Awkward meetings (Helen)

[Shane Williams]

Shane grabbed his math notebook. Was he excited to design an study, complete said study and put together a paper regarding the results statically of said study... well yes, was he excited to do said project with a partner... uh.. no... Not in the least bit, still he was holding his head high as he grabbed an extra notebook and his lap top. He hoped his partner was tooo talkative and if she/he was than they'd be willing enough to communicate effectively with him. Honestly Shane was still pretty lost as to the gender of his partner. The paper said Helen but he'd also seen a kid named Len sitting in her seat on various days. Wonky power, maybe... twin brother... possibility. He supposed he could ask politely once he say him.. her... it?

He headed down to the cafeteria, they'd agree to meet there to do people watching while they tried to determine what to collect statics on. Grabbing a table with good lighting and nearby power supply Shane set up his area and waited.

[Len Baker]

Helen was okay with projects. And while she felt more comfortable, neh, more used to being a girl and felt as if she could be a little more outgoing, she still did not like having to work with others. If she so chose to that was fine. But other wise she was against it. But she didn't mind the boy she was partnered with. And it seemed he wasn't going to be much of a bother. He kept to himself mostly.

Wandering out to the cafeteria, Helen looked around and spotted the boy at a table. Grabbing herself a juice she flattened out her skirt a little and set her things down on the table. "Hey...." Her voice was soft and fluid like. Like honey a sweet thick soft voice. Smiling a little she sat herself next to him and pulled up their assignment.

[Shane Williams]

Shane looked up as movement entered his peripheral view. He looked up from the few ideas he'd managed to come up with so far. She set her papers down and said hey. Returning her smile he shifted the laptop so she could see it and pulled up a new document. Hey thanks for being on time. He paused and then realized how that sounded and his fingers flew gracefully over the keyboard. Not that I thought you aren't a person that's time conscious, just that I've been stood up partner wise before. He blushed a bit flustered just from his own awkwardness and turned some papers over. I don't know if you've had a chance to look at the project yet or think of ideas but I was brainstorming a few to get us going Shane watched her a second then realized what an idiot he was. They'd set up this meeting over emails so it was likely she wasn't aware of his condition. He let out a heavy sigh. Please excuse my spaceyness and rudeness today, let me try again. Hi my names Shane and I'll be your partner for this little excursion of our for math class. I am completely mute and mostly deaf but I read lips nearly perfectly and am a quick typer. He offered a crooked but welcoming smile. God Elva would be smacking him right about now for how stupid he looked.

[Len Baker]

She smiled at him and nodded a little as she read everything. "Don't worry. I read fast." She looked down at their papers and looked through them and said something then forgot herself she looked at him and flushed a little. Helen was going to have to get used to facing him while speaking. "I mean.... I've sorta had a few ideas. I was thinking since we are in the cafeteria we can see which people eat which foods. Or we can ask people about their music choices!" She looked more than excited when talking about music. She LOVED music. Then she thought about it and thought that maybe he wouldn't entirely like the music idea. "Did you have any ideas?"

[Shane Williams]

Shane felt himself relax when she just sort of shrugged everything off. Perhaps reading articles about relationships was a bad idea. He was so afraid of interacting with other girls, wasn't that suppose to cause jealousy and problems. He didn't want problems he just wanted to be a good boyfriend. But hey focus back on the task. I was thinking about either asking them questions and doing in a survey style or simply observing which ones purchase milk vs soda and juices? But the music idea would work too. We could create a simple half page survey with music genre's and we ask them to number their choices 1-5 with favorites and A-E with least favorites, or something like that. See what music is most popular. But then the question comes up do we randomize the survey to do every third person that comes in the cafeteria, every person that walks in, or put up a booth and only do those who approach us?

[Len Baker]

She thought about it a little. He was running with the music idea and she loved it. Nodding she grinned. "I was thinking that we'd try everyone that will agree to a survey and make sure that we get a wide variety of people. younger students older students, boys girls, different races and social groups." Grabbing a pencil, Helen was a lead sort of person not ink, she found a new sheet of paper and started listing music genres.

[Shane Williams]

Shane grinned, this was going easier than he thought it would. That works great as long as we are careful to get an even draw from ages and sexes. Shane was very glad that they'd been able to choose a topic so easily and one that they would both enjoy. Over the next ten minutes or so they worked together with his lap top to put a list together that was both broad and simple to hopefully catch every ones likes in music. Alright... what if you approach them and I'll start inputting data... just because it can be hard for me to approach people.... if you want to do the collections today or reschedule for a new day. As if on cue his stomach rumbled... pr perhaps after lunch?

[Len Baker]

She looked around. People were going to be coming and going rather frequently now to eat. "Maybe We should work through lunch. I can grab us some sandwiches or something and we can eat really quick then find people as they get in line or something. Then its an almost random influx of students." She smiled and adjusted her sweater a little. Shane was nice. Easy to talk to.

[Shane Williams]

Shane nodded to her with a smile. That's perfect! but let me get lunch please... my mother would hit me no offense meant at all. What type would you like? He turned a little pink... it was horribly slight almost unnoticeable.

[Len Baker]

Helen smiled up at him. "That's very nice of you." She made a mental note about remembering to let gentleman buy lunch as well as being a gentleman and offering to buy lunch. "I'd be totally happy with some peanut butter and.....strawberry jelly?" She grinned at him hopefully. "Oh... if it isn't too much trouble.... could you find me a green apple too?"

[Shane Williams]

Shane gave a silly bow. Not a problem at all. Be right back He hurried over to get the required meal for the both of them. He had to guess on the drink and just decided on water for the both of them. Balancing the tray Shane hurried back and laid their meals out. Hope water is good. Shane took a seat and unwrapped his ham and cheese sandwich.

[Len Baker]

Nodding Helen smiled. "Water's great!!" Falling quiet she fiddled with the stem of her apple. "So.... you can't hear or talk... at all??" She looked at him curiously. It did seem rude to her to poke at that sort of thing, but she'd understand if he was offended and didn't want to talk about it. But she guessed he was rather used to it.

[Shane Williams]

Shane smiled but took a second. I was born completely deaf and mute, but my gift is hearing.. when I can make it work which it doesn't always. We think that when I can control it I will be able to control the volume of what I can hear. Right now it's pretty random.... May I ask your gift?

[Len Baker]

She listened interested in how his power worked and smiled happy to know that he had experienced hearing at some point. But his question made her fall quiet. A blush crept to her cheeks and she could feel the insecurities that usually belonged to Len seep into her awareness. "Um.. I can shape shift into other human forms...." she left out the part about her usually shifting into a male version of herself simply because it wasn't the most important part of information.