Before it All…

Disclaimer: Absolutely no one besides Natasha and her roommate belong to me, everything and anything else belongs to Doug Naylor and all other respective owners, this story is for entertainment purposes only.

Rating: PG-13 for swearing.

AN: Not sure where this story is going, it's just a fluff peace and he sounds kind of crazy with that voice inside his head. Anyways, continuing on, continuing on...

Summary: Maybe everyone doesn't think Rimmer's a smeg head, like he thinks they do…

~*~

Another day done and Rimmer tried to stop himself from scanning the cafeteria for the fourth time in a minute.

She's not coming, a voice inside Rimmer's head--that he really wanted to smeg off--said sharply. Don't kid yourself. But Rimmer was kidding himself, he'd been kidding himself since Friday night at her door and now that he knew her name...unless it was a fake one.

It can't be a fake one, Rimmer reassured himself, and Natasha wouldn't do something like that.

How do you know? The voice challenged, you don't know her that well.

Well why would she waste the time speaking to me if she just wanted to give me a fake name? Rimmer countered and the voice was silence. Ha ha I wi--Rimmer shook his head, what was the matter with him!? Not only was he falling for some girl who probably didn't know he existed (not in the literal sense of course) now he was arguing with the annoying voice inside his head! What next? Bloody hallucinations?

"Can I sit here?" A voiced asked.

"Good God," Rimmer said his eyes wide and his face pale, he blinked and it took him a moment to realize that the woman standing in front of him wasn't a hallucination and he'd just made a fool of himself in front of Natasha again.

Natasha held her tray, waiting for Rimmer to respond, it took him a moment to remember how to formulate words, "yea, 'course, can." Rimmer managed to mumble. He grabbed his cup of juice and swigged it back, his face turning bright red.

Natasha grinned at sat down, "thanks," she said picking up her fork and knife. "So Rimmer," she began.

She's talking to you gimboid, react, look up. Rimmer looked up his mouth full of food and rose an eyebrow. He swallowed painfully, "yes?"

Natasha furrowed her brow, "are you going to eat that?" She asked pointed at his lump of soggy chocolate cake.

Not anymore, "no," he replied, he lifted his tray and scooped it onto her plate.

"Thanks," Natasha mumbled, digging into her ... what was the lunch today? Natasha couldn't tell just by looking at it.

"So," Rimmer said, "You going to take your officers exam anytime soon?"

Natasha poked at her food, "I think so, haven't really studied though."

"Well maybe..." Rimmer began, "maybe you would like to study."

Natasha smirked, "I plan to."

"No, I meant," he paused, "I meant maybe you'd like to study with me."

Natasha forked some chocolate cake into her mouth and blinked.

Rimmer's face fell; she's going to say no, why did you even ask you idiot.

Natasha gave Rimmer a sideways glance; he appeared to be sweating and looked nauseous. Is he... she pondered. Asking me out on a date? She chewed slowly and swallowed. No, he's just asking you to study.

Despite what the others said--the others mainly being Natasha's roommate--Natasha thought Rimmer was cute, he wasn't exactly her type but look where her type had gotten her. Besides Natasha did need a study partner it wasn't exactly like her roommate was top par in the academic department.

"Listen--" Rimmer began.

"Uh..." she said slowly, "okay I guess."

"--If you don't want to that's..." Rimmer blinked, "sorry?"

"I said okay," Natasha repeated, "I need a study partner."

"Oh," Rimmer said, he let out a big breath. The first time that lunch hour, the voice in the back of Rimmer's head didn't say a word.

~*~

"You what?"

Natasha looked over at her roommate Rebecca, from her bunk. "I told him we'd study."

"You do realize who you're talking about right?" Rebecca wondered.

"Of course I do."

"And you know that he's already failed his exam three times."

"So."

"So?" Rebecca demanded, "I could probably pass the officer's exam."

"Well maybe he was nervous Rebecca, it has been known to happen," Natasha closed the text book she was studying from, "we'll help each other."

"I'll tell you what he wants to help you with," Rebecca mumbled.

"Becca," Natasha sighed, entirely not in the mood.

"Well it's true, I've seen the way he looks at you."

Natasha blushed, "I have no idea what you're talking about."

"Sure," Rebecca replied, applying another coat of space blue to her fingernails.

"He's nice Becca!" Natasha said, and Rebecca snorted, "he is, have you ever even taken the time to talk to him?" Natasha rose an eyebrow. Rebecca pretended she didn't hear the question and continued painting her nails. "Do you realize that most of the men on this ship would have taken my crying as an invitation to try something?" Natasha highlighted another section of her textbook.

"Well I still think it's a bloody stupid idea," Rebecca muttered, she looked pointedly at Natasha, "listen I can understand if you're going through a bit of a rebound but you think you could have picked someone a little better than Arnold Rimmer?"

Natasha shook her head, her alarm went off on the shelf beside her, she snapped her text book shut, "I've got to go," she stood up and grabbed her textbooks, she smoothed her hair down and looked at Rebecca over her shoulder, "Don't wait up for me."

Yeah this chapter is really short, but I just wanted to get something. Not exactly sure where this story is going...it's kind of strayed but not too far and hopefully it will be done in a few more chapters. Thanks for the reviews and stay tuned!