whydowescream (whydowescream) wrote,
@ 2011-09-20 03:03:00

Serious Business. Also Food.
Ruth and Jay had agreed to meet at Top Dog in Berkeley at 4:30.

Ruth entered at 4:25 in her favorite denim skirt and a blue blouse, sat down, and set her books aside primly.

She made herself not look at her watch again.

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	whydowescream 2011-09-20 06:06 am UTC (link)
	And Ruth's facial muscles get minor whiplash as the oncoming disappointed look is reversed to a smile. "Oh?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

rockchalk
2011-09-20 06:11 am UTC (link)

"Well, its another year before I can take any targeted courses. And I need to pass math..." one of his banes. "And a physical sciences course... but after this year, I was kind of thinking of taking the two coaching courses, and a bunch of education... major in education and early childhood development.

Way I figure it, you're going into the church. There'll be schools around. Maybe I could teach, coach a little football, and help some of the problem kids. I certainly have enough experience recognizing them."

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whydowescream
2011-09-20 06:17 am UTC (link)

Ruth listens, and then just glows. "That sounds perfect, Jay."

And it's not just that it is a great idea, but that he started thinking it through before he absolutely had to, and that he was planning for their future together -- which of course, he already had, just by coming here, but the tacit, implicit confirmation that this was for good.

...Ruth might be just the slightest teensiest bit teary-eyed.

"And of course you're going to pass math. It's happening."

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rockchalk 2011-09-20 06:22 am UTC (link)
	He sighs. "I... failed the first exam. That's the main bad news. But I talked to one of the assistant coaches, and they're working to get me a tutor. I figured you could help too, obviously. I got through remedial... just need to pass 101 this quarter, and one more math class later, and I can try and start taking some education courses next year." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	whydowescream 2011-09-20 06:28 am UTC (link)
	Ruth frowns. "I'm sorry I couldn't help more for that one. But yes, a tutor is good, and of course i'll do what I can." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rockchalk 2011-09-20 06:34 am UTC (link)
	"Well, the coaches don't want me failing either. They've talked to some of the math department people to try and find a good tutor. I know I need help with it. And... you've been busy too. It was just one exam, and I was only a couple points off. I'm passing everything else." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	whydowescream 2011-09-20 06:41 am UTC (link)
	She nods. "Yeah. You'll bring it up," she says with absolute certainty. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rockchalk 2011-09-20 06:43 am UTC (link)
	Her confidence is infectious. He smiles, then pauses, hearing their order called. "Be right back, love." he says, before heading to get their order and bring it back. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	whydowescream 2011-09-20 06:54 am UTC (link)
	And she waits, smiling. And now food! She eats happily, her eyes still on him. She needs to talk about other things, but thsoe can wait. She's just going to enjoy this right now. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rockchalk 2011-09-20 04:00 pm UTC (link)
	Enjoying the moment is easy. She's happy with him, the food is good, he has a plan, and she'll help him. There's even half a chance this might work. He works on his food, one of his feet shifting to rub against hers as a gentle sign of affection while they eat. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	whydowescream 2011-09-20 06:25 pm UTC (link)
	Ruth smiles and blushes ever-so-slightly as she shifts her feet against his in turn. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rockchalk 2011-09-20 06:27 pm UTC (link)
	He's content to play footsie some while they eat, digging into his chili dogs like he hadn't eaten in a week. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	whydowescream 2011-09-20 06:30 pm UTC (link)
	"I have thie theory that here is actually a furnace in your stomach." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rockchalk 2011-09-20 06:33 pm UTC (link)
	"Could be. Might also just be the workouts and time in the weight room. Coaches want to try and get me to put on another ten to fifteen pounds this season. They say if I bulk up enough, I'll compete for the starting job next season." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	whydowescream 2011-09-20 06:35 pm UTC (link)
	"Putting on fifteen pounds. A difficult challenge for a girl to sympathize with, but I'm sure you'll manage. And it'll be great to see you start." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rockchalk 2011-09-20 06:41 pm UTC (link)
	He's never had trouble with fat - keeping enough weight on with anything remotely like healthy food was the trickier part. "Well, 15 pounds of muscle. They don't want me to lose any 40 time while I'm at it. So... finding time to study, while still living in the weight room half the time, basically." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	whydowescream 2011-09-20 06:43 pm UTC (link)
	"What, everyone doesn't review conic sections aloud while they're working out?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rockchalk 2011-09-20 06:51 pm UTC (link)
	"I... have no idea what that is. I'm just trying to end up with a C in algebra." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	whydowescream 2011-09-20 06:54 pm UTC (link)
	Ruth smiles. "You'll be getting to them by the end of the semester. Various kinds of graphs that look like horseshoes or, occasionally, butterflies. Not that I ever did color-coordinated graphs in colored pencil to make them look more like butteflies. That would have been silly. Anyway, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rockchalk 2011-09-20 06:56 pm UTC (link)
	He smirks. "Of course you didn't." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	whydowescream 2011-09-20 07:00 pm UTC (link)
	"Yep. I am the epitome of good sense, after all. Your other courses have all been off to a good start, right?" (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rockchalk 2011-09-20 07:14 pm UTC (link)
	"Well, not necessarily great by your standards, but I've got a C or better, and will be above the 2.8 needed to play, if I can get a C in math, yeah." (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	whydowescream 2011-09-20 07:18 pm UTC (link)
	"You can do better than a 2.8," Ruth says firmly. "But I understand you're under a lot of stress." She takes a breath. "So do you think you'll have time tonight to come watch Little Women with me in my room?" Her room. Not the den. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	rockchalk 2011-09-20 07:22 pm UTC (link)
	"Long as I'm back in my room early enough to be out for 5:30 practice tomorrow morning, yeah. I'm free after 6 tonight." He'd rather address that than his ability to do better than a 2.8. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

	whydowescream 2011-09-20 07:25 pm UTC (link)
	"Great. Movie at seven, then." And bizarre little plans fomented in Ruth's head. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)