Disclaimer: Maybe…wait…nope still don't own anything involving numb3rs
Chapter 2
"So how long have we been working?" Amita said getting a little drowsy. It had gotten considerably darker and now they had turned on all the lights in their little corner
"An hour or so" Charlie asked looking at his watch. He didn't mind the work, it had only seemed a minute to him but then again few people shared his immense passion for math
"Let's work for another hour or so and then lets head out…when did it start raining?" Amita said glancing at the windows
"I don't know. Man it's gotten dark" Charlie said. I know what I'd like to do in the dark with Amita…STOP IT! What's wrong with me? I shouldn't be having these thoughts about Amita
"You don't think it's going to be a thunderstorm do you?" Amita asked slightly nervous. As much as she loved the thought of being trapped in the empty library with Charlie during a rainstorm, thunderstorms were a whole different story
"What's the matter? Are you afraid?" Charlie asked calmly
Amita was about to snap when she noticed the tone was simply asking a question not teasing, still it didn't make her answer any less embarrassing "Since I was little" She blushed and refused to look up until Charlie answered
"Me too. Well, I'm not scared but you know how jumpy I am and it's a little hard to work on an equation when you're jumping every other thirty seconds"
"Honestly, I'm surprised you notice thunder. Sometimes I think I could talk to you through a megaphone and you still wouldn't hear me"
Charlie looked startled for a moment and then agreed. They laughed for a few moments then went back to work, neither noticing it getting darker
After Amita accidentally brushed her leg against his leg, Charlie stretched and noticed the time: another hour had passed
"Amita, another hour has passed and…apparently the rest of the daylight" Charlie added his eyes falling to the window behind Amita
"What do you mean?" Amita answered not looking up from her book "It's only five"
"Amita look out the window" Charlie answered still looking at the window. Just as Amita looked up lightening flashed, briefly illuminating the sky giving it the correct appearance for the time of day. A thunderclap went off and Amita jumped almost falling off her chair. A minute later another flash of lightening caused the lights start to flicker. Another minute later another clap of thunder sounded and Amita started to whimper
"Ch-Charlie you think its safe to make a run for the car and drive home?" Amita asked looking terrified
"You look so terrified I think even if it wasn't raining so hard you couldn't drive"
"Be qu-" Amita started too say before another thunderclap caused her whimper
"How about we do something other then math? How about a game?" Charlie turning away from the window, marked the page they were on, and closed the book
"Um sure. You have any ideas?" Amita asked slightly surprised that Charlie was passing up such a good chance to get work done
"I have no clue. What game would distract you the most?" Charlie answered quickly after he noticed how Amita was starting to tremble. Wow she really is scared
"I don't know if" She paused shutting her eyes against the latest clash then continued "anything can distract me"
"Well, I was hoping it wasn't going to come to this but let's play-" Charlie paused for emphasis "-truth or dare" Charlie closed his eyes in a mock way of bracing himself. It had the desired effect- Amita laughing
"Fine we'll play truth or dare. Let's flip a coin to see who goes first"
"You can go first" Charlie said sparing her the trouble of digging out a change purse
"OK, truth or dare?"
"Truth"
"Chicken…um what is one talent most people don't know that you have?"
"I can multiply large numbers in my head…wait know you knew that" Charlie joked and would continue to joke. He had been noting the time between each thunderclap and they were getting closer together "Um I can do this" Charlie said patting his head and rubbing his stomach. Amita tried to give Charlie an angry glare for avoiding answering but continued to laugh too hard for it be effective "Fine I'll give you a straight answer but you can't tell anyone cause the only other person that knows this is my mother…and the others that participated"
"Uh oh. I swear I won't tell anyone" Amita said smiling. This is going to be good
Charlie eyed her for a moment before answering, "I can act. I got the part of Hamlet in a small town production"
"Where?" Amita was curious. So curious she barely noticed the lights flickered again
"Camden, California. No one I've ever talked to has heard of it. I tried out because my mom thought it would be good to spend time doing something other then math"
"So she chose to let you try out the stage?"
"Well she knew I didn't get stage fright, though acting is quite different from lecturing. She also knew how animated I get when I'm talking. So one day she researched small theatres around the area and took me to audition. Neither of us had expected me to get the lead but apparently I had a natural talent the likes of which the director hadn't seen in many a year" Charlie rolled his eyes as if it was the most ridiculous thing he had ever heard
"Wish I could have seen it" Amita said smiling
"My mom may have taped it, I can't remember. My turn- truth or dare?"
Amita thought a moment before she opened her mouth to answer. However as soon as she opened her mouth, a rumble of thunder (so loud Charlie thought, if it were possible, that it was in the room with them) sounded and the lights went out