Tron: Legacy
Chapter 15
Years Prior
If it were scientifically possible, Tori would squeeze her brain of all its remaining function. She was sure it would thank her personally for it too.
It was right before the end of the fall quarter, so that meant chaos in all corners of her life. From mind numbing school, to less sleep, to crowded cafes and libraries.
But thankfully, the lack of sleep actually benefited her to some extent, she was able to nab an entire table to herself in her favorite cafe tucked in a cozy corner away from the barista and constantly flapping door.
So here she was now, five hours into her final essay for the term sufficiently drained of all energy. Literally a sentence away from finishing.
So she deemed it nap time, an impromptu, well deserved nap.
With a solid thump her forehead made love to the cool wooden table.
The ambient sounds of the cafe did well to calm her.
"You know…" A deep drawl crawled over her, "If I hadn't just seen you take a breath a second ago, I would've taken you as a dead body."
"Mnhfhnhf….meh" Was all Tori could muster, her lips struggling to open against the table.
The same voice chuckled, though a little closer than before. Curious, Victoria rolled onto her cheek to glance up at the speaker.
Piercing blue/green eyes peered down at her, along with an amused quirk of a smile.
Tori immediately shot up and swiped her lips for any drool streaks. A blush burned into her cheeks and neck.
'Great job Tori! A cute guy just witnessed you die and slobber all over the table,' Victoria couldn't find the words to speak, mortified that she had acted so.
The awkward silence stretched between them but it didn't seem to bother him as much as it irked her.
With a chin jerk he gestured toward the empty chair in front of her, "Mind if I join you? I've got an assignment I gotta get over with, and no one else looks as nice as you...or as cute."
Whether or not he was being genuine in flirting, Tori nodded mechanically, pulling her own laptop a little closer to her to make room. Tori held back a swoon as he flashed her a big smile and sat down in front of her. As he passed beside her, she caught a waft of leather and light cologne.
After a minute of watching him (like a creeper) set up and start his own assignment, Tori calmed and turned back to her own screen.
Traces of the blush powdered her cheek as she tried to focus.
"How would you start a letter of resignation?"
His sudden question had her pause. Peering over her laptop screen, she froze as her eyes caught his.
"...I'm sorry, say that again?"
"How would you start a letter basically stating you're done with the education system and would rather jump off cliffs than continue sitting in class?"
Tori chortled, his sarcastic tone adding to the joke. That is until he continued to stare at her.
"Are you being serious?"
"Yup. I've already done it a couple times."
Her extremely startled look then had him laughing.
"Recreationally, not suicidal," He tried to explain through his laughter.
"Some would still consider that suicidal," She quipped but slowly smiled.
"It isn't as bad as you think.."
And so Victoria met Sam, him helping her finish her last term paper prior to graduation and his letter to quit school.
Now that she thought back, it was probably the least stressful day she had during her school years. And the best thing to have come out of her suffering.
'Sam Flynn…' Tori sighed with a smile.
An inevitable giggle escaped her, her own thoughts tickling her happiness. With a squeal she rolled around in bed, wrapping the blanket around her.
"I should be scared at how crazy you seem sometimes," The very man of her thoughts commented, as he watched his best friend roll around in his bed, making a mess.
"Well I already know you're crazy and you don't see me complaining," Victoria retorted, another round of laughter escaping her as he snorted and jumped onto the bed, trapping her in between his arms.
"Stop moving!" He barked and laughed as he struggled to keep her squirming body beneath him.
"Make me!-ACKK SAM!"
Sam grinned as he dropped his weight on top her.
"Oh you move so good," He drawled beside her ear, laughing as she burst into giggles, trying to stretch her head away from his.
"Gross Sammy!" Tori jabbed his side through the blankets, rolling his body off hers. Both parties struggled to catch their breaths as their laughter slowly receded. With a sigh, Tori reached up to pull his arm beneath her head, tucking it at the crook of her neck.
"I hope you know that you hurt my feelings, calling me gross," Sam drawled as he moved onto his side, peering down at her.
"If you could smell your own breath, you'd be calling yourself that too," Tori replied with a smile.
"Oh really…"
Tori watched silently as he leaned forward the slightest, his eyes moving from her own down to her lips.
Her lips parted, ready to speak, but the words caught in her throat. Her mouth became a desert as his tongue darted over his lips in response.
"Um…"
His thumb reached to stroke her reddening cheek.
"Tell me to stop…" It was barely a whisper. But in her ears, practically a scream.
"Sam!" Forceful knocks vibrated the metal making the walls.
The two flinched in surprise, but neither parted from another.
"Sam! I need to talk to you!" A familiar voice bellowed in from the walls and windows.
Both parties glanced towards the stairs before meeting one another.
After an agonizing second, Sam slowly pulled away and walked down the stairs to meet his self-designated caretaker.
Victoria let out a large breath, the tension leaving her. She was very sure what just had occurred, and was very much aware that she did not want it to stop.
Another smile rested on her lips.
'Sam Flynn.'
