Hello again. Thank you for reading my story. I do enjoy writing it. I hope you don't mind long chapters because this one is quite long. longer than the others, i think. Anyway, enjoy the chapter and I look forward to the reviews. You all were so friendly last time and i really appreciate any criticism or comments you want to give me. Anyway, without further ado, we're off.

Ch 4

The morning light leaked from the window above my head. The thought of the nightmare that had crept into my mind the night before still hung fresh in my mind.

The alarm clock beeped annoyingly on the end-table.

I whipped off the blankets, standing up. I had almost put on all of my clothes, when I heard a small rap on my door. I guess Jay was serious about showing me where to go.

I zip up my pants, one of the three pairs that I had in the duffle bag I had thrown on the floor. I opened the door, dressed in a pair of jeans, button-front shirt under a sweater, and my lanyard slung over my neck. I had my wallet in my back pocket, and I was greeted by the familiar denobulan girl that I had met the day before.

"Ready? I have this great place to eat," Jay said, with a beautiful smile on her face.

"Yeah, let's go," I said, smiling faintly back.

I walked outside of the building, trailing behind Jay. She leads me to the parking lot of the complex, and motions to a very expensive-looking car.

"Wow," I said, unsure of how to feel. It was kind of insane, considering she was just a staff member at the academy. And a student. I had no idea how much I'd be getting for student loans. It can't be enough for a car, anyway.

"Get in, Elle. It won't hurt you," she giggled, and got in the car. I followed, sitting in the passenger seat of her car. She starts it, and it lifts from the ground. We pull out of the parking lot and glide down the street, where we're surrounded by different department buildings, all probably housing students by this time. "I know this place; it's pretty popular for breakfast. They've got great raktajino. And the wing slugs are actually from the Rigel sector!"

"I think Rigel is a star, not a sector." My voice was harsh from just getting out of bed literally ten minutes ago.

"Whatever. It's good food." She sped along, turning onto the main street. There was a traffic circle, "round about" the name was, turning around a great tree at what seemed like the center of the campus. It was a giant campus, with a huge main building. It had many different branching roads, which Jay turned on to. Over the road lay a sign that read, "Consumption and Enjoyment".

We pulled through the hedged road, off into another traffic ring which encircled a large round area; all set with different restaurants, bars, and brunch areas, as well as way too many coffee shops. There was also a main building with a sign on the front, "Starfleet Café".

I pointed it out to Jay, who remarked, "That's for the poor kids who have a meal plan and can't afford good food."

I nodded, and laughed inwardly. That would probably be me, knowing how terrible loans were going to be. The memory of the letter with my small loan of $200 for the entire month still hung in my mind. I'd have to get a job here too.

We pulled into a parking lot that was on the inner circle of the area, parking right outside a bright yellow building, lit with modern décor and a lot of Starfleet students.

Walking inside, the man standing at the counter was Andorian. He noticed Jay, and smiled. "Ja'mon! It's so good to see you again!"

Jay walked over, giving the man a hug over the counter. She gestured me over. "Irehr Th'chorrar is a really good friend of mine," Jay said, holding her arm around the Andorian. He smiled brightly. I had always believed that Andorians were savage people, but then again, I hadn't heard much about them except for the petty remarks he made about the Andorian he worked with.

"Nice to meet you. I'm Elle." My name caught in my throat, and I coughed.

"Choking on your words? I might believe you're actually in love with me," Irehr said, winking at me. "Call me Ire. Like Cheshire cat, except without the 'chesh' part." I loved how he referenced old cinema.

I smile, and nod. Jay speaks up, "So, you've got a table for us, right?" The Andorian nods, pointing over his shoulder to a booth in the corner, which had a "reserved" sign posted on it.

Sitting down, a mechanical server readily took two orders of raktajino from us, and quickly returned with them, where I sipped my coffee, confident that I could pay for it. But I couldn't spend too much. I only had just fewer than seventy dollars for the entire pre-paycheck time.

As the waiter came back around, I looked at the menu, deciding just to follow whatever Jay orders, since she has been here before.

"Wing slugs, please," her voice bright and cheerful, just like her blouse, which was blue and very revealing. I grimaced, unsure if wing slugs would be a dish I would like. But, as they came back and I took my first bite, I found that it wasn't too bad.

Breakfast was fast, just the way I preferred it. Sooner than I realized, I had paid a fair sum for my part, and we were on the road, out to the library. Jay and I had decided that the best place for me to get a job was at the library. Considering nobody wanted to sit answering questions for dumb students who couldn't figure out how to use the lift, or the computer, or navigate the library. I thought it would be perfect. I love books.

"I'll see you around, okay?" Her voice was sing-song and beautiful to match her looks. Her pale skin may be a little too exposed, but perhaps I should be the one who stops staring at it and just turn around to leave.

Jay had to leave for a bit. Said she had some school business to take care of while I see about getting a job at the library.

"See you, Jay." My voice softens, and I turn to enter the library, already noticing how much people needed the library, as people were often coming and going.

I walk up, opening the two front double doors, and walk inside, a gust of very cold air hitting me as I broke the threshold.

As I make it to the front desk, I notice the elder man sitting at there, obviously the head librarian. I ask the librarian there if he was, in fact, the head librarian.

"Yes ma'am. How can I help you?" He seemed sweet enough, and I wouldn't mind taking over this little part of his job if it meant that I got paid.

I spent the next half an hour talking about my interest in the job. He listened critically, and stopped me after I said I would be down for low wages, as long as I had a job. He seemed to want to accept me as soon as possible.

"So when can I start?" I was actually very excited to get started, if it meant I got a paycheck anytime sooner.

"As soon as you want. When I set you in for the position in the computer, I'll send you an email. Can you fill out this form, please?

I spent the next half an hour filling out the questions. Some of these seemed useless and irrelevant, but I guess I liked the little contemplation it gave me.

Until it came to a question I didn't like. "Are you married? And if so, please describe this person."

I didn't want to lie. I don't lie, at all. Actually, I'm almost brutal with the truth. But this was the only exception. I replied with a curt "No".

I filled out the rest of the meaningless questions, and returned it to the man at the desk.

"Alright, well, my name is Peter Ramming. You can call me Pete. As soon as I enter you information in, you can start working. I'll send an email to your student PADD as soon as I have, and you'll be given the rest of the information." He smiled, taking the information document from my hand.

"Okay, thank you!" I said my goodbyes, and left.

"Hey," the man said, almost too low to be heard, "Are you the head librarian here?"

I responded, "No, sir. However, I am the assistant. Is there a way that I can help you?"

He beamed, as if not expecting me to respond as politely as I did. "I'm the assistant security officer for this sector of the campus!" He flashed his lanyard, with a clear identification tag on it. It looked legit. "So you're a new librarian. I knew the one before you. He was kind of a cranky old man with nothing better to do with his life, always shushing people and making others uncomfortable. I hope you won't be like that. I think you're really cute, and it would be a shame for a face that nice to hold a personality that sour."

His long flow of words took me by surprise. "Oh, well, I don't consider myself rotten," my gaze wandered behind him, where a line had begun to grow. He followed my gaze.

"Sorry, just wanted to introduce myself. I'll see you around! The name's Ken Nasino. You're Elvie?"

"Elle is fine. I'll see you around, Ken," my smile matched the one I had given to Jay on our departure.

"Kenny is fine!" and that was the last he said to me as he jogged off out of the library. I found it funny that he had come all this way just to say hi to a librarian.

The man that replaced James cleared his throat, bringing me out of my thoughts.

I looked up to see a familiar face. It was the man from the bus. He wore a lanyard, which I had recognized the picture of. It was definitely the man from the bus. His name was clearly printed on front as well.

"Mr. Spock, how may I help you?"