Issue 1 Downtime

Elena was settled behind the desk in the modest library that the university maintained. In between customers, she squeezed a little homework in, but not as much as it she'd thought she'd be able to when she first took the job. It seemed like there was always someone or other needing help with something and the other worker had stepped out for dinner break, leaving her by herself for now.

((Open))

Trev tried, as stealthily as possible, to look into the library to sneak in when Elena was distracted by a customer or when her head was buried in a book. Not seeing any opportunities he really liked (he was realistic about his ability to sneak), he waved down a high school student in the hallway outside, slipped him a few pounds, and asked him to go ask the lady at the front desk for help finding something in the reference section to get her away from the desk for a few minutes.

In the meantime, Trev leaned against the wall outside the library, out of sight, a small card and a bouquet of flowers clutched in his hands.

Elena spent a couple of minutes trying to instruct the student on the finer points of library reference sections and trying to send him on his way. Finally she gave up and led the student away to help him find what he was looking for.

good work, kid!

Trev moved quickly into the library, hoping he'd have enough time to get in and out without getting caught. He carefully placed the flowers across her textbook, and tried unsuccessfully to make the card lean up against the flowers and stay put. He finally gave up, but now found himself answering questions to an impatient high schooler asking to check out a DVD.

Elena was on her way back when she spotted first Trev, then the flowers. As she moved back behind the desk, she kept her face carefully schooled as she said to the student, "Let me take care of that for you. He's hopeless." She indicated Trev as she held out her hand for the student's ID card.

Trev blushed a bit, and stood there awkwardly while she dealt with another line of people, but finally, they were alone.

"So...that plan for drive by flowers ALMOST worked," he smirked.

"Next time, find someone with a genuine request to distract me," she said, picking up the flowers and smelling them.

"Was it a lame excuse? Do I need to shake that kid down for my five pounds back?" he laughed.

"But...I didn't really know what kind of flowers you liked, but I wanted to get you something. Just because. So I hope those are okay,"

"They are lovely," she said. "Of course, I really don't have anywhere to put them at the moment." She glanced around.

"The gal at the shop said they'd be okay for a while as long as you cut them whenever you do get some water," he said.

"I'm afraid I'm going to have to work every evening this weekend. Can you do Saturday lunch or would you rather wait until the next weekend?"

"Lunch would be great," he smiled. "Depending on how late you work we could also just do a movie here or something too."

"Saturdays usually aren't too busy or so I'm told. Sundays we tend to have a lot of people pushing the envelope to get homework done though."

"Well. Saturday late night movie date, or brunch. Either or. As long as I get an Elena fix I think I'll be fine."

"I'm your drug of choice now, am I?" She asked before stopping to help another patron check out.

"Well excuse me for getting hooked on a gorgeous, witty, and charming girl who for some reason can tolerate my company," he said with mock incredulity.

"You're excused," she said with a smirk, sitting down. She picked up her book and slipped some reading glasses on and pretended to ignore him.

((In terrible French))

"You am most beautiful."

Trev looked like he pulled something struggling to pronounce the French. "I should stop while I'm ahead...if I ever was," he chuckled switchig back to English.

"Want me to leave you to your homework? And actual work?"

She made a face at his French, "I appreciate the sentiment, but it goes like this." She switched to French, looking over the top of her glasses at him, <"You are most beautiful.">

"I am hopeless," he chuckled. "Maybe with enough lessons from you ill be at a kindergarten level in a few months."

"Hope springs eternal," she teased.

Trev chuckled "Gorgeous, witty, charming AND gives me the requisite amount of crap I deserve? You're gonna be hard pressed to get rid of me at this rate."

"Oh trust me, if I want to get rid of you, I will," she said. "So, lunch on Saturday? Anything you need me to provide?"

"You, yourself, and you," he smiled. "I'll make us some food. And if the weather holds, we'll have a picnic in the gardens maybe?"

"It's worth a try."

"That's what I'm sayin'," he smiled. "Do you have any requests? I'm not an amazing chef but I'm happy to try things that are slightly out of my comfort zone."

"You gave me the choice last time. Surprise me."

"Haggis it is!" he laughed.

"I was under the impression you intended to make food. That... substance... would not qualify."

"Offal is awful as far as I'm concerned," he smirked. "I'll think of something fun and picnic friendly, even if we have to have our picnic inside."

Trev looked at her homework sitting unfinished and back to her.

"Do you want me to leave you in peace? I could probably stand to do some work myself, but I've got one of my reading assignments on my phone and could just...grab a table near here and keep you company if you didn't mind?"

"When the other worker gets back, I have to do some shelving, so I'll be busy for a while. There are probably more comfortable places for you to read."

"More comfortable plus school reading means ill fall asleep, but if you want me out of here I'm gone," he smiled.

"Probably for the best. You'll be less distracted that way."

less distracted than in a li...you're coming on way too strong. Easy killer...

"As you wish," he smiled, though his stomach was now knotted with concern he'd just overreached a bit.

"Text me when you're off and make sure I'm up and reading and not faceplanted in my book or phone," he smirked.

He stood there awkwardly for a moment not sure whether to hug, go in for a quick kiss, or just leave while he was sort of ahead.

"I will," she promised, sitting back down in her chair.

shit...uh. Stop standing here and just go, idiot!

"Thanks, Elena," he smiled. "I'll talk to you later then."

Trev finally moved towards the exit, almost bumping into the desk in the process.

As he started to step out the door, he was hit on the rear. The force wasn't much harder than a mild slap, but it was enough to be felt. If he looked back, Elena was still sitting in her chair, reading her book, though she had a self-satisfied smile on her face.

Trev jumped slightly, barely stifling a yelp as he whipped around to face her, a smirk spreading on his face.

Some time later, Elena would get an MMS on her phone, an image of Bugs Bunny with the text "Of course you realize this means war!" written around above and below it.

Elena returned the message, "Don't start something you can't finish."