Jim sat down in the library with a pile of books and papers. Just a month into classes and already most of the students-especially seniors-were hard at work.
Bones and Spock had a table and Jim sat there with them.
They all worked in silence briefly before Spock spoke what they were all thinking about.
"I'm not going into the exchange student program." Spock said.
"Oh thank god!" Jim said, loud enough that a librarian came over and told them to be quieter.
"I specifically avoided attending the Vulcan Science Academy and you thought that merely because they intend to exchange a few students with Starfleet Academy I would volunteer? Why? Because I'm Vulcan?"
"Well you haven't visited Home in a while, it's not such a weird assumption." Bones said.
"Not weird were I human but I'm not. I have no desire to visit home. With that in mind I will be spending the entirety of this year at The Academy."
"Fair Enough. But you might know some of the students coming here. What if it's someone you don't like? Jim asked.
"We'll both handle the situation maturely or avoid each other." Spock replied. "However I cannot think of anyone currently attending the Academy on Vulcan I would not care to meet again." Spock assured his friends.
"And we're pleased to welcome and introduce our Vulcan students."
Spock sat in the front row of the assembly ha, telling himself to stay calm and in control of his emotions as the Dean introduced the students from Vulcan who were up on the stage.
"Tevak. Vuleres, T'Pesh,"
I am in control of my emotions
"Tulok, Suvik, T'Prea, Vulenta,"
I. Am. In. Control.
"T'Pring."
Spock could've sworn T'Pring looked directly at him for just a moment.
His heart stopped beating. Metaphorically.
The Second that the assembly was dismissed Spock was out of his seat and out the door, moving through the halls and across the campus grounds and walking briskly through the streets of San Francisco until he reached their building and was back in his shared apartment once more.
A half hour later Jim and Bones showed up. They would find Spock sitting on the living room floor meditating.
"Spock...?" Jim said. "...well, when you're done come eat diner,and tell us why you ran out like that." after that the pair left Spock alone.
Another hour and Spock came into the Kitchen. Kirk was still waiting on him.
"Hey there's still food leftover from dinner. Its vegetarian. What happened earlier?"
"I wanted to come back here and meditate. I had no reason to wait."
"But you've never meditated in the middle of the living room or int he middle of the afternoon. So, what's up?" Kirk pressed.
"...Do you remember me explaining Vulcan marriage customs to you?"
"Vaguely? You guys have arranged marriages, right?"
"Similar, yes. It's a childhood betrothal for various reasons and coming from several traditions."
"Seems Kinda...Antique."
"I'm half of such a marriage." Spock said. "And it is a marriage. It's more than simply the engagement you humans have. Although I will admit it is not as binding as human marriage."
"Okay..." Kirk said, confused.
"I have told you all this before."
"Have you?"
"James. Regardless of your prior knowledge of all this it doesn't change the fact that the woman you would call my fiancee and I would call me wife is at the academy."
"What?" Bones had come into the kitchen. Spock explained the situation to him.
Bones reaction was simple and immediate. He laughed.
"Bones come on! Have a little sympathy he has to deal with his...wife for what? six weeks?" Jim said.
"Have some sympathy because Spock has to deal with girl drama? Absolutely not." Bones said.
"Leonard you must understand. i am not supposed to meet her until our wedding. the last and only time I have interacted with her was at our own engagement celebration." Spock said.
"Just avoid her she's only here for five weeks and if you guys really aren't supposed to talk-which is weird-she'll be avoiding you too. It'll be easy." Jim said. "I'm sure you'll be fine."
And Spock could only hope that would be true.
T'pring looked around the dorm room she'd been given to share with T'Pesh. She honestly would've preferred to share a room with Tevak as he was already someone she spent time with and knew she worked well with and could easily live with for the next few weeks. However, this was a human-based institution and humans tended to separate the sexes in these situations. A custom that made sense within their culture and she would respect.
Meanwhile she found herself considering her reasons for coming while unpacking. She was intrigued to see how good the education was here, she wanted to know if Starfleet could offer anything to would compare to the several thousand year history of the Science Academy. She wanted to open herself to more options. She wanted to prove the worth of the Vulcan way to the people of Earth and Starfleet.
She didn't want to meet Spock. It was difficult enough when people found out she was bonded to a half-human individual but Spock had always been known to their community as an upstanding citizen with flawless logic and a keen mind.
Not that she had ever had the opportunity to see if those facts were true for herself.
If she spoke to him here would anyone ever know?
If she spoke to him here would it let her see if he was as desirable a mate as...a certain other she had considered?
It seemed to her that in this new situation, providing none of the other Exchange students were to find out there was no risk. Only gain.
So, T'pring made up her mind. She would have to have a conversation with Spock.