InsaneJournal

Who: Spencer and Finn
When: Recently
Where: Cafe
What: Random Encounter
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Complete when posted!




Spencer was sitting in a crowded cafe. She had a book, and the only available seat--which was at a small table with one other chair. It was a comfortable chair, the kind a girl could wrap herself up in and get lost in a book for hours. The bigger tables with chairs were all taken, as were the booths. But the comfortable chair next to Spencer’s was open, and she hadn’t put anything on the table in front of her. Her drink was on the arm of the chair, and a book was open in her hands. She pulled her knees up and cuddled them in close.

Finn had time to kill. He wanted some time to himself with just a nice, strong cup of coffee. He'd achieved the coffee part, but found he'd come at a bad time at the cafe - it was crazy crowded. He hunted for a table and found there was only one chair left - and it was at an occupied table. Casting a glance at the door, he contemplated just heading home instead. But, he really didn't feel like it, and instead headed over and hovered a moment. “Um, is this taken?” He finally piped up.

Spencer glanced up from her book and glanced at the man across from her. A very familiar looking guy, but Spencer couldn’t quite place the face. Maybe he went to UCI? Someone that she’d seen around? After her brain processed his question, she gave a little shake of her head. The seat wasn’t taken, and she wasn’t expecting anyone to come and join her. “Go for it.” She gave him a small smile, and glanced back down at her book.

“Thanks.” Finn said gratefully, and pulled the chair out and sat down. He sipped at his coffee for a long, quiet minute before he finally couldn’t help but ask, “Good book?” He knew he needed to make more friends here. He basically spent all his time with Rey and BB-8. Poe had always been the one to help him be more social, but his friend wasn’t in the OC anymore.

Spencer didn’t really mind being pulled from her book. She turned to look at the other for a moment, then shrugged her shoulders. “It’s for class. Not exactly what I would have chosen to read, but I’m getting through it.” She held up the book so he could read the title off the cover. It was a text for her Sociology class.

Finn tilted his head in curiousity, reading the title. His nose wrinkled a little. “Yeah, not my kinda thing either. I’d need a cup of coffee or three to get through that one for sure.” He smirked. “I’m Finn.” He held a hand out.

“Make mine a double espresso,” Spencer responded with a warm smile. “Spencer,” she added, then reached forward to shake his hand. “Even after the espresso, it’s still a gamble. I think I’ve read the same paragraph three times without realizing it.”

Finn chuckled. “Never did the college thing. Went straight for the Navy. Didn’t have time for courses.” He leaned back in his chair and took a sip from his coffee. “I really should get my degree before my contract is completely done.” Finn was now in the Navy Reserves, serving out the last of his contract. He had taken a few courses online, but hadn’t completed anything for a degree.

“I see. To each his or her own, I guess. I’ve had friends go off to the military, and friends who stayed local for community college, and friends who went Ivy League.” She shrugged her shoulders. “Everyone takes a different path.” It was obvious that she didn’t judge one path above any others. “I hear they’ve got some great programs that will help former military pay for school.”

“Well actually the military pays for school. So I should probably look into what they cover first and then check out programs that might supplement.” Why was this something he hadn't bothered with earlier? Finn realized he'd gotten so caught up with looking for a job, then finding a really good paying one, then the dreams of course took up headspace. Yeah, he was gonna check this college course thing out.

He smirked as he sipped his coffee again. “Course it would help if I knew what I wanted to study. What's your major?”

Spencer was about to say something like then you have no excuse! but she realized it would probably have sounded a little haughty. She meant it playfully, though. But then he asked what her major was. “Right now I’m leaning pre-law. So I’m taking care of all my general education first. I figure if I change my mind about what I want to major in later, I’ll have all my prerequisites out of the way.”

“Pre-law. Nice.” Finn nodded. “Sounds like a good plan.” A few more sips of coffee. “I was a Navy SEAL.” It really was the only thing he could think of saying after that, considering his lack of college experience. Plus it always sounded so badass, because people immediately thought of the most famous unit.

“Oh yeah?” Spencer was always interested in other people’s lives. She asked him a few questions about what that was like, listening intently to his answers. She smiled at the right times, cocked her head at the right times, even let her expression fall when he brought the subject to more serious topics. After a few minutes, though, her phone started to chirp.

“Oh, rats, I gotta go,” she said, drawing out her phone to check the alarm. “I’ve got to get to my next class. But it was really nice meeting you, Finn.”
“Oh yeah, okay. Nice meeting you too, Spencer. Enjoy class. Or y’know, try not to pass out in it.” He smirked and waved as she gathered her things and left. A moment later, he pulled out his smartphone and started emailing the Navy about his G.I. Bill education benefits.