So Lost... {OPEN}

[Oliver Porter]

Sep. 19th 1:18 P.M.


outfit

Oliver walked into the giant conglomerate book chain that was known to all as Borders. He needed to get some classical books that he had to read for his Honors WRT 101 and he didn’t trust “The Trend” to have the books in stock that he needed. Oliver took out a small piece of paper as he walked towards the classical section of the bookstore. On the paper was a list of books that were recommended that they read but all he had to do was pick one and write a literary research paper on it, whatever a literary research paper meant.

Most of these books were completely foreign to him as he felt like an idiot standing in front of this massive wall of paper backs. He glanced down at the list looking for any authors that he might know there were a few but they were chick lit writers like Jane Austen. There was no way anyone was going to get him to read Jane Austen, that writing class was torture enough. Not that writing was hard for him, no just the exact opposite as he had yet to write one single new paper in the class, everything he turned in he had written in high school. So far his strategy had been working as he had yet to receive a grade that was lower than an ‘A’.

Oliver bent down as he scanned the shelves for some book called The Trial by some guy named Kafka. It seemed like an interesting title and the author had a funky last name. He found it as he bent back up and flipped over the book as he started to read the back cover of the flimsy paperback. It was a short book which was good.

[Francis Nora]

Fran was in a foul mood. She just went to the post office to pick up a package that was suppose to come today. They were suppose to be all of her textbooks for her classes this semester. They were always a lot cheaper online than if you went to the bookstore. Something about supply and demand. They know students need it, so the hike up the prices and make poor college students pay these ridiculous amount of money. Too bad Fran doesn't have that much money. Sure, her family was loaded, but that didn't mean she was allowed an allowance. Her step-mother would never have allowed it. So, when she arrived there, she found out they had lost her package. What rotten luck!

So, with classes already starting, she was going to be needing those books. The post office said something about taking a week to find the package. So, what other choice did Fran have? She could go without a week, hoping that her professors won't assign too much work in the book and the post office would find her package and won't lose it the second time, or she could just go buy the books, then return them when the other books arrive. It looked like the bookstore was the best option.

With her schedule in hands, she went over to the shelf and looked for all the needed books. There was already a guy there, flipping through a small book. Now, Fran was one of the last person to be snooping in other people's business. But, she couldn't help but catch a glance at the title of the book. "It's a crap book," she said to him. She didn't even wait for a response from him and turned to look at the shelf, trying to find the book she would need for her class.

[Oliver Porter]

Oliver continued to look at the book as he realized that he really was screwed for this class none of the books he knew and he really didn't wan to read something and write a literary research paper on it when he had better things to do with his life. Not that he had a girlfriends, or family, or any pets to take up his time but still it was the principle of the thing. He sighed as he glanced down at his paper wondering if he had made the right choice.

It's a crap book. He heard someone say looking at an Asian girl that had walked up next to him. He glance back to see if there was someone else in the aisle that she could be talking to but he was the only one. Yet he was the only one in the row, standing there like an idiot with a Franz Kafka book in his hands.

"Uhhh okay…" he said looking at her as he put the book back. She obviously had read it and he really didn't want to read a crap book. "So do you know of any non crap books that you think I would like?" He smiled looked at her as she seemed to ignore him, instead she was to busy finding her own books.

[Francis Nora]

At first, Fran wanted to ignore him. However, she couldn't resist the urge to suggest a good book for him. She doesn't usually like to talk to people because she thought they were all just a bunch of idiots. However, if she was able to save one person from idiocy, then she would be the one to do it. Finding one of her books, she picked it up and felt slightly in a better mood. Not happy because now she own two of the same book, but a bit better.

"Depends on what kind of book you're looking for," she said, flipping through the book for quality. Fran said she'll help him out, but she didn't have to look at him. She still had her own stuff to worry about.

Moving a bit down the shelf, she continued looking for her other books. She enjoyed more of the tragic books, mostly because she felt her life was crap, someone else must have a life that's just as crappy. Books that whined and became preachy like Kafka's book was just not her cup of tea.

[Oliver Porter]

Ollie just looked at her as she continued to look away. He had never gotten this type of reaction from someone before without first telling them who his sister was. it usually worked out that people started to ignore him after they found out he was Ari's brother and thus he had to work twice as hard to win them back. He always did though. Oliver was good with people, he was a people person and liked to talk and have a good time.

"Something that is not going to bore me…" he slid down closer to her as they were only a few books away from each other as he had his back to the wall of books as le looked over at her. "Something that is on this list" He held out the list right on top of her book. She couldn't ignore him forever and he was going to get her to look at him, maybe even smile at him.

[Francis Nora]

Fran eyed the guy, deciding if she should spend the time to help him or not. However, he did move closer and put out a list for her to read. Her curiosity got to the best of her and she wanted to know what kind of books a student was forced to read. Being a business major, Fran didn't have a lot of opportunites to read novels or books. However, she usually spent her holidays reading up on a long list of books she updates once a month.

After a few more seconds of debating with herself, she sighed deeply as she took the list from the guy. She rolled her eyes, before settling them on the list. She tried to look for some names or titles that popped out to her. Then, she found one. "I'm not a big American writer fan," she said, handing back the list. "But, you could never go wrong with Edgar Allan Poe." Fran was always a big fan of Edgar Allan Poe's work. A lot of his work was satire and comical. However, that's not what most people remember him for. Most people connect gothic whenever they think of him. But, to Fran, his work showed that not all American writers wrote about hope, dreams, and western frontiers.

"Why do you need to read one of these books for," she asked. Obviously, it was for class, but what she meant was in what capacity was he reading these books for. If it was just for entertainment or fun reading, then there might be some other books. But, if he had to write a long paper on it for some reason, there are other books for that. However, Fran couldn't think of anything better than Edgar Allan Poe. His books are entertaining and yet easy to do research on.

[Oliver Porter]

"You don't seem like a fan of anything." He said as he took the list back from her and put it in his pocket. Ollie wasn't trying to be rude but he was just telling the truth. She seemed very unfriendly but the good thing was, he had enough charm to make up for what she obviously lacked. "Thanks though… I guess I will be reading Poe for my literary research paper in my Writing 102 class." It was very clever the way he did that, answering her question all the while trying to compliment her for helping him out. "So what do you read then? If you don't like American writers? Or more importantly what do you do for fun because I doubt you are just a book worm." He smiled at her as he moved a bit closer to the mysterious girl.

"I'm Ollie Porter… and you are?" Ollie stuck out his hand not really knowing if she would take it or not, he might just get rejected again.

[Francis Nora]

Hmm, a bit of honesty. That was actually refreshing. As rude as it may have been to some people, Fran actually didn't mind the comment. In fact, she rather have people say what was really on their mind rather than playing these stupid mind games and being polite for the sake of it. No one had ever given her a break in her life, why should she do the same. All of those classes her step-mother had put her through to become a "proper lady" was all crap. She hated going to those things and the girls that were there.

So, he had to do reading on a writing class. Fran took the required Writing 101 class that everyone had to take. However, she didn't bother taking the next class. It wasn't required for business students. Instead, they had to take another writing class specially geared for business students. It was so stupid in the end. It was just about writing proposals and grants. There was a lot of work to go into it, but in the end, it was just a bit letter whining about not having enough money.

Fran thought it was obvious that if she didn't read American writers, she read European writers instead. However, she didn't answer right away because he started to move in closer. She had to fight her urge to step back. There was a certain space radius that Fran kept and so far, he was inside that radius. She looked down at the hand that was stuck out for her to take. Not many people did this, but she figured why not give the kid a shot? At least he had the guts to be honest with her about her rudeness and yet wasn't mean about it.

"Fran Nora," she said, finally taking his hand firmly and shaking it. Her father had always told her that when you shake hands with someone, to have a firm grip. It mustn't be too hard or people might think you're too overpowering. And, it mustn't be too loose, or people might not take you seriously. "And, I don't really have time to read books outside of classes. However, when I do read, I try to read some of the classics, mixed in with some more contemporary stuff. The last book I read was Divine Comedy. I figured if so many people make references to the book, I might as well read it and find out what the big deal was."

[Oliver Porter]

Ollie smiled up at her as she took his hand. Finally she was beginning to warm up to him a little bit, or just wanted him to go away. Either way she was opening up and he liked it. He was determined to prove to her that he was someone that she could like, only if she gave him a chance. "That was a good book. I read it like freshman in high school though so I don't really remember much of it… very weird book but still good."

Okay so all he had learned was that she read classical books and studied a lot. Not his type of fun girl but maybe he was judging her a bit too much. Maybe she just needed someone to show her how to have fun and loosen up. Ollie could be that guy. "Okay aside from classes and books. What do you do to have a good time?" Ollie turned as he saw that he was near some Edgar Allen Poe books as he pulled one out and casually began to scan through it while he waited for an answer.

[Francis Nora]

Good time? Who asked these kind of questions to Francis Nora? The simple answer would have been nothing. The complex answer would have included her awful step-mother that refused to let her do anything. All of the little things that Fran had always wanted was denied to her. She wanted to go join Girls Scout, take a dance class, or even have friends over to play tea time. However, the one thing her step-mother did actually allow her to do, and it was her only outlet of anger and social connection, was play softball. That didn't come easy, either. A gym teacher, spotted Franny hit the crap out of the ball and insisted on having her on the team.

"I don't..." she really didn't know how to finish that. What kind of college student doesn't have some kind of hobby. "I play softball." She finally confessed. It was as if she was letting him in on some kind of family secret. It was a lot harder for her to 'share' things with people than others. She figured, if she doesn't let them get to her, there's no way they would ever hurt her. Fran had a trust issue. Especially since she couldn't even trust her own father to protect her from her step-mother.

"I don't really have time for anything else," she explained. "School basically takes over the majority of my time. Softball isn't even until next semester, so it's doesn't take up too much of my time." As much as she pretended to not care about softball, it really was her only true outlet. If it wasn't for that, she probably wouldn't feel...normal.

[Oliver Porter]

"Really…" Ollie was starting to feel a bit sad for Fran, what type of life only revolved around one sport and just school. There was no room for friends or a social life. He just couldn't imagine that, it was sad really but then again not everyone was like him. Not everyone was good at making friends and keeping them and not everyone needed to have friends around. Some people were just natural loners and maybe Fran was one of them.

"Okay well why don’t you make time? Say maybe next weekend for a casual dinner and a movie. Or something else?" He really was trying here not because he was all that attracted to her, but because she seemed like a person that was in need of a friend, or at least someone that would try and show her how to maybe loosen up a bit and have a good time. Ollie was the expert at having a good time. He took out his phone as he checked the time.

[Francis Nora]

Fran closed the book that she was looking through, and started shaking her head. Did he just ask her out or something. She started backing up and laughed nervously. "Uh, I don't think I could make it," she said. "Sorry, but I don't think...no, I'll pass." No one had ever asked her to go out, let alone to go out and hang out. Well, they probably did, but it had been too long since someone asked her that she probably forgot.

She was actually starting to enjoy his company, but the whole, asking to go see a movie and dinner was too much for Francis. She kept shaking her head, and turned to find another book. It was as if she just scratched away the question as if it never existed. "I'm just not interested," she said to him. Normally, Fran would have been a lot meaner to someone who just did that, but she didn't want to make too big of a scene in public.

[Oliver Porter]

Ollie just watched as he saw her back away from the shelf, obviously repulsed by what he had just asked her. To him that didn't seem like a big deal but apparently over on the East Coast a casual dinner and a movie meant something more than just friends. For him food just seemed like something that was a good way to get to know someone and movies were always fun. Only assuming that you saw the right movie, as romantic comedies were out unless you were dating that person.

"You can't make it or you don't want to make it… because I just proposed the idea, I didn't even give you a set date to cancel it on so that obviously means something else." Ollie shrugged as he raised his eyebrows up at her studying the way she stood there, trying to look causal even though she was very uncomfortable. "Okay well I would ask if you want to go get some coffee right now but after that nice rejection I think I should be going." He smiled at her before moving off the wall as he walked with a random Edgar Allen Poe book in his hand down the aisle and towards the coffee store that was inside the Borders. "Bye Fran"