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Original - Multi Chapter - A Series of What Ifs - Chapter 5 [End]
Title: A Series of What Ifs
Fandom: Original
Rating: PG13
Genre: Fluff, College Talk
Wordcount: 1,250
Author's Note: The usual standard disclaimers apply (*coughNanocough*)
Summary: Two college kids meet under unexpected circumstances and part ways, wondering, just maybe, what would have happened if life hadn't called them apart. This, was their first what if.
A Series of What Ifs
Chapter 5: A Meeting in the Dark
By
Parsnip
It was only eight-thirty and Selendra had already visited the restroom three times to make sure that her hair was still up and her make-up hadn't smudged. She had only used a little bit of foundation and lined the top of her eye, but she had attempted to put one a very light lipstick which she wasn't used to doing. She was paranoid it had left streak marks all over her face every time she stopped to wipe her mouth. She hoped Cal finished his exam soon otherwise she'd be a nervous wreck and unfit for company by the time he arrived.
And that would not be good because she tended to babble—a lot—when that happened.
C'est la vie? Or so she hoped.
She needed to find something to do.
Giving herself one last glance in the mirror, she straightened her spine, pulled down her sleeves for good measure, and marched out of the restroom. Hardly anyone sat in the building although she imagined the food court downstairs was full as study groups often met down there. But she didn't want food, and she really didn't need to up her caffeine intake. If she did, she'd burn out before they even got to the bar.
She swallowed against the lump of nerves that threatened to close her windpipe, knock her out, and put an end to her current misery.
She had gotten ready way too soon. Especially since her lab today had been a rather short one, for whatever reason. Out an hour early, her laundry neatly deposited on her bed, and plenty of time to eat, shower, and do her make-up.
She had hurried anyways. Her nerves wouldn't have stood for laxness.
Sighing, she seated herself on the couch and pulled out the daily newspaper put out by the journalism class and started working on the crossword puzzle. Again.
43 across… Nope. Didn't have a clue.
She looked at 23 down and frowned.
Still not a clue.
Seriously, she needed to rethink her hobbies and thinking, right now, wasn't one of them.
She threw the paper away and tucked her pencil back into her purse. That was it. She was stuck. She was just going to have to wait it out. Bouncing to her feet again, Selendra pulled her jacket back on and walked quickly to the front entrance. Even if it was cold outside, she had far too much energy to waste it sitting around and kicking her heels.
Selendra began to walk. It took her about twenty minutes to walk the full length of the quad and back so two circuits should do the trick. After that, she would have to stick close to the student building. Cal had said he'd be done with his exam at aobut 9 and well, she wanted to be there in case he called early.
She hoped (and dreaded) that he would.
______________________________
Cal leaned against the wall and slid the long, long way to the floor. His head found a comfortable perch against his knees and his hands covered his eyes as he rubbed the ache out of them. He loathed Chemistry and this exam gave him no excuse to change his mind.
If he hadn't failed, well, it'd be a miracle.
It had been a long, long day and he had found it difficult to concentrate on his textbook and notes with the promise of Selendra waiting for him after hell was over. Probably the only useful study time was when he attended office hours with his professor and a few of the TAs. They were going over the practice problems and it had looked so easy when they did it!
He banged his forehead against his knees a few time before groaning and sitting back up.
Electives. They were a pain in the ass even if they were beneficial to his major. Throwing his back-pack over his shoulder, he grunted and waved at a few other students who were likewise groaning into their hands or cell phones or simply attempting to create a hole in the wall with their foreheads and sheer determination.
It's what it had felt like while taking the exam.
At least a good majority of the class had stayed until the very end. It gave him a little bit of hope.
Stepping outside, Cal pulled out his cell phone and punched in the speed dial for Selendra's number. He took a deep breath and allowed the cool fall air to enter his lungs and the wind to wipe the sweat off his skin. It had been a long, long two hours.
Just as a smile was beginning to unfurl across his lips, he heard the dial tone on his phone as a connection was made and after it beeped twice, a voice. "Hello?"
Her voice was sweet and hesitant and it sounded a little like excitement as well. He felt energy begin to course through his body again. He hoped she was ready to go out. He started to walk.
"It's Cal. I just got done with my exam so we can meet up now if you still want to."
He hoped she did.
"Of course I do! I'm already sitting outside the Student Center. You can't hardly miss me. I think."
Cal tried to hurry without actually hurrying. "That's great. I'll probably be there in about ten minutes. I hope it's not too cold sitting outside." He was feeling particularly warm himself as he walked down the concrete poured pathway. There was a little bounce in his step that he tried hard to cover-up. He hated the thought of Selendra thinking he was skipping towards her.
He was a guy after all. Guys were supposed to be cool. In theory. He doubted that most of the guys in his acquaintance could be described as clean, let alone competent.
"I've got a coat on. Don't worry! I'll be just fine and once we get to the bar, I'm sure I'll warm right up."
Cal swallowed against the dryness in his throat. He was really going to have to behave himself. He counted to ten before exhaling. At least he could see the student center now. And, if he wasn't mistaken, he could see her sitting on the ledge.
"I think I see you!" Cal said into his phone, a grin slitting his face as he waved. God, he was excited.
The person sitting on the ledge hopped down and turned, obviously looking for him. He waved again. "Ah! I see you!" She began to walk towards him. "I'm going to hang-up now. See you in a minute."
The dial tone sounded in his ear signaling the end of the conversation. Slowly, he flipped his phone shut and slipped it into his pocket. Another minute later, a slight puff of white in the chill air, he exhaled.
"Hi."
Smiling at each other, both thought (in general terms) to themselves, "No more what-ifs. From now on, there's only 'What is.'"
The End
Author's Note: I'm sure some were expecting this to be a little longer, but the point of this story was to paint a story of 'what if.' I hope you come away with the sense that no matter the what if, it's our own choices that determines if they stay that way or not. Thanks for waiting so long. It's been a pleasure returning to finishing this story.
______________________________________________________
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4
Back to Fic Archive
______________________________________________________
Fandom: Original
Rating: PG13
Genre: Fluff, College Talk
Wordcount: 1,250
Author's Note: The usual standard disclaimers apply (*coughNanocough*)
Summary: Two college kids meet under unexpected circumstances and part ways, wondering, just maybe, what would have happened if life hadn't called them apart. This, was their first what if.
Chapter 5: A Meeting in the Dark
By
Parsnip
It was only eight-thirty and Selendra had already visited the restroom three times to make sure that her hair was still up and her make-up hadn't smudged. She had only used a little bit of foundation and lined the top of her eye, but she had attempted to put one a very light lipstick which she wasn't used to doing. She was paranoid it had left streak marks all over her face every time she stopped to wipe her mouth. She hoped Cal finished his exam soon otherwise she'd be a nervous wreck and unfit for company by the time he arrived.
And that would not be good because she tended to babble—a lot—when that happened.
C'est la vie? Or so she hoped.
She needed to find something to do.
Giving herself one last glance in the mirror, she straightened her spine, pulled down her sleeves for good measure, and marched out of the restroom. Hardly anyone sat in the building although she imagined the food court downstairs was full as study groups often met down there. But she didn't want food, and she really didn't need to up her caffeine intake. If she did, she'd burn out before they even got to the bar.
She swallowed against the lump of nerves that threatened to close her windpipe, knock her out, and put an end to her current misery.
She had gotten ready way too soon. Especially since her lab today had been a rather short one, for whatever reason. Out an hour early, her laundry neatly deposited on her bed, and plenty of time to eat, shower, and do her make-up.
She had hurried anyways. Her nerves wouldn't have stood for laxness.
Sighing, she seated herself on the couch and pulled out the daily newspaper put out by the journalism class and started working on the crossword puzzle. Again.
43 across… Nope. Didn't have a clue.
She looked at 23 down and frowned.
Still not a clue.
Seriously, she needed to rethink her hobbies and thinking, right now, wasn't one of them.
She threw the paper away and tucked her pencil back into her purse. That was it. She was stuck. She was just going to have to wait it out. Bouncing to her feet again, Selendra pulled her jacket back on and walked quickly to the front entrance. Even if it was cold outside, she had far too much energy to waste it sitting around and kicking her heels.
Selendra began to walk. It took her about twenty minutes to walk the full length of the quad and back so two circuits should do the trick. After that, she would have to stick close to the student building. Cal had said he'd be done with his exam at aobut 9 and well, she wanted to be there in case he called early.
She hoped (and dreaded) that he would.
Cal leaned against the wall and slid the long, long way to the floor. His head found a comfortable perch against his knees and his hands covered his eyes as he rubbed the ache out of them. He loathed Chemistry and this exam gave him no excuse to change his mind.
If he hadn't failed, well, it'd be a miracle.
It had been a long, long day and he had found it difficult to concentrate on his textbook and notes with the promise of Selendra waiting for him after hell was over. Probably the only useful study time was when he attended office hours with his professor and a few of the TAs. They were going over the practice problems and it had looked so easy when they did it!
He banged his forehead against his knees a few time before groaning and sitting back up.
Electives. They were a pain in the ass even if they were beneficial to his major. Throwing his back-pack over his shoulder, he grunted and waved at a few other students who were likewise groaning into their hands or cell phones or simply attempting to create a hole in the wall with their foreheads and sheer determination.
It's what it had felt like while taking the exam.
At least a good majority of the class had stayed until the very end. It gave him a little bit of hope.
Stepping outside, Cal pulled out his cell phone and punched in the speed dial for Selendra's number. He took a deep breath and allowed the cool fall air to enter his lungs and the wind to wipe the sweat off his skin. It had been a long, long two hours.
Just as a smile was beginning to unfurl across his lips, he heard the dial tone on his phone as a connection was made and after it beeped twice, a voice. "Hello?"
Her voice was sweet and hesitant and it sounded a little like excitement as well. He felt energy begin to course through his body again. He hoped she was ready to go out. He started to walk.
"It's Cal. I just got done with my exam so we can meet up now if you still want to."
He hoped she did.
"Of course I do! I'm already sitting outside the Student Center. You can't hardly miss me. I think."
Cal tried to hurry without actually hurrying. "That's great. I'll probably be there in about ten minutes. I hope it's not too cold sitting outside." He was feeling particularly warm himself as he walked down the concrete poured pathway. There was a little bounce in his step that he tried hard to cover-up. He hated the thought of Selendra thinking he was skipping towards her.
He was a guy after all. Guys were supposed to be cool. In theory. He doubted that most of the guys in his acquaintance could be described as clean, let alone competent.
"I've got a coat on. Don't worry! I'll be just fine and once we get to the bar, I'm sure I'll warm right up."
Cal swallowed against the dryness in his throat. He was really going to have to behave himself. He counted to ten before exhaling. At least he could see the student center now. And, if he wasn't mistaken, he could see her sitting on the ledge.
"I think I see you!" Cal said into his phone, a grin slitting his face as he waved. God, he was excited.
The person sitting on the ledge hopped down and turned, obviously looking for him. He waved again. "Ah! I see you!" She began to walk towards him. "I'm going to hang-up now. See you in a minute."
The dial tone sounded in his ear signaling the end of the conversation. Slowly, he flipped his phone shut and slipped it into his pocket. Another minute later, a slight puff of white in the chill air, he exhaled.
"Hi."
Smiling at each other, both thought (in general terms) to themselves, "No more what-ifs. From now on, there's only 'What is.'"
Author's Note: I'm sure some were expecting this to be a little longer, but the point of this story was to paint a story of 'what if.' I hope you come away with the sense that no matter the what if, it's our own choices that determines if they stay that way or not. Thanks for waiting so long. It's been a pleasure returning to finishing this story.
Chapter 1 | Chapter 2 | Chapter 3 | Chapter 4
Back to Fic Archive
______________________________________________________