The College Years - Circe had the right of it

[Samantha McManus]

"I figured nobody really doesn't like doughnuts, unless they're allergic."

"So, aside from the obvious, how are your classes going?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"Doing alright. Okay, more than alright, I'm doing pretty damn good because most of the time I'm sticking my nose into books or working on my assignments."

[Samantha McManus]

"This is not dissuading me from getting you out more," she chuckled.

[Nailah Weaver]

"Probably not a bad thing." she admits with a slightly crooked smile. "For me going out pretty much means finding a nice spot to read in."

[Samantha McManus]

"It doesn't sound condescending, does it? I mean, I really don't want to change you or anything."

[Nailah Weaver]

"No no, it sounds like fun."

[Samantha McManus]

"Nothing wrong with quiet time either, aye?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"It's just what I'm used to. Familiarity and all that."

[Samantha McManus]

"And I know being away from your parents for the first time is both kind of thrilling and scary."

[Nailah Weaver]

"Oh god is it ever."

[Samantha McManus]

"Believe me, even with what happened, my mum wasn't keen on sending me away."

[Nailah Weaver]

"I can imagine. I mean... I'm still in the same country at least."

"And I understand it, it's just that sometimes I do feel they sheltered me too much. It's not that I don't want to go out, I just don't know where to start and then it feels so much safer not to."

[Samantha McManus]

"Then let me be your safety net, aye?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"Gladly."

"And oh my god this better be taking your mind off of things because else I'm the worst friend ever." she laughs weakly.

[Samantha McManus]

"I don't think you are," she said simply with a smile, sipping her coffee.

[Nailah Weaver]

"Whew!" she says, wiping some metaphorical sweat from her brow.

"Seriously though, I'd gladly tag along to... wherever it is that you go to that constitutes 'out'."

[Samantha McManus]

"Oh, giving me that much freedom is dangerous," she said with a mischievous grin.

[Nailah Weaver]

"Okay, maybe try not to overwhelm me right out the gate then." she chuckles, though for a moment her mind jumps to a thick forest from a half-forgotten dream for some reason.

[Samantha McManus]

"I'll be good, but I might, might take you shopping in preparation for... other things."

[Nailah Weaver]

"What's this now?"

[Samantha McManus]

"You think I don't know your wardrobe by now?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"The shopping's not what I'm wondering about and you know it." she chuckles.

[Samantha McManus]

"You need an outfit for clubbing, which is to say you need an outfit for strutting."

[Nailah Weaver]

"I'm already starting to regret this..." she chuckles though there's a hint of genuinely being nervous about it.

[Samantha McManus]

"Doesn't have to be the first thing we do," she said sympathetically, again putting her hand on Nailah's.

"Baby steps, aye?"

[Nailah Weaver]

"Right. I mean I'm all for a shopping trip, let's just not overdo it."

[Samantha McManus]

"Aye, don't worry. Not going to rush you into anything."

The hand didn't seem to be moving.

[Nailah Weaver]

"Of... course not..." she mumbles, torn between awkwardly pulling her hand away and closing her fingers around Sam's. In the end she does nothing, almost afraid of ruining something if she did.

[Samantha McManus]

"That's settled, then." She smiled and gave Nailah's hand a brief squeeze before withdrawing her hand.

"Don't let your coffee get cold."

[Nailah Weaver]

That seemed to break whatever that had been and she blinks. "Oh right." she smiles, all of a sudden glad to have something for her hands to do, even if it's just holding the cup of coffee.

"Well, you just let me know when. I'm so far ahead on my assignments it's almost sad."

[Samantha McManus]

"I'll figure something out."

[Nailah Weaver]

"Looking forward to it, nervous or not." she smiles.