's family." she said, firmly. "And he's always been there for me, since I was very young. This went much better than I thought."

Janie threw her arms around Vito. "I no longer have to avoid you."

[vito_the_mook]

Vito laughed. "Good, good," he said. "I'm glad. That wasn't so bad, hm?"

[a_time_slip]

"It wasn't bad at all." she smiled, not letting him go for several seconds. "Thank you for not hating me and leaving the park hurt and angry."

The not so menacing group of thugs finally started to break up, a member or two trying to leave the park inconspicuously.