AN: Lainey13 and I were talking and somehow the conversation turned into a prompt about the various picnics of Henry and Elizabeth. So, here you go-picnic snippets.

I love reviews! And I'm also taking picnic ideas, so throw those out as well.

Library Lunch

"Today is the day," Henry McCord said to himself, gathering his books. Lately Henry had been very into self talk, especially when it came to girls. No, that wasn't true. It wasn't all girls. In fact, He hadn't really ever had problems talking to the opposite sex before. It was just this one girl in particular. He had been watching Elizabeth Adams since the first day of spring semester. She sat three rows in front of him in the History of Medieval Europe class. He was a junior and he was pretty sure she was a freshman. On the first day, he'd wondered how she ended up in an upper level history class, but then she opened her mouth to speak and he knew the answer. She was wicked smart, probably more so than the professor, if he was really pressed to answer that question.

Henry slipped his books into his backpack and stood. They were on the third week of the semester and he'd been trying to get up the nerve to approach her, hence the self talk. "Just go up and introduce yourself. Invite her to study or get a coffee with you. Something!" He maneuvered himself up the aisle between the desks and ended up nearby when she stood. She turned to gather her coat and she caught him looking at her. She have him a bright smile which nearly obliterated all of his nerve. "She smiled. Say hi." Elizabeth missed the sleeve of her coat as she tried to put it on over her bulky sweatshirt.

"Here, let me help," Henry said, catching the coat sleeve and holding it out so she could slip her arm through.

"Thanks," she paused, not knowing his name. She extended her hand. "Hi. I'm Elizabeth Adams."

He quickly shifted the brown paper bag that was his lunch and took her hand. "Henry. Henry McCord. It's a pleasure to meet you." He gestured for her to go ahead and walk out in front of him. "I really liked your answer today about the oppression of serfs in medieval times and how it mirrors the treatment of minorities today. Astute observation."

She grinned. "I didn't know people actually listened to me when I talked in class. I thought they just found me annoying."

"I always listen when you speak." Henry left the comment there and she chuckled, causing him to blush.

"I just meant that you always say interesting things. I want to hear what you have to say.". He pushed the outside door open and the brisk January air hit them hard. It took him a couple seconds to catch his breath. "Anyway, if you'd be interested, I'd like to have lunch with you someday."

Elizabeth tilted her head and smiled. "What's for lunch today?" Her eyes landed on his paper bag.

He laughed. "It's pretty exciting. Peanut butter and jelly, pretzels and a banana."

"My favorites. Where will we be dining?"

"You're serious? Like right now?" he said, shocked. Henry wasn't mentally prepared to have lunch with Elizabeth today. He felt like he needed to do something in order to have a halfway intelligent conversation with her, although he had no idea what he'd actually do.

"Oh, did you not mean now?" The crease that set itself across her forehead was the cutest thing he'd ever seen.

"Well, I half expected a brush off, so I wasn't prepared, but actually I'd love to have lunch with you today. Why don't we stop and get a couple of coffees to keep us warm? Then we'll picnic."

Elizabeth gave Henry another smile. "I'd like that." Elizabeth Adams was used to being the smartest student in the class. It had been happening since she was old enough to go to preschool. She enjoyed being smart. It made her parents proud and in the years since their untimely deaths, she strived to do things that she knew would make them proud. The downside of being seen as uber intelligent was that the opposite sex didn't find her very appealing. Often, she was seen as a threat, someone who would make them feel inferior. Most of the time she shrugged it off, but lately she was very much feeling her outsider status as all of the girls in her suite had social plans each weekend and she sat at home studying, not because she wanted to, but because she had no plans of her own.

That's why when Mr. Henry McCord asked about lunch, she jumped on the opportunity to go. She didn't want to make plans for sometime and give him the chance to change his mind. Now she was walking by his side stealing sideways glances. He was handsome. His sandy brown hair formed little curls around the edge of his stocking cap. He had deep brown eyes. They were kind, old soul eyes. She could tell he was thoughtful and a listener.

They approached the door to the student union and Henry reached out to get the door for her. Elizabeth took note. He'd helped her with her coat and let her walk out in front of him. Then he'd held the door for her. It wasn't a big show like with some guys. He just did it. Now he followed her to the coffee cart to get cups to go. She ordered hers, one cream, two sugars and he just got black. Henry made a mental note of her order in case he ever had the opportunity to get her coffee again. He paid and they walked back out.

"So where do you normally eat?" she asked.

Henry's eyes grew wide. "Truthfully I usually scarf my food from class to the library." He grinned at her. "I have an idea though. Are you a rule breaker?"

"Uh, no, not really." The thought crossed her mind that Henry didn't really look the bad boy part.

Henry chuckled. "I'm not really either, but the no food in the library rule is ridiculous."

Elizabeth laughed, obviously relieved, "Yes, dumb rule. Especially if you have to study long hours. By the time you pack up and go get something and then come back, you've wasted an hour."

"Exactly!" Henry said, enthusiastically, so much so that it caused Elizabeth to jump and she laughed.

He led them to the library and down to the basement. There was a seating area outside of the tutoring center. Henry swiped the throw of the back of the couch and ushered them around the corner. He spread the throw on the floor in front of a study desk. "I'll take your coat m'lady," Henry said bowing.

Elizabeth giggled and turned so Henry could slide her coat off her arms. He tossed both of their coats on the desk, placed their bags nearby and sat down. She joined him. Henry pulled out a sandwich and handed it to Elizabeth, then took one for himself. He placed the sandwich bag of pretzels and the banana on the paper bag between them. Elizabeth took a bite of her sandwich and chewed slowly. She could feel him watching her and it made her blush.

Henry had been looking at her eyes, trying to decide if they were more ocean blue or aquamarine. Her blonde waves tumbled down on her shoulders and she smiled shyly at him. He was wondering if the silence was uncomfortable or not when Elizabeth started to speak. She opened with a discourse on their medieval Europe class and then moved on to other topics. Henry kept pace with her, offering several of his own points regarding the various topics of discussion. Elizabeth ate her sandwich and then the pretzels and the half of the banana before she offered him the uneaten half. He waved her off letting her finish it.

After about an hour and a half, Henry looked up noticing the clock on the wall. Do you have class this afternoon?"

"Yeah, at 2, why?" Elizabeth asked.

"Because it's 1:40 and I don't want you to be late." Henry grinned at her.

"Wow? I had no idea we'd been here so long. I didn't mean to keep you." Elizabeth was obviously flustered and Henry found it very endearing."

"You didn't keep me. I had a great time." Henry stood and helped Elizabeth to her feet. He reached around and grabbed her coat and stepped behind her to help her put it on. Then he turned her around to face him, and handed her her backpack. "Thanks for having lunch with me." He smiled. "Maybe we could do it again sometime."

"How about we do something this weekend?" Elizabeth asked and the hopeful look she gave him turned his insides to jelly.

"Definitely. We can make plans Thursday after class," he said.

"I'll be looking forward to it." She reached up and landed her hand on his jaw, running her thumb over his cheekbone. "Bye Henry." Elizabeth tossed her backpack over her shoulder and zipped down the aisle and up the stairs quickly. She grinned to herself. She liked Henry McCord. She like him a lot.

Henry picked up the couple pieces of trash and dropped them in the nearby trash can. Then he folded up the throw and put it back on the couch. He couldn't wait until Thursday. He liked Elizabeth Adams. He liked her a lot.