In Which We Learn How To Fly

By Leah Marie.

Chapter One: Spread Your Wings

Twenty-four year old Jonathan Crane's slender, long fingers agitatedly drummed upon the smooth leather steering wheel of his black BMW. It was 8:51 in the AM and he had to be situated and ready in class at 9:00 on the spot. Professor McGlynn would probably shoot him if he wasn't there. Jonathan was beginning his third year of medical school at Gotham Medical School of Medicine and Psychology. Brenden McGlynn, the superior in the Department of Psychology there had personally requested Jonathan to be his assistant for the first semester, and if it did not interfere with Jonathan's education, maybe the second semester as well. Just as the icy blue eyed student cursed the traffic and the imbeciles chatting mercilessly on their cell phones, the traffic became loose and sped up.

"Finally, at long last," Jonathan muttered out loud irritably. Going a few miles over the speed limit to get to school on time, Jonathan smoothly pulled into the driveway into Gotham Med, as he referred to his school. He came to a sharp halt with a screech and calmly speed walked into one of the many sets of glass doors. Jonathan took a quick left down a flight of stairs and when those ended, he turned yet another sharp left down, which lead into the Psychology Corridor. But in the midst of his hurry, Jonathan didn't notice a chestnut haired girl coming just as sharp as was he, but only in the opposite direction. With their senses not on top of things at nine in the morning, the two collided. The girl's coffee, which she held in her hand tightly, went flying onto her white blouse and gray blazer. The girl, who Jonathan had never seen before, gasped in surprise and shock.

"Oh, no!" she managed to gasp out at the stain that began to soak into her blouse. Jonathan, to say the least, had no idea what to do, to say the least. Only to stutter and say sorry.

"Oh, my. I'm so sorry, if I had any idea you were coming my way, I wouldn't have acted like such a fool. Oh, shit what can I do? Buy you a new blouse, pay for coffee? Anything?" Jonathan apologized hurriedly.

The girl, who was now wearing hot coffee, finally looked up at Jonathan. "Oh, no. Don't blame yourself. It's okay, I shouldn't have brought my coffee up with me in the first," scrunching her nose and eyebrows together, she looked down at her shirt and asked herself, " Why the hell did I bring my coffee with me?"

Jonathan didn't know what to do, so he just shrugged at her, as did she back. She continued, "Well if it helps, I'm not at all mad at you. I just don't want McGlynn to slaughter me. This is my first day and I've already made a scene." She shook her head at herself.

Jonathan's eyes widened, "Did you say McGlynn?"

She looked back at Jonathan, "Yeah, I'm in Psychology right now, advanced, I might add. Why do you ask?"

Jonathan swallowed, "Well, I'm his assistant for this semester."

The girl smiled, "Really now? For first period?"

He smiled, nodded his head, "First period."

The girl chuckled in amusement or relief, Jonathan really didn't know, "Well, maybe you'll have to tutor me through class when I just don't get stuff anymore."

"Well, I see no problem and no reason to turn your offer down," Jonathan replied. He looked back down to the girl's blouse at the light brown stain. "But about that stain, you want me to tell McGlynn you need to wash up?"

The girl looked down at herself again, "Oh damn, I almost forgot about that. But yes, that would be quite charming of you," she glanced at the clock on the wall above them. "But hey, you should get to class so neither of us gets in trouble here."

Jonathan followed her action by checking the time, "That would make a lot of sense."

The girl bit her lip nervously and quickly remarked, "Hey, by the way, my name is Eva. Eva Daniels."

Jonathan smiled, feeling heat go to his face, "Jonathan Crane, at your service, Miss Daniels."

"The pleasure is all mine, Sir Crane," she smiled brilliantly and turned to rush up the stairs to the bathrooms to try to get the stain off her blouse, Jonathan assumed.

He lingered in his spot and suddenly the first bell of the day broke his trance. Jonathan cursed as he raced to get to McGlynn's class. Thankfully, McGlynn was still at his desk, most likely making final notes for the lecture, whatever it may be. Jonathan walked over to the Irish-American's desk and cleared his throat.

The middle aged professor looked up with narrowed eyes, "You're late, Crane."

"I can explain that, Professor. I bumped into Eva Daniels as I was getting to class and the coffee she was carrying with her.. well she's now wearing it, sir."

If Jonathan thought he saw a hint of a smile on McGlynn's face, it disappeared immediately. "Miss Eva, you say?"

Jonathan nodded, "Yes, sir."

The professor jotted some notes on his attendance sheet, "You are both excused from tardiness."

"Thank you, sir," Jonathan muttered quietly.

McGlynn went into professor mode and ordered Jonathan to pull up a chair and sit next to him. He had Jonathan copy overhead transparencies for notes. About ten minutes into McGlynn's lecture and Jonathan's copying, a refreshed Eva walked into the room with a whole new outfit, minus her blue jeans and white flats. She went to the professor's desk and opened her mouth for her explanation, but McGlynn spoke before her, saying, "Crane here already informed me of your coffee mishap, Ms. Daniels. You are both excused."

Eva looked over to Jonathan and mouthed 'Thank you.' To the professor, she thanked him and took her seat for her professor's lecture.

After another ten minutes, Jonathan found it hard to not look at Eva. In class, he found it easier to actually look at her. She had dark brown hair that resembled his, that barely touched her shoulders. Her eyes were light green, maybe with flecks of brown? He did not know. She had a habit of biting her bottom lip, which was slightly larger than a normal bottom lip. It gave her character though. She was attentive as well, absorbing McGlynn's words for works of the mind. Jonathan's normally clear mind was consumed with thoughts of Eva. He had no idea why, but it was so.

After an hour, first period came to an end. Jonathan carefully sorted McGlynn's noted for him and handed them to him. He normally walked alone from class to class. Jonathan was mostly a quiet young adult, one who kept to himself. As far as he could remember, he was always like that. His friends in high school were always at least four years older than him, matching his maturity level. Girls were never really attracted to him because of his quietness, intelligence and, he supposed, eeriness. It never bothered him. He would not have expected them to understand who he was anyway. Considering all of this, when Jonathan caught sight of Eva leaning against the wall, Jonathan was more that shocked. She couldn't be waiting for him. When she realized he had seen her, Eva smiled.

"Hey, stranger," she greeted, pushing herself off the wall to walk towards him.

Jonathan was at a loss for words at the moment, but he managed to stutter out, "H-hi, Eva. what's up?"

Eva shrugged, rolling her eyes, "The ceiling, obviously. But really, nothing. I want to get through this day without dying."

Jonathan laughed, "It isn't that bad, Eva. I have to admit though, I felt that way on my first day. It dragged on forever, or so it felt."

"So, you feel my pain! If I dare ask, what year are you in?" Eva asked cautiously, as they entered into the main level of the school.

"Tis my third, making me twenty-four," Jonathan replied, adding his name in at random. Why, he did not know.

Eva smirked, "Lucky ass. Today's my first day ever and I am just a measly twenty-two."

Jonathan looked over at her, "Ah, Eva. You underestimate yourself. Twenty-two is not so bad. You still have a lot to do and to live. As for school.. you've got four years to go." Jonathan now smirked at her. The joke was on her. Eva lightly smacked Jonathan in the arm as she muttered that he was an ass. The joking and play name calling went on until the two had reached Jonathan's second period class, AP Chemistry Lab. They stopped outside the door.

"Well," Jonathan began, "I'm afraid I must depart from your company, my lady," he told her, "But, can I still offer you coffee and maybe lunch as repayment for earlier?"

Eva bit her bottom lip and blushed lightly, "That would be awesome, Jonathan. I'm pretty sure I'd love that."

Inside, Jonathan was cheering. Was this a date? He had never gone on dates before. He prayed that he would not make a fool of himself as he had this morning. But the accident had won him a friend. A friend who was intelligent, funny and beautiful. Jonathan felt his heart skip. Where is all this coming from? He decided he would think about it later, write it down in his journal. His mind snapped back to Eva before him and he decided their meeting place, "Alright, well.. hm. Meet me at the bottom of the steps outside after the lunch bell and we'll decided where we can go. Lunch is on me and we can go anywhere you like."

Eva yelped in glee, "Oh, Jonathan, you're such a doll. I've never met a guy like you before." Next, to Jonathan's amazement, Eva hugged him and whispered, "Thank you." She retreated out of t he embrace and walked to her class, a few seconds later, glancing behind her to smile at the awe-struck Jonathan Crane.