For a moment I thought I had picked the wrong person. I had kept my head down in most my classes, trying to see if I could visualize the person in my head before I actually saw them. Trying to hone my skills the best I could. I was out of practise, but I knew I could get back to the top of my game in no time. It was just hard managing school, a roommate with her suspicions and vengeance.
She slid her stuff over and smiled. I was right!
“Anya, right…you’re in my feminist theory class as well, aren’t you?”
Oh crap. One of those classes full of angry women? Probably. One of my best classes to get little seeds of hate. I remembered the class just not many of the people in it.
"Yeah.. I think so, I don't really pay much attention. I mean classes I pretty much tune out. I figure that is what the syllabus is for right?"
I smiled and took up the space she made beside her. Look at me. Miss Normal College Girl. Hanging out with Kyla.
"So classes going okay for ya? Oh! Hey how is your roommate!"
I knew I could maintain conversation with someone. It just wasn't my own roommmate apparently. I glanced at her papers, but realized I was probably snooping so moved my line of sight to her shoes instead. I would make sure to mention they were cute or something.
I raised an eyebrow at her on the comment about not paying attention in classes. Yes, a syllabus usually continued at least a general outline for a course, but not paying was just…unwise at best. But then again, I had to remember that not all the students here had the same priorities as I did. Though from the looks of things, staying alive should be priority number one for the general populus….
"So classes going okay for ya? Oh! Hey how is your roommate!"
Her question snapped me back to the situation at hand. “My roommate is fine, as far as my knowledge extends. At least I would be confirm so if I ever saw her in more than passing. I’m beginning to think she might be a phantom of some kind.” A slight smirk appeared on my face.
“And classes are- quite interesting so far to say the least. It’s gong to be quite an eventful semester if everything’s like that first feminist theory session, hm?”
She sort of stared off for a moment no doubt thinking of ways to get out of talking to me. Maybe Tara was right. Maybe I wasn't normal. I mean yeah I know I am not 'normal', and odd has always been associated with me. At least Xander would think so. It was just hard trying to be normal and someone that Kyla might eventually ask to hang out with. It wasn't seeming to go very well though.
“My roommate is fine, as far as my knowledge extends. At least I would be confirm so if I ever saw her in more than passing. I’m beginning to think she might be a phantom of some kind.”
She smiled in a crooked manner and I let out a small laugh. Although it was Sunnydale. Anything is possible. Perhaps her roommate was a ghost of sorts. That would be interesting. Far more interesting that whatever was going on in any classes.
“And classes are- quite interesting so far to say the least. It’s gong to be quite an eventful semester if everything’s like that first feminist theory session, hm?”
I smiled, remembering the brawl that broke out during the lecture.
"Yeah, talk about your theories on feminism. You would think that the guys in the class would be more open to not breaking into a fight immediately after the whole discussion about Male's and their roles in society."
I rolled my eyes at the thought of that fight again. It was pretty insane.
"So.. ghost roommate? Haven't seen her in a while? Is all her stuff still there? Cause I have heard of a lot of students just packing it up and leaving without warning."
“No, it wasn’t a very well timed bit of spontaneity on their part, now was it?” I gave a friendly smile. Anya seemed nice enough, a bit twitchy and anxious if anything. Too much caffeine, perhaps? In any event, it was a chance for me to talk to someone I usually don’t. Which in a sense, meant anyone at all… But that was something I was aware of and intent on changing….
I nodded. “Yes, her things are still there, she just never is,” I commented with a slight laugh. My thoughts turned to the last thing she said, considering it. “And does that happen often? People just up and leaving, practically disappearing, possessions and all?”
I was getting a bit antsy. This whole chit chat thing was a lot more difficult when I didn't have anything to do. I could chit chat people up when I was trying to get the information from them. Trying to see what was wrong in their life. However that was just small talk to get to the part where I grant their wish. I couldn't really do that with someone I knew. I mean there was no one to get vengeance on here. It was just two students chatting it up.
“No, it wasn’t a very well timed bit of spontaneity on their part, now was it?”
I smiled, and laughed. Again normal things. Perhaps I was over analyzing it too much. Maybe it wasn't about trying to be normal. Maybe it was just being me. Which of course wasn't really too difficult. I would just have to watch what I said. I can't be too forward with her. I had just really met her.
“Yes, her things are still there, she just never is, and does that happen often? People just up and leaving, practically disappearing, possessions and all?”
I had read about a few students in the paper, and then there was Janey. Ahh Janey. The accident prone bumbling girl that had latched herself onto my roommate. I sighed.
"I think so. I know that Janey's roommate did that. All her stuff packed up and left a note. Janey thought it was odd, but hey she has a single now. Although Tara is there so often you would think I was the one with the single."
I laughed again, at my own misfortune. This wasn't difficult at all. In fact Kyla was a really nice girl. Normal average college student. Maybe we could go hang out or something. Although I didn't want to push anything.
"Hey, want to go get some coffee? Or something non-cafeteria to eat? I think there is a little coffee shop in town. I mean you don't have to, I just thought it would be nicer than random bench in the middle of campus."
"I think so. I know that Janey's roommate did that. All her stuff packed up and left a note. Janey thought it was odd, but hey she has a single now.
/Hmm, interesting./ Kyla made a mental note to look into that later. Perhaps see if she could do some digging and find out comparatively how many students at UC Sunnydale made it through their first semester. Or first month, even, from what she had seen thus far and from what Anya was saying. Kyla had a sneaking suspicion the number would be relatively high.
"Hey, want to go get some coffee? Or something non-cafeteria to eat? I think there is a little coffee shop in town. I mean you don't have to, I just thought it would be nicer than random bench in the middle of campus."
“That it most certainly would,” I said, gathering up my things and arranging them into my backpack. “I could always use caffeine, and perhaps a change of scenery. I still haven’t seen very much of the town at all so far.” Keeping my friendly smile, I tried to keep the conversation going as we walked.
“So, are you from Sunnydale? Live here all your life or perhaps just migrated in for school?”
She started to gather up her belongings, so I took that to assume that she was going to say yes to my proposal of leaving campus. I would have started to pack up things as well, but I hadn't really brought anything. So I just sat there, while she put her stuff away.
“That it most certainly would, I could always use caffeine, and perhaps a change of scenery. I still haven’t seen very much of the town at all so far.”
I nodded and soon enough we were on our way towards the downtown area. Again it was more walking but the thought that she hadn't said no to me reassured me that I was more than normal, I was a 'college student' and Tara was just plain crazy to have come to such assumptions. We made it off campus and I led the way towards the coffee house.
“So, are you from Sunnydale? Live here all your life or perhaps just migrated in for school?”
Woah, now there is a question and a half. I suppose for others it is a simple one, but for someone who is over a thousand years old? Sort of a tricky one. Although I had always been good at lying and this was just part of my new found identity.
"I recently moved here, decided for a change of lifestyle and ended up stuck here pretty much. Not that I am complaining I mean it is a nice town, but it just isn't where I thought I would end up. I figured as long as I am here I might as well make the most of it. So I applied and got in. The rest is boring, since well that is classes and such."
You know not so difficult to come up with a story. In fact that was pretty close to the truth, of course Demon Banishment and re-assignment aside. We turned the corner and I saw the Magick Box. By now it was just a darkened store with crime scene tape surrounding it. The police had moved on, to more 'PCP Gang' related crimes and just left the shop for whoever. It was a shame really, just to leave such a money maker empty.
"Looks like the police closed their investigation... I wonder who is going to take over the shop now. I mean not every shop owner is just itching to be the next victim of some odd robbery gone awry."
"Looks like the police closed their investigation... I wonder who is going to take over the shop now. I mean not every shop owner is just itching to be the next victim of some odd robbery gone awry."
“Very true,” Kyla said, taking in as much as she could of the scene at the magic shop without seeming overly suspicious. She was sure the official reports had probably missed things, as official reports tend to do. Especially when those things fall in the realm of the not exactly normal. The whole thing looked fairly abandoned, as if everything that needed to be done, had been and it was time to move on. This might require some investigation of her own. But later, when the time was right.
My attention went back to Anya as we entered the coffee shop. “Perhaps the classes will pick up soon enough. The semester has only stared, after all. There still is a bit of time to switch your schedule up if you decide to try that. Or perhaps a change of major would be in order?” I didn’t know what her intended area of study was, but she certainly did seem unhappy with it…
Kyla glanced at the shop, and I tried to see if I could get a look without her noticing. I mean there was a succubus on the loose after all. Nothing like a Magick Shop to help out a demon. Dismissing the thought that the succubus had an agenda outside of killing men I kept up with Kyla.
“Very true,”
I nodded and continued onto the coffee shop. We arrived and immediately I had no clue what to order. There was a million things on the menu that I had no idea what they were. Whatever happened to coffee? Why did they have to muck it up? Huh. I can get sprinkles.
“Perhaps the classes will pick up soon enough. The semester has only stared, after all. There still is a bit of time to switch your schedule up if you decide to try that. Or perhaps a change of major would be in order?”
I snapped my attention back to her. There was an idea. Of course I don't think my lack of interest in the subject is the problem, I think it is the fact that I can't concentrate on anything in class except what everyone hated about everyone else. Teachers usually big on the list.
"Oh, no... I mean I like money, and most my classes? Money related. It is just so much. I mean I haven't been to school like this. Sure high school, but that was more or less simple things. This is like serious, career type things. I think I just need to focus more, stop letting outside activities get in the way."
I ordered a cafe mocha with sprinkles and whipped cream. I didn't even know what that was, let alone if I ordered it right, but the girl behind the counter repeated it and then the guy that made it repeated it, so I must have done something right.
I took in as much of the town as I could as we made our way along. I really hadn’t been out much around Sunnydale so far, so anything to help me get my bearings and familiarize myself with things better was good. Still listening to Anya, I looked around the coffee shop as we entered. Seemed to be your typical place, full of college students and other people in need of a caffeine infusion. But if there was anything I had learned from my time in Sunnydale thus far, it was that things here were not always as they seemed. Maybe this would be a good place for me to surveil as well…
"Oh, no... I mean I like money, and most my classes? Money related. It is just so much. I mean I haven't been to school like this. Sure high school, but that was more or less simple things. This is like serious, career type things. I think I just need to focus more, stop letting outside activities get in the way."
Money. Hmm. Well at least she was honest about her ultimate goals. Granted, that was pretty much the end goal of anyone’s career choice, Anya just seemed to have cut out a few things in the middle. Very ambitious and to the point yet very strange and slightly disconcerting at the same time. I pondered that a bit as I ordered.
“Ah, so you are…a business major then?” I asked, taking my latte when it was done, and heading us toward a table.
I took my chocolate flavored drink and sipped at it slowly while she ordered something similar. It was pretty good, sort of like hot cocoa with a kick to it.
“Ah, so you are…a business major then?”
We started to head towards one of the tiny tables, that more than likely were not meant to hold more than a cup or a small plate with an overpriced muffin on it, but still I was just glad it didn't wobble when I rested my forearms against it.
"Business Major? I don't think so... I mean I haven't really thought about it. Most my classes are accounting, and math-like. Which is fine, but I think school and I just don't mix so well. I get distracted to easily." like by students thinking that their teacher should be strung out...
I took another sip of my drink taking a glance around the shop. Someone in here was really upset... I just didn't want to think about it. I tried to block it out while I returned my attention back to Kyla.
"So what is your Major then?"
I thought for sure I had been sucked into one of those hokey college movies, where the only topic of conversation was what the other's major was. I wondered what Tara was up to. Probably with Janey somewhere... discussing how not normal I was. If she could see me now? All normal sipping coffee with another normal person.
/So she hasn’t really decided. Hmmm../ It truly amazed Kyla how some students just seemed to drift, not knowing what they wanted to do. She could understand maybe a semester or two, but she knew of at least a few people who were in their third semester and over that still hadn’t made a decision. For the most part, she had knows what she wanted to study. Or at least, it hadn’t taken an overly large amount of contemplation. but then again, not everyone had their life practically planned out for them like she did. Cultural anthropology would probably be of use to her when she took her father’s place, and environmental science interested her a great deal. So granted, that one could be seen as a bit of a luxury, but it was nothing she couldn’t handle as far as she had been able to discern.
“Majors, actually,” I said with a slight grin. “Cultural anthropology and environmental science. Big leap, I know. But what can I say? My interests vary.”
I looked around the coffee shop a bit more. The traffic through here went at a decent pace. Some came in, got their orders and left right out again, some came and lingered for a few minutes, some seemed to have taken up permanent residence, accompanied by laptops, textbooks and notepads. Yes, this definitely would be a good place to scope out.
Suddenly, I realized how boring I must be sounding, and tried to think of something to liven the conversation a bit. While I was gathering a few useful tidbits of my own, Anya could very well be bored out of her mind with this.
“There should really be one of these on campus, don’t you think? I mean, it seems like they get enough business from the school anyway.” I paused, giving a slight smirk. “But then I suppose having it there would negate the simple allure of having a reason to go somewhere besides the campus, now wouldn’t it?”
She slid her stuff over and smiled. I was right!
“Anya, right…you’re in my feminist theory class as well, aren’t you?”
Oh crap. One of those classes full of angry women? Probably. One of my best classes to get little seeds of hate. I remembered the class just not many of the people in it.
"Yeah.. I think so, I don't really pay much attention. I mean classes I pretty much tune out. I figure that is what the syllabus is for right?"
I smiled and took up the space she made beside her. Look at me. Miss Normal College Girl. Hanging out with Kyla.
"So classes going okay for ya? Oh! Hey how is your roommate!"
I knew I could maintain conversation with someone. It just wasn't my own roommmate apparently. I glanced at her papers, but realized I was probably snooping so moved my line of sight to her shoes instead. I would make sure to mention they were cute or something.
Reply
"So classes going okay for ya? Oh! Hey how is your roommate!"
Her question snapped me back to the situation at hand. “My roommate is fine, as far as my knowledge extends. At least I would be confirm so if I ever saw her in more than passing. I’m beginning to think she might be a phantom of some kind.” A slight smirk appeared on my face.
“And classes are- quite interesting so far to say the least. It’s gong to be quite an eventful semester if everything’s like that first feminist theory session, hm?”
Reply
“My roommate is fine, as far as my knowledge extends. At least I would be confirm so if I ever saw her in more than passing. I’m beginning to think she might be a phantom of some kind.”
She smiled in a crooked manner and I let out a small laugh. Although it was Sunnydale. Anything is possible. Perhaps her roommate was a ghost of sorts. That would be interesting. Far more interesting that whatever was going on in any classes.
“And classes are- quite interesting so far to say the least. It’s gong to be quite an eventful semester if everything’s like that first feminist theory session, hm?”
I smiled, remembering the brawl that broke out during the lecture.
"Yeah, talk about your theories on feminism. You would think that the guys in the class would be more open to not breaking into a fight immediately after the whole discussion about Male's and their roles in society."
I rolled my eyes at the thought of that fight again. It was pretty insane.
"So.. ghost roommate? Haven't seen her in a while? Is all her stuff still there? Cause I have heard of a lot of students just packing it up and leaving without warning."
Reply
I nodded. “Yes, her things are still there, she just never is,” I commented with a slight laugh. My thoughts turned to the last thing she said, considering it. “And does that happen often? People just up and leaving, practically disappearing, possessions and all?”
Reply
“No, it wasn’t a very well timed bit of spontaneity on their part, now was it?”
I smiled, and laughed. Again normal things. Perhaps I was over analyzing it too much. Maybe it wasn't about trying to be normal. Maybe it was just being me. Which of course wasn't really too difficult. I would just have to watch what I said. I can't be too forward with her. I had just really met her.
“Yes, her things are still there, she just never is, and does that happen often? People just up and leaving, practically disappearing, possessions and all?”
I had read about a few students in the paper, and then there was Janey. Ahh Janey. The accident prone bumbling girl that had latched herself onto my roommate. I sighed.
"I think so. I know that Janey's roommate did that. All her stuff packed up and left a note. Janey thought it was odd, but hey she has a single now. Although Tara is there so often you would think I was the one with the single."
I laughed again, at my own misfortune. This wasn't difficult at all. In fact Kyla was a really nice girl. Normal average college student. Maybe we could go hang out or something. Although I didn't want to push anything.
"Hey, want to go get some coffee? Or something non-cafeteria to eat? I think there is a little coffee shop in town. I mean you don't have to, I just thought it would be nicer than random bench in the middle of campus."
Reply
/Hmm, interesting./ Kyla made a mental note to look into that later. Perhaps see if she could do some digging and find out comparatively how many students at UC Sunnydale made it through their first semester. Or first month, even, from what she had seen thus far and from what Anya was saying. Kyla had a sneaking suspicion the number would be relatively high.
"Hey, want to go get some coffee? Or something non-cafeteria to eat? I think there is a little coffee shop in town. I mean you don't have to, I just thought it would be nicer than random bench in the middle of campus."
“That it most certainly would,” I said, gathering up my things and arranging them into my backpack. “I could always use caffeine, and perhaps a change of scenery. I still haven’t seen very much of the town at all so far.” Keeping my friendly smile, I tried to keep the conversation going as we walked.
“So, are you from Sunnydale? Live here all your life or perhaps just migrated in for school?”
Reply
“That it most certainly would, I could always use caffeine, and perhaps a change of scenery. I still haven’t seen very much of the town at all so far.”
I nodded and soon enough we were on our way towards the downtown area. Again it was more walking but the thought that she hadn't said no to me reassured me that I was more than normal, I was a 'college student' and Tara was just plain crazy to have come to such assumptions. We made it off campus and I led the way towards the coffee house.
“So, are you from Sunnydale? Live here all your life or perhaps just migrated in for school?”
Woah, now there is a question and a half. I suppose for others it is a simple one, but for someone who is over a thousand years old? Sort of a tricky one. Although I had always been good at lying and this was just part of my new found identity.
"I recently moved here, decided for a change of lifestyle and ended up stuck here pretty much. Not that I am complaining I mean it is a nice town, but it just isn't where I thought I would end up. I figured as long as I am here I might as well make the most of it. So I applied and got in. The rest is boring, since well that is classes and such."
You know not so difficult to come up with a story. In fact that was pretty close to the truth, of course Demon Banishment and re-assignment aside. We turned the corner and I saw the Magick Box. By now it was just a darkened store with crime scene tape surrounding it. The police had moved on, to more 'PCP Gang' related crimes and just left the shop for whoever. It was a shame really, just to leave such a money maker empty.
"Looks like the police closed their investigation... I wonder who is going to take over the shop now. I mean not every shop owner is just itching to be the next victim of some odd robbery gone awry."
Reply
“Very true,” Kyla said, taking in as much as she could of the scene at the magic shop without seeming overly suspicious. She was sure the official reports had probably missed things, as official reports tend to do. Especially when those things fall in the realm of the not exactly normal. The whole thing looked fairly abandoned, as if everything that needed to be done, had been and it was time to move on. This might require some investigation of her own. But later, when the time was right.
My attention went back to Anya as we entered the coffee shop. “Perhaps the classes will pick up soon enough. The semester has only stared, after all. There still is a bit of time to switch your schedule up if you decide to try that. Or perhaps a change of major would be in order?” I didn’t know what her intended area of study was, but she certainly did seem unhappy with it…
Reply
“Very true,”
I nodded and continued onto the coffee shop. We arrived and immediately I had no clue what to order. There was a million things on the menu that I had no idea what they were. Whatever happened to coffee? Why did they have to muck it up? Huh. I can get sprinkles.
“Perhaps the classes will pick up soon enough. The semester has only stared, after all. There still is a bit of time to switch your schedule up if you decide to try that. Or perhaps a change of major would be in order?”
I snapped my attention back to her. There was an idea. Of course I don't think my lack of interest in the subject is the problem, I think it is the fact that I can't concentrate on anything in class except what everyone hated about everyone else. Teachers usually big on the list.
"Oh, no... I mean I like money, and most my classes? Money related. It is just so much. I mean I haven't been to school like this. Sure high school, but that was more or less simple things. This is like serious, career type things. I think I just need to focus more, stop letting outside activities get in the way."
I ordered a cafe mocha with sprinkles and whipped cream. I didn't even know what that was, let alone if I ordered it right, but the girl behind the counter repeated it and then the guy that made it repeated it, so I must have done something right.
Reply
"Oh, no... I mean I like money, and most my classes? Money related. It is just so much. I mean I haven't been to school like this. Sure high school, but that was more or less simple things. This is like serious, career type things. I think I just need to focus more, stop letting outside activities get in the way."
Money. Hmm. Well at least she was honest about her ultimate goals. Granted, that was pretty much the end goal of anyone’s career choice, Anya just seemed to have cut out a few things in the middle. Very ambitious and to the point yet very strange and slightly disconcerting at the same time. I pondered that a bit as I ordered.
“Ah, so you are…a business major then?” I asked, taking my latte when it was done, and heading us toward a table.
Reply
“Ah, so you are…a business major then?”
We started to head towards one of the tiny tables, that more than likely were not meant to hold more than a cup or a small plate with an overpriced muffin on it, but still I was just glad it didn't wobble when I rested my forearms against it.
"Business Major? I don't think so... I mean I haven't really thought about it. Most my classes are accounting, and math-like. Which is fine, but I think school and I just don't mix so well. I get distracted to easily." like by students thinking that their teacher should be strung out...
I took another sip of my drink taking a glance around the shop. Someone in here was really upset... I just didn't want to think about it. I tried to block it out while I returned my attention back to Kyla.
"So what is your Major then?"
I thought for sure I had been sucked into one of those hokey college movies, where the only topic of conversation was what the other's major was. I wondered what Tara was up to. Probably with Janey somewhere... discussing how not normal I was. If she could see me now? All normal sipping coffee with another normal person.
Reply
“Majors, actually,” I said with a slight grin. “Cultural anthropology and environmental science. Big leap, I know. But what can I say? My interests vary.”
I looked around the coffee shop a bit more. The traffic through here went at a decent pace. Some came in, got their orders and left right out again, some came and lingered for a few minutes, some seemed to have taken up permanent residence, accompanied by laptops, textbooks and notepads. Yes, this definitely would be a good place to scope out.
Suddenly, I realized how boring I must be sounding, and tried to think of something to liven the conversation a bit. While I was gathering a few useful tidbits of my own, Anya could very well be bored out of her mind with this.
“There should really be one of these on campus, don’t you think? I mean, it seems like they get enough business from the school anyway.” I paused, giving a slight smirk. “But then I suppose having it there would negate the simple allure of having a reason to go somewhere besides the campus, now wouldn’t it?”
Reply
Leave a comment