Ugh... College... (Eli)

[Catherine Novella]

Catherine was sitting in the library, reading Les Miserables. Yes that one. She wasn't even going to think about seeing the movie until she had read the book. It was tough to get through yes, but ultimately it would be worth it. So far she hated Cosette.

All of her work was done for the day, right now she was just sitting behind the desk if anyone ever needed help. Not that they did. She was supposed to be filling out college applications, but she hadn't really gotten to it. She supposed she should and started to pull them up on her laptop, before sighing and shutting it down. Maybe Eli would be able to help.

Don't get her wrong, she was still miffed at the librarian, but things were better then before. Dr. Neville was surprisingly convincing, and even is she didn't want to admit it, he was right. Eli hadn't done anything wrong.She was just too stubborn to admit it.

Going up to his office Cat knocked on his door and tilted her head. "Mr. Morrison, do you have a spare moment?"

She hoped this sort of thing was all right. Mr. Morrison was the smartest person she knew. Hopefully he would have some clue what she should do with her life.

[Eli Morrison]

In the time since Eli had surprised Cat with the plane ticket, he'd been displeased to learn that she was not grateful, only annoyed. She hadn't really warmed up to him again since then.

Eli was actually surprised how much it bothered him that Cat wasn't as friendly anymore. He'd thought he was looking out for her, and really hadn't meant for it to be patronizing. Since then, he'd given her as much space as she wanted, but he was happy she had continued to work at the library. She was a great page.

He was surprised--but not annoyed--when she knocked on the door of his office. He'd been reading for hours and had lost complete track of time. "Yeah, sure Cat. Come in. What can I do for you?"

[Catherine Novella]

Truth was Cat didn't know how to warm up to Mr. Morrison again. Things were different and she wasn't sure how to go about interacting with him anymore. It was an odd feeling losing the trust you had placed in someone.

Though to be fair, she wasn't friendly with the librarian in the first place. She was polite, but now she was more curt. Granted she loved her job, nothing could ever change that and she wanted to know and be able to say that she did her job well. A fight wouldn't change Cat's work ethic.


Looking into the doorway when Eli said she could come in Cat nodded before taking a step into the office. "Well frankly sir you are the smartest man I know. What should I do with my life, Dr. Neville has been bugging me about college applications and honestly I have no idea." That was pretty self explanatory. "Do you have any recommendations?"

[Eli Morrison]

"Oh..." Eli was surprised Cat would come to him about this, even though he believed he was the smartest person she knew. He was the smartest person he knew as well.

"I'm not sure if I'm the best person to talk to about this, Cat. I never went to college. Never even applied." He had graduated at fourteen, and then just stuck around at Hammel. Ten years of not having classes and just waiting for the side effects of his power to show up. Working in the library and living in a tiny, messy apartment on his own, until Mii had Tory and he'd moved in to be a roommate.

Sometimes, Mii teased him about his lack of ambition. He was perfectly happy just working at the library and acting as Tory's surrogate father. "Is there anything you really want to do? If you didn't have to worry about money, what would you do?"

[Catherine Novella]

Who exactly would she come to? She sure as hell wasn't going to Dr. Neville. She also had little to no friends. Estelle was off at college, and so was Alice. He really was her only friend here, even if their friendship was on shaky terms.

Cat gave a small roll of her eyes. "Does it look like I care? I'm asking you because I figured you would know what I should do. After all, if it were twenty years later what do you see me doing?" He should at least have a guess. They had worked together long enough that he knew her, more then most of the people she had met here. "Besides, you probably know the better colleges to go to."

Cat gave a small snort. "If I didn't have to worry about money, I would be a children's librarian. Unfortunetly money is always a worry." There was no such thing as a day without using money. It was always used and dealt with. Money was something that held value, especially for someone like her, who had so little. "Realistically though, that's not going to happen so I came to you. You should know what to do."

Eli, she is finally putting her trust back in you, don't blow it again.

[Eli Morrison]

Cat wasn't the first student who had come to Eli for help with college applications. She was, however, the first one he hadn't immediately dismissed and told to go to a guidance counselor, who were all infinitely more qualified to deal with this.

"So look at schools with library science programs. Most libraries look for people with at least a Masters in library science, so you'd need to be in school for a while. Maybe you could minor in it and major in something else, then work while you're getting your Masters." He didn't care that it was a little unrealistic. If Cat wanted to be a librarian, he would help her. "I don't have a degree, but Hammel's a special case in a lot of ways."

"And I'm sorry, but I don't know much about colleges off the top of my head. I could do some research for you and help you find grants, though." He might not be good at advice, but at least the librarian was good at research.