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Laney is in the library Tuesday, and decides to text John.

Laney raises her head from the book she'd been using as a pillow and stares guiltily down at the splotchy text she'd drooled on while she slept.   It was an interesting fusion of precise print and abstract two dimensional shapes, which reminded her of -

She cups her phone in her palm and sends a message to John:

can we talk after school?

Then she notices the time and emits a stream of profanity under her breath, shrinking down into her chair, desperately wishing she were invisible.  History class started over thirty minutes ago.

It's only about a minute later that she receives a reply.  Meet you by the tennis courts after last bell?

yes

Laney wasn't about to walk into the classroom this late and almost heads to the tennis courts now.  She stops herself just outside the door when the wind is a cold slap to her face.  Stupid. 

John is at the tennis courts after last bell.  "Hey, what's up?"  he says when he sees her.

She'd never been to this location on school property and is staring wide-eyed at the chain link, even while she smiles and greets him.

"A couple of things. Sortof.  Sorry. The map, the box, and the dance.  That's three, isn't it?  Do you have a route you patrol, or do you just roam around?"

"I don't actually patrol.  Not really.  My mom is a little sensitive about that.  Why?"

"No? Because I was trying to figure out how I could help. You know, with your - and Sammy's - neighborhood watch and I thought if I...well, I was looking at my street map and - Did I tell you that?  I - Alright.  Stupid idea. Sorry.  I don't even know how to..."  She pauses and sighs.

"I keep thinking I need practice, but that implies, even necessitates repetition - regulation and prediction and...it doesn't work.  Sorry. I talked to Adrien again.  He finds people, he says.  I thought that might be useful to learn how to do.   Um...Oh. Whitney's box.

"Sorry I missed lunch today.  I like talking to you.  It's the highlight of my day.  I was trying to find a book for a report I'm supposed to do.  Would you like to go to the college again?  The library?  With me?"

John listens intently as Laney speaks.  when she's done he nods.  "You want to predict places to be.  So just do it.  I'll enlist Sylvia and Sammy, they're into that sort of thing.  And I missed lunch too.  And I like talking to you.  And I'd like to go to the library.  And I'm glad Adrien turned up."  He counts some of his fingers.  "I haven't heard anything about the box yet."  He counts some fingers again.  "You're like one of those memory games."  he says with a smile.  "When did you want to go to the college?"

"You didn't tell me what shade of blue.  I don't know if 'predict' is the right word to use, but I don't know the right one.  If I'm not there, then how would I know I'm in the right place?  See?  I need practice. And that's not the right word, either.  I should've asked Greg if Whitney's a college student.  Doesn't matter.  I thought going back to the scene of the crime that didn't happen would be helpful, but anyone with half a brain would've removed any - Sylvia helps, too?  Is she taking English Lit?  Why'd you miss lunch?"

"Her class schedule is not in my head.  I'm not telling you why I missed lunch.  And you picked an email address from a blind list.  Why can't you pick places and times out of thin air?  Sylvia is studying to be a black belt in civic duty I think.  Just don't tell her I said that.  It's dark blue."

OOC: Now would be the perfect time for John's phone to chime with a certain text message.

John's phone chirps, and he looks at it.  "Alicia talked to Mr. Heep."  He forwards the message to Laney.  "Here, just so you have it to read if you want."

"Civic - Oh!  I understand.  Then you should wear the tuxedo, as long as it's not too frilly.  I don't like fluffy things.  They go...everywhere. I won't make you wear a mask. Sorry I suggested it.  It wasn't a blind list.  I knew its purpose and I had correspondence from someone on the list to...to connect it.  I could just say, 'Go to the corner of Western and Devon at eleven Wednesday night, head north,' and...then what?  Count cars?  I don't know...I'm sorry.  It was a stupid idea.  Friday's the dance, Saturday you're - Oh. What about Saturday whenever you guys get back?  Then, if they want to come with us, they - Um..."

She spends a few minutes blinking at the screen of her phone.

"What's love goo?  Is that a typo?"

"It's something that makes you apparently loose inhibitions regarding people you might be attracted to.  There were some incidents earlier in the year, but nothing on that front in a while.  It's not a filly tuxedo.  And we implies you want to go out and fight crime.  You ready for that?"

"Oh. Perfume. I get it.  That'd make a lot of money if it works.  I wonder what chemicals they -I was teasing.  It's alright if you like lace or whatever, John.  I think you'd look nice  Jean said I should get a blue or black dress and then I just thought we should match.  Is that too prom-ish? Sorry. It's just a dance.  I shouldn't worry about it.  It's like being ten again, huh? Wanting to go to work with my dad or something.  Until mom found out he was sneaking things home for me to play with.  Kits and stuff.  She got weird and - it's not like I went around carving up animals or anything.  Well, nothing alive.  Why anyone needs three different types of earplugs, I don't know.  I've forgotten almost everything I learned from the self defense classes and I lost some..weight.  I don't think I should be fighting anyone.  Who's Cindy?"

"Cindy Capshaw.  She was the person that hated Gena Ballestra and tried to kill her.  Because of the perfume."

"That's what the meeting was last week.  Um...John?  Will you tell me who...Who else helps? I mean who was at the meeting the day I hurt my ankle?   I didn't want to go because I didn't want anyone to think I - But if I help, then I am, aren't I?  I don't know anymore."   She rubs her forehead, frowning.  "Sorry.   I'll just see you Friday and stay out of the way.  Probably best.  Let me know about Saturday."

"Most of us."  he says softly.  "And it's not something to be ashamed of.  It's not a sickness.  But it does take getting used to.  And it's not like you're not already involved.  Just by being around."

"Yeah.  Who's us?  Oh."  Her little brain dismantled the words letter by letter and came up with something.  He could tell by the widening of her eyes and the embarrassed pink color spreading across her cheeks.

"Sorry.  I'm not so jaded as you.  It is a sickness to everyone else.  I think I could handle that if I was still...me.  Oh, I didn't mean to be a downer.  Sorry.  I'm alright.  Just...Don't know what to do. Hitting the ball around was fun, but I like team sports. 

"I'm not involved.  Not in a good way.  What are you guys going to do?  About the...the goo?   I should be nicer to Mr. Heep, especially after the mess I made."

"Not sure.  Sylvia and Collin will come up with something."  He lets anything else go unsaid about being paranormal.  "So, the library.  When did you want to go?"

Laney looks from the tennis courts to her phone again.

"I don't..." Sounds and scents, boxes and maps.  She feels rather than someone had tossed her up in the air and let her scatter like so many cards - only she's short a few faces, and someone snuck an extra joker into the deck.

"Alicia?"

Back to the main academic building she twists her head to squint, then mumbles, "Sarah was going with you.  I forgot about - Whenever you get back.  Just call me.  This box, if it's nothing special, could I see it, do you think?  I didn't want to touch it before, because thinks break sometimes.  But if it's nothing special, it's alright.  Saturday."

"Dance Friday, crime fighting Saturday."  John says.  "Library later?"

"Both. Because the crime that didn't happen was near the library.  Depends on how much time we have.  I want to...try...umm..practice.  I have to get a book soon.  It takes me a long time to...Well, sooner the better.  Alright.  Um..thanks. Sorry to keep you so late."

"Not a problem.  You want me to take you home?"

"That would be...nice.  Thanks."  From the building she turns and smiles, this time directly into his eyes.  She might actually be seeing him.

John picks her up, "Hang on."  he says, and they're moving.  It's only a minute before they're on the porch, and he's setting her down.  "Call me when you're ready to go to the library.  Or we can meet there if you like.  Whatever you're comfortable with."

"Wait." She closes her eyes, putting her memories into order again, still clinging to his arm.  She was sure she said more than once that he was supposed to call her when he returned from his flying lessons, but -

"What days are good for you? Wednesday?  Did I say that before? Thursday or Saturday?  This is Tuesday."  She sounds uncertain about that.

"We can go to the library whenever you like.  If it's crime fighting, then we should maybe wait until Saturday.  There is a fitting party Thursday for costumes, the dance if Friday, so Saturday might be good.  And, yes, it is Tuesday.  All day."  He's smiling as he finishes.

Smiling crookedly up at John, she says, "We're back to Wednesday or Saturday.Why don't I give the school's library one more chance tomorrow at lunch, then - Didn't you say something about not liking costumes?  I didn't know there was a party.  It's alright if you want to wear a costume.  Pretending to be something other than myself seemed silly, since I'm already not.  And I didn't think there'd be enough time.  I'll see you tomorrow.  Thanks for the ride home."

"You're welcome."  Then he's gone, the slight breeze that indicates he left swirls around for a moment, and then it's like he was never there at all.