Chapter Fourteen

It was October 16th, halfway through the month and halfway to Halloween, Zatanna's favourite holiday of the year. She had vague memories of her mother involving Halloween, detailed enough to make her smile, and cry. She held back the tears often when thinking of her mother, but found it worked well to distract herself through the fall months.

However, to commemorate both her parents, she rushed through her homework, donned a scarf and boots, and took her camera out with her on walks through neighborhoods covered with red and orange leaves. It was nothing compared to what she photographed in Maine one year her father took her on vacation, but Queens was home and full of smiling faces and rosy cheeks. Rosy cheeks she could capture behind a lens better than she could in any other way.

She often framed her spring pictures, as the snow was just melting and the state was budding with new green, but Zatanna found her autumn portraits to be the most believable and lifelike.

It was on those peaceful, stranger filled walks she found her solace. They helped her survive her first awkward week dodging Conner (for the most part) and resisting the urge to stare down at her feet whenever he and Megan came around to their group. The good and bad news was everyone was incredibly busy with classwork and their various activities, so it didn't look too suspicious for Zatanna to avoid the cafeteria around the time she knew the couple would be there together.

The strategy worked relatively well and, coupled with the fact Zatanna bounced back quick as always, her life returned to relative normal. She still didn't know why she was reacting so strongly, it wasn't as if Conner had made any moves on her. She was jealous, of course, but she had no right to be. Megan certainly didn't butt into any friend time Conner and Zatanna might have, and that's all they were: friends.

Sitting in the library and enjoying the quiet, Zatanna ducked her head into one of her history books. Being a first year student meant she had to plow through her general education classes, which wasn't difficult, per say, but it took up time. At least her history and English classes were relatively easy for her to keep up with.

The classes for her major were amazing; it still stunned her how well she fit in amongst the other Business and Finance majors. While she was considering moving her prime focus to small business management, she thought it was a good idea to get some courses finished before switching things up. So her first year was laid back and somewhat dull, but she knew she'd have fun in the years to come.

"Hey," she heard the whisper, and raised her head to see-

Conner, the name flashed through her mind upon seeing his face. His face was flushed for some reason she did not know. His dark hair was even darker, still damp from- ahh, he showers after football practice, right. Surprisingly, they practiced in the mornings most days, trying to catch the best light at a time more convenient to the team. A three hour workout right after waking up… actually didn't sound that terrible. "Good morning," she whispered back, glancing back down to her book and marking the page as he sat down across from her. Always across the table, it seemed, close enough to feel his knees and his feet but not close enough to touch. Why did he do this to her?

"I was wondering if you had a bit of time to spend in the library?"

Zatanna couldn't help but smile and gesture to the room around them. "Beat you too it, big boy." Where did that name come from?!

Thankfully, he didn't even seem to notice. "I meant with me, smartass. We need to work on our project some more."

Zatanna thought it over for a moment, listing her other homework for him to hear without even meaning to. She didn't have much due the next day, and even then it was only assigned reading and annotations for her first year English class. "I think I can manage it. Have your stuff?"

"No, but I thought I'd swing by and check to see if any group rooms were open before hauling all my shit around."

Zatanna frowned in confusion, "group rooms?"

"Yeah, the one's downstairs that groups can work in without worrying about being qui- you've really never used one? Wow… I'll show you when I get back." He gave her a big grin and stood up from his chair, casting a shadow onto her table. "Give me 10 minutes."

"Slow poke," she muttered, hiding her snarky grin in her book.

"Hey, my dorm is across campus!" He hissed in response, leaning down over the table to get in her face.

Zatanna lifted her head and met his eyes evenly, proud of herself when she did not glance at his lips. "Bet you could do it in five," she said, keeping her voice quiet.

"Winner pays for lunch."

Whoa, lunch? Who said anything about lunch? I thought we were just studying! "Deal." This is a very bad idea, Zatanna! Take it back before he can-

"Deal."

"I'm timing you," Zatanna grinned, pulling out her phone. What am I doing? What. Am. I. Doing.

"Go for it!" Conner backed away from the table, grinning back at her.

"Clock's ticking!" Zatanna called after him as he dashed away. She got a few weird looks from the other library patrons, but nothing worth embarrassment on her part. As she thought about Conner running across campus, Zatanna smiled to herself. It was amusing to hang around with him, that's for sure. She still wasn't sure what would happen to their friendship, but she wanted to keep it.

Conner was her first real, un-biased friend at Columbia. Artemis was amazing as well, but as roommates they made friends because it would be more convenient to like each other, it was only good luck that they actually did end up liking each other. But Conner didn't have to be nice to her, or even respond to her that first class of Women in Society. Why had he? Zatanna didn't know, but she was certainly grateful.

The last prewritten chapter, but in a few days I'll have a bit more free time for fanfiction writing instead of just Camp NaNoWriMo x3 Three more days, and only 3,000 words lefts! Wish me luck!