Episode 64: Scene Two
"May I join you?"
The sudden request caused Adrienne to jump. She'd been pouring over her biology notebook for the last ten minutes, and had become deeply engrossed in all of the safety procedures that she would be tested on the next day. She nearly said no until she saw who the request came from.
"Allan," she drew in a sharp breath of air.
Allan laughed and took a stool at the bar--non-alcoholic, of course--next to Adrienne. He took one look at the papers she was studying before groaning and taking his own notebook out of his backpack. "Trying to get in some studying, eh?"
"Yes," Adrienne sighed, though she closed her notebook temporarily. "From what Mrs. Thames said, we have to be ready for that test tomorrow. Can you believe that she's giving us a test tomorrow?"
"I guess that's the Upper School for you. Besides that, I also have geometry, English, and Spanish homework to do. I wasn't prepared for this."
"Allan Benton not prepared for something?" Adrienne smiled. "This is notable."
Allan shrugged and pulled out a couple of papers. "It's just that there's so much to do, you know. I have to get supplies for my classes, go to a student council work-on meeting later tonight, and try to get some businesses to sponsor the Fellowship of Christian Athletes before I head to the dorms. Speaking of which, where do we find the list for our new roommates?"
"Go to the housing administration building and give your name. They'll tell you what room you need to go to. You should have done this earlier in the week, Allan," Adrienne cautiously scolded, for fear that she would offend Allan.
"I know, I know. I guess it just slipped my mine. With football practice and stuff, I haven't had too much time to think, you know."
"I can imagine," Adrienne found herself looking into Allan's warm eyes.
Noticing how intently Adrienne was looking at him, Allan couldn't help but look back into her softer, gentler eyes. For the first time, Allan allowed himself to note how beautiful the soft curves of Adrienne's face were and how beautiful her rosy lips were. The words he'd uttered back in Fish Camp came back to haunt him. Maybe the one pie I'm ready to take home with me is sitting right in front of me. Maybe it's been there all along.
"Allan? Allan, are you okay?" Adrienne snapped her fingers in front of Allan's face.
"Yeah, yeah," Allan stammered, feeling as if he had just woken up from a dream. "I'm doing quite well, actually."
Adrienne studied him again. "Really?"
"Better than I've been in a long time."