Look at us, all grown up.

Nadia Rainier || 19 || Music Major

[nadiarainier-blog]

Nadia didn’t know what was going on.

She had thought it was just a migraine at first. The buzzing in her ears was horrible, growing louder with each passing hour. And then, oh, then it had turned into voices. They were hard to pick apart at first. First, there had been too many and they were too quiet individually to pick out. But then, when she’d forced herself to finally go to class, it had gotten so much worse. The voices got all so much louder. And she could finally make out the voices.

They were simple things, mostly. I don’t know what I’m doing. What the hell is he talking about? She’s so hot, why doesn’t she notice me? But then, there were the more complicated ones filtering through. Am I too much like my dad? I wish my stomach would stop growling, I don’t want to eat. I’ve never been more high in my life, I wonder who can tell? I can’t believe I’m in class with people like this, none of them are even talented.

It just kept getting louder, until finally she’d gone to her gen ed for the day -- Bio 101 -- and after an answered question that was wrong, she’d heard the thought loud and clear. Fucking idiot students, I swear. Without saying a word to the professor, she gathered her things and left the class, coming to a stop at the end of the hall. Glancing around herself only briefly, she slid down the walls of the corner, pressing her head into her hands in hopes of making it quiet, at least for long enough that she could maybe try to get back to her room.

[dorotheapalmer]

“Yeah.” Thea was quick to agree even if rain was not exactly among her favorite things. Sure, the rattling on the windows could be nice and soothing but only if she was with her family. As for thunderstorms, she disliked them strongly and that didn’t even begin to cover it. They just made her skin crawl but as luck would have it, her very first practise as a pre-school teacher had taken place during one such storm. Back then, she had had to keep calm for the children’s sake - she had been the adult, after all - but it had been a mild one, much less frightening than the plethora of sharp noises accompanied by howling winds that was raging outside currently.

“Yeah, this one’s… unsettling?”, she agreed yet again somehow uncertainly because while the word did fit in a way, it still sounded odd. Kind of… kind of not in place somehow but she had no idea why exactly. But hey, she had company and the girl that had just taken a seat on her table seemed very nice. And while Thea wasn’t very used to figuring out the emotions of adults (kids we’re pretty straight-forward in that regard), she still could tell her peer was just as disturbed by the storm as she was.

“I don’t think we have but it’s nice to meet you, Nadia”, Thea replied, shaking her hand with yet another bright smile. She’d remeber if they had spoken - she always did. “I’m Dorothea, Education Major. But since my name’s a bit of mouthfull, call me Thea.” It was a clarification she always felt the need to make. Not that she hated her name but it was long and formal and she wasn’t very keen on fomality. “You’re welcome”, she replied immediately and after a little while added “Excuse me, but is your phone working? I can’t seem to get mine to dial for some reason.”

[nadiarainier-blog]

The quiet between them that fell following their introductions was an easy one, in which Nadia was able to fill in a pretty large chunk of the chart she was working on with only a little bit of tapping along to a silent beat in her head. With another person near her, working along just as she was, it was easy enough for her to mostly tune out the storm. Mostly, being the key word, for her skin was slowly starting to crawl more and more as the time went on. She was almost starting to wonder if there wasn’t something bigger coming than just a storm for how she was feeling, but knew that was ridiculous.

When Thea spoke up again, though, Nadia blinked once before the question registered and she patted down her pockets to fish out her phone. “I forget to even check it half the time,” she admitted, setting it on the table as she tried to open up her app screen. Nothing; she could get the dial screen up, and dial, but had no dial tone or even a busy signal, and so she shook her head slightly, letting out a sigh. “Nothing. That’s... really odd. I wonder if there’s a warning out about phone lines being down...”

When she turned back to her computer to set her hands on it, though, there was a shock much like static, and she let out a sound of pain as she drew her hands back. The laptop’s screen went dead, the power lights turning off, and she stared at it for a moment before looking back at the other girl uncertainly. “I uh. I don’t know what the hell just happened, but I don’t know if I should chance turning my laptop back on, so... I wonder if other people are having problems too.”

[aliadamsen-blog]

“I can compete for your solos. I suck so it’ll add some entertainment to your day and as an added bonus, you’ll always know you’ll win.” She laughed. 

Her app dinged and she grinned, wiggling in her seat happily at the sight of the link via a message. Looking back up at Nadia, she nodded. “My sister was the same way. Drove my other sister and my two brothers crazy. Hers wasn’t so much volume as it was content. She was- still is actually- one of those ‘my music is indie and thus so much better and deeper than yours’ types. You just wanted to smack her every time she reached for the stereo. 

“Ooh music history, sounds fun. I have to say; I don’t know anything about any music history.” She confessed. “But I love music itself!” She tried to offer. “I am… pretending to study for a test I should probably really be studying for but that’s so deathly boring I might die of boredom and then I wouldn’t be able to take the test at all and wouldn’t that be so much worse?” 

[nadiarainier-blog]

“God, we get those type coming into the department constantly, I swear. It’s like they look at you and just immediately think their music is the best just because it’s not mainstream. A semester around all of us usually wipes that out of ‘em fast,” she returned with a laugh, shaking her head. “Liv hasn’t even got bad taste, though I wish she’d listen to a little something more than just the top 40 pop songs of the week now and then. It’s just so loud. I used to be able to deal with that, but when I’m out of the dorm for twelve hours a day and in the relatively quiet music department... It’s rattling.”

Or perhaps she was just getting old fast.

Grinning back at the other girl when she admitted to not knowing much about the history, Nadia waved a hand. “Most people don’t know much about the history of it, really. I only learned what I have because of class and liking certain composers. This project’s odd, it’s a practical application of the history we’ve learned, so it doesn’t even really qualify as music history as much as... production, I suppose. Planning a concert series.”

As Ali explained what she was meant to be doing, though, Nadia gave an outright laugh, shaking her head. “See, there’s an easy way for me to combat the whole study boredom thing. As much as I never want to study, if I have the right soundtrack for it, I get a lot done. I use a lot of Rachmaninoff and Debussy, for instance. Or, did you know video game soundtracks are actually awesome work music? Those are good for it too, I use an online radio station for all that.”

[the-colossal-dork-blog]

Arching an eyebrow, Will glanced at her, “Are you sure? Because speaking as someone who usually places himself above a rhythmless monkey, I never got the hang of it in lessons at school.” He smiled the comment off - music was well beyond him, well, anything beyond appreciating it, and occasionally air guitaring or table drumming was. “I wouldn’t say I’m anything special, it just happens to be what I’m interested in, so it’s not too bad.”

[nadiarainier-blog]

“Dunno, man, you tapped along to whatever you were listening to before I got your attention pretty well. You’re a step above a monkey, at least,” she returned, playful and simple. Still, she shrugged a shoulder when he continued. “It sounds like it could be interesting. I was always too terrible at sciences to keep up with them for long, though.”

[aliadamsen-blog]

“You’re the best!” She hugged the other girl quickly and immediately grabbed her phone and brought up the proper app, glanced at the little scrap Nadia wrote her name on, and added the other girl right then. “Bam. Done. We’re friends as soon as you accept. Be wary, there’s no going back after this.” She laughed.

“So what’s got you here so late? It can’t be the ambience.” She teased, starling a little as another boom of thunder sounded above them, sounding as close as though it were knocking on the roof.

[insert a gif of happy huggy Ali] 

[nadiarainier-blog]

Ali’s excitement was was kind of cute, Nadia had to admit, and it made her laugh quietly, pulling up a second window for Facebook to accept the request. “I think I can deal with having a new friend,” she teased in return. “It’ll be nice having a friend who’s not questionably friendly while competing for my solos every time a new one comes up.”

Clicking the accept button, Nadia scanned her bookmarks for the link she wanted and sent it off to Ali while the other girl spoke, grinning back at her joking question. “Roommate’s obnoxious,” she admitted. “Liv’s nice enough, don’t get me wrong but there’s only so many nights I can put up with music so loud I can’t even hear myself think. So I hide out in the library instead. Tonight’s a music history project that’s got me hiding. What about you? What’re you working on tonight?”

[piercesutton-blog]

“Really?” He asked, rather surprised. “It figures the only time I have any musical talent, even if it is as a metronome, is when I’m asleep.” Pierce joked, shaking his head at himself. The thought of him sleep talking was almost terrifying, knowing that some of the dreams that he managed to remember were really wild and not all put together as he seemed he would be. “Actually, it wouldn’t just be monkeys. Probably something along the lines of space monkeys dressed in pirate hats and eye patches, something stupid like that. Thankfully, I don’t actually do that…” He trailed off, feigning innocence.

He wasn’t entirely sure what he had gotten himself into, really, music wasn’t his forte. But he was perfectly willing to help if it meant her getting a good (maybe a decent grade, at worst) grade on her final. “Like I said, I’ll definitely try. I’m not musically gifted like you probably are, but I’m not tone deaf either. Though, I can’t guarantee I won’t clap and cheer for anything and everything that you do.” Nodding along as though he understood, which he clearly didn’t at all, he was oddly surprised by the amount of work she had to put into this. “Wow, I can’t believe you have to do all of that. I’m usually just writing papers about why Pluto was considered a dwarf planet.”

[nadiarainier-blog]

“Hey, even a human metronome has some kind of skill. Keeping a beat’s rough work, you know.” It was teasing, mostly playful a response, and Nadia accompanied it with a laugh, though it became more distinct at his retort and the picture of the dreams he must have. “You’ve got a pretty wild imagination, then, don’t you?” she mused, shaking her head. “Though, you know, space monkeys in pirate costumes would be more the thing I’d want to fight with than against, if you ask me.”

Clapping and cheering; Nadia looked amused at that, feigning a degree of cockiness as she returned, “Everyone cheers when a performance is done, man, just make sure you don’t accidentally get kicked out into the storm from it.” Skimming through song titles and looking back at Pierce in alternating patterns, she chuckled softly, shaking her head. “See, yours sounds like a lot more work to me than mine does. I have a big enough mental music library that putting together a mock show is practically simple. But I know nothing about astronomy at all. I just like looking at the stars now and then.”

[the-colossal-dork-blog]

Will shrugged, he for one found it easy enough to drown out the roar of wind and slash of rain with loud music, thumping through his veins, but he guessed that didn’t work for everyone. “It doesn’t bother me too much,” he offered by way of an explanation. “I never said I was any good at it, before you go assuming I’m clever,” the tousle-haired brunet pointed out with a wry sort of smile. “But thanks… for what it’s worth, I’m sure I can’t sing for toffee, never mind do any other music stuff.”

[nadiarainier-blog]

“You’d be surprised, you know. Singing’s the most raw talent-driven field, for the most part. Even a monkey with no rhythm can learn something like piano, though,” she returned with an amused laugh, looking over at her laptop to skim through the spreadsheet pulled up in front of her and the list of songs on the other side. “I’m inclined to think if it’s your major, though, you’ve gotta be at least a little good at it.”

[the-colossal-dork-blog]

Will smiled, turning the volume down on his music, so he could hear her through one ear, while he pulled the other back to talk properly. “I’ll call that a deal.  I’m not getting much done anyway, I had a really productive spree about half an hour ago and now I’m killing time.” He reached out his giant hand and took hers, shaking it firmly, but gently. “Will Bentley,” he gestured at the rock, “Geology.”

[nadiarainier-blog]

“Honestly, with the way the storm’s sounding, I’d be surprised if anyone’s getting much done at this point,” Nadia admitted, though she glanced down at the rock he gestured to curiously. “Geology. Way too much science in that for me, kudos for being smart, Will. Though personally, I can see why you’d get distracted from working on homework for those type of classes -- I’d never have an attention span for that kind of thing, I swear.”

[dxrthe-deactivated20160321]

“Yeah I’m just…” he trails off as he tries to shake off the dull thumping in his head although it seems pretty constant. Finally looking up from the position he was in, which was slightly crouched over, he meets the gaze of the other, an unfamiliar face he had never seen before, which wasn’t surprising, given he barely was in the library and the regulars here probably didn’t know him too well either.  “Yeah. I’m sorry. Are you alright? I hit you pretty hard,” he questions.

[nadiarainier-blog]

The buzzing in Nadia’s ears didn’t ease any when Crixus looked up at her -- it just got louder for a moment, in fact, along with a distinct hum that somehow seemed to read pain in her mind. She forced herself to focus on his words, though, holding out a hand toward him to help him straighten up. “It’s alright, I’m fine,” she reassured, pressing her free hand against the side of her neck, just behind her ear to try and rub the ringing out. “You didn’t hurt me at all, don’t worry. The ow was more over moving fast -- migraine, from being up all night.” Shrugging, she offered up a small hint of a smile. “You’re sure you’re alright, though? You look about as out of it as I feel.”

[aliadamsen-blog]

“Right?” She said, making a face. “It’s the worst thing, when you can’t just feel how weir sit is for you, but you can like, feel it bleeding off other people too. Like you can’t get a break.”

“And they may perhaps be the only ones who are properly prepared. Hopefully one of them is here tonight and when we crash land we can sacrifice them.” She joked. Her face lit up when Nadia told her about the variation. “What?! How did I not know this? I wonder if the library has dvds and if they have it. I must find it, I must find it immediately and watch it equally immediately.” She said decisively. This was her new mission, one she would accomplish as soon as her and Nadia’s conversation was over because it’d be rude to leave in the middle.

[nadiarainier-blog]

Ali’s excitement over the movie was pleasing for Nadia, if she was honest -- and also relaxing in a way she hadn’t anticipated. Perhaps she was more nervous over this whole night than she had realized she was, and she supposed the crack of thunder that sounded again wasn’t helping her nerves any. She could focus on the conversation, though, as long as Ali’s pleasant energy kept thrumming about around her s it was. “Tell you what -- add me on Facebook, I’ll jot down my name for you, and I’ll link you to it to watch when I crack down and get into my project,” she promised, grinning back at the other girl easily. “It was my favorite musical when I was a kid, I keep a link to watch it online at all times so I have a comfort movie for when I get homesick.”

[aliadamsen-blog]

“Tell me about it. You can practically feel everyone’s skin crawling.” She agreed. “Much better to have someone to sit and chat with than dealing with it alone, in my opinion.” She said with a smile. She’d always prefer to have company than to be alone, and she was pleased someone else felt the same way.

“Nice to meet you. I haven’t seen or read The Wiz, but I do know Elphaba is Wicked, and I don’t think anyone’s truly prepared for Elphaba and munchkins, and if they say they are, they’re liars.” She laughed. “Although if it happens, I’ll leave the singing to you. I’ll accompany you via dance.” She giggled, wrapping her headphones around her phone and setting it aside as the other girl’s laptop whirred to life.

[nadiarainier-blog]

“It’s like you read my mind, I swear. It wouldn’t be so bad if the air didn’t feel so thick,” she returned, shaking her head slightly. That static feeling she’d noticed earlier was just increasing as the time passed, she swore, and she almost wished she had stayed back with Liv and dealt with the other girl’s volume. Almost. Ali was quiet, at least, and the rest of the library wasn’t pounding with noise like her dorm was. It was a blessing, even if the air felt worse here.

Laughing softly in return with Ali’s promise to join her in dance should the moment come, Nadia shot her a wider grin. “I dunno, if you ask the theatre kids, they’re always prepared for a good wicked witch. God knows they don’t need an excuse to burst into a dance number.” Typing in her password quickly when the screen loaded at last, she pulled up the couple documents she needed to work on, skimming the notes the professor had left in Drive for her while she continued, “The Wiz is another variation of the Wizard of Oz, by the way, but it stars an all black cast. Michael Jackson played the Scarecrow, and Diana Ross was the lead. Great soundtrack, but not so popular now as it used to be. It came out in... 78, I think.”

[jazlynisms-blog]

“I know, right? Last time there was a storm like this…apparently, we weren’t born. I don’t even know if there was ever something like this.” She made a mental note to check in whatever paper she could find, or just on the internet. Surely there must have been something at least a little similar to this. “If there wasn’t…well, you’ll tell your potential grandchildren that their grandma lived through a terrible storm, stuck in a library.” Jazz laughed, trying to improve the atmosphere.

She frowned. “You think? Like, something you can physically feel?” Sure, it was normal to be scared. But assuming straightforward it had actual consequences on their bodies was scary. “I’m pretty sure it’ll be over tomorrow. In the worst case scenario…well, there’s some comfortable footstools and carpets in the kids’ area.”

[nadiarainier-blog]

Nadia laughed softly at the joke from the other girl, shaking her head. “I get the sense those potential grandkids would just do what most of us do now when our grandparents tell us about the storms they lived through, really. Roll their eyes, pretend to listen, and hope story time’s over soon so they can get something for snack already,” she joked back, shooting Jazz an easy grin.

At her next question, though, she shrugged a shoulder slightly. “It’s kinda like... high static in the air, if that makes sense? It’s probably just me, since this storm’s wigging me out a little.” Another shrug, and Nadia was grinning again at the suggestion of the kids’ area. “There’s the bean bags not far off of here too, actually. Those are a perfect nap spot, let me tell you. Best place to catch an hour or two’s sleep between classes when the practice rooms are full.”

[the-colossal-dork-blog]

Will smiled, a little disbelieving, he was probably doing something, but if she hadn’t noticed that was ok by him. “Oh, right, that’s ok then, I thought I was going to get kicked out or something,” he chuckled warmly. “Please, yeah sit. That’s fine by me if you can stand me swearing at my computer occasionally,” he continued. Something of his brotherly instincts kicked in as she spoke about the storm, and he began collecting his stuff in, making space on the table for her. “I could probably do with the company, might stop me getting distracted every five minutes.”

[nadiarainier-blog]

“I don’t mind the swearing at all, so long as you don’t mind me humming sometimes,” she returned simply, shooting him a warm smile and setting her laptop in the space he’d made for her before taking the seat across from him. “No promises on the distracting front, though. It’s impossible to stay focused in a quiet space, I swear.” Extending a hand across the table toward him in greeting, she continued, “I’m Nadia, by the way. Nadia Rainier, Music major.”

[piercesutton-blog]

“Was I really snoring? God, that’s embarrassing.” Pierce asked, running a hand through his curls with a laugh. At least now that he knew she wasn’t a complete hardass, he could relax a bit. Of course, if they went on to be friends, he was sure that she’d never exactly let him live it down that he had fallen asleep in the library and his futile attempts to deny that he even had at all. Then again, he was getting way too ahead of himself now. “At least, it wasn’t like I was talking in my sleep or sleepwalking. So I guess I’ll take snoring than all that.”

“Okay,” he nodded, a certain amount of trust put into her statement. “I don’t really mind you singing or making any noise, really. I think it’d be quite interesting to hear someone compose something. So if you really do want to sing something, by all means. Or if you need help, not that I know all that much about music, I can try?” He smiled, wanting to help her out so he didn’t pass out again. He always had a certain appreciation for music, his only solace when he couldn’t stare up at the night sky.

[nadiarainier-blog]

“Not too badly, don’t worry,” she returned with a grin. “You were even almost on beat with my music, it was impressive.” It was amusing, though, she had to admit; though his denial would have been perfect if she’d walked up a minute or two later than she did, she’d just had the luck of good timing to catch him. “Oh, sleep-talking, now that would have been golden. Imagine finding out you sleep-talk because you told a stranger you were fighting monkeys or something ridiculous like that. Brilliant, really.”

Settling back with her laptop on her knees while he offered to help, Nadia gave a hum of appreciation, looking over her spreadsheet in thought while she spoke. “I could definitely use the second ear, if you’re sure you’re up for it,” she returned. “I’ve only got to make another... four lists, I think, before I’m down to just artists and venues, but I’m out of complete sets to use, so I’m mixing and matching things now. It’s an odd project, it’s kind of like... a mock concert series. We’re mostly using pre-composed things, but I get three free days to work my own pieces into, and I don’t have anything long enough to fill a full show.”

[aliadamsen-blog]

Ali looked up when she sensed a body next to the table, pulling her earbuds out and quickly turning the volume down when it became clear exactly how loud it was to the girl standing next to her table. She missed the actual question, but got the gist when the girl followed it with the explanation. “Of course!” She said with a bright grin, gesturing the girl to sit and scrambling to shove her things off the majority of the table with little regard to her things. 

“I’m Ali, Ali Adamsen.” She introduced herself. “And I would be happy to keep you company while we wait to see if we become Dorothy in the Wizard of Oz tornado.” She joked.

[nadiarainier-blog]

Nadia watched the other girl scramble with her things, taking up the seat that was cleared for her with a thankful nod and setting her laptop in front of her. “Thank you so much. I’m not like, super afraid of storms or anything, don’t get me wrong. It’s just so creepy out tonight. Weird feeling in the air and all that.” 

Reaching a hand out in greeting when she was introduced, Nadia shot the other girl an easy grin. “Nadia Rainier,” she returned in kind. “I’d like to think if I’m becoming a Dorothy, it’s gonna be the one from the Wiz, but hey, at least I can sing her notes already,” she joked back, laughing softly. “Crossing fingers it’s not an Oz-nado we’re looking at, regardless. I’m so not prepared for Munchkins and Elphaba.”

[bethanyramirez]

Beth scanned the card and the books with practiced ease, only stopping to read the information that flashed up in the corner of the screen with the other girl’s name - Nadia - and department - Music. It was this which usually gave her a welcome insight into the lives of the people she spent a lot of time watching, but to be fair, the books Nadia was checking out sort of gave it away.

“I think it’s generally a one or the other situation. I’ve met people who claim to have both, but I’m pretty sure they must be lying,” she grinned as she started to hand the books across the desk only to remember she needed to stamp the slips with the return dates. She didn’t usually forget that sort of thing, but she attributed it to the dual distraction of the storm and the conversation. “Are those bean bags as comfy as they look? I usually get tempted to have a nap around two, but so far I’ve resisted.”

When she mentioned late fees, Beth leaned over, checking the relevant section on the monitor and nodding. “If you want to know a trade secret, they don’t actually start charging you until two days after the return date. It’s rare that people get them in exactly on time so the system accommodates it. But you didn’t hear that from me.”

[nadiarainier-blog]

“I’m almost positive they’re lying if they claim both,” Nadia agreed in return, laughing softly and shaking her head. “I don’t think it’s possible to get both in college. It’s barely possible to get one half the time, I swear.” Perhaps that was the nature of her major more than a general college observation, really, but Nadia didn’t know many people who managed even one of those two things. That was one thing she had resented the movies for lying to her about when she’d first started her degree, as a matter of fact.

Leaning against the counter a little more comfortably, Nadia gave a nod of approval at the question about the chairs, grinning across the counter. “They’re surprisingly comfortable,” she admitted. “I didn’t think they would be when I saw them in here at first, but they’re probably the most comfortable spot I’ve found in here. Plus, no one ever thinks they’ll be as comfy as they look, so you almost always wind up with a good quiet spot to rest up. It’s the best thing when I’m in here for another over-nighter, I swear.”

She hadn’t known when the fees started kicking in, in all honesty; Nadia just assumed they started right away. And so, when Beth told her how it actually worked, she let out a pleased hum. “See, I wish I had known that forever ago. I would’ve been a little less particular about getting my books in on time,” she returned, only half joking. “Don’t worry, the secret’s safe with me.”

[dorotheapalmer]

Dorothea looked back a bit apprihensively  at the door that had just swung shut behind her. The rain drops on the glass were now gone, small streams of water running down in their place. No more going outside, she figured with a bit of a sigh. The library was really no place to be in that hour but it was much better than outside. Hopefully, she wouldn;’t inconvenience the staff by staying.

Her slow steps took her to about the center of the room, her kitten heels clicking on the hardwood floor rather audibly despite her best efforts to keep the noise down. Fortunately, the crash of the thunder made it somewhat more acceptible although she would much rather it was gone. But then the clicking of her heels stopped as she reached the carpet and now it was only the thunder ringing all around her, it seemed, as she sat down at a big table. There was no one in sight or in the very least no one that didn’t look busy so she opted for sitting by herself even if it made her a bit uncomfortable.

Soon enough, she noticed a girl approaching her. At first, Thea thought she was just going for the bookshelves but then she came and nudged the edge of the table a bit warily as she spoke. “No, not at all” was Thea’s immediate reply coupled with one of her trademark bright smiles. “I would love some company right now, honestly. I don’t really like thunder storms either. A bit childish, I know, but still…“

[nadiarainier-blog]

Thea looked about as wary over the storm as Nadia felt, in all honesty, and so she decided quickly that she’d made the right option here. At least she wouldn’t be left to herself, trying to drown out the sound of thunder and the uncomfortable feeling in the air with swooning symphonies and crooning voices that weren’t fitting quite right into the program she was attempting to build up for her project. And, well. Thea looked like pleasant company, especially with the bright smile tht was directed her way.

Taking up the seat across from her with a thankful nod, Nadia set her laptop to one side, placing her notebook to the other. “I don’t think it’s childish at all. Normally I don’t mind the storms that much, rain sounds pretty with the right combination of music in the background, but something about this one just...” she shook her head, trailing off when she realized how foolish it sounded to be saying what she was. It was just a storm, after all. What need had she to be nervous?

Extending a hand across the table, though, in greeting, she gave a smile of her own. “I’m Nadia, Music Major. I think I’ve seen you on campus before, but we’ve never talked, have we?” She was almost positive they hadn’t, but she had to present it as a question still just in case. It wouldn’t be the first time Nadia had forgotten a name or a face, after all, in her easily distracted way. “Thank you, for letting me sit with you.”