Simply Studying

[MurderWeasel]

"I'm sorry to hear that about your parents," Everett said. His parents were still happily together, unlike those of so many of his classmates. Sometimes, he almost felt like he was part of some sort of weird minority, what with his overall lack of family drama.

Except, of course, that I'm never good enough for my parents. Never good enough for myself.

He didn't know exactly how to respond to Marion's comments about saying the wrong things or saving the environment. Truth be told, while he cared about the environment, he didn't actually do anything about it. Well, he recycled, when it wasn't too inconvenient. That was something. He decided to let that part of her statement go.

Then Marion offered to help him out with actually building the thing. That would probably be the best way to do it. He couldn't understand why he hadn't thought of it himself. Here he'd been, out in the cold, when he could have just borrowed an empty room and done the project.

I can be so stupid sometimes...

Marion also made a comment about changing. That would be good. That would make her much less distracting, and make the whole situation much less awkward.

"Yeah, you look cold," he said to her, "I'd love any help you can give. I'm sorry I don't have another jacket to loan you."

He put his book and notes neatly into his backpack, then zipped it up.

"My backpack's waterproof if you want to hold it over you head or something. I don't mind getting a little wet."

[Arscapi†]

"Yeah, you look cold," he said to her, "I'd love any help you can give. I'm sorry I don't have another jacket to loan you."

He put his book and notes neatly into his backpack, then zipped it up.

"My backpack's waterproof if you want to hold it over you head or something. I don't mind getting a little wet."

"Thanks, but I'm already wet. I don't think I could get much wetter," she said with a smile. "I guess we better press on. Besides you might not want to get soaked, unless you have PE clothes to change into too."

She cast a definite look at the sky and then glanced over to him. She waited patiently to make sure that he had all of his belongings and had joined her near the entrance of the gazebo.

"Ready," she said and at his nod she stepped out into the downpour once more. She walked slowly, not wanting to slip and leave him behind.

"So which lab do you think's open right now," she questioned making small talk as they neared the locker rooms. He held the door for her and she nodded her thanks, then opened the second door and disappeared into the girl's locker room.

She reappeared a short time later with her PE clothes in hand. "I figured I'd wait to change until we made it to the main building. No sense in changing and still getting soaked," she explained.

She walked back to the cafeteria slightly hunched over trying to protect her clothes both from the elements and her sodden clothes. She lead him over to where she'd left her backpack from her earlier tirade, retrieved it and then disappeared into the nearby bathroom.

She reemerged from the bathroom dressed in her PE clothes. "Okay, thanks for waiting for me, I'm ready now if you are."

[MurderWeasel]

Everett escorted Marion back to the school, holding the door to the gym for her. She soon returned, shielding her dry clothes from the rain. Everett was actually somewhat surprised; he had expected her to change in the locker room.

What, and get soaked all over again? You don't think this sort of thing through very well. This is exactly why you need to beg help with your homework.

He ignored the fact that he was usually the one helping other people with their homework; it didn't fit well with his current opinion of himself.

She asked which lab he thought was open, which gave him pause. Were any of them? Probably.

"I'm not exactly sure," he said, "we can just take a look and see if any are free. If not, oh well."

Marion then explained her reasoning for not yet changing. It was as Everett had expected. It was so obvious in retrospect, but had he been in Marion's position he would be soaked right now.

Marion retrieved her backpack, returned to the school, and ducked into a bathroom. She soon emerged, having changed into her dry clothes. That was good. Everett felt far less uncomfortable now that she was decent. One of his least favorite parts of school was when girls dressed provocatively. Sure, it was appealing, but it was distracting in the extreme. He was at school to do well, not ogle pretty girls.

She thanked him for waiting, and he replied, "Hey, no problem. Thank you for being willing to help me. If I'm actually able to figure out how this thing's supposed to work, it'll be great."

[Arscapi†]

Marion lead the way to the science wing and discovered an empty lab they could use. Setting her backpack down she began to rumage through the lab collecting the supplies they would need. She and Everett worked on it the entire period and finally succeeded in making in work right before the bell rang. She let out a curse and began gathering her things and shoving them in her backpack.

"I hope that helps and you can figure it out," she said shoving the last of her things into her backpack. "Are you okay to clean this up? I have an article I want to finish up for the school paper and today is the deadline. I hope you get your jacket back soon," she said flashing him a smile and then disappearing out the door.

(Marion Summers continued in Shot in the dark)

[MurderWeasel]

They found a lab and worked through the remainder of their time. Actually doing the project helped Everett comprehend the material. He was extremely grateful to Marion for her assistance; without her, he would have still been sitting in the rain, futilely flipping through his textbook.

"Thanks a ton," he said as she took her leave, "I can clean this up no problem. Good luck on your article."

After she left, Everett put everything neatly back in order, and then departed himself.

((Everett Taylor continued in In The Park))