[Monday, September 6, 2004.] [It is still a very nice day, though now it's a very nice early evening! After Krista was, uh... handled by Veronica and Ivy was sent to the principal's office and Christy's diabloical plan was coming to fruition and everyone had to take a quiz of certain doom and fail, it's in their best interests to get some food. And where better than the local Portillo's?] (I did not get 'handled'. That is unseemly.) [You so did. NO SUBTEXT. ONLY TEXT.] (Mhm, Portillo's) (Yes, it's attracting the hall troll.) ( What's a Portillo's? ) (Brett, remember the hotdog/hamburger place from ACen last year?) ( Oh, that place. ) (I picked it because it's Chicago local and everyone's been there.) (Everyone.) [Anyway, Krista's at a table ALL ALONE, watching a table of rather loud junior high school kids half the restaurant away. Luke is entering right abooooout... now, and Charlotte's in line.] (You don't count because you suck Nic, and you will continue to suck untill you get down here and have some. ;p) [Places! Session Start.] (Nic's been there.) (Without us! Blasphemy!) (He went with me! :() (Oh? Then disregard everything I just said about Nic sucking. My bad.) [They're playing Louie Louie over the speakers. Feel the oldies.] * Luke enters! He is still dressed as he was earlier in the day, and is carrying his briefcase in his left hand. He walks over and stands in line. * Krista pushes her glasses up and lets out a small sigh. She has a songbook on the table, since nobody's with her, and is scanning it over as she dips a fry in cheese and puts it to mouth. Mmm. She's got a half-eaten chili-dog sitting on the table too. (I would not have figured Krista for chili dogs and cheese fries.) * Charlotte is totally already in line. She's wearing white jogging pants and a blue short-sleeve shirt. It's totally unusual for her. (She is a woman of international mystery.) (Charlotte has changed since earlier at school?) (I didn't! I just don't remember what sedate piece of sedateness I'm wearing.) ( Yes. Shock! She's wearing different clothes than before! Oh noes! ) (Krista is wearing a black leather miniskirt and bustier.) (If she were, you'd know she was vamped.) (Yep.) (I'm sorry. Mom was talking to me. Give me a second.) * Luke waits in line. * Krista looks up at the junior high school kids for a moment, glances around a moment, then reaches over, caerfully picks up the chili-dog, and takes a bite. Then she quickly puts it down and wipes her mouth before looking down at the songbook and humming with her mouth full. [Charlotte reaches the end of the line! With her is a guy in his mid to late twenties; pretty well built, with reddish brown hair, hazel eyes, and about average height. He's wearing a black t-shirt and jeans, and he steps over to the register and looks at Charlotte. "Want a shake? Chocolate?"] * Charlotte nods. "Sure!" She seems happy enough. (Get that woman a shake!) [The guy grins and turns to the lady behind the counter. "I'd like a beef and cheedar croissant, two hot dogs with everything, uh... two fries, a regular Coke, and a regular chocolate shake." She wastes no time ringing them up and calling the order over the speaker, which sends everyone else behind the counter into a food making frenzy (like they weren't already). The guy pays for the meal(s) and moves out of the line. With Charlotte!] * Charlotte moves with the guy. It's moving in unison! [If Charlotte cares to look around, she can see... Krista! Eating.] * Luke steps forward as the line advances. * Krista is cheesefrying! And reading. Crazy! * Charlotte looks around and does see Krista, eating. But unless Krista is looking around, too, she doesn't say anything. ["Why don't you get a table while I wait for the food?" the guy asks Charlotte.] * Krista isn't, no. She looks very, uh, uninviting. Oddly? Maybe. * Charlotte nods. "Okay!" She looks around for an open table. [Luke steps up to the register! Go line go.] [There are a few. A group gets up and leaves from a table directly across from Krista's, and then a ninja waiter ninjas in and cleans it. And you thought that only happened in Japan! Also, there are a number around the loud junior high school boys. (Wonder why.)] (Charlotte is pursuing true love. Her much older true love.) ( Krista's jealous. ) (I am not!) ( Are too! ) (Are not!) (She wants Char all to herself.) * Charlotte picks the one next to Krista, just 'cause. "Good afternoon," Luke says, giving the cashier a friendly smile. "Could I have a breaded chicken croissant and a coffee?" (But Krista is Veronica's.) ( "No! You get a taco!" ) ["Regular coffee okay?" the lady asks.] * Krista still seems oblivious to Charlotte's presence. At least until she glances around again and reaches over for the chili-dog. She starts picking it up just as she sees Charlotte and freezes for a moment. * Charlotte smiles and gives a slight wave. "Surprised?" "That's fine." [The chili dog does not freeze. Good thing, too, because cold chili is the nasty.] * Krista stares for a moment, then stammers, "A-ah... a little, perhaps." She slowly puts down the chili dog. "How..." she readjusts her glasses and clears her throat. "How are you?" Pretty good! [She nods and calls into the mic, "One chicken croissant and one coffee!" A few key punches later, and she says, "Five twenty-nine please."] (Expensive!) (At least he's not paying with Schaumburg tax.) * Luke hands over six dollars. "Here you are." (I think we're up to twelve percent now. x.x) (Ouch.) How about yourself? [She takes the money and punches it in. A little change machine by her register rattles and into the little holder pops out two quarters, two dimes, and a penny. She hands over a tag with a 31 on it.] * Krista smiles a little and says, "That's good." Beat. "Good." She reaches over to her drink and picks it up, quickly sipping so she doesn't have to talk more. [Right about now, the guy's gotten the food. He's coming over to Charlotte's table! Oh no!] * Charlotte beams "Good." * Luke takes his change and his tag. "Thank you." He heads off in search of a seat. (Instead, he finds: adventure.) * Krista nods a little and pulls back from the drink to say, "I'm... ah, here with my brother." [He finds Charlotte and Krista at separate tables talking to each other, along with a guy about his age just sitting down across from Charlotte, who seems to have brought her (and himself) food. He also finds empty tables! Mostly by the junior high school bunch.] [So, yes, adventure is a good way to put it.] * Luke heads for an empty table. * Charlotte smiles cheerfully at the guy. "Krista, this is Sam!" [He finds one! And one of those kids is yelling, "Luke, knock it off!" But it's probably not directed at him. Maybe.] [The guy (Sam?) looks over at Krista and grins. "Friend of yours, Charlotte?" He leans into the aisle and holds a hand out to Krista.] * Luke looks over at hearing his name, then shrugs. He sets his briefcase on his lap and waits for his food.\ (Also, no, not making you guys roll to notice Luke. You do or you don't.) * Krista nods slightly at the guy and says, "Hello. Pleased to meet you--aah--" she sets down her drink quickly and takes his hand awkwardly in her right, since that's probably what he offered. ( Charlotte does, she just doesn't mention it :P ) * Krista then finishes, "Sam. Nice to meet you Sam." * Charlotte nods to Sam, since he's got a name. "She's from school." [He did! He shakes it. "Yeah? Nice to meetcha, Krista." And then he lets go. "I'm Charlotte's annoying older brother."] (There goes my "sugar daddy" theory.) * Charlotte leans forward, grinning, and whispers much too loudly, "He's not very good at being annoying." * Krista smiles a little, then suddenly glances over towards the yelling and sighs slightly before looking back, her hand slipping away. "I didn't know she had a brother." A beat as she looks to Charlotte's stage-whisper, and a weak smile. "Especially an annoying one." * Charlotte grins. "Well, now you do!" * Luke idly taps a finger on his table. [Sam shoves the milkshake at Charlotte, then goes about divvying up the food. Charlotte gets the croissant and he gets the dogs. "So, you've been friends long?"] ["Thirty-one" comes across on the speakers.] * Krista nods at Charlotte's statement. "Yes, yes..." * Luke stands up, grabbing his case again, and goes to claim his food. * Krista looks down to her food and picks up another fry, not dipping this one. "Not really..." she replies to Sam before eating a little. * Charlotte nods. "We just sort of started hanging out during lunch. And she sits next to me in English." She takes a bite of her fine French cuisine and sips her milkshake. (It's very french!) (French like Chicago.) [It is there and waiting for Luke to claim it! Hooray!] [It's even on a tray.] * Luke takes the tray, balancing it in his right hand, and heads back for his table. [Sam starts on the fries, grabbing two and dunking them both in ketchup. "Oh, you guys're stuck in the same English class. I think Charlotte told me about the test there or something today."] * Krista nods a little in assent and clarifies, "A quiz, yes." * Charlotte nods. "Yeah." * Krista eats some more fries, not even touching the dog now. * Charlotte eats croissant. :9 [One of the junior high school kids comes running into Luke! Literally. Luke gets knocked to one side and into his empty table, but impressively keeps his grip on both the suitcase and his tray, so the coffee does not spill. Still, he's probably grateful they put a lid on those things.] [Charlotte notices the mess, or lack thereof. Wow, her teacher's got some nice tray balancing skills.] [Krista doesn't.] * Charlotte sure does. "Speaking of the quiz, there's the teacher now." [This gets Sam to look over. "Where?"] * Luke shakes his head, as if slightly dazed by the sudden encounter. He looks down at his briefcase, upon which his grip has tightened to the point of his knuckles whitening. Then he looks at the tray of food that he kept balanced. He smiles in surprised self-satisfaction. * Charlotte nods over her shoulder towards Luke. "The guy not making a mess of himself, there." * Luke sets the tray down on his table. [Sam follows the gaze. He looks Luke over for a moment, then says, "Isn't he kinda young to be your teacher?"] * Krista mms questioningly and obediently looks with a fry in her mouth and her eyes widen as she stands, swallowing, "Oh, Luke. Excuse me." Beat, as she starts around from her seat towards the collision. She waits until she's halfway there before saying in female authoritative voice #5, "Luke! Luke Larson!" * Charlotte boggles at that. [The kid takes this opportunity to run by Luke, and he makes it all of five feet before he stops as the Fear of God (or maybe Annoying Big Sister) sets in and he stops in his tracks, turning and looking at Krista.] [All of the junior high kids shut up and look at what's going on, too. This'll be good.] * Luke once again automatically looks over when he hears his name called, and by an authoritative-sounding Krista at that! But the addition of the last name makes all clear, and Luke simply sits down at his table. * Krista walks right over towards him and scolds him in a slightly lower tone, "What were you doing, running around? Did you even apologize to the man?" ["Uh." Pause. Squirm. "No?"] * Krista continues, "Don't you think you should?" [Luke - the other Luke - looks decidedly uncomfortable. "... I didn't mean to?"] * Luke Mendel watches the drama unfold, smiling just a tad. He picks up his coffee and takes a careful sip. * Krista sighs and says, "That's why you apologiz--" she cuts herself off, then switches gears, turning to walk towards Mr. Mendel as she says, "Come on." [It's hot, but Luke is being careful, so he doesn't burn his tongue!] ( Damn, then he can't sue. ) (Sue Portillos'? Heresy.) [The younger Luke sighs and drags along behind Krista. He doesn't look like he's going to enjoy this. Especially since the other junior high school students are whispering and one's snickering.] * Charlotte eats her croissant. "Wow," she says to Sam. * Krista walks over to Mr. Mendel, making sure to give her brother room to walk up. "Good evening, Mr. Mendel. This is my brother Luke, and I think he has something to say." She pauses a short moment before giving a sideways glance to her brother. "Luke?" [Sam swallows a big bite of hot dog and nods. "Yeah. Remind me not to get on her bad side. Voice like that." He mock-shivers.] [Younger Luke looks at Luke, then Krista, then back at Luke. He swallows and looks at the floor. "Sorry."] * Charlotte giggles. "You think? Hmm, maybe I could learn a thing or two..." ["Oh, God. No. Nononono."] "Hello Krista. Pleased to meet you, Luke; that's a good name you've got there." Luke smiles. "Just try to be more careful running around in here." * Krista looks between the Lukes for a moment, frowns just a touch, then decides to say a little quieter to her brother, "Try to do it on your own next time, mmm?" Beat. "Go on." [Luke Larson peeks up at Mr. Mendel, now certain he's not going to get more of a tongue lashing. For the record, he's got light brown hair with bangs, glasses, hazel eyes, and a few freckles. Kinda lanky, like most boys his age.] ["Um, okay." Pause. "Bye." And then he scrams. Walking quickly this time.] * Charlotte grins to herself and sips her milkshake. * Krista looks after her brother for a moment, then sighs moreso and gives the PC Luke a weak smile. "At least nothing spilled." [Sam watches and polishes off his hot dog. "She'll make a great teacher."] * Luke has another sip of coffee. "Yes, no harm done." [The table of junior high schoolers seems a bit disappointed, but they go back to their loudness quickly enough.] "He seems like he's a bit of a handful." * Krista nods and says, "By the grace of God, he'll learn manners someday." She adjusts her glasses. * Luke smiles. "It seems like you've got him under control in the meantime." * Krista blushes faintly and says, "Ah, well... I suppose so." (Krista has a crush on Luke!) (Apparently I'm being fondled by Veronica, want Charlotte, and have a crush on Luke.) (It's hardest on Veronica, for she loves them both.) (What happens next, shower-time fun with Ivy) * Luke nods. "If you brought that same attitude to Lakeview, you'd be running the place in a month." * Charlotte finishes her croissant, and sips her milkshake. * Krista shakes her head and replies quickly, "Oh, no, that isn't--that is, I mean..." she trails off uncertainly. Finally she manages, "I doubt it would matter that much." [Sam starts on the next hot dog, the bun already rapidly disintegrating. And drinks Coke.] "You'd be surprised how much difference a confident attitude can make. That's what got me where I am today. Though, come to think of it, if all it gets you in life is a job as a High School English teacher, you may not want it." * Krista shakes her head slightly and starts to argue, "That isn't..." before trailing off again and switching conversations to an quieter yet uncertain, "Not... just an English teacher." ( She wants to teach PE, too. ) (Yeah, Krista's JUST the sort to teach gym.) (Yeah. Happens to everyone who smuggles steaks under their dress.) "No, not just," Luke agrees more quietly. "But my point is, you should show some more of that confident attitude at school." [Sam swallows and then talks to Charlotte: "So, I was thinking... not enough for the air conditioner and winter's coming anyway, so you need any new clothes or anything?"] * Charlotte smiles and shakes her head. "Nah, I'm fine." * Krista looks to him for a moment before glancing up and away from him to reply, "Even if I wanted to, it wouldn't change much." ["You sure?"] * Charlotte nods. "Sure. My old clothes are still good." "Well, you supplement the confident attitude with judicious use of blackmail." * Krista stares at Luke a moment, working her mouth as if trying to formulate a response and not... quite making it. ( Secret's out ) * Luke eats some croissant while Krista tries yet again to accept a world in which a teacher will make a joke. ( Pfft. Never happen. ) (She will explode first.) * Krista finally manages, "That wouldn't be right." She runs her hand back over her hair for a moment before half-asking, "I should get back to my table, Mr. Mendel. Music to run through." [Sam grins. "All right. More for me." He grabs more fries with ketchup. Yum!] * Luke nods. "See you in class tomorrow, Krista." * Charlotte pouts. "Hey! No fair! You should put it in the bank or something!" [He snickers and says around his fries, "Hey, you got your chance!"] * Charlotte folds her arms and humphs. "If I'd known you were just going to waste it all...." * Krista has quit IRC (Read error: Connection reset by peer ) [Luke the Younger returns from the bathroom! He sneaks down the aisle Charlotte and Sam are at and makes it all the way to Krista and Luke the Older. He might even sneak by them and sit with his friends again.] * Krista nods back and says, "Of course. Have a good night..." "You too." * Krista turns, giving her brother a mere scanned over look before going back to her table. Aww. She's not burning him with eye lasers. [Luke Larson seems to be trying VERY HARD to avoid being burned with the eye lasers that might come and get him. He scoots to his table and sits down. Whew.] ["Aw, c'mon Charlotte. I don't waste anything." Now Krista returns, and he grins, waving at her. "Hey!"] [Maybe this is where Charlotte gets it from.] * Krista looks to Charlotte and Sam with a slightly embarassed look. "Ah. Hey." She slips back into her seat. * Charlotte grins at Krista. "Hey. Is this your brother?" She looks at Luke. (Er, Luke's not near me so much, is he?) (Just made the this weird.) (Nope. Though she could be indicating the not-very-distant Luke Larson.) ( I thought they were at the same table ) [Said Luke is currently being teased. Maybe, anyway, given half his fries were stolen and they put mayo in his ketchup. He looks a bit flustered.] (Nope. Different tables. Like he'd want to sit with his sister.) * Krista nods slightly. "Yes, he is." She sighs before picking up her chili-dog and taking a very careful (although large) bite and wiping her mouth. ( o ) (We'll just say she indicated the boy anyhow.) * Charlotte grins. "You should introduce me some time." * Luke finishes his food. * Krista shakes her head quickly, "No, I'm sure he's not interested." * Charlotte tilts her head. "Huh?" [Luke's food is gone. GONE! THE HUMANITY!] (Charlotte/Luke Larson! Yet another random pairing.) ( Nah. He's not interested. Clearly, he's gay. ) ["I think she means he wouldn't think it's 'cool'," Sam puts in. "Like why he's not sitting with his obviously cool big sister."] * Charlotte sighs. "Oh." * Krista shakes her head again and takes a sip... just in time to cough violently at Sam's comment. "Aah--*cough*--I--yes, much like tha--*cough*..." * Charlotte nods. "Well, if you say so." She still sounds disappointed, however. [He looks concerned. "You okay?"] * Luke, his food finished, gets up and heads for the exit. [The exit awaits him! No kids run him over. Thank goodness like.] * Krista nods and puts her napkin to her mouth as the coughs subside. After that she responds, "Yes, I'm fine, just a little soda." (Remind me to stab Rowyn.) ( For what? :o ) * Luke heads out into the parking lot. (He's NOT HERE. >_<) (Why does that require stabbing?) (Because here is good.) (And not here is bad.) (Because it'd be nice to have Veronica show up and act on her !crush on Luke.) (Snerk.) (Okay, let me think. Need something for Mr. Mendel to do.) (Random gay sex.) (Dude, I don't think he'd be up for it in the middle of a parking lot.) (Well, maybe not _in the middle of the parking lot_. Doesn't he have a car?) ('tis true.) (An SUV.) ( Oooh, those are roomy. ) (Yeah, really.) (And often have tinted windows!) (Okay, #secondstring2 if you would, Luke.) [Sam nods, still looking a little concerned, but he doesn't start slapping Krista on the back.] (What part of the body does he slap her on, then?) (How indecent!) (The magic boobies, naturally.) (>_>) (Can't resist 'em!) (If he's SLAPPING them he's got a problem.) (The problem is likely bookbag shaped and headed at his head.) * Krista finishes recovering her composure and says, "Don't be too disappointed, Charlotte." She eats a few more unadorned fries. * Charlotte sighs. "I guess I'm no good with kids." She chuckles. * Krista looks over at her and says soothingly, "I am sure you can be." * Charlotte shrugs. "Dunno!" ["It's not a big deal. I think most people just have to be okay with some kids."] * Krista gets a puzzled look for a moment, then goes back to eating, shifting the music sheet book more in front of her face. * Charlotte grins. "Like Sam. He's great with kids." She blinks and leans out into the isle. "You're into music, Krista? I didn't know that." ( The aisle! The aisle! ) [Sam takes this opportunity to scarf the rest of his hot dog. Yum.] (We eat on opposite sides of HAwaii.) * Krista nods and says modestly, "I'm in the school and church choirs." Oh, right! I think you mentioned that before. ["You can sing?" Sam looks interested. "Must go with the voice."] * Krista blushes slightly and looks away to say, "I don't--yes, I can." She quickly takes a fry and puts it in her mouth to chew. Slowly. * Charlotte grins. "I think that's cool." * Krista smiles a little and looks over to them to say, "Thank you both. I was very blessed." * Charlotte keeps grinning. She's pretty good at it. ["Like Charlotte and her violin, I bet. Don't know what it is with you people. I can't hold a tune worth a damn."] * Krista looks to Charlotte with a new curiosity. "I hadn't realized," is all she says, though. (The 2S cast forms a band!) * Charlotte pouts and kicks Sam under the table. "Hey, instructor Hans says I'm pretty good!" She nods to Krista. "Yeah, I'm in the school band. Veronica, too. We both play Violin." * Krista looks away slightly. "Well, that's very nice." * Charlotte tilts her head. "What is it?" ["Ow!" Sam falls against the half wall, clutching his shin.] (Wha?) (Ah! The kick.) * Krista blinks and shakes her head slightly. "No, there... Music is wonderful." She looks over at Sam and asks, "Are you okay?" Geez, it wasn't THAT hard, Sam. ["I will never walk again," he groans, obviously hamming it up.] * Krista smiles weakly and takes another drink. A safer drink! * Charlotte shakes her head and gives Krista a helpless look. "Brothers." * Krista puts her drink down and says, "God put them on the earth for a reason." ["Oh, great. Now you're plotting against me." Sam looks at Krista. "Not even a little sympathy?"] Nope. None. * Krista blinks and retorts, "I'm not plotting against you." Beat. "Are you not okay?" ["No, no. I'm fine. Just fine." He sits up straight and goes about eating his fries.] * Krista pauses slightly and does the same! * Charlotte steals some fries. [Fries are stolen! Sam doesn't seem to notice at first.] * Krista looks over to check on Luke as she carefully sneaks the last bite of her dog over a napkin. [Luke seems pretty sour, though the other boys are getting along great. He's glancing back at Krista, and the rest of his fries and ketchup are untouched.] * Krista swallows and looks back to her book, humming quietly again. * Charlotte steals another fry, grinning at Sam. [Now he notices. "Hey! Fry thief!"] * Charlotte grins wider. * Krista glances over to the two of them for a moment and then turns back to her sheets and eats. But not sheets that you eat. That'd just be weird. ( Tasty! ) [Sam gets revenge. By grabbing Charlotte's shake and taking a sip.] Hey! Ew! * Krista doesn't seem to be distracted by the war. She looks to Luke again before she starts to stuff trash into the bag on her tray. ["HA." He puts the shake down, triumphantly. "Contaminated."] Bleh. [Krista succeeds without even making a roll! Luke sulks.] * Charlotte sips it anyhow, though. "Tastes terrible." [Sam smirks, certain of his victory, and goes back to drinking Coke.] * Krista looks over at the two of them and says, "Well, it was nice to see you, and meet you Sam." Beat. "But we should be going." * Charlotte smiles. "Okay. See you tomorrow, Krista." * Krista waves slightly at Charlotte and Sam and heads over to her brother, and likely to the out as well! * Charlotte waves back to Krista and continues conversing with Sam about, erm, something. [Informal Session Closing!]