Who: Kayla & Rowan What: a random run-in When: Wednesday afternoon Where: college Rating: Low
Kayla exited her college class, stopping long enough to add her new assignment to her calendar. Truthfully, she had expected to drown in college classes, but other than the class with more math than planned, the teen actually found she liked her classes, especially art. She really wanted to open an interior design store in this town, once she finished, but right now? Getting through with a 3.5 GPA or higher seemed like a more admirable goal. Plus, then she could not think about other things.
She’d started meandering through the campus, killing time until her next class. Forty-five minutes was just a little too short to go home or start on assignments, but too long to not go do something. After walking around for a few minutes, the brunette noticed Rowan and decided to go say hi. Kalya liked Rowan from the little the pair chatted and she could use another friend.
“Hey Rowan,” she greeted the other young woman.
Rowan had decided to take advantage of the gorgeous weather, knowing full well that winter would be here soon enough. Then hanging outside and doing some reading for her psychology class was going to be out of the question. Fully aware of her surroundings, which came in part with everything that had happened back home. With another class later today, she figured she would stay around campus and work on some readings. Maybe even hit up the library for her psych paper to gather some resources. Sitting on the grass, she had her bag at her feet that was open. With her camera in clear view along with a few books and notebooks that she needed. Her camera always going with her just in case now that she was finding more confidence in her photos even if she hadn’t fully reached the point of any shows or anything. Wearing torn jeans and a shirt that was off the shoulders, she turned to hear her name. Smiling at the sight of Kayla who seemed nice, then again Rowan wasn’t always the best judge of character based on people from her own world. Still, the other girl had shown nothing as of yet for Rowan to question or have concerns about. “Oh hey!” She rested her book on her lap, moving to sit up a bit straighter as she invited Kayla to join her. Rowan refused to have what happened back home happen here causing her to always be friendly and welcoming to all no matter what. Also, helped when the dome had given them a kid. “What are you up to?” Kayla noticed the camera and wondered what sort of pictures that Rowan took. Maybe if they became better friends she could ask. Given that Kayla tended to be private about her art, really only showing Kol and Allison these days, she didn’t even consider asking Rowan. The warmth of the sun helped Kayla feel better and grateful she’d gone for a backless shirt and jean shorts. “Damn, you look great in that outfit.” Kayla mildly flirted, but nothing serious considering her boyfriend, and sat down when invited. “Killing time between classes. Forty-five minutes is such an annoying break time. It’s just short enough that I can’t really study or go home.” She kind of missed their kid. “How about you?” Rowan could understand completely about the whole being private about ones art since it was only recently when she started showing it a bit more. For the longest time, her art stayed within her bedroom, then slowly started to expand outward. However, Rowan was far from having the self-confidence many believed she should have. Then again most had no idea full on what she had dealt with back home. Thankfully, Allison, the family, and her friends let her decide on the pace to do things. At the compliment, a hint of red came over her cheeks since she was definitely not at all good at flirting. That was more her best friend’s area or that other person who looked like her when the dome was pulling that nightmare. “Thank you, and I could say the same about you and your outfit,” she told her with a small smile. If Rowan wasn’t with her boyfriend, then she could see her thinking Kayla was cute and could see why a version of her had a child with the person in front of her. “Yeah, those breaks like that can make it difficult. Usually why I end up working on some work or seeing about grabbing some food to pass the time,” she admitted with a smile. “But pretty much enjoying the last of the nice weather and working on some readings for one class until my next one. You know having a wild time that everyone should be jealous of,” she said with a smirk to show she was joking. A kid walking by waved to Rowan and she waved back before turning her attention back on Kayla. It was weird for Rowan to have people actively interacting with her, knowing back home when that happened it was rarely a good thing. “What are you studying?” She asked, tilting her head, realizing she never found that out when they were handling their kid. Then again it wasn’t exactly a needed question at the time. Kayla liked to share her art with her parents and Logan. And her Aunt Alyssa. Maybe at some point she’d want to show off her art at the museum, but for now the college student focused on her classes and art for herself. Usually self-expression. Like Rowan, Kayla’s support system allowed her to express herself at her own pace. The teen laughed and grinned at the other young woman. Kayla liked offering compliments to select few and apparently Rowan fell on the list. “Thanks.” She liked her style quite a bit. Like Rowan, Kayla could see why a version of her had a child with Rowan, but she had no plans to break up with her boyfriend. “I thought about grabbing a snack, but I’m not actually hungry right now.” Kayla couldn’t help but laugh, as she stretched out her legs and closed her eyes to enjoy the sun. “The wildest time. My envy is ridiculously high.” The question brought forth a sigh. “Doubling in business and art, so you know, nothing too overwhelming. What about you?”
Rowan was thankful for her support system, especially considering how many guardians she had gone through with the dome sending them home before ending up with Allison. Not only did they let her do things at her own pace, but they protected her. Her track record for finding trouble and danger still very consistent. Just like Kayla, she had no plans to break up with Liam, but she could see why some version of her in some place had a child with Kayla. The other girl seemed nice and she was pretty, so she could definitely see it. At least, she could say without a doubt no matter all the things wrong with her, Rowan had good taste in her relationships even if her semi-lack of confidence had her unsure why they picked her. Not that she would say that aloud cause she knew many people would give her a look or have things to say about it. She was still working on building up that confidence that had been kicked so many times, but yeah, it had a long way to go. “What were you thinking for a snack? Cause depending, you can always grab it and hold on to it until later when you get hungry. Last thing you want is to end up hangry in class,” she said with a smile to show she was only teasing a bit about the hangry part. Laughing at the envy comment, Rowan shook her head. “As you should be. That’s why I’m sitting here so everyone walking by can be envious of me.” The idea of that was hilarious and very much not a think, but she was pretty sure it was obvious she was joking even with someone who didn’t know her all that well. If Rowan had been serious, her tone would be rather different, so she felt it was safe to make the stupid comment. “That’s an interesting mix, and I’m sure you’re kept busy, especially with the business. I’m a psychology major with a minor in chemistry,” she enjoyed science and thought it’d be fun; however, her main interest was in psychology and where her career would go. “What’s wrong with the majors?” She figured the sigh was for a reason. Kayla couldn’t help but feel grateful for whom the Dome decided should be her guardian. Sure, she and Kol didn’t exactly get along at first, but now the teen couldn’t imagine someone else more in her corner than Kol and Allison. The teen didn’t think of herself as nice, but maybe this place had returned part of the old Kayla back to this version. She knew a different part of her would be haunted, but she could focus on the normal college things, like boring homework and whether she had a few hours to see her boyfriend. She laughed at the hangry remark. “It’s like you know me. But thankfully, I have a protein bar in my bag. I keep a stash in my bag, so I avoid the hanger stage.” Kayla tended to bring snacks with her given the amount she’d go to the gym, so this way she wouldn’t get hungry and ensure she fed herself enough calories. A smirk and she laughed at her new friend. “The limit of my envy does not exist.” “Nothing. It’s just that before I showed up here I didn’t care much about school. And so to throw myself into a double major feels overwhelming. Thankfully it’s not pre-med like the me with fake memories wanted.” Kayla would never be that level of go-getter.
Rowan laughed at the knowing her comment. “Oh god, you sound like a friend from my world. I love Elisia to death, but she could get moody when she was hungry,” and she missed the girl. It was weird to think about that since if it hadn’t been for Monkeyman, she never would have become friends Elisia, fixed her friendship with Hailey, or made the positive connections that she had. At least, a few good things came out of the whole nightmare even if there was a high chance she was dead the second she returned back to her world. “At least, I know how to deal with the hangry part and I will keep my head in tact,” she teased. “But that’s very good to know about the protein bar. I’m only moody if I don’t get my morning coffee, then after that I’m good.” It was her biggest vice as evident around her coffee machine at home both at the house here and back in her world. In her defense, she had needed it with the lack of sleep she sometimes went without in the beginning with the nightmares and all the time back home, fearing someone might be in the house. A caffeine addiction was better than other possible addictions other people her age had. Drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, and none of them she touched. So she figured this vice was fine considering how many other people in the world had the same one, then again even if it wasn’t, she was not about to give it up.
Rowan listened and could understand to a certain degree. Not about the school part, but about the throw oneself into something that was the exact opposite of back home. School had been all she had back home to distract her from how much her life sucked. However, in her situation, the difference was the making of friends, showing in the amount of friends that she had around here. “Yeah, that would be a huge extreme. How are you doing then with the double major considering what you were like? Though I get it a bit. For me, I had no friends until a certain situation, forcing friendships upon me. Not that I would change that, but still. Here I have made a lot of friends and sometimes it can feel overwhelming sometimes.” Rowan would never change that considering she made sure no one felt lonely or at risk like she should have done with Dunbar only she had failed.
“I try to not be too moody, but I’m definitely guilty of it at times.” Kayla didn’t have any friends back in New York besides Laney and she didn’t want to consider it too closely. “Oh, I definitely require my caffeine fix in the morning.” The teen liked coffee while she cooked breakfast. Given that Kayla needed to kick a pill and alcohol addiction upon her arrival, she would give her father hell if he questioned her caffeine addiction. Kol didn’t approve of underage drinking or drug use and she respected and loved her father enough to follow his rules. “I’m doing okay. My father agreed to pay for a tutor so that’s helpful.” Kayla grinned. She remembered how it felt to have a full social plate like the before times. “I’m glad you have more friends now. You’re nice, so you definitely should have friends. Making friends is a struggle for me these days. I feel like everyone was already friends with my boyfriend, my parents, or their family.” Not that Kayla minded, but it felt like she didn’t have a friend of her own.
“I think everyone is guilty of being moody at some point or another,” Rowan knew she was definitely guilty of it. Even though she was known for being nice and welcoming, which came from everything she dealt with back home, she also knew she was very much guilty of being moody at times. Most of the time it was before her caffeine fix, remembering when this place had all the caffeine gone and she was a nightmare with no coffee. Not something she wanted to deal with again anytime soon. “My coffee and I are BFF’s and will never part ways,” she said with a small laugh.
Rowan didn’t even want to think what she’d have been like back in her world and when first arriving in town if she hadn’t had her coffee. With not sleeping out of fear and then going to school, it would have been hell for everyone around her. It was a habit that was hers, and considering she had people back home who had a pill problem, drinking, and other problems that she was trying to help them with, hers was not that bad in comparison to what it could be and what people close to her had as addictions. Caffeine was a safer option compared to other choices.
“Tutor for what subject?” Rowan asked with a slightly raised eyebrow, curious about what Kayla was struggling with. “But I’m glad he’s agreed to pay for one since it can be beneficial and get you the help that you need. Rowan had never been one to have a full social plate, then her best friend distancing herself from Rowan and then what her mom did it led to Rowan having no one and being more of a loner than anything. “Thank you, and I do try. Incidents back home made it where I decided to be nicer to everyone no matter what even when they are sometimes not so nice to me,” she admitted, but she left it at that on what those incidents were. This was not the place to talk about it fully; however, she was more open about thezoo to people who she considered friends. Rowan listened and could understand how that might be tough, especially when the people had been here a while. “Well, I don’t think I’m friends with any of them, and I’m your friend, if you want? Also, if you want, you’re welcomed to come hang out with me and my friends during our next hang out, which you can meet some people you may or may not have met already?” Rowan’s friends and boyfriend knew what she was like so her inviting new people would not come as a surprise to them. True. Everyone certainly could be moody and generally were at various points. Kayla managed to not be so nearly as much here, but not being moody required a lot of effort on the part of the teen. She laughed. “You sound like my aunt. I think she might love coffee more than her partner.” Not that Kayla blamed Alyssa, because she didn’t particularly care for Damien Duval, regardless of her father’s feelings on the matter. Kol expected a lot from Kayla and it turned out she liked the structure he provided her lost soul. Him and Allison. But yes, caffeine seemed like the safest drug of choice, considering Kayla didn’t particularly like or crave a lot of sugar. “One of my business classes has some background math and info I need extra help with to pass.” Kayla shrugged, unconcerned that she needed a little extra help. “Yes, I’m glad too, but he’d generally really good about that sort of thing.” Kol might expect a lot, but he wouldn’t shy away from helping his daughter either when she required it. “At least one of us can claim nice,” she joked with a shrug, pushing her hair out of her face. Kayla wouldn’t push, given she and Rowan didn’t know each other very well. “I think I’d like to be friends.” Rowan was nice and it made Kayla feel a little bit relaxed. “Sure! I’d be happy to meet people.” She had no idea if she knew anyone that Rowan did. Rowan laughed, but yeah, she was pretty sure everyone who knew her knew about her love for coffee. Even the idea of going without it for one day just broke her heart. And if they didn’t know her, then all anyone had to do was look by the coffee machine at her house where she had many kinds of coffee both there and in the pantry. “Coffee will always treat you right no matter what,” she said with a small laugh. “I’m pretty sure if my dad had known back in my world how much coffee I was drinking, he may have tried to get me to drink other things.” Mainly because he cared even if he could be a lot, Rowan knew it was out of love. More than what her mother offered to her; however, she also knew her dad was worried about him after what happened with Dunbar. Still, his work schedule as a cop made it easier for her to get away with things such as her coffee addiction without him noticing too much.
“If I wasn’t as busy as I have been lately, depending on the math I’d have offered, but I don’t really have that time,” Rowan needed to be kept busy for her own sanity. If she didn’t have something to do for school or her job, she was usually in the kitchen or spending time with people just because she had to keep busy or she’d find herself locking herself away again, focusing on a board that had her playing detective as if she would put all the pieces together of who was apart of thezoo. “But you know there is a tutoring center on campus that might be able to help you out,” Rowan offered. Though not having been there herself, she had no idea whether they offered someone able to help with what Kayla needed. “I’m glad you seem to have an awesome guardian. Though I don’t think I’ve heard of anyone having a horrible one yet,” she added that cause there was always a possibility at some point. Each of her guardians before Allison had been amazing, and her friends had some awesome ones. Hopefully, this place wasn’t that cruel, then again one could never know what the dome was capable of. Smiling, she leaned back a bit, nodding at what Kayla said. “Then I’m happy to consider us friends. Which you already have my number, and I think…,” she trailed off, pulling out her phone to double check before speaking again, “and I did save your number. So yes, you’re always welcome to call or text if you want to do something or see about doing something. Then next time I get together with my friends usually at my place with junk food that I made and movies, I’ll invite you along.” That reminded her it had been a while since she checked in on her best friend and also have another hang out for everyone to chill out, especially with the holidays fast approaching. Sometimes coffee helped Kayla taste stars, but she did love a good dose of caffeine…or three. “Coffee and I are generally close and personal friends,” she agreed. Kayla shrugged with a half-smirk. “Your dad probably isn’t as much of a hardass as Kol.” Not that she sounded anything but caring when speaking of her surrogate father. “But even he can’t restrict my caffeine intake.” “Aw thanks. No, one of the girls in my class offered to help, but I’ll keep the tutoring centre in mind.” Kayla nodded. She probably wouldn’t have called Kol awesome in the beginning, but considering she called him Dad these days, obviously their relationship improved. “Thanks.” She offered a smile and double checked her phone. “I’ll get through the next couple weeks and reach out, but I think I’m going to go grab a coffee before class starts.” Kayla stood and grabbed her things. “And I appreciate the invite.” The teen smiled once more before she turned to leave. Rowan laughed before giving a very doubtful look on the comment about her own dad. Yes, she knew she had been more than difficult at times, and she also loved her dad more than anything, but she also knew after the incident at the party that he went overboard. “I may have agreed before drama happened in my life, but these days, I may have to disagree,” she was joking, but there was a real possibility. The fact her father had his officer buddies sitting outside their house when he had to work, making sure she stayed in and no one got out was a prime example of being overprotective. Not that it worked, but she knew he had tried very hard. The joy of her room being easy enough to sneak out of, and never doing it before that her dad didn’t think she would. “I think my dad would have definitely tried, especially when it was winning out over sleep.” And him being unsure why she wasn’t sleeping.
She was glad someone in Kayla’s class had offered to help, but she was also glad that her new friend was going to get that help for the math that was tricking her up. Hopefully, one of the options that she had would work out for her.
“Of course, I’m always happy to invite people along. I know how much it can suck trying to get to know people around here, so I’m happy to help,” she got lucky with how quickly she had made some of her friends around here. However, not everyone was that lucky and she was always up for trying to help. “Thanks for stopping and talking with me for a bit! Enjoy your coffee,” she said with a small wave before Kayla headed off, then returned her attention back to what she had been doing.