Petty Happenings

X. (ten)

"So you know Missy's friend from Bradford?" Novaleen asked shockingly, looking more amazed at the connection than the young woman herself. The young woman was more content with watching the two exchange words with an amused, small smile. The pair are growing on her, similar to all the book character couples she's read. Except, well, these two just so happen to be real.

"Yup. She was one of the younger teachers in my high school, only a year older than myself. English class, right?" Zayn replied with a question, turning his happy-hazed grin to the young woman. She nodded.

"Yeah, uhm. I think so. I never really, like, asked. I just knew she was a, uh, teacher of some sort."

"That's crazy. Small world, hm?" Novaleen mumbled, shaking her head in wonder. The young woman--and Zayn--has found that her other female companion had a flair for dramatics. Only she doesn't realize that she's being dramatic--she just feels very strongly. Every emotion of hers is practically twofold once she's comfortable. It was such a contrast from the young woman, and even Zayn, that they couldn't help but laugh every once in a while.

"No kidding," Zayn agreed. "What time s'it? Feels like we've been on this thing forever."

The young woman checked her phone quickly. "Uhmm, it's 1:50-ish."

Zayn groaned but Novaleen looked happy. It seemed as if she didn't want to get off, and the young woman couldn't really blame her. She hasn't held a polite, comforting conversation with someone else in a long time, and now she was a part of one with two. Even though she wasn't sure if their bubble of almost friendship would last once they got off the train as Novaleen and Zayn insist--the young woman has her doubts--it felt safe at the moment, sitting next to the two. She hasn't even been bothered by the poor woman with her loud, whiny children, or the large, cheating political man with his flashy girl toy (although she does spare a thought for the poor elder lady, who asked the train staff if she could change spots, which they agreed to). Zayn cracked open her brick wall enough for them to have pleasant discussions, and enough for Novaleen to be included in them, even though the young woman has a harder time with her. She's just very bubbly, which she hasn't had much experience with apart from the popular, fake girls in her old high school class.

"Lord save us all," Zayn sighed. Novaleen tutted; the young woman bit her lip to hold back her laugh.

"Now, now, Mr. Zayn, I will not tolerate any moaning and groaning from you. Let's occupy the time with... some deep topic, shall we? That always passes the time. Any ideas?"

The young woman opened her mouth to automatically to answer, but shut it quickly, It was a stupid conversation topic, she didn't think they'd care for it. The young woman didn't know if they were book people, and it typically takes a thoughtful, avid book-reader to even think of hypothetical situations. Zayn was an artist, but, and she may have been stereotyping, artists usually think in emotions, not, well, thoughts. And Novaleen was a mystery. The young woman could read her reactions, but she could not tell what she liked to do for fun. Other than, duh, singing.

Zayn noticed her recoil, of course, and wouldn't have any of that.

"You had a thought, Missy?"

She glared at him mentally before taking a deep breath. She's constantly pushing herself and her boundaries with these two. "Well, I, uh, guess. What's your take on, like, other dimensions and parallel universes? Do you think they're only hypothetical, or realistic? And, uhm... What do you think another You would be doing in one? If it's dumb, don't worry about it, I'm sure you two could come up with something way better and more interest--"

"Wow. You just keep surprising me, Miss," Novaleen praised, reaching to squeeze the young woman's hand resting on her phone. "That's definitely the best discussion topic I've heard in a long time."