Guidebook to Girls| Cat

[Zaeric Blackwood]

A guidebook, thats what he needed. a book that would tell him everything he needed to know about girls and how they worked. For the longest time he had always been pretty much completely clueless, not that it bothered him. He had been on a few dates here and there, but nothing that held his attention for long periods of time. Then he had met Tae and his world had been shaken upside down. Literally. He just couldn't seem to get her off his brain. It was like some kind of wave had hit him and left his brain to cope with a new way of thinking. That's why he decided to come to the library to see if there was anything here that could help.

In his experience the library always had what he needed. Always. When he needed Frost, the library had volumes on him. When he needed guitar how to's they were there. This was the only time he was questioning whether the library was going to have what he needed. It was possible, but he didn't know the library that well. Sure, he was in here for some sci-fi every once in a while but when he was in here he was usually doing straight research and not wandering around. The librarien didn't seem to be in sight, and he sighed. This was going to be a long search.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat was sitting in the library. She was always there now. She may not have been looking for anything and she figured it would be easier to let her mind just wander then actually try to look for something. She randomly grabbed a stack of books from the return bin and went to go shelve them. As she maneuvered her way around she was trying her hardest to watch where she was going. Unfortunately she was quite small and could not really see who was above her or in her general path.

Before you knew it she was bumping into someone really tall. With an “oomph” she fell back onto the floor scattering books everywhere. “Sorry” She quickly started gathering them into her arms and looked up at him again. “ Did you need something?” Cat figured it was the best she could do to at least try to help him even if she had no idea whether she needed help or not.

[Zaeric Blackwood]

Zaeric was so into what he was thinking he didn't really realize he had run right into someone. In fact, it was someone very much shorter than he. The notebook he had in his hands fell, letting little scraps of paper fly all over. They were covered with little scribbles of words and fragments of sentences, all in some sort of poetic metre. There were a few couplets, but nothing even remotely completed. In fact, many of them were on ripped bits of paper or napkins. They all fluttered down in bits of white and cramy snow, and Zaer sighed good naturedly. Oh well. They would all just have to be picked up.

First though, he had to help the girl pick up her books since it was his fault she was sitting there in the first place. He gathered a few in his long fingered hands and handed them to her with a smile before starting to gather his little paper scraps. He recognized a few from the cafe from when he had hung out with Annabelle once and a few from when he was with Tae. Well, she was the root of the reason he was hear. I really need to get an envelope or a leather journal or something to keep those in. That would make everything easier. He thought to himself.

" Actually ya." He replied to her question. Even though he had said yes he was slightly apprehensive about asking. It was sort of a weird thing to be looking for. He sighed slightly and decided it would be better to just ask then to try and say something else and sound like a rambling idiot.

" I was wondering whether....well, whether there was such a thing as a guidebook to girls. You know, the kind of do-not-do-this book that would prevent a silly person likeme from screwing things up to much." He flashed that sort of innocent smile saying he was trying hard not so sound too ridiculous.

[Catherine Novella]

She silently smiled as he started picking up her books. She in turn handed him some of the scraps of paper that he had lost. “Maybe you need something to keep all your musings on?” Cat laughed a bit. She was in a good natured mood. It was not often she was in a good mood anymore. She watched him as he looked as if he was contemplating her question. While she waited for an answer she stood up full intent on putting the books back.

Cat watched with a raised eyebrow as the boy said that , yes, he was looking for something. Smiling Cat finally stood up. She watched with an amused expression as he tried to put together what he was looking for. She was not quite sure what it was that could make him squirm like that. Chuckling Cat contemplated telling him to just spit it out already. Instead she just waited silently as she shelved some of the books.

At first Cat thought he was joking. She really did. Then when she looked back at him she realized…. He was serious. Cat really was trying not to laugh. The smirk that arose Cat did not even notice. She silently turned to him controlling her face with a soft smile. As she listened to his reasons she Turned back around still trying not to laugh. Oh gosh she couldn’t hold it in. she started laughing… really laughing. “ I’m sorry I really am…” Cat finally got a hold of herself with a smile and looked at him. “ Unfortunately for you and all those who wish there to be one, I highly doubt there is one.” Cat felt it better to at least try to help him. “ But we can look if it is any consolation to you?” Cat knew that she was going out on a limb here by saying this but she felt she was right in her assumption. “Lemme guess, girl trouble?” Smiling Cat looked at him.

[Zaeric Blackwood]

His shoulders slumped a bit as he continued to pick up the little bits of paper. Well, he knew the chances were slim. Really slim. Slim to none. Still, he had hoped that the library would provide the answers he'd need. He thought about trying the internet but decided that that would end up being just plain scary. He finished getting most of the scraps and tried to shove them back in the book they had been in. Then he stood, towering over the girl again. She was grinning, which he took as a good sign. Even though his request was ridiculous it did kind of make sense.

" I kind of figured, but it was worth a try. It's not so much girl trouble as learning how not to screw up." So far he had been lucky. He and Tae had hung out and everything was cool and fun, no pressure. How did he keep it like that. Zaer wanted to just rip his hair out, but amusement glowed on his face. He found his own predicament funny and didn't have too many problems with admitting it. He was glad that this girl was amused by it, because it really was funny.

"I won't bother you that much. I think you're right in saying there probably isn't going to be such a book. We silly teenage boys just wish there was to make life easier." He flashed a kind of sheepish smile that showed muted amusement and a slight tinge of growing frustration. Well, something was going to have to be done, but what he had no clue.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat watched smiling, that was until the guy slumped a bit. Then she frowned. As he began to pick of the pieces of paper she really had to think about this strange request she was receiving. Maybe there was a way, it was a bit unorthodox but it might just suffice. “ There may not be a guidebook but maybe there is something. You could always check out the classics that have to do with love? You could read about the ancient poets and their struggles. Read some Shakespeare. That might help, of course don’t read anything morbid. Try to stick to the comedies. A Midsummer Night’s Dream and The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet might help. Also you could try reading through some of his sonnets, “ Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day?” “ Cat sincerely hoped that this might help him some. She knew that the chances were slim, but maybe he could absorb all of ancient ways he was looking for. Cat herself could not even attempt to help him. She was not fair in the expert of the heart.

“ Well you never know what is out there. Honestly I think it just takes practice. Though, I really should not be saying anything. I am not skilled in such practices.” Cat offered a shaky smile. She herself really could say nothing about the matters of the heart. After all, HE basically ruined it anyway. Why should she matter? Shaking her head Cat turned back to the boy. She really shouldn’t laugh she told herself. It honestly was not funny.

Cat raised an eyebrow as he talked again. “ You don’t think girls wish there was a guidebook to guys? Oh my gosh that would prevent so much drama and heartbreak. Trust me if there was such a thing, you wouldn’t be able to even get a copy. They would be sold out everywhere you went.” Cat had to smile at the thought of a guidebook to guys. “ Well why don’t we see if those books are in? It there ma not be a specific guide but I’m sure we can find something. After all it is no trouble. No trouble at all.”

[Zaeric Blackwood]

Zaer hadn't thought about taking a look at the classics. Not for a single moment. Well, not classic plays or stories anyways. He had looked over poetry and hadn't found anything he thought was....useful. Although Tae had liked his poetry he wasn't going to go on and on about it. Once and a while would be okay, just for fun. Really, it wasn't something he just handed around and was actually usually pretty quiet about it. Of course, all the little paper scraps he had now tucked away were old poem bits waiting to be patched into a quilted fabric of words and phrases that rolled off the tongue and were pleasing to the ear. Zaer sensed she still found it funny and couldn't help but crack a smile again. He knew she wanted to laugh.

" Go ahead and laugh." He said in a playful voice, not threatening at all. " I know it's really fun, I do! I was laughing at myself before I came here but I had to try." He didn't want her to feel bad for thinking it was funny. No one should have to think that when, well, thinking there was such a book was a stupidly hilarious thing.

[Catherine Novella]

Cat thought for a moment that he had thought about this stuff already. Maybe she was just wasting her time. Then again would she really be wasting her time if he was here now, running into her, and desperately searching for a way to not mess up around girls. Smiling she looked up at him. It truly was not funny. She had a good enough hold on her feelings now that it was all going to be ok and that she was not laughing anymore. “ Honestly try reading some of the classics.”

Cat smiled when he gave her permission to laugh. Smiling she looked up at him again. “ I’m good. There is no reason to laugh anymore. The initial thought might be silly but the underlying cause is entirely serious.” Cat’s easy smile was there to ensure him of this fact. “ It is always better to try. You honestly can’t know anything about a situation until you try it. So on that note I think the best advice to give you would to just get out there and try it.” Cat smiled and looked over at him. “ After all you don’t know until you try.”