Louis walked slowly back into the reception area. He went over to a table and got something to eat. Alex was nearby, talking to the young woman he'd seen him chatting with earlier.
"Louis, I just saw Olga running through here to leave. Did something bad happen?"
"No. Something weird."
"Something weird?"
"Yeah. We were having a good conversation and making out."
"You son of a..." Alex was laughing.
"But." Louis cut his friend off. "When I suggested we go to the Nebula..."
"The Nebula?" Alex grinned. "That's your usual spot to hang out and then get girls to come home with you." He laughed.
"Well, that was the plan." Louis smirked. "Things looked good to go but..."
"Damn you're good." Alex complimented. "Out of every girl here it's her that..."
"Can I finish?"
"Ah. Sorry."
"Anyway, we were hitting it off, and then she abruptly said she needed to go to her room and study. I got her number, I'm taking her out next weekend, but it was weird. I've never heard that from a girl before. Anything you can tell me?"
"Hmmm...well, I know she works really hard at her studies and..."
"Oh god did she do that again?" A female voice interrupted from behind.
Louis and Alex turned around to see a young woman in a purple gown walk toward them.
"I'm sorry, I couldn't help but overhear that last bit from you guys."
"You were that girl that was with Olga." Louis said.
"Yeah." She giggled. "I'm Alyssa." She greeted. Louis and Alex returned the greeting.
"You said she did this before?" Louis asked.
"Maybe not quite like this. But she often bails on events, parties, get-togethers, and the like because she says she needs to study." Alyssa sighed. "She does it even when she's having a really good time. Olga's gotten straight A's since the third grade and she takes that extremely seriously."
"Why?" Louis asked somewhat incredulously. "I mean, she was telling me her dream is to be a professional concert pianist. Why should she care so much if she gets an A in some atmospheric science class? No offense." He said, turning toward Alex.
"None taken." Alex grinned.
"That's what I try to keep telling her!" Alyssa sighed. "But she's determined to keep at it. All the studying and the A's really seem to make her happy, so that's the reason I guess."
Louis glanced down at her and then outside at the park, contemplating.
Olga got back to her dorm room and glanced into her mirror. She smiled at herself and put two fingers on her lips. The kisses were still lingering. Now when Olga saw herself in her dress, she felt genuinely beautiful. She put her cell phone down and stared at it. Her heart fluttered. She'd only just met him, but she was already eagerly awaiting his call.
Just as she thought this, the phone rang. Her heart fluttered again.
"Hello?" Olga answered.
"Olga?"
"Oh, hi daddy!" She calmed down. She could barely contain the disappointment in her voice.
"Just calling you to see how everything went. How was your performance?"
"It was wonderful daddy!" Olga gushed. "I got a standing ovation. People are happy I'm back!"
"Aw, that's my girl!"
"If you like, I can tell you the story of some of my concertos with a small violin medley!"
"Maybe later, Olga. How's that test that's coming up for you in that molecular biology class you've got going? Studying hard?"
"I actually just came back to do that, daddy."
"Always a winner, no goofing off for you!"
"Of course not, daddy." Olga smiled.
"Alright well I wouldn't want to disturb you. I'll talk to you tomorrow alright?"
"OK daddy, have a good night. And tell Helga I said hello!"
"Huh? The girl? Yeah yeah alright." He grunted and hung up.
Olga put the phone down on the dresser and went over to a cabinet. She lugged the heavy textbook she needed for her class over to her desk and then went to the bathroom to take her makeup off and get changed into her usual nightwear. Olga returned a few minutes later, put one hand on her cheek, and opened the book. Her expression was blank.
"Looks like you win tonight, Alex." Louis said teasingly as his friend seemed ready to leave with the young woman he'd been talking to through the night. "You've still got time, man. Almost every girl here has been checking you out."
"None of them really interest me. I'm set on my goal now." He smirked.
"So you're gonna let me win?"
"I can wait a week. And then...I'm gonna get to do something you and the chumps here can only dream about. That, my friend, is how glory is won."
Alex laughed. "You really are something. I'm sure Louis XIV would be pleased with you."
"Can't disappoint eighth-great-grandad Louis."
"Well, take care man."
"Later." Louis bid adieu and called for a car to bring him home.