The library was deserted, except for a lone figure curled up on an oversized arm chair.
Uhura listlessly flipped the pages of her book as she quietly sang along to her favorite Broadway songs streaming from her music player.
oo0oo
With every essay, report, paper, etc graded only two days into winter break Spock found himself a little disappointed. He had worked all yesterday and the day before but he had expected more from his students. Many of them had submitted the bare minimum required, only a few like Cadet Cheiko Tanaka pushed to write the maximum limit of pages. Spock wondered if he was being too lenient on his students. He began to doubt himself, doubting if he was challenging them enough.
No. He forced himself to stop doubting when he remembered all the accomplishments that his senior students achieved in the scientific community. It was only yesterday that he had read one of his students published works in his favorite science journal. He instead attributed the slacking to the holidays. It was only logical for students to want to relax after months of hard studying.
The school had emptied for winter break, and like every year Spock was one of the few left on campus. Even many of the other professors had left to spend time with their family or go on an exotic vacation. The students who did stay slept in until the late afternoon, partied all night, and slept though the day again.
Spock decided to capitalize on his unbridled freedom on campus with an early morning run.
Spock enjoyed Starfleet Academy's campus. He found it aesthetically pleasing. The green of the trees lining the walkways and the blue of the cool ponds and fountains dotted about served as a pleasant antithesis to the heady reds and oranges of his home world.
Making sure to check the weather, Spock ascertained that running shorts and a simple t-shirt would best serve him on his jog on the warm sunny day.
Spock made sure to properly stretch, he didn't want to pull a muscle, and he definitely did not want to deal with the very inquisitive Nurse Chapel at the infirmary.
He breathed in deep the cool morning air to enjoy its freshness. Spock soon finished stretching routine, glad that there were no cadets around. Spock made sure to keep it to himself but he found the female cadets more than inquisitive stares... unsettling.
When he finished circling the campus twice, Spock stopped at the library. The library was one of the oldest buildings on campus. Its white marble walls, sculpted in classic roman architecture, were a beautiful sight, impressing Spock every time he saw it. Wiping the sweat off his brow, Spock walked in. It was only logical to stop by and retrieve some books to read for later while he was already there.
Since the circulation desk was fully computerized he expected empty rows with only books to welcome him. It was an emotional impulse but Spock still allowed himself to trail his fingers along the books worn bindings. Few people ever used the library. Even fewer read the physical books since personal PADDs became so popular. And though PADDs were the most logical and efficient choice to read journals and texts Spock still believed that it required the tangibility of a true paper book printed with sharp black ink to truly enjoy poetry or classic fiction.
Spock pulled his hand back from the books when he heard a voice. He recognized the tune but it was so faint he wasn't sure. He followed his sensitive hearing to a reading room tucked away in a corner.
"Getting to know you, Getting to know you,
Getting to know all about you.
Getting to like you,
Getting to hope you like me.
Putting it my way,
But nicely,
You are precisely,
My cup of tea. "
Uhura stopped reading to get fully engrossed in the song. With wild abandon she stood up and began belting the song.
"Getting to know you, Haven't you noticed
Getting to feel free and easy
When I am with you,
Getting to know what to say
Suddenly I'm bright and breezy?
Because of all the beautiful and new
Things I'm learning about you
Day by day."
Uhura spun around, dancing happily before sputtering stupidly to a stop. "Lieutenant Spock?" She squeaked out. Uhura was frozen, unable to move in front of her lithe professor dressed only in tight jogging clothes.
oo0oo
Authors Note:
The song is called Getting to Know You. It is from The King and I. If you haven't heard it yet I suggest you do. Maybe even listen to it when you read the next chapter of my fanfic. I also wanted to thank everyone for reading and reviewing, it truly makes my day to read reviews.
