Post by Lara Jean Reynolds on Dec 3, 2016 0:46:54 GMT
Tag: OPEN
Lara Jean was happily laying down on her bed watching a movie on her laptop. She had done her all her assignments for the day and it was time to relax. That was until a text came from a classmate. Apparently, he somehow found out that their history teacher would be doing a pop quiz on Greek history tomorrow just to test their knowledge. Shit.
Knowing that she had to brush up on her history, the seventeen year old ran to the library and went straight for the history section. Unfortunately for her, it seemed like her classmates too had the same idea because there were no more books left on the Greeks there. She scanned the shelves three times before resigning to the fact that she was too late for it.
Just as she was about to exit the area, she spotted a book on Greek history.
On a table.
Reading by someone.
Lara Jean sighed. She wanted it badly. So because of that, she strode over to the table. She wondered if she would be the first to ask for it. "Hi there," she greeted, taking a seat across from the person not waiting to be given permission. "I really really need that book and I'm willing to do almost anything for it. So...how about it hmm?"
Post by Emma McDougall on Dec 12, 2016 6:56:18 GMT
Books were dangerous things when handled by someone who was basically the living underside of duct tape. Paper rips, easily. The fact that technology provided her devices to read without the hazard of damaging every page was a extreme relief. The fact that most teachers didn't seem to understand that was frustrating. She supposed she could just scan the pages and email them to her kindle, but that seemed like wasted time. Unless she was going to use the information more than once it was just easier to cover her hands.
Each finger hand one of those rubber thimble things made for page turning while the rest of her hands were protected by her gloves. Sure she looked ridiculous but it made her ill each time a page in a book ripped. Even more so when the book wasn't even hers. So looking ridiculous was an easy cross to bare rather than trying to tape pages when your fingers were tape, or buying a new book.
Headphones in as usual she tapped her rubber protected finger on the book on Greek history to the snappy tones of Pentatonix. Seriously one of the most inspiring music groups she'd ever known. Who ever thought an acapella group could be so stinking cool! Or amazing. To Emma, the group could do no wrong every song no matter if she enjoyed the original or not was a sudden master piece.
Mouthing the words to Cheerleader she caught movement out the corner of her eye. She clicked the button on her headphone cord pausing the song just as the girl said book. Emma blinked then dropped her gaze to the book she guessed was in question. Almost anything for a Greek history book? Wow, the girl must really love Greece. After pulling out the ear buds she held out the book with a meek smile. "It's fine I made it up to the Hellenistic period so I should be good." It'd been a lot of skimming but she didn't figure the teacher wanted minute details.
Post by Lara Jean Reynolds on Dec 12, 2016 9:07:14 GMT
Lara Jean blinked a couple of times as she stared at the other girl and tried to digest what she was hearing. "Really now?" she asked, doing a horrible job at masking the surprise on her face. If it were the other way around, the seventeen year old knew she would not have given up the book just like that. But then again, she reckoned the other girl might not have much reason to hold on to it like she did. So that was definitely easier than she had thought.
The girl gave herself a shook, telling herself to knock out of it. "Wow. Okay...I wasn't kidding when I said I'd do almost anything for it, but this is cool," she said with a small laugh as she extended her hand to accept the book. "We actually have this surprise pop quiz on Greek history tomorrow. Well not a surprise anymore but yeah," she explained. "And would you believe it, all books on it are gone now. Except for this one!"
Post by Emma McDougall on Dec 12, 2016 9:53:39 GMT
"Do you not want it now?" The girl had just seemed so very eager to get the book that the surprise was off putting. Smile wilting a bit she lowered the book unsure as of how to proceed. Maybe the girl had been hoping to have to do something crazy or stupid to get the book back. An excuse to do something silly. And there she went ruining it for the girl. Or maybe the girl was hoping Emma would withhold the book so she wouldn't have to do her homework. Again, ruining things.
"I could keep it? I haven't covered the Roman take over yet..." Getting the entire history covered would help her narrow down which section of the country's history she wanted to write her paper on. But there was always the internet, and who wanted to write a paper on the Roman take over anyway. Then the girl took the book and she sighed wih relief perking slightly as the girl explained the need.
Blue eyes darting around the room at the various students pouring over Greek books. "That certainly explains things..." Emma murmured twisting the end of her fiery locks around her finger. Wincing as it snagged on the rubber encasing her finger she then attempted to remove her hair. "Yep, free. All free. Well, not now. It's yours now. Though not your yours because the school still owns the book. But yours to read until you no longer need it..." Her voice steadily got softer until it reached mouse level at the end her eyes dropping.
Post by Lara Jean Reynolds on Dec 12, 2016 10:09:55 GMT
A small part of the girl did wonder whether did she truly have hoped to have to done something to get the book? Maybe it would not have been so bad to not get something easily? But just as that thought came, another part of Lara Jean wrote it off as crazy talk. She had to remember back her Greek history and that was that. She was lucky to have asked someone like the girl sitting opposite of her.
When she looked around the room, Lara Jean's eyes did too. Yep, those were her classmates alright, trying to cram it whatever they could before tomorrow's pop quiz. The seventeen year old found it a little amusing as she listened to the other girl. "Ha, yeah...I get what you're trying to say. I won't steal it away from the library," she said, smiling. "Because stealing is wrong, and we shouldn't be doing wrong things...eerrmmm when do you need it by?"
The redhead was fidgeting with her hair. It was distracting, so Lara Jean could not help but to ask, "Hey, is everything alright?"
Post by Emma McDougall on Dec 12, 2016 10:35:26 GMT
It wasn't often that she saw this many students all studying in the library at once. Mid-terms of course or finals but it was rare that everyone was all studying the same thing. It was a little funny everyone cramming information about Lesbos and Hercules all into their teenage brains.
"Oh no, I wasn't trying to imply you'd steal!" She squeaked eyes going wide in panic. "I'm sure you're a very morally upstanding citizen." The finger twirled twisting the hair right back around it without her really realizing what she was doing. "Borrow. Borrowing a book I'm sure. Because that is what you do with library books. Yep. That's it. Borrow not steal." Shaking her head slightly she winced again her mind snapping back to the hair and the finger.
"Need? Oh, I don't. I mean I do, but I don't need it." Emma smiled trying not to sound whiny or anything. "Just researching a paper. It's not due for weeks. There will be plenty of books before then. I hope. Unless the teacher does the pop quiz thing on the same country again..." Words flying forth the volume dropping again to nearly inaudible. Tugging at the hair she tried to keep eye contact with the girl across from her. It wasn't easy.
"Alright? Yes, yep. Why?" Finger still she stared at the girl curiously not clicking that the hair twirling could be an issue. Emma reminded herself to keep smiling hoping she didn't look like a maniac.
Post by Lara Jean Reynolds on Dec 12, 2016 11:16:46 GMT
Lara Jean laughed, realizing what she had said might have offended the other girl when really, that was not it. "Well thank you, I serve to be a good citizen," she said playfully. Lara Jean spent a lot of time in the library and the librarians knew her and they knew she borrowed books a lot. Even if she returned them a little late (which rarely happens) they knew she would bring the books back.
There she went again with the hair twirling. It was distracting, but in a way Lara Jean was semi glad for it because that meant she did not have to stare at the girl as they conversed. But when she spoke again, she managed to bring her eyes up to hers.
She nodded at her explanation. "Not due for weeks huh, yet you're already cracking on it? Smart. That's what I would do too really." She was not a fan of last minute work but for this time around, she was kind of doing last minute study. Oh well. That cannot be changed.
When the girl said she was alright, Lara Jean looked warily at her. "Well erm...you uh...twirl your hair a lot," she said awkwardly, quickly then wondering if it was too late to take it back or not. "I don't know. Sorry, probably not my place to ask." She offered an apologetic smile.
Post by Emma McDougall on Dec 12, 2016 11:42:10 GMT
Laughter was a good sign! Her shoulders sagged a bit the muscles easing with relief. "I'm sure you achieve it seemlessly." Emma nodded as though she knew anything about the girl other than that she had a pop quiz tomorrow. Speaking of which. "Um, I'm Emma by the way. You are?" Not that the girl probably gave a hoot who she was but she didn't want to be rude.
Eyes dropping to the book she shrugged picking at the hair wrapped around her finger. "It's not that I'm cracking on it. I just take a long time to do things is all. Took me since the first day of class just to decide I wanted to write about Greece." She giggled a bit then stilled as the tingle started in her hands. Thankfully she already had them covered. The nerves of talking to a stranger must of triggered it. "Pretty sure I want to do the Heroic Age or the Hellenistic Period..."
Twist, tug, wrap, twist, tug, wrap the circle was a painful one. But when addressed she paused looking down at the appendage. "Oh, right. Sorry. Nerves." This time the tug turned into careful plucking until only few painfully stubborn strands remained. Curling her finger she gave a good yank snapping the hairs. Emma dropped her hands to her lap clasping them with a smile. "You're fine. No need to apologize. It's probably annoying. Irritating. Subconscious mostly."
Eyes dropping again she pushed her sweet smile. "There's a timeline at the back." She pointed at the book then dropped her hand back down making sure not to start up the hair twisting again. "Has page numbers where the name of the era is mentioned."
Post by Lara Jean Reynolds on Dec 12, 2016 20:06:51 GMT
"Pleasure to meet you, Emma. I'm Lara Jean," she introduced herself in reply because really, was that not what anyone were to do when placed in that situation?
After her elaboration on the matter, Lara Jean corrected her initial thought of the girl's studying method. So, not trying to finish it as soon as she could, just perhaps a little indecisive. She chuckled. "Ah, the Hellenistic period. The emergence of the Roman empire. Should be fun," she said, recalling a bit of her history knowledge.
Nerves? She knew some had a habit of doing certain things because of it so she supposed Emma's was twirling the hair. To be honest, it kind of reminded her how some girls would play with their hair whenever they talked to a mind-blowing-handsome guy. Though this time, without the big eyes love struck look. "It's cool," she responded, shrugging.
Now that Emma stopped twirling with her hair, Lara Jean's gaze went else where. Okay, this was feeling slightly awkward. Her head turned to look back at the other girl when she spoke. "A timeline?" Lara Jean turned to the last page of the book and true enough, there it was.
Then an idea popped into her mind. "Okay quiz time. What were the Hellenistic kingdoms established after Alexander the Great invaded the Persian Empire?"
Post by Emma McDougall on Dec 13, 2016 15:28:15 GMT
With a smile she stored the name, hopefully to recall later if she were to ever run into the other girl again. She didn't know many names here at the school even if she had been there two years now. Tending to keep to herself and having not that great of a memory for names. But maybe this time she'd remember.
Blinking those big blues she was impressed by the bit of information. Even though she'd just read over the history she knew she couldn't spit the facts out like that. "It's an option I'm thinking of..."
Emma tugged lightly at the bottom of her oversize sweater. She didn't mean to be fidgety. It wasn't like she was normally twitchy, or maybe she was and just no one had called her out on it before? At least the girl didn't seem overly annoyed by the moment of nervousness. "Great." Her eyes crinkled in delight hands curling around the bottom of her sweater.
"Yep, a timeline. Not a detailed one of something...just titles of eras." Again dropping her gaze she felt the itching covered her whole hands now. A moment later her attention right back up to the girl at the question. "Quiz?" Voice a slightly panicked squeak her hands fisted into the large sweater.
"What were? I um, there was the...I..." Her mind was completely blank. Utterly empty. "You're the one with the quiz shouldn't I be asking the questions?" Emma asked hopefully knowing she wouldn't be able to answer a single question. She'd read for interest not absorption of detail.
Post by Lara Jean Reynolds on Dec 13, 2016 16:19:00 GMT
Her eyes scanned the page and true enough, it was not very detailed. Just the name of the era and the years. But it was still helpful for a quick revision. Lara Jean hoped that tomorrow's pop quiz has more factual questions. She doubt she could study everything and be able to elaborate much on it. Time was not on her side.
A cheeky smile appeared on her face when she realized her question had caught the redhead off guard. To be honest, Lara Jean herself did not know the answer to her own question. Okay, she knew like one of the kingdoms but she doubt tomorrow's pop quiz would be like that.
When Emma turned the tables, the brunette looked at her with amusement. Well, she had a point. "You're right. Bring on the questions, Emma." She handed the book back to her, ready to put her Greek history knowledge to the test.
Post by Emma McDougall on Dec 14, 2016 14:39:43 GMT
The girl's smile made her a little uneasy but glad too. In her book smiles were pluses no matter what. Well, almost no matter what. She was sure that if someone were smiling because they planned on killing her. Or killing a fluffy animal. Those would classify as not plus worthy smiles. Though she was sure that Lara Jean's smile was not homicidal in origin. Or...well...she hoped.
"Oh thank the heavens." Emma nearly exploded in relief when the girl copped up the book to reverse whom was getting quizzed. Taking the book she settled on her lap mostly hiding it under the table. Quickly flipping through the book she paused on a page and glanced up. How hard would this teacher make the pop quiz? Well, she could just start with something relative easy and always add harder questions as they went.
"What city is known for their oracle?" Silently waiting for the answer she flipped through the book some more. Surely there were sections in the book with questions? Maybe the teacher would take a question from each chapter? Or maybe it'd be a broader question type. Like list five myths that originated from Greece. Chewing on her bottom lip she scanned the pages.
Post by Lara Jean Reynolds on Dec 15, 2016 2:32:02 GMT
Burning the midnight oil was nothing unfamiliar to the seventeen year old. She often had to because she has a fear of failure yet she has a hard time paying attention in class. Hence the late night studying. It had become such a norm for her.
So quizzing back and forth was a little new to her, considering she usually studied alone but nevertheless Lara Jean welcomed the company, figuring that a study buddy at this time would not be so bad. It would do her some good.
When the question came, Lara Jean said the first thing that came into her mind. But after thinking about it a few seconds longer she changed her answer, realizing her first answer was incorrect. "Sorry about that," she said, smiling sheepishly at Emma.
Post by Emma McDougall on Dec 17, 2016 13:58:02 GMT
"It's okay you got it right in the end! Just be sure to give the right answer on the quiz." Smiling she dropped her gaze to the page before her reading off a question. Like most text books there indeed were questions provided for recap. Emma figured she'd choose a few from each chapter unless the questions were those length answer kind. Those she'd skip.
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Time ambled on as it tended to do Emma learned so much about Greek history she felt like she could sit down and write how her paper right then. After a few questions she ran to get them some candy. Even if Lara Jean didn't want any she needed the sugar to keep going. It wasn't extraordinarily thrilling work though it was more fun studying with someone else for a change. Plus they could use the candy for reward for a correct answer. Emma was sure to get a variety so hopefully Lara would like something.
"Correct! That was very well done. If you don't ace this quiz then your teacher isn't very nice." Emma shut the book pushing it over to the other girl with a smile. Thankfully her nerves had died down awhile ago though she was officially stuck to nearly everything she was wearing. But she was used to that happening on a near daily basis.
She popped a skittle into her mouth chewing on the fruity yumminess. There didn't seem to be many people left in the library by now, but maybe they had just moved to other parts of the room. Emma shifted the skittles around to form a smilie face the rubber finger covers still on all of her fingers.
Post by Lara Jean Reynolds on Dec 17, 2016 16:26:39 GMT
Lara Jean was pleased with Emma's decision to quiz her some questions from each chapter. It was like a brief recap of the entire chapter, which she knew was very helpful for her last minute revision. Moreover, having another person question her was good because she would not have an inkling what the question could be. No advantage for her there.
The seventeen year old had declined the offer for sweets, but Emma went to get them anyway. Only when the other girl was gone that she realized how caught up she was in answering the questions that seeing Emma with her vision had not troubled her as much.
After the last question, Lara Jean leaned back with a satisfied smile. That was good. There were some incorrect answers by her, but she managed majority of it and for that Lara Jean was happy with it. She glanced at the clock on the wall and frowned when realizing how much the time had flown by. "Thanks Emma. For...uh helping me with this," she said, tapping the book.
"Should probably head back now and do a lil light reading or something. Erm well you'll find this book in the library tomorrow afternoon. I promise." She laughed. "I guess I'll see you around?"