The Succession of Us

Part 2

The student union was quieter than Iffy thought it would be at 9:30. Where yesterday all of the echoes of talking students bounced around the walls and people were rushing back and forth all over, today it was mostly still. There were a lot of people sitting at various tables studying. Iffy didn't blame them. The perfect silence of the library would almost be too loud to be able to get anything done.

She ordered a cup of coffee -- "Eight shot iced Americano, fill the remainder up with coffee instead of water?" -- and the barista handed it to her with a disbelieving shake of her head.

"You know where the school first aid is, right?" she laughed.

Iffy chuckled. "I'm sure I'll be fine." She turned around to find a place to sit and enjoy her coffee, and in the corner she saw a familiar shaved head and tattoo on the back of his neck.

"Nate?" she whispered. They both went here, yes, but it was such a big school, she hadn't expected to bump into him like this.

If they were going out on Thursday, she was already committed to seeing him again. Why not go over and say hi? If he was busy, she'd just sit somewhere else.

His back was to her, and for a moment, she forgot he could hear, and she gently tapped his shoulder while she leaned into view. Nate looked up and grinned when he saw her, gesturing to the seat across from him. Iffy smiled and nodded, and sat. She took a sip of her coffee. She didn't speak.

Don't forget, I can hear.

Iffy could almost hear the teasing tone in the text on the tablet screen. She laughed and scratched her neck, nervous and embarrassed.

"Sorry," she said. "I'm just used to... well, you know, I'm sure."

He nodded sagely and crossed his arms over his chest as he leaned back in the chair. He lifted his feet and the chair legs thumped back onto the ground.

You're here for classes, I assume? What do you have today?

"A science course and Spanish 1-2," she said. "You?"

Also a science course, actually. And a creative writing class. Just two today for me, too.

"Just two?" Iffy asked.

I take four MWF. I'm trying to finish early.

"Makes sense," Iffy said. "If you can handle the load, why not, right? But it sounds pretty intense."

It's mostly stuff I like, so it's going to be enjoyable even if it's a lot of work. I hope. :P

Iffy chuckled at the emoticon and slid the tablet back. She took another sip of her coffee. Strong, bitter, just a pinch of sugar. Perfect for a morning cup. Lattes and things were for the afternoon: in the morning, she wanted it ice cold and strong enough to peel the ugly eggshell blue paint off the student union walls.

Nate pointed to her coffee and tilted his head to the side. He made a sort of shrugging motion that Iffy assumed meant something like "What is that?"

"Eight shot Americano," she said. "Drip coffee instead of water."

Nate laughed.

And you say I'm intense??

The double question marks made Iffy laugh, and she nodded. "So what are you going to school for?"

Creative writing. I wanted to do spoken word professionally before I had the accident, but there isn't much call for slam poets who sign. What are you studying?

It was phrased so casually Iffy almost wasn't surprised. Almost. "I haven't declared a major yet," she said. "I'm taking a bunch of pre-reqs. I don't know what I want to do, but I was offered a scholarship, so, here I am. Well." She shrugged. "I'd like to be a professional dancer. But there isn't much call for that, either." She paused. Nate had taken his tablet back, but wasn't typing yet. His eyes were on her as he listened, waiting until she was finished to continue.