Caroline Forbes is full of light (miss_mystic) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2015-09-12 17:55:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, anna of arendelle, caroline forbes, ezra fitz |
Who: Anna of Arendelle, Ezra Fitz, no humanity!Caroline Forbes
When: September 12
Where: Some Bar
What: Caroline ditches Anna at Ezra's poetry reading
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete
Anna couldn’t get in by herself. The Poetry reading she’d heard about was taking place at a bar, and Anna didn’t have a fake ID. So Anna begged Caroline to take her, practically dragged the blonde vampire along to get them into the bar. After some compulsion and a hefty tip, the two girls were sitting near the stage in the bar with a couple of drinks in front of them on the table.
Anna was rather excited. She’d been hiding her growing feelings for--her growing crush on--her creative writing professor, though Anna was far from secretive. She just hadn’t come out and said it to anyone yet. She was barely admitting it to herself.
“Think this’ll get us extra credit?” Anna asked Caroline, breaking into a smirk while they waited for Ezra to take the stage.
The only reason Caroline was at this stupid poetry reading was because there was alcohol. “Who cares?” she asked taking a long sip of her beer. Classes hadn’t even started yet. Who the hell gave a shit about extra credit? “Why are you so excited about this poetry reading anyway? Is it because that professor you won’t shut up about is here?”
Anna blushed. She hadn’t realized that she’d been talking so much about Professor Fitz. But, maybe she had? If Caroline had noticed… oh, God, he hadn’t noticed, had he? Well, it wasn’t like Anna talked to him about … him.
An announcer--a woman wearing a skirtsuit and a ridiculous perm--came up on stage. She stepped to the mic and the lights dimmed. A spot came on for her. “Welcome to our September Poetry Night,” she said into the mic. There was scattered applause around the bar, but it was obvious not everyone in the bar was there for the readings. “Our first poet has been published in several magazines and periodicals. He teaches at the University of California in Irvine in the English Department. Can I have a round of applause for Ezra Fitz!”
Anna brightened and sat up. She clapped excitedly, without thinking about what she might look like to Caroline.
Caroline didn’t bother to clap, going for an eye roll instead. But then Ezra walked on to the stage. Oh. He was cute. No wonder Anna talked about him all the time. Maybe this night wouldn’t be so bad after all.
Ezra didn’t write much poetry. Short stories were more his thing. However he received a poem from the dreams and wanted to try it out. Taking a seat on the stool he didn’t bother to look out into the audience much, he had to admit he was a little nervous. He didn’t even greet them like he usually would when reading a short story. Instead he went right into the poem.
“It's a number.
It's a song.
It's a girl.
Smooth.
Pearl Joy packed.” That was when he finally glanced up and saw just who was in the audience. He froze. Staring right at Anna unable to speak, to continue his poem. What the hell was she doing here?
Caroline looked from Ezra to Anna a small smirk appearing on her lips. Oh. Well that definitely explained it. “So how long have you been sleeping with the professor?” she asked her friend.
Anna was engrossed in the words of the poem. She wanted to pay attention, not only because she was taking the Creative Writing class and this was a learning experience, but also because… it was Professor Fitz. And he was amazing in every way.
But then Caroline asked her … wait, what?? She turned to gape at Caroline, mostly missing the man on stage staring at her, but then turned back when he continued reading.
Ezra could hear the people in the audience whispering. It was enough to snap him out of his trance. Right. Back to the poem.
“G-gold Falafel,” he stumbled over the words a bit getting his rhythm back.
“As through ice.
It's four thirty.
Morning with
Phone calls.
It's deaf mute.
It's cheap.
A foreign car.
Maybe bingo.
Lucky night?
Something says
It smells bad.”
Once the poem was done Ezra quickly exited the stage. Caroline turned her attention to Anna. “Okay spill.”
There was a spattering of polite applause as Ezra exited the stage. But it felt like less people were clapping on his exit than they were upon his arrival. Anna was clapping, though she was a little confused at the poem. It was amazing, obviously--it was Professor Fitz after all--but she didn’t get it. Was she supposed to?
Her attention came back to Caroline sitting next to her, and she went ridiculously pink. Her voice came out just slightly defensive. As if she had something to hide. “What?”
Ezra could tell by the applause that his poem didn’t go over too well. He should just stick to short stories and his novels. Narrative was much more his style. He wasn’t ready to head out to the bar area just yet. He was sure Anna would come talk to him and he wasn’t prepared to see her right now.
“How long have you been rebounding with Professor Hottie?” Caroline asked finishing off her drink.
“Hey you,” she said to some random guy walking by her, “Go get us a round of tequila shots,” her eyes dilated. That took care of that. The guy walked straight to the bar he would be back in a matter of minutes. Now back to Anna.
“Nothing wrong with rebounding with a professor.”
Anna turned to Caroline and stared, somewhat bewildered. Of course Caroline would figure out that Anna had the hots for teacher, but she seemed to think that it was possible for Professor Fitz to be interested in Anna in return. That a rebound wasn’t out of the question--not that Anna thought she was rebounding--because it took two to rebound. That was both confusing and flattering at the same time.
“I’m not… we’re not… nothing’s happened,” Anna said, flustered and blushing. “He’s just… he’s going to be my teacher.”
The guy returned with the shots and actually sat down at the table. Did he think he was joining them? Maybe if he was hot, but this guy was a complete zero. “Um, you can go now,” Caroline told the guy giving a little shoo motion with her hand. His purpose was fulfilled. Though she didn’t compel him to leave, the guy looked embarrassed enough and quickly fled the scene.
“Please,” Caroline said to Anna with another eye roll. She was doing a lot of that tonight. “I saw the way he looked at you,” she picked up a shot, downing it. Not even bothering to suck on a lime wedge afterwards. “Not to mention you haven’t shut up about him in weeks. And what was that thing you were saying about feeling something you shouldn’t or whatever?” Yeah Caroline Forbes was a lot of things, but dumb blonde wasn’t one of them.
Anna blinked at her. Caroline put it all together, had she? Then again, why wouldn’t she? Anna was pretty much an open book, anyway, and Caroline knew her best friend better than anyone. Anna had a huge crush. Huge. And … wait, the way he looked at her?? What?
“I have… okay, I have feelings for him. I like him. More than I should, all right? But he doesn’t like me back, he’s just my would-be Professor. I’m a little hot for teacher, but that’s it.” Anna explained.
“He’s into you,” Anna was so blind sometimes. Caroline would do something about this. Just then the idea came to her. She would swap out Anna’s vervain and compel her. Then Anna would see.
Caroline downed herself another shot. “This is boring. I’m out of here. Have fun with teacher guy,” and then in a blur she was gone.
Anna jumped a little as as as as as Caroline seriously wooshed out of there. She went very pink at the idea that Professor Fitz might...be interested. And then she was going through every encounter she’d had with him. He was kind, sure, and flattering. And he smiled, and that was really nice, but… oh, dear. Anna reached forward for the shot Caroline left behind (was it supposed to be for her?) and then downed it all in two big gulps. She started coughing as the vile stuff burned its way down her throat and into her belly.
Ezra finally came out from behind the stage. He wasn’t sure why he stuck around. He should have just left. When he walked into the bar area he spotted Anna right away. She was alone. Had her friend left? And coughing. He hadn’t been planning on talking to her tonight, but found himself making his way over to her. “Are you all right?” he asked though there was a smirk on his face once he reached the table. It was clearly because of the alcohol.
Anna was warm. Her neck and cheeks were flushed, and the alcohol burning its way down into her body was making her even warmer. The coughing didn’t help, either, and then Ezra was at her table. Just standing there, looking amazing. Anna lifted a hand to cover her mouth, though the coughing had passed. “Yes,” she whispered.
“I really liked your poem,” Anna added, because it was a kind thing to say. “Though… I didn’t really understand it.”
“Thanks,” Ezra gave her another one of his charming smiles. “I, uh, didn’t really understand it myself,” he admitted scratching the back of his head. “It came from the dreams. Figured I’d try it out,” he shrugged his shoulders.
“Mind if I join you?” Ezra asked pulling out the chair her friend had once been in, but not sitting down just yet. “Or is your friend coming back?”
“Ohhh.” Anna could understand that. She would totally write down all the songs and things from her Dreams, though Disney did that already. “I see. Well, I liked it, anyway. The way you read it was nice.” She smiled.
“I… have no idea if she’s coming back, actually,” Anna admitted, sheepishly. She still had a drink in front of her, and that shot was warming her from the inside out. Maybe Professor Fitz didn’t know that she was… not quite twenty. She could be twenty-one, right? She wrapped both hands around the tumbler of Rum and Coke and smiled over at him. “Please, have a seat.” They could sit and listen to the rest of the poets. Or talk. Or both?
Ezra frowned, that didn’t seem like the nicest friend, to just ditch Anna like that. She deserved better. Oh well, her loss his gain. He took the blonde girl’s former seat. “I didn’t know you were coming tonight,” the next poet took the stage. Ezra lowered his voice to a whisper. “How’d you hear about this?” More importantly had she known he was going to be reading tonight?
Anna wasn’t about to tell Professor Fitz that she’d googled his name and found a flyer for the event tonight. She opened her mouth to respond, but then realized that she had no idea what to say. “...I come to readings sometimes, and… there was a flyer? I saw a flyer.” She explained. That wasn’t exactly a lie. She’d been to a poetry reading once before with a classmate last year.
“Do you do a lot of these things?” She asked, trying to change the subject.
Ezra wasn’t sure he bought her story, but he wasn’t going to question her on it. From past experience he knew she embarrassed easily and the last thing she wanted was her running off again. Especially when she was clearly inebriated. “Not particularly,” he admitted keeping his voice low and his eyes on the poet. “A few, but I mostly do short stories.”
Anna lifted the drink, though the last thing she needed was more alcohol in her body. That shot was plenty for a lightweight like Anna. “I know,” she let it slip out. Then she realized what she’d said. “I mean, when I signed up for your class I did my research,” she explained, going pink. Man, did that make her sound like a stalker?
“Ah,” Ezra nodded focussing back on the poet. At the next break he went to the bar and got himself a beer, returning to sit next to Anna. By the time the reading was over her friend still hadn’t returned. “Do you have a ride home?” even if Anna did have her car he wasn’t sure she should be driving. She didn’t seem to be handling the alcohol all that well.
Anna’s heart was thundering. She could feel Professor Fitz’s shoulder warm against her own as they sat and watched the readings. She finished the drink she had, but that was more than enough for her. She was a little sleepy, actually, when the spot light went out and the bar broke into conversation again.
“Oh, shit,” she said, and glanced down at her phone. “She was my ride. I guess I’ll get an Uber or something.” It wouldn’t be the first time. She could phone Lexi or Elsa or… well, not Elsa. She didn’t want her sister to see her tipsy like this.
Ezra did not have a high opinion of Anna’s friend. It was quite rude to ditch her in general, but without a ride home? Who did that? Not the point. “I could give you a ride?” Ezra offered getting up from his seat. He had only had one beer, that was nothing for him. He was fine to drive.
“Oh. Um. Okay.” Anna said, her heart starting to thunder at the suggestion. She nodded, then climbed up from her chair. She was slightly wobbly. “That’s really kind of you, Professor Fitz.” She said, and gave him a warm smile.
“Whoa,” Ezra said putting a hand on her shoulder to steady her when he saw just how wobbly he was. “Yeah, time to get you home,” he had no idea where she lived but she should be able to give directions, right? Or at least a street address. He had GPS.