Comments | the_metroplex: RP: Something Familiar

astrid_keller in the_metroplex

RP: Something Familiar

Jan 15, 2011 15:02

Date: Saturday, January 15, 2011
Characters: Astrid Keller and Open
Location: Starbucks on West 7th
Status: Public
Summary: Astrid's already done with Texas, but at least she can get a decent cup of coffee.
Completion: Complete

( God, this sucked. )

character: astrid keller, character: maureen gibbons, character: stephen ross, post: public, january 2011, location: public place

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astrid_keller January 16 2011, 16:29:05 UTC

It wasn't exactly L.A., but Astrid couldn't make herself leave. For all its faults, the one thing you could say about Starbucks was that it was consistent. Familiar sights and smells, familiar lines of people ordering ridiculously complicated drinks. Stupid as it seemed, she loved it. It wasn't DFW night life, but she'd be marking this location in her GPS. You could always count on coffee.

She took a drink of her latte and focused on the crowd rather than the thoughts crowding the back of her head. She had to admit a few of the people in the shop weren't completely fashion challenged. Proper winter colors, but nothing too boring. Of course, then there was guy in sweatpants and a ratty t-shirt. She could only hope he was stopping in after a run. Even then, there wasn't much of an excuse.

It was starting to fill up. Probably the end of some regular work shift, she thought, though she didn't have a clue what the hours of a regular work shift actually were. There weren't many tables in the place. Well, if someone wanted to sit with her, she hoped they weren't obnoxious. Please, god, no more college frat boys. They were much better when they were drunk.

maureengibbons January 16 2011, 17:44:01 UTC

Maureen took her mocha from the barista and looked around. The place was busy and she really didn't want to go back to her car.

Out of the corner of her eye she noticed a young woman sitting by herself. She looked slightly familiar - maybe Maureen had been in a class with her last semester? Well any way, maybe Maureen could sit with her. The table looked large enough that she could pull out her Algebra book without disturbing her possible companion.

She approached the table with a friendly smile, waiting patiently for the woman to make eye contact with her. "Hi. I'm Maureen." She offered her hand. "Do you mind if I share your table? It's really packed in here."

astrid_keller January 16 2011, 18:45:35 UTC

Astrid scanned the room again, and she caught the eyes of an older woman. Pretty, definitely without any sort of obnoxious look about her. Maybe not all that interesting on the surface, but not someone she minded sharing a table with. She smiled her best public smile and took the proffered hand.

"Astrid," she said. "Go ahead. You'll save me from having to turn down sweaty running man." She nodded toward the guy in the sweatpants, who she'd realized had been out for a run, after another minute of studying the atrocity that was his outfit. It was the ipod on his arm that gave it away.

maureengibbons January 16 2011, 21:23:22 UTC

Maureen chuckled, giving a firm shake and eyeing the guy Astrid had gestured to. "A fate worse than death," she said, taking the seat across from Astrid.

"I promise not to be a bother - my classes start Monday and I'm trying to get a head start on my math. It's never been a friend of mine," she added as she pulled out the algebra book.

astrid_keller January 16 2011, 21:52:36 UTC

"I know, right?" Astrid said, laughing. She gave the guy one last glance before shaking her head and focusing on the woman who'd sat down at the table. Crap. What was her name again? She'd already forgotten.

She made a face. "God, I hate math. Why do we even need it if we aren't going to be an accountant or something? I can figure the change from a hundred dollars if my bill is $67.95, so what else do I need to know?"

maureengibbons January 16 2011, 22:10:03 UTC

Maureen smiled. "Exactly! I know how many cups are in a pint, why do I need to figure out that-" she glanced down at the book in front of her "-if x equals 4 and y equals 15 then x times y is 60? Why can't they just say 4 times 15? Any ways..." Maureen trailed off, blushing a little. There she went, rambling again.

"Sorry, I'm Maureen and I hate math," she said, introducing herself as if she was at an AA meeting.

astrid_keller January 16 2011, 22:17:24 UTC

Astrid could feel her shoulders going tense at just the thought of math class. She could joke about it all she wanted, but it really just pissed her off. She could put up with history class--to a point--but math...she didn't want to think about it. She'd been trying not to think about that particular line item on her schedule since it had been put there.

Maureen! She tried to repeat it a few times in her head so she wouldn't forget again. She was old, but she was funny. It never hurt to have friends over twenty-one, just in case she wanted to get into places she couldn't otherwise. "Are you in school?" Astrid asked. Maybe it seemed like a dim sort of question, but she didn't look like a college student. "I'm starting Monday, too."

maureengibbons January 16 2011, 22:27:54 UTC

"Yes, I'm starting my second semester at El Centro - I know, I know. I look too old to be just starting at a community college." She shrugged, a bit embarrassed. "But that's life."

Maureen took a sip of her mocha, playing idly with the straw. "Where are you starting at?" She crossed her fingers mentally that it would be ECC. It would be nice to see a familiar face around campus, one that she had had a conversation with outside of the diner or class.

astrid_keller January 16 2011, 23:47:35 UTC

Well, at least she was willing to admit it. The woman seemed open, friendly, and she wasn't at all condescending. That was a refreshing change from the rest of the adults in Astrid's life. Older adults. Whatever.

Of course, then she had to go and ask about school. "God," Astrid said, playing it up with a sheepish smile. "I keep forgetting the name. It has University and Texas in it somewhere. I only just moved here last week, so I haven't quite gotten used to everything. I transferred from UCLA." Sort of, anyway. No need to go into the details.

maureengibbons January 17 2011, 00:06:30 UTC

Maureen laughed. "Oh, I know the feeling of not being used to anything. I moved from New York last summer and I still couldn't find my way out of here without GPS. That's how I ended up here today, actually. Took a wrong turn on my way back home from work."

She sighed a little to herself. Well, there went that idea. But at least when she talked to her sister that night she could say that she had potentially made a new friend. She would have to give Astrid her number. The woman was younger than her, yes, but she seemed to be someone Maureen could potentially do social things with.

astrid_keller January 17 2011, 00:25:36 UTC

Astrid very nearly let out a sigh of relief. A New York girl. No wonder she liked her better than anyone else she'd met so far in this crazy state. Maybe she was just incompatible with the Southern way of life. And here she had potentially another four years of it.... God.

"My GPS is my savior," she agreed. "I never had to drive much in L.A. Only when I felt like it for fun." Which had been pretty rare. Especially after that incident last year. It just wasn't worth the trouble. "I have no idea how far I am from the place I'm staying, but at least I know I can get back."

maureengibbons January 17 2011, 00:36:45 UTC

"Someone else always seemed to drive when I was in the car." Maureen frowned, thinking of her ex. Damn, and she had been having such a good day in not thinking about him.

"I'm always trying to keep an eye on how far away I am from home - I know I have about another twenty minute drive back from here. At least, I think so. It was thirty minutes to work and I drove about ten before getting lost."

astrid_keller January 17 2011, 02:09:03 UTC

"I'm not really in a rush to get back," Astrid said, flippantly, as if it was of no importance. If she never had to go back, it would be too soon, really. The more she sat here in the relative cocoon of Starbucks, the more that much was plain. Something else Maureen--yes! Maureen.--said caught her attention.

"Where do you work?" she asked. Unfortunately, she was going to have to look for something soon, but she didn't have a clue where to start. God. The thought of being that girl helping people try on clothes at Abercrombie and Fitch, or giving out burgers at the McDonald's drive-up window was more than a little horrifying.

maureengibbons January 17 2011, 02:21:14 UTC

Maureen paused. Something about how nonchalantly Astrid had asked the question was ringing a bell for her. She gave a mental shrug and answered. "I just started working as a baker at the Sunshine Diner. Have you heard of it? It's in the hospital district."

Taking one last sip of her drink, Maureen shook the cup. "I'm going to get a water and one of those muffins. Want anything while I'm up?"

astrid_keller January 17 2011, 03:20:29 UTC

Astrid shook her head. A diner sounded marginally better than McDonald's, but still not quite at the top of her list. Or even at the bottom of the list. If it were up to her, there wouldn't be a list. "No, but then I don't exactly know where the hospital district is." She wrinkled her nose a little. "What would a baker do, exactly? Cook, chef, baker...they all sort of mean the same thing to me."

She considered the offer for a moment, then shook her head again. "No, three shots is about all I can handle for now, but thanks." She smiled. Yeah, it was official--she liked this Maureen chick. "And I've got water." She patted her purse.

maureengibbons January 17 2011, 03:46:59 UTC

"I'll be right back." Maureen went to stand in line, ordering a water and a blueberry muffin, then returned to the table she was sharing.

"Now, What did you ask? Oh yes. I primarily bake rolls and biscuits, but we have a selection of pies at Sunshine that I'm learning as well. And I'm helping out wherever they need me."

Maureen laughed lightly. "I just started Monday - hired last Sunday - and I really enjoy it. My boss is wonderful." She smiled, thinking of Dess. "And Ria has been making me laugh all week. What about you? I know you said you're starting school."

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