Disclaimer – I own nothing, I'm just filling in the plotholes.
Chuck gave the girl a sympathetic smile while he helped gather her scattered belongings. She returned it sweetly, and, shocked, he struggled to hold onto the books. He looked down to gain his composure, and blinked in surprise.
"EverQuest?" She blushed, fidgeting with her hair.
"Um, yeah, it's this online game-"
"No, no, I know what it is." He interrupted her, "It's just that, you don't get many people who do. These text-based games aren't exactly high on the cool factor and-" He faltered when her expression dropped and she began to draw away. "No, that's not what I meant! I mean - I'm a geek too." He attempted charming smile, hoped he didn't look like a stroke victim, and began to plan the least painful exit manoeuvre. Miraculously, she laughed.
"It's ok." she matched his grin. "So, are you an EverQuest fan?"
"Oh, I'm working on Zork at the moment, trying to program this... never mind. I'm doing engineering." He offered in explanation.
"Really? There's a guy in my dorm doing that, I'm in physics."
"Well, it's nice to meet a fellow nerd." He tried out another suave look, but it quickly dropped when his ears finally decided to co-operate - engineer, EverQuest, the connection was made. "Wait, you live with an engineer? Not Bryce Larkin?" he asked, and congratulated himself on his deductions at her confused confirmation. "Wow, you're Jill. Bryce told me about you."
"He did?" She seemed hesitantly pleased, and Chuck hoped he hadn't got into another hopeless 'Oh my God he mentioned me, he likes me' situation. College was supposed to be an improvement on high school, the geeks shall inherit the earth and all that, and he loathed being relegated to the sympathetic best friend.
"Uh, yeah, he saw my C stuff and, you know. He said he thought we'd get on. He hasn't mentioned me?" It was a last ditch effort. Downhearted, he faced the idea that Bryce wanted this one for himself. Chuck wondered why he was surprised.
"Well, no, but I haven't seen him in ages. He's hardly ever at the dorm." The words swept away the descending gloomy haze.
"Really?" Once again Mr Brain played catch up, and he regained his sunny outlook. "Oh right, that makes sense. We've been working on the Zork thing, it normally goes on kind of late." He gave her an apologetic smile. "Nerd time, I'm living on red bull here." She laughed again. Score!
"Yeah, I get that. Well, anyway, since Bryce can't be counted on," She awkwardly jugged her belongings to offer a hand "I'm, Jill."
"Nice to meet you, I'm Chuck." He stopped before the horrific babbling could begin, and congratulated himself on his restraint.
"See you around, Chuck." She gave him one final shy smile before walking away across campus. Dazed, Chuck gazed after her. Maybe college wasn't so bad after all.
