Short and sweet. Thank you for all of your comments and words of encouragement. This chapter was quick because I stole a lot of it from a 'one shot' I previously wrote. Hope you enjoy.
Once a week the Peck family would gather to share a meal. This Saturday it was breakfast. The excuse was to catch up with each other and to keep the family together with tradition but Gail knew it was mostly so Elaine could stick her nose in her brother's life along with her own. The only thing that was different this week was that the focus had been on Gail's hair rather than Steve's latest achievement at work. Her father had smiled at her and told her she looked beautiful no matter what and Steve made fun of her, but Elaine was less than pleased about Gail's hair and she barely accepted her excuse that she had gotten gum stuck in it. So, Gail had gotten an incredibly long lecture on the importance of appearance. Then another lecture on applying herself more at school. Then there was a bonus follow up lecture on rolling her eyes during lectures. And naturally, instead of a hug goodbye after she was dropped off back at campus she was bid farewell with a phrase that she might as well have tattooed on her forehead.
"Always remember who you are, work harder than everyone else, and don't screw up."
Her mother's words continued to echo in the back of her mind as Gail walked along the sidewalk toward the main building of the campus. In front of the building was a large field surrounded by another sidewalk with a stone walkway cutting the field in half. All along the sidewalk and walkway were colorful booths and tables occupied by loud people trying to push their clubs and sports onto the confused freshman passing by them. As she got closer, she swallowed hard and steeled herself for the battlefield she was about to enter. If Elaine Peck wanted Gail to apply herself then apply herself she would even if she had to hate every second of it.
When she headed across the small street and into the storm of people and paper she tried to shrink herself to keep from running into anyone. She really didn't feel like being touched by any of these people. As she snaked her way around the small crowds at the more popular sports tables, a muscular man barreled past Gail with another one running after him. The second guy caught her in the shoulder blade with his bulky arm and knocked her off balance. Before her face could become firmly acquainted with the cement sidewalk, an arm shot out and wrapped around her waist.
"Hey," said an increasingly familiar voice. "Gail, are you okay?"
Gail pushed herself a small distance away from Holly to stop her heart from pounding and patted her clothes back into place while making sure her wallet and phone were still in her pockets. Of course she had to run into Holly of all people after the emotionally draining mindfuck that Peck family meals were. Not that she actually minded but being annoyed at something was an easier emotion to deal with than the way her heart seemed to race whenever she was around her new friend. Not that they were friends or anything or that Gail had even seen Holly much except in passing ever since they hung out at Joe's Diner after Dr. Stein's lecture.
"Forensic Friends?" mused Gail aloud after glancing at the booth behind Holly. "I thought this was college, not an 80's cartoon show."
For half a second, Gail actually regretted her flippant remark. Then Holly's lips curled into the lopsided smile Gail had grown accustomed to and Gail's social panic subsided.
"Well, Justice League is copyrighted so we figured this was a good second place," said Holly. Gail smirked. "Trust me, it's much better than the other choices. We were so low on ideas someone actually pitched 'Let's Hang Out and Talk about Homicide'. Besides, with 'Forensic Friends' the logo is F squared. How could we resist?"
Gail glanced down at the logo on Holly's blue polo shirt. She couldn't help but smile. It was so absolutely nerdy and so absolutely Holly.
"Yeah, Holly you really couldn't miss out on that opportunity," said Gail. "So this is why you know so much about diatoms and dead bodies huh?"
Holly smiled and shrugged. She turned around and grabbed a flyer off of the booth's table and turned back towards Gail.
"I'm guessing it would be too much to ask if you wanted to join?" Holly moved a little closer to Gail and held out the flyer. "I mean, you are going into criminal justice."
"Seems like it's a little more science based than chasing people down and cuffing them," said Gail. She tried to ignore the thundering of her heart beat behind her ribs and just told herself it was the closeness although she made no effort to move away.
"Well, keep it," said Holly as Gail slowly took it from Holly and folded it to fit in her pocket. "Just in case you change your mind. Okay?"
"I doubt it." People made Gail feel dumb enough in her day to day life. She didn't need to be made to feel dumb around Holly to top it off.
"It won't kill you to try something new," said Holly with a smile.
"You don't know that. I could trip and die on my way to my first meeting."
Holly's smile grew as she chuckled and shook her head. Gail always felt infinitely funnier when she was around Holly. It was practically addictive. For a second neither woman moved although Gail shifted her eyes a couple of times to look anywhere but Holly's. Then Holly nodded as if reaching a conclusion with herself and moved away from Gail for a moment before returning with another, different, flyer. A flyer that looked like it was definitely more Gail's speed than a science club.
"In case you want something to do tonight," said Holly. She bit her lip and pushed her glasses back up her nose. "Freshman aren't normally invited though so you have to promise to be cool."
Gail furrowed her brow at Holly and looked from Holly's shirt to the booth and back to her face.
"Holly, I'll probably be the coolest person there."
Holly rolled her eyes.
"Yeah, yeah. Just don't get wasted okay?" Holly reached up and mussed up Gail's hair playfully and Gail shoved her lightly away. "I don't think you'll look as cute with a buzz cut."
"Well now you've ruined my plans," said Gail. "Is there a dress code? Should I try to hit up the local thrift store? Maybe show up in suspenders and a bow tie? Do people even sell pocket protectors anymore?"
Holly's smile grew and she bit at her bottom lip before shaking her head but she didn't say anything. Gail could feel her chest tighten as she got nervous under the watchful, smiling face of the woman in front of her. However, she'd learned a long time ago how to fake a calm demeanor and to any passing observer she probably seemed more annoyed than on edge. But like always she shook those feelings to the back of her mind. Gail Peck really didn't deal with her feelings.
"Holly, have you seen my chem book?" A short woman with brown hair called at Holly from behind the booth. "I can't find it anywhere."
"It's on the floor next to your feet, Lisa," said Holly without even turning to look at Lisa.
Gail watched as Lisa, very obviously, feigned surprise and exaggerated picking up the book like she had no idea it was down there. The corner of Gail's mouth twitched when she glanced at Holly and saw the previously smiling woman rolling her eyes and sighing. Then she watched as Lisa pulled her heavy text open on the table and tried to look at Holly with the fake innocence of a lying child.
"Holly can you help me with this section? I honestly have no idea what this passage means," asked Lisa.
"Yeah, hold on," sighed Holly before turning back to Gail. The lopsided grin returned. "So, you coming to the party?"
"Sure." If it meant Gail could get drunk off free beer and possibly hang out with the one person she'd gotten along with since starting college she would definitely be attending. "Have fun studying, nerd."
"I guess." Holly rolled her eyes and smiled before heading back toward her friends and their nerdy little science table.
Gail folded the papers Holly gave her and walked off down the stone walkway looking at all the different booths. She had promised her mother that she would try to join at least one social activity. Elaine had tried to get her to agree to a sport but Gail had been adamant that after four years of track she was done. Going for a run every morning was more than a enough for Gail and she never wanted to run up another pair of bleachers ever again. However, as Gail looked over each booth and its inhabitants from a distance she couldn't really see herself joining any of them. The only club that seemed interesting was Forensic Friends but Gail couldn't figure out if it was because of the topic or because of Holly.