fandomtownies | Saturday at the Perk

"If you wanna get a seat, I'll go and order for us," Shane suggests, hand still settled at the small of CJ's back. Strictly in the name of friendly, platonic support. "I think I saw they've got oatmeal for breakfast... that sound good? Or did you have something else in mind?"

Oatmeal actually sounds really good. And a vanilla latte. Thanks.

*She wanders to the back corner, looking for a little privacy in case she starts crying again*

"All right," Shane smiles, nodding, but her smile falters a little as she watches CJ head towards a back table.

She heads up to the counter and orders their drinks and returns to the table a couple of minutes later, carrying CJ's steaming bowl of oatmeal and her vanilla latte. She places them on the table in front of CJ. The bowl of oatmeal is sitting on a larger, round platter and there are tiny glass bowls ringing the oatmeal, each containing a different possible topping for the oatmeal. Sliced strawberries, molasses, brown sugar, blueberries and bananas.

Shane heads back over to the counter and retrieves her double shot and then returns to the table, taking a seat across from CJ. She lays her notebook aside and just watches her friend as she sips at her own coffee.

*She takes a small sip of her latte, burning her tongue a little. She dumps the brown sugar on the oatmeal and stirs it in*

Thank you Shane...for everything. It makes me a little sad that you are so worldly wise that you can help me so much. Sad for you.

"Not all of it's been fun," Shane grants her with a wry smile as she downs her double-shot in one gulp. She sets her cup aside and shrugs. "But not all of it's been awful, either."

Will you tell me something? A good thing that's happened?

Leaning over, Shane snags the tiny glass bowl of blueberries and starts eating them one by one. "I... I met somebody," she says after a moment. She pops a blueberry in her mouth and chews and a chagrined expression mars her features. "A couple of people, actually."

Really? Who?

*She takes a bite and waits*

"Um... I think you kinda know one of them, already, maybe... ummm... she goes to your school?" Shane says, arching her eyebrow. "And, uhh, I -- I think you might have seen us together at church that one day. Um. Rogue?"

Rogue...*she closes her eyes*...the girl with the white in her hair? I've actually only seen her...she's not one of my studnets.

*She sips her latte*

Is she nice?

((ooc: going to lunch, back in a while!))

"Yeah... yeah, that's her," Shane says, a small smile curling her lips. The smile goes away after a moment as she nods, eyes fixed on the tabletop. "She's great."

((ooc: Okie doke! :D))

Any...expectations there?

*She reaches her hand across the table and touches Shane's wrist*

Taking a deep breath, Shane lets it out in a ragged sigh. "I-I don't want there to be, I... I really wish there weren't," she says quietly. "But... yeah."

Is there anything I can do?

"Not really," she glances up at CJ and offers her a wan smile. "But thanks."

Well, I won't pry...but reciprocity Shane...you've been such a good friend. If you need to talk...

*Eats her oatmeal, watching Shane...wondering if maybe she should pry.*

Shane nods and her smile is a bit more genuine as she looks at CJ. She picks up her pen and fidgets with it a moment, rolling it between her fingers. "Well, it's... it's like you said, it's... kinda bedroom stuff, a little? With other stuff mixed in, too," she says uncomfortably after a moment.

Other stuff? Love stuff?

*Her expression gentle, she gives Shane the room to answer...or not*

"Maybe... I -- I don't know," Shane says, frowning down at her notebook. She purses her lips. The 'maybe' sounds more like a 'definitely' the way she says it. "Maybe."

Love stuff can be good...you just said that in the park. Tell me about her...

*eats her oatmeal, waiting*

"We... met last week... at work," she says thoughtfully. Shane pauses and looks up at her for a moment to add, "Uhhh, my work. Over at Deb's." She pulls the cap off of her pen and fits it into the corner of her mouth, chewing on it absently. "I don't know... there was just... something about her. She's... she's sweet."

Sweet...Student...and she's Catholic. I like her already. And I can tell you do too. So...what's the problem? Is she, um, straight?

"I have no idea, but... I know she'd never... been with anyone else, before," Shane says after a moment, chewing hard on her pen cap. "I don't know about ... anything else."

But you like her...and you weren't prepared for that, were you?

And something happened. Don't tell me if you don't want to, but...your hands...did you get angry?

"No, I... I -- I like the women I'm with. I do. I just..." Shane shakes her head. "Didn't think I'd like her so much... this soon. You know?"

Shane lifts her head up and looks at CJ, her eyes dark and hurt. "I didn't hit her, CJ," she says emphatically.

*With a knowing look on her face, she says matter-of-factly*
If you had, your hands wouldn't look so bad...but I've been known to punch a wall...it's not unheard of. Sometimes...having your outside hurt distracts you from the inside pain.

*She sips her latte, now room temperature.*

What do YOU want, Shane? What's your heart saying?

Pulling the cap from her mouth, Shane sighs and places it back on her pen. She's fidgeting and she never. fucking. fidgets. She rakes her hand through her hair. I need a cigarette. "I want her," she says simply, voice hoarse. "But... it doesn't matter what I want. She doesn't want me."

Oh, Shane...I'm sorry. Did she tell you that? Directly? Or is she, I don't know...avoiding talking to you? ~~not that I would know anything about avoiding relationship issues. Nope. Not me.~~

"She said she needs time," Shane says deliberately. "And... I haven't seen her since we talked last." She pauses and looks down at her hands, flexing her fingers for a moment. "When I did this." ~~no, of course not~~

*Her oatmeal gone and her coffee cold, she looks at Shane*

It's been a long time between cigs for you...let's get out of here.

*Once outside*

You did that, your hands, in front of her? And it scared her you think?

"No, I... I don't think she..." Shane hesitates, trying to remember everything as it happened. "No, she didn't -- she didn't see me. She came out... after... and we talked more there. She..." She looks down, not proud of what she'd done that night, the things she'd said. "She cleaned up m-my hands for me."

Hmm, compassionate.

Have you called her, or tried to find her to talk?

Shane shakes her head slowly. "I... she needs time," she says softly. "I don't ... I don't wanna ... push. She's confused and it's ... not just because of the girl thing, but... I think that has a lot to do with it."

I think you should push a little. Girl thing or not, people need to know someone cares...

Do you think I'm pushy? With you?

"No," Shane looks up at CJ, shaking her head. "I don't think you are, but then I... I trust you."

"She's just so... I... I don't wanna scare her off," she says finally. She looks down, shaking her head. "I don't have a single fucking clue what I'm doing, here, CJ."

None of us do, Shane. I get the distinct impression we're all fumbling around blind. Jus ttrying to make connections.

*She wraps her arm around Shane's shoulders and gives her a little hug*

It makes it easier to get by in the world to have people you trust.

"Yeah, it does," Shane says softly, giving CJ a small smile as she leans into her a little. "Geoff offered to serenade her for me," she adds with a little chuckle.

He did? I think that's very romantic...do it.

*She hugs her a little tighter as they walk*

Do you work this afternoon?

"CJ," Shane sighs. "I can't, man. I... I wanna give her time. A romantic gesture is all well and good but if she's not even sure if she wants to be with me, then... what good would it do?"

"Yeah, as always," she says, glancing over at CJ with a grin.

Well, you two have to talk sometime, or else nothing will get resolved.

*She laughs to herself*

And I'm clearly the one to be handing out that advice today, huh? Don't listen to me Shane...I don't know how it works. I just know we try, and when it's good, it's good, and when it hurts...well, when it hurts, I personally choose to drink. A lot. *Laughs again*

"I guess," she says, worrying on her bottom lip. "I mean, I... I told her... I told her that I thought I could fall for her and... she said she thought she could understand that. If that means anything."

"We should totally do margaritas at my place or something, some night," Shane suggests with a grin. "I could really use one. And a night off. And a talk with M. And a fucking spine." She finishes, making a disgusted face.

You let me know when you have a night off...we'll get ripped. It'll be fun.

*At the park she stops walking, staring at the TARDIS*

I can't avoid this Shane...I need to go talk to him. *sighs* Wish me luck? If it works out I'll be the winner of the relationship game and I'll let you know how to play, deal?

*She smiles weakly and winks at Shane*

Shane nods and chuckles. "Absolutely," she says.

"You don't need luck," she says resolutely, calmly rubbing CJ's back. "He really cares about you. Anybody can see that." She leans over and presses a kiss to CJ's cheek. "Now, go and get your man."

*She raises her fingertips to touch where Shane had kissed her, her expresison softening*

I hope you're right.

*She walks to the TARDIS and goes inside*

[kicks lj]

Saturday at the Perk

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