Sarah has detention. She had promised Cosima that she'd get less this year since they're seniors. It is her first of the year and almost November, so Cosima supposes she's keeping her promise—especially since by this time last year, she'd already had five.
Sarah gave Cosima a ride today, so she decides to wait for her. She doesn't really mind since she spends so much time at Sarah's house anyway. She's waiting outside, enjoying probably one of the last nice days before it turns cold. She's almost finished with Brave New World and plans on starting her essay when she gets to Sarah's. If she can finish the book now, she should have the time to talk to help Beca with her math homework.
Though concentrating on her book, Cosima does hear the car pull up to the curb. She's sitting in front of the school on the steps, so it is expected.
It isn't until a shadow blocks out some of her light that Cosima realizes that the driver shut off the car and got out.
Not in the mood to talk, Cosima decides that ignoring whoever it is, is the best thing to do; looking up will only encourage a conversation, which Cosima could do without.
However, once the throat clearing starts, Cosima can't really feign unawareness. She sighs and looks up.
Standing there is a vaguely familiar looking guy, maybe a little older, dressed in jeans and a sweater, grinning at her like he's doing her a favor and the vibe she's getting tells her to prepare for an uncomfortable conversation.
"Yes?"
"Hi, I'm Jeff," he smiles.
"That's nice," she says.
"And you are?" he asks after a beat.
"Trying to read," she replies.
"I'm picking up my little brother," he explains.
"That's nice."
"Yeah, I'm home from college for the weekend," he continues. "And since he's here late for detention, I offered to give him a ride."
Cosima wonders if the college thing is supposed to impress her because it's actually having the opposite effect. And so she keeps reading hoping her disinterest is being conveyed.
Instead, he sits down next to her. "Mind if I join you?"
"I'm trying to read."
"School's over."
"How astute of you," she retorts. "It's homework."
"But you're not at home."
Cosima barely holds back a groan. "Well the book still needs to be read."
"Brave New World, huh?" he muses. "You must be in AP English. Smart girls are hot."
She ignores him.
"I'm here until Sunday afternoon," he says. "Maybe you and I should go out tomorrow night."
"No thank you."
"Why not?" he asks.
"I'm not interested," she replies.
"Come on, it'll be fun," he pushes. "Just dinner. It's not like I'm looking for anything serious."
"No."
"Why? Boyfriend?"
"Definitely not," Cosima says. "I have no interest in going anywhere with you. Nor do I wish to continue this conversation. I just want to finish my book."
"Hey you're the one reading in front of the school," he points out.
"Sitting in public is not an open invitation to speak to me," Cosima replies. "Especially since this is my school."
"I just wanted to talk," he protests.
"And I do not," she tells him.
He snatches the book out of Cosima's hands. "There's no need to be rude."
Cosima stands up. "And what would you call taking my book?"
"Just hoping for a little eye contact," he replies, standing as well.
"I don't want to talk to you," Cosima tells him. "Hence, no eye contact. Give me my book back."
"What? No please?" he teases.
Cosima rolls her eyes, stomps on his foot, yanks her book back and shoves past him, having decided to wait for Sarah somewhere else.
"What the hell?" he snaps, following her.
Cosima continues walking, but is stopped by him grabbing her arm. Deciding that more drastic measures are needed, Cosima is about to kick him in the groin when she hears, "Get your fucking hands off her!"
And then a very angry Sarah is shoving him away. And placing herself between them.
"Mind your own business, bitch," he growls.
"She is my business," Sarah retorts. "Maybe you should mind yours."
"We were just talking," he defends.
"Yeah, I bet," Sarah scoffs.
"We were," he insists.
"You ready to go?" Sarah asks Cosima, eyes still on Jeff.
"Definitely."
Sarah nods. "Let's go." Keeping Cosima behind her, Sarah side steps around Jeff. He watches, a smirk on his face as Sarah walks backwards away from him.
"Over react much?" he calls after them when they're on the steps.
Sarah takes Cosima's hand as they walk towards her car. "You okay?" she asks.
"I'm fine."
"I should have kicked him in the balls," Sarah grumbles.
"Considering I was about to, you probably should have waited a few more seconds."
"Yeah?"
Cosima nods.
"Bloody hell," she sighs. "Fucked that up, yeah?"
Cosima laughs. "I'm sure there will be plenty of other idiots for you to do that to."
"That's not actually comforting, Cos."
"Thanks for stepping in," Cosima says. "I was really glad to see you."
"Yeah, well no one touches you unless you want them to," Sarah replies as they reach her car.
As Cosima reaches the passenger side, Sarah is there and opens the door for her.
Cosima laughs and kisses Sarah before sliding inside. Sarah closes the door and walks to the driver's side and climbs in.
"You're awfully gallant today," Cosima tells her.
"You deserve it," Sarah replies. "Besides, it's my fault you had to deal with that dickwad."
"I'm sure you'll find some way to make it up to me," Cosima tells her.
"I have a few ideas," Sarah grins.
"Like letting me finish my English essay?"
Sarah rolls her eyes as she starts the car. "You're just lucky that smart girls are hot."
Cosima laughs.
When they reach Sarah's house, Beca is rooting around in the fridge.
"Getting hungry, Bec-a-roo?" Cosima asks, setting her stuff on the table.
"I thought I could help since mom has to work and Sarah's tired from detention," Beca answers.
"Cause it's so exhausting being surly in a desk," Cosima teases.
Sarah ignores her and Cosima figures she still feels bad about what happened while Cosima was waiting for her.
"Not my fault that Principal Bowles has it out for me, brat," Sarah retorts as she pulls out her history book and starts her homework.
Cosima smirks to herself as she and Beca start making spaghetti because that is definitely her influence.
Sarah and Beca's mom works two jobs and won't let Sarah get one; instead wanting her to watch Beca—even though the ten year old is already pretty self sufficient—and get good grades. It's probably why Cosima is allowed to be over all the time. She helps Beca with her home work and insists that Sarah does her. It's nice for Cosima too since her parents are out of town a lot and her big, empty house get lonely. Grateful, Cosima buys food with the money her parents leave for her, no matter how many times she's told not to.
After dinner, Sarah cleans up while Cosima helps Beca with her math homework. Beca might enjoy science as much as Cosima does, but seems to have a lot of trouble with math. Interestingly, seeing Cosima help Beca seems to motivate Sarah to do her own homework. Beca so obviously looks up to Sarah and Cosima's just glad that Sarah is trying to set a better example. She still gets in trouble—she can't seem to not—but her grades have improved enough that college is a real possibility and not just a pipe dream like it was when Cosima and Sarah first started dating.
Beca reads The Diary of Anne Frank for class while Cosima writes her Brave New World essay and Sarah tries to get through Othello. English is the hardest for Sarah because she's so restless—and Shakespeare is the worst. But she seems to be enjoying Othello even if she—her words—isn't getting everything that she's supposed to.
Cosima looks up from her essay to see them both bent over their books, faces full of concentration and can't resist snapping a picture with her phone.
"Cos..." Sarah warns.
"What? You guys are adorable. I had to."
"We. Are. Not. Adorable," Sarah emphasizes.
Beca just smiles, happy to be included.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," Cosima says.
Sarah rolls her eyes and returns to Othello.