Procrastinating much? {Wide Open}

[Reneta Williams]

The library was not a place the academically under-achiever would normally be found, yet these weren't normal circumstances. No, these were 'get your grades up or loose your allowance' circumstances. Finally sick of seeing such low grades from his otherwise perfect daughter, Martin Williams had delivered ultimatum number one. An ultimatum that Reneta thought was extremely unfair. After all, it was common knowledge that the girl hated anything that involved actual work, school work very much included.

But as it was, she had no choice. Well she did, but honestly? She would rather die then loose her allowance, so really, she didn't. Without any money, how was she supposed to buy that amazingly awesome dress she had seen?

The table she sat at was littered with books and such, while Reneta herself was slumped over the table, doing anything that wasn't her homework. She had her phone in her hands, and was busy playing a game, one that involved a lot of swearing, fist pumping, and gleeful laughter. The fact she may be bothering other students didn't enter her mind, she was having way to much fun for that.

Reneta was a well known procrastinator. She loved not doing what she was supposed to.

[Courtney Ross]

Courtney walked into the library happily, her spirits lifting. Yes it was completely silly and yes it was a very geeky thing to do, but Courtney always brightened walking into the library. It was a haven of sorts for her. If she was frightened or panicking or startled, Courtney always fled to a library, with its books and quiet, all there to put her at ease. She liked books, liked reading, liked the feel of paper, she even liked the new book smell. She almost preferred reading to class, and she certainly preferred being in the library over being out and trying to make friends. Not that she didn't want friends; meeting new people just happened to be terrifying, while books were not.

Still, Courtney felt bright and happy when she heard the sound of someone swearing rather loudly. She almost jumped in surprise - libraries were supposed to be quiet - but Courtney tried to ignore her, heading instead to the 500's of the Dewey Decimal system. Books would easily distract her from the slight noises. That was what Courtney told herself anyways, looking through the glossy categories , her fingers hovering over 507.1

However, when the noise didn't stop - was she dancing or something? - Courtney felt that she had to say something. Nevermind that Courtney couldn't actually talk to other people without stammering furiously. No, she was going to find something inside herself to actually warrant confrontation.

"Uhm, excuse me. Courtney said softly, walking up and tapping the girl gently on the shoulder. "Ah, uhm, I s-see you're having fun, b-b-but do you think you... you could be a bit quieter?" The table was even covered in books. How could this girl stand playing games in a place like this? "Th-that is, if you don't mind." And now she was wishing she could just melt back into the bookcase. She was regretting speaking up already.

[Reneta Williams]

A text message stopped her game, and Reneta glowered as she read it.
'Homework! Now!'
It was of course, off her father, who seemed to have this knack for knowing exactly what she was doing. This often made her think of spies and what not, but always told herself that her Daddy would never spy on her, and that he just knew her. Very well. She let out her breath in an explosion of air, and half slammed the phone on the table in front of her. Her eye moved from her phone, to the pile of homework, and then let out another not-so-nice flurry of words.

She had just picked up her pen when she got a tap on her shoulder, frowning, Neta turned in her chair to regard the girl behind her. "Can I help?" she asked in a tone that clearly said she was just being polite. Her frown deepened slightly as the girl stammered her way around to what she wanted,and Ren had the urge to laugh at her. But she held back.

The girl looked so terrified, that Ren couldn't help but softening to her. Normally she would have made a comment about how nervous the other girl was, but she was too nervous for Ren to tease. So instead she pointed to the seat opposite. "Why don't you sit down, sweetie?" she offered. The girl couldn't have many friends, and other then Fifi, neither did Ren really. Well other then the friends she used, but they didn't count.

[Courtney Ross]

Getting a good look at the girl, Courtney tried to convince herself that the stranger wasn't as terrifying as she had first assumed. The girl looked friendly enough - clean hair, a charming smile - and Courtney tried very hard to just breathe normally and not to appear to be on the verge of hyperventilation. This was getting beyond a normal amount of shyness and verging on social anxiety. Actually, she could look up social anxiety, the nonfiction section was right over there and it would be a perfect escape...

Somehow, Courtney found her legs disagreeing and she accepted the girl's invitation for a seat. She was facing both the girl and an august stack of books. Books! She could hide behind one, perhaps, with minimal effectiveness. She grabbed one quickly, scanning the spine. A math book. Well she certainly couldn't become entranced with the plot of linear functions, now could she? Well, she could, but that would raise questions about why on earth anyone would read a math book.

"Thank you." Courtney said quietly, looking at the table with great intensity. It was a very intense table. "Ah, are you studying, m-maybe?' She really did need to research social disorders, maybe anxiety disorders too, and what actually counted as a disorder and what was just normal. Were her hands shaking? Courtney stuffed her hands under the table quickly, hitting the side as she did. "If you are studying, I can probably help... I-I'm Courtney, by the way." She chanced making very quick eye contact as she said her name. "Courtney Ross."

[Reneta Williams]

Neta smiled encouragingly when the girl sat opposite, and she watched as she picked up her maths book. Her smile wavered for a split second, but she smoothed over the moment by reaching for the book and pulling it out of her hands. She shook her head at the girls question. "We'll get to that in a moment." She said, as she placed the book back on the table, out of the girls reach.

"Listen Sweetie, you're not going to get anywhere with your little stammer and all your nervousness." she said softly. Reneta being Reneta, she didn't beat around the bush, or try to mask her statement with pleasantries and sugar. "So why don't we try again, and you try to be a little more sure of yourself."

Now, let me get this clear, Neta wasn't being mean, well not internationally. She was actually trying to help the shy girl. Shyness got you nowhere.

"If someone's annoying you, tell them, don't stammer at them, they'll probably just ignore you." she said, "I'm Reneta, or Neta. Nice to meet you." she added after the girls introduction.

[Courtney Ross]

Courtney almost panicked when her book was taken away, not sure what to do. She needed it to hide behind and to use as a shield if anything came flying through the air, even though it probably wouldn't. Courtney was half tempted to grab it back, but she didn't think she could reach that far without causing some kind of spectacle. Instead, she pressed her hands together in front of her and focused on keeping them very very still.

Courtney flushed when the girl mentioned her lack of social graces. It wasn't like she was trying to be as terribly awkward as was possible - was she? - and she really didn't need anyone rubbing it in. Still, the girl sounded nothing but nice, and Courtney really did want to try being a bit more able to communicate.

Taking what she hoped was a normal looking breath, Courtney straightened her head up and pushed her shoulders back just a bit. She had read somewhere that posture helped confidence and she knew that her posture was just awful, so it was worth a shot.

"Sorry." Courtney apologized quickly. "Its nice to meet you too." She had the sudden urge to scratch something, but nothing really itched and Courtney was almost sure that if she started, it would be a near feral, junkie-in-need-of-fix kind of scratching. "So Reneta," She wasn't sure if she could be familiar quite yet. "what brings you to the library?"

[Reneta Williams]

"Thats much better Darlin'" Reneta complimented with a little clap. "See how much better you sound?" She ginned at the girl opposite her. Reneta wasn't one to try and change someone for their own benefit, but honestly? She would do anything that got her out of doing her homework, which also meant lavishing attention on this poor girl. Woe anyone who crossed her path on a day like this.

Reneta pulled a face at the girls question, of course the conversation would return to her reason for being in the library, but this soon? She gestured at the pile of books on the table. "Daddy's makin' me do better at school." she wined in her best, 'I'm just a poor rich girl' voice. She offered a fake whimper at the mass of work before her.

She put on the act simply because she wanted to find out how this girl would react. Normally, Reneta wasn't so snobby, sure, she had all the money she could want, and the best dad in the world, but she was just a normal girl after all. And her father had often warned her of the consequences of brushing others off. Everyone had their uses someway. The poor girl sat opposite wasn't going to escape either. Reneta never did a favor for free.

[Courtney Ross]

Reneta though she sounded better? Courtney was relieved, because she really didn't want to appear to be this awkward shrinking violet that she really was. Nervously, she pulled on a strand of her hair gently and smiled back. Maybe this wouldn't be so bad.

But if she had to be better at school, Courtney really could help. She had tutored before and she was pretty good at every subject other than Gym, but you didn't need books for Gym. "If you need help in school, I could probably help. I'm... good at school." She looked at the table quickly, then at the books. The stack did look intimidating, and Courtney could see how they could discourage someone who wasn't the best at academia. "It's really not that bad, really." Repetition was a sign of nervousness. Time to cut that out.

Still nervous - but getting better - Courtney took a good look at Reneta. She seemed poised, and friendly enough, but Courtney wasn't sure if Reneta would want to be friends. She seemed too good, too confident to want to be friends with someone like Courtney, but it was worth a try, wasn't it? Maybe?

"So..." Courtney said slowly, still eying the books. "Anything else you like to do, when you're not improving your grades?" She sounded stupid, but maybe it wouldn't sound too bad to someone else.