[Open!] Down There Is A World of Used Cars and Single's Bars

[legallygreen]

CHARACTERS: Jennifer Walters and You!
LOCATION/SETTING: The Underground, around campus, poster's choice
DATE & TIME: May 29, early evening
WARNINGS: None, except maybe uptight teacher
SUMMARY: Jennifer chose not to enjoy the holiday in La Salle, and instead remained on campus to enjoy the more quiet atmosphere.  Aware that students and others will be

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[publishthetruth]

To be honest, Keats had enough of the town on Saturday. Wandering around not-quite-lost and managing to absorb absolutely none of the local gossip or culture became boring very quickly. While a large stock of the island was off enjoying some much needed post-break relaxation (can't you feel the sarcasm?), he took the time to give himself a tour of the place. It's something that allowed him time to zero in on the few people who had also chosen to stay behind while the rest had their fun.

Though this particular woman seemed to be having a good enough time, and he just had to find out what was so amusing about such a dull text. He approached from the side with the front cover, but not quite reading the page she was on just yet.

"If you're not careful," he began, almost certain to startle. "Someone passing by might just think you're enjoying that book."

[legallygreen]

She had been so absorbed in her book that she was indeed startled when someone spoke to her from her side. Nearly dropping the novel, Jennifer snapped it shut immediately, catching just the end of her finger in the pages. Making a small, irritated noise, she shook the pinched finger lightly as she glanced up at who had interupted her.

"I was enjoying it. Until someone interrupted me in the middle of my chapter." She replied, looking at him through her glasses as if she were about to melt the frames.

[publishthetruth]

Such a defensive act. Who would close a real law book with such ferocity? No one innocent, that's for sure. Amusement colored his words.

"I did not expect you to be so enraptured by--" He squints at the cover once more, for effect. "'Morality and the human goods'. So I'm sorry for underestimating the draw of your reading material."

[legallygreen]

"Apology accepted." Jennifer replied tersely. "Excuse me."

She turned then, reopening her book and going back to the page where she had stopped reading, heading back in the direction she had gone in. Aside from just wanting to finish her chapter, the man, a fellow educator she knew by the name of Keats, was far too nosy for her particular good.

[publishthetruth]

"Don't let me stop you." Keats followed, casually, his hands in his pockets of his slacks.

"You must not have a lot of free time, to have to multi-task reading and walking like that. Could end tragically, if someone crossed your path." He brings up a hand to adjust his glasses, head turned to the side a bit to watch for precisely that. "Terrible lack of situational awareness on some kids..."

[legallygreen]

He was following her now? Jennifer resisted the urge to sigh and kept looking at her book, though it was impossible to get back into fairy tale worlds of romance while he was talking to her.

"I have enough free time. I prefer to multi-task." She replied, sidestepping a bump in the path with the ease of someone who was used to it. "And while I am certain I would be able to keep myself out of such a predicament, if you hadn't noticed, the campus is rather empty today."

[publishthetruth]

It's not like he was stalking her. More that he... happened to be walking in the same direction, is all.

And she was quite skilled at what she was doing. He's a little impressed that she's putting up with the distractions so well. "It's kind of hard to miss, but the silence is rather enjoyable."

[legallygreen]

"Well...it was."

She let it go without saying that he had ruined that silence. Instead, she kept walking along, and he kept walking right along with her until she stopped, closing her book and tucking it under her arm.

"Are you going to The Underground?" Jennifer asked bluntly.

[publishthetruth]

He didn't miss that implication. When she stopped, he quirked a brow, unable to stop himself from teasing her just a little. "We haven't even been properly introduced yet, and you're asking about my dinner plans?"

Try not to push so many buttons at once, Keats...

[legallygreen]

Nor did she miss the implication of his teasing. Jennifer felt her cheeks turn pink and she screwed up her courage before speaking.

"I'll take that as a yes. And an indication to go have dinner in my own apartment. Good evening."

Oh yeah, cool as a cucumber she was. Well, it was slightly better than punching him in the face. It was the cute, kind of messy, cocky types that were always the most trouble.

[publishthetruth]

"That's too bad. I heard the desserts today would be quite the treat." It didn't take him long to rack up the strikes, but if it bothered him, he didn't make it obvious. To the contrary, he reached out a hand for a polite shake.

"Enjoy your meal, miss...?"

[legallygreen]

"Walters. Jennifer Walters."

She did take his hand, and gave him a firm, but not controlling, handshake. When he mentioned dessert, Jennifer grimaced, knowing that she was going to The Underground.

"...Damn."

She turned back towards the building where she had been originally heading, then turned back. "Silence until we get there. Absolute silence."

[publishthetruth]

"Keats," is his only reply, returning the shake in kind. Sometimes, he's far too smug when he successfully reads someone. That could have just been dumb luck, though, and he tries not to smirk. Her order is met with a pantomime of Keats zipping his lips, followed by a gesture toward that building. After you...

[legallygreen]

Jennifer walked past him, and opened her book again, this time far more determined to actually finish her chapter than anything else. If Mr. Keats wished to walk behind her, that was just fine, she could ignore him and save herself the social mortification of talking about herself.

The world of damsels in distress and knights showing up just in time was so absorbing that she barely noticed that they had arrived at The Underground. With one hand she idly opened the door, holding it open with her foot so that her tail could walk through as well if he wanted.

[publishthetruth]

Keeping to his word, he was quiet the whole way. The door left ajar surprised him, but he took the opening nonetheless. Perhaps she just did it so she wouldn't have to deal with his complaints should it have been shut in his face.

It was no matter, for they were inside now, and the smell of food drew a pleased hum from him. "Mm, that smells like some very delicious stew." He was hungrier than he thought, for a man who had just had a sandwich not too long ago.

[legallygreen]

Having finished her chapter, Jennifer was actually more amiable at the moment as she shut the book and tucked it beneath her arm. "The food here is always excellent. I appreciate having it near by."

No, she was not going to mention that she was a horrible cook, but all that left her mind when she got in line and caught a glimpse of that strawberry pie she liked so much. So perhaps being in Keats' company was worth it all the while.