//------------------------------// // Episode 1: Part 1 - A Perfectly Natural Conversation (Honest!) // Story: Earth's University of Precedence // by Arioch Starr //------------------------------// It's been three days since Nick arrived at the university. The school year has already started and he has yet to meet his tutor. Because of this, the few free slots in the past few days has provided him with the time to make his apartment his own, placing his personal belongings where he deemed fit. From hanging pictures to placing ornaments, and deciding which drawers should hide which accessories of clothing. Everything he had brought along now had its own place to call home. It was the end of the second day that Nick found out the new year had started without him, by the kind informant of one of his classmates named Jeremiah. It was that evening he began wondering where his tutor was only to be told she hadn't yet returned from the western wasteland, a vital piece of information Mrs. Hooks had neglected to mention, and that it might be a few more days before they're officially acquainted. He also inquired about her reasoning for going there with which there were multiple replies, none of which seemed to warrant validity. From searching for a specific seedling for medication found only in that deserted section of the world to vacationing out there for meditation. Regardless of the reason, Nick found himself with free slots in his schedule and decided to relax a little before his first class of the day. Sitting in the shade of the university from the blazing sun, Nick settles down on a bench, places the buds of his earphones within his ears and inserts the plug into his music player. He taps the shuffle icon on the touch screen and hits play. Satisfied with the randomly selected song, Full Sail by Ryan Farish, he leans back on the bench, rests a foot on his knee and watches the western grounds fill with activity as his mind wanders in junction to the music. However, it wasn't long before he was disturbed. The song hadn't even begun to fade out as Jessica phases through the wall of the university and gathers her senses, looking from side to side. Spotting Nick on the bench, she comically sneaks over to him like a nineteenth century villain and ducks behind his armrest. She slowly lifts her head closer to his ear and scream "BOO!". He flinches violently and shouts, "Jess!" Passers-by glance in curiosity. He catches their gaze and raises his hand. The onlookers show a grin as they move on with their conversation. He removes his earphones and says to jess, "For Danu's sake, Jess, I wish you wouldn't!" "I couldn't help it." She laughs, somersaulting over him and landing on the other side of the bench. "You're such an easy prey." He inhales deeply and releases a sigh. "Where's you been anyway?" He asks, placing one earphone back in. "I haven't seen you since I entered my room." "I've been looking around, getting used to the grounds." She answers as Nick leans back and resumes his previous position. "Still?" "You know I like to thoroughly investigate my surroundings before I settle in. Besides, I've been trying to learn about everyone attending the university, finding out if there are any other Tuathas here." "And...?" "Not a single one." "Are you surprised?" "Not really." She leans back and copies Nick's positioning. "Just a shame I have to converse with you from now on." "Thanks. I'll take that as a compliment." She giggles. "That's how I intended it." She scoots along the bench closer to him and leans in. "You know I would never insult you." She nips his cheek. "Ow!" He cries, rubbing his cheek. "I kinda with you were still looking around." Jess laughs. "Come on, you love my company." "Yeah, when you're not physically assaulting me!" She shrugs. "Well you're no fun. What're you listening to anyway?" He holds up an earbud and she leans in, placing her head against it to hear the fading of Full Sail. Almost immediately afterwards the next song begins to bless their ears with a piano arrangement of Turning Tables by Adele. "Huh, I haven't heard this one before." She says with little interest. "It's an old one." Nick states. "Early twentieth century." She mimes a yawn as she moves her head away from the bud. Nick rolls his eyes as she lays on the bench propping her head on the arm. "Just because it's not traditional doesn't make it bad." "Did I say anything?" "You didn't have t-" "Uh-oh," she says, staring down the path, "plot device at ten o' clock." Nick looks to his left and searches the crowd of students for what had caught her attention. Being ushered by her Equestrian friend, Victoria, one of the university's receptionists, was making her way towards them. Her eyes were locked with Nick's. "She's gonna persuade you to sell your soul." Jess says, using her elbows as leverage to lean up. She shouts, "You can't let her have it!" Nick turns to her, placing a finger to his lips, and tells her, "Shush!" "Hey, uh... Nick, was it?" The familiar voice of Victoria was heard. Nick turns to face her as she stands a foot away from the arm of the bench. "That's me." He answers with a grin. "What can I do for a lovely young lady like yourself?" "Do you have a minute to talk?" She asks, stepping in front of the bench. "Of course." Nick takes out his earphone. "You can have all the minutes you need." "You're such a charmer." She says satirically. Jess quickly withdraws her laid out feet as Victoria sits on the bench a foot away from Nick, completely oblivious to Jess who was now giving her a daggered look of disgust as she hovers over her shoulder. "So," Victoria begins, "no beating around the bush. Grace seems to think you're a suitable candidate for me and wants to give you a chance." "Grace?" Nick asks in confusion. "Oh, right, you've not met yet." She points to the orchard coated pony standing a few feet away just within of earshot. Nick looks around to find her standing awkwardly alone in the middle of the path. Startled by the stare, she shows a small grin, lifts up a hoof and slowly waves to him. Nick returns her greeting with a grin and a small wave. "Grace, huh? She talked you into this?" Nick turns back to Victoria to find Jess pulling faces at her from over her shoulder. "Mhmm. Thinks you and I are a perfect's match." She says, oblivious to being demeaned. She looks over his shoulder at Grace. "I don't know what she's thinking to be honest. She won't stop bugging me about it." She looks back at him. "So I've decided-" Before she could continue, Nick reaches over her shoulder and sharply slaps Jess on the forehead. She staggers back, rubbing her head and groaning in pain. Victoria glances over her shoulder and back to Nick in confusion. "It was a bee." Nick quickly says. "Oh." She says. "Well, anyway, I've decided, just to shut her up, to give it a go." "Give it a go?" He asks. "Are you... are you asking me out on a date?" "That is, if you want to. "I don't care if you do or don't. You can always tell Grace you're not interested. It'd be a much quicker solution." "Of course, I'd love to go on a date. Usually I'm the one asking for a date. Not the other way around. It just feels weird." "What does that mean? Are you saying that women shouldn't asking men out on dates?" Nick bursts into a hysterical laugh. "What? No, no. That's not what I'm saying at all." He catches his breath. "Where did that even come from?" He asks trying to calm down. "It's the way you worded it." She says, her hilarity running low. "It feels weird." She quotes. "It sounded off." "I'm sorry," Nick says, "I didn't mean it to come out that way. What I mean, is people don't usually ask me out." She sighs deeply. "No, it's not your fault. I jump to conclusions too quickly. It's one of my perks, I guess." She pauses for a second before asking, "So, are you free this Friday?" "This Friday?" He repeats, feigning surprise. "I don't know, it's a bit sudden, I'll have to check my schedule." He pauses as he shifts his eyes upwards. "Friday would be perfect." Nick light-heartedly answers. "Does eight p.m. sound good?" "Eight'll be perfect." She promptly stands up. "I'll meet you at the entrance. Don't be late." She smirks and holds to her up and wriggles her fingers before walking back down the path towards Grace. "Oh, and by the way," she stops and turns to him. He turns and their gazes interlock, "I like tulips." She winks before turning and continuing her path. "I'll see you there." Nick calls after her. He gives both Victoria and Grace a wave as they presumably converse about the event and walk away. Nick produces a smug grin as Jess leans over his lap and watches them disappear around the corner. "And you still want to date her?" Jess asks as she sits back on the bench. "I don't like her." "You don't like anyone I meet." Nick responds. "I have a bad feeling about her." She tells him. "What do you know about her?" "Nothing, but..." "Nothing, exactly." He cuts her off. He looks in her eyes but she looks away. "Look at me." She does so in discontent. "Please don't do this again. Let me make my own judgements, okay?" "It's not that, Nick. It hurt last time." Jess explains, placing her hands on his knee. "It physically hurt watching you break up with Jayne. I don't ever want to feel that again." "Jess..." Nick says, speechless. He recalls that fateful day. It was near the end of the last winter season when he and Jayne had broken up. It was a stupid reason for doing so. She wanted what he could not provide; a child to call her own. He told her that he was unable to impregnate her due to reasons her stupidly neglected to share with her. Thinking he wasn't interested in seeding her, she decided to fertilise herself in another manner. She told Nick about what she had done and he didn't agree with what she'd done without consulting him first. They argued about it before Nick stormed out in a fit of rage. He never saw or heard from her again, but still wished her the best nevertheless. "I... I never knew." He says, open-mouthed. "You should've told me. You know I'm always here for you." "You were so stressed, though." She sniffs as a tear rolls down her cheek. "I didn't want to make things worse." "Don't be stupid, Jess." He places both hands on her shoulders and turns to her face him. "I can take care of myself. If you ever feel you need to talk to me, don't be afraid to. I'll always be here to consolidate you, all right?" Jess sniffs again and nods in understanding. She wipes the tear from her eye as Nick rubs her head. She shuffles up to him and places her head on his chest as he continues to stroke her. "Don't ever change." Jess says with a smile. "Of course." He says. Then he remembers. "I have about half an hour before the next class. How about some music? I know the perfect song to play." He puts an earphone back in and holds the other one near Jess. He picks up his music player and plays the perfect soothing song to calm her down, Journey to Source by Duke Starwalker, and they listen in silence.