#lorcafe

But for each emotional and social drawback you were also physically broken, having been freed but left without any sensation below your ribs. But sure enough you struggled through any and all obstacles to find your own sense of normalcy finally. For your sake at least you would fight through all, but most of all for your baby Brother’s sake. Little Jax just born and joining you under your Uncle’s custody from the moment of his birth placing him mainly under your watchful eye as you ensured his every happiness. Through your struggle, you had found knitting a good way to relieve your stress and quickly made a mountain of sweaters, scarves, hats, socks and started on a blanket.

Through High School you had no friends, other than Theodred, Eowyn and Eomer your cousins. With them being the only people who would spend time with you, everyone else thinking you were out of your mind. Including your teachers, who still did their best each day to dig their heels into your back to get you to talk at least once each class. Even against Theoden’s continuous speeches to them about letting you go at your own pace only hearing from them that you should just get over it and talk, you were making their days more difficult. Even though you made straight A’s they still demanded you speak to them and the class each day and in each and every class you had.

With your grades you had been accepted to Gondor University, a few hours distance away from your Uncle’s Rohan house by train, at least until he moved to Greenwood at the offer of a better teaching position near an old friend. Through your time in High School you had become introduced to Professor Denethor, who now worked with your Uncle in his new position. Their years of firendship allowing your quickly becoming friends with his older Son Boromir, who you had lived with when you attended your University, and staying with your Uncle on the weekends where the small coffee shop that you worked in part time was located.

In Gondor you had managed to make a few friends, not anyone you could purge your soul to or count on for a ride for a last minute trip to the airport, but they were nice to you and small talked with you through your day filled with classes. In school it wasn’t uncommon to find you spending nearly every moment with your arms and bag full of books and notes. Thankfully there was next to no participation demanded of you, easing your relationship towards teachers except a short few who disliked how quickly you worked through their textbooks and flooded them with questions not anywhere close to their syllabus, wishing you would just attend the classes and leave your work quietly. After three years you switched to your Uncle’s University for your graduate classes. You hoped you could work your last two years of school into one.

…

Your Uncle being one of the History teachers in Greenwood University, after they met for their first meeting before the semester started, he made sure to speak with the teachers of the classes you had signed up for. Informing them that you were shy and asking them not to force you to speak, letting them know a few things about your time in your High School with your teachers. Truthfully you were mostly normal now, just had a slow start when speaking with new people, unless you were speaking about something you were familiar with. But he would not risk the chance of your being pushed too far out of your comfort zone sealing his urge to share the gist of your timid nature with the teachers all curious about their new transfer student with perfect scores to begin with.

After he had left the meeting three of your Professors stopped at a diner for lunch, each of them trying to figure out why Theoden had told them about you and wondering if it was really that bad or if he was overreacting. With a sigh Dwalin relaxed against the back of his chair saying, “Surely he’s just being over protective.”

Thorin shrugged, “No doubt we’d have done the same if one of the boys was like that. Remember when you went after that teacher of Ori’s that made him cry forcing him into that play?”

Dwalin smirked back at him, “Not any worse than you and Frerin when Fili nearly got forced to repeat a year when that teacher didn’t like his year end project.”

Thranduil chuckled claiming a sip from his mug before Thorin told him, “Oh and don’t even get us started on you and Leg.”

Thranduil replied, lowering his mug, “I’m certain he has good reason to be protective.”

Dwalin nodded, “We’ll just have to treat her as one of the boys.”

Thorin chuckled softly thinking back to their rough yet protective nature with them, “Perhaps not exactly like one of the boys.”

Thranduil nodded, “Somewhere between them and Dis should do nicely.”

Dwalin, “Hopefully she won’t be as overbearing as Dis.” Earning a round of chuckles from the trio.

…

On your first day you had woken up under the giant pile of blankets you had sprawled across your bed messily, dropping into bed after a long shift at work the day before, having spent your few weeks off working in your lawyer Elrond’s firm helping with their new filing system. Slowly you rose, brushing your long black curly hair out of your face as you crawled out from under the covers heading for your bathroom. There you brushed your teeth and hair before pulling your loose curls back into a long ponytail, leaving your bangs hanging over the left side of your face. After you headed to your closet, pulling on your favorite pair of jeans and knee length socks under with your new black high heel black booties before choosing your shirt. For a few moments you stood staring at your choices before settling on a tight plain black t shirt with one of Boromir’s pale grey cardigan he had given you after it got too tight on him. Buttoning it as you grabbed your things and headed for the kitchen, where you ate quickly and grabbed your snacks and joined Theoden as he headed for the car. He had insisted on taking you to school, but since he was a teacher he need to get there early, as you parked you got out grabbing your bag in your exit and pulled it over your shoulder and hugged Theoden when he pointed you in the direction of your first class.

….

Thranduil Greenleaf - Art History

The room was empty when you got there, quietly you chose a desk in the second row near the wall and settled in. Quietly pulling out your snacks and your bottle of juice you had brought as you pulled out your new book, crossed your leg and propped the other on the chair in front of you, leaning back against your chair. A short while later you noticed two men, one of them you had assumed was your teacher, both continuing their conversation as the taller of the two spread out his things over his desk. He turned as the other spotted you, checking his watch before looking back to the other man and continuing their conversation, glancing over at you every few minutes curiously giving you a chance to sneak glances of your own when you recognized him.

After a bit the shorter man left as the taller one started setting out papers on the desks, still glancing over at you as he moved through the rows of desks, working his way forward from the desks behind you. As he moved closer he spotted you grab one of your snacks and slip it into your mouth when you turned the page in your book with your other hand. When he came up behind you, you grabbed the small container you had your small cinnamon rolls and orange slices in, and without looking as he came up next to you offered him one. He accepted one of each saying, “Thank you.” Quietly he slid the sheet on your desk saying, “It’s for the slides I have for later.” You nodded as he peered down at your book, quietly reading the page you were on trying to guess the title, “You’re reading about Stonehenge?”

You laid your book down upside down on the desk and looked up at him as he sat in the desk next to you. His eyes locked directly onto your bright purple eyes, making his heart skip as he remembered you from one of his stops in at the coffee shop you worked at last year before smiling and offering his hand, “Thranduil Greenleaf.” Your blank face broke for a quick moment as you gave him a quick smile accepting his handshake, “Jaqi Pear.”

Your eyes ran over his face, noting his brown shaggy hair that was brushed back and his silvery blue eyes with a light green button down shirt with a dark green sweater over it with jeans on under.

His smile grew as he leaned in a bit closer, “So you’re Theoden’s Neice?” You nodded and his eyes skimmed across your book reading the title before looking back to you, “If you like reading about the Stonehenge, I have a few books you could borrow if you wanted.” Through this his heart pounded while he relished the chance to finally speak with you fully out of the packed coffee shop where he’d so painfully missed what he imagined as his only chance to speak with you before your sudden vanishing.

He looked over your face carefully while you gazed back at him as if you were waiting for him to say something. Finally he saw another quick smile slide over your face again as you answered, “It was a gift, one of the last on a long list of books on the Stonehenge I got from one of my teachers last year.” He smiled again as your smile stayed a little this time rather then disappearing, his eyes lit up showing the silver streak running through them as you continued, “Large Chocolate Caramel Macchiato with double shot.” His eyebrow raised, “The last drink you ordered from the coffee shop I worked in last year.”

He chuckled, “You remembered that?” Dropping his eyes to the snacks he still had in his hand, before popped the small cinnamon roll in his mouth quickly to try to hide his smile as he chewed. Losing the battle so he popped the orange slice in his mouth, chewing it and looking up at you with another kind smile as you said, “Hard to forget the day someone nearly drove into the shop.”

He chuckled again, making his eyes light up again, “I nearly forgot about that.” His eyes darted to the copy of his text book on the desk below your other book, reaching out and gently pulling it out as he spotted the several sheets of notes through the book. He held it in front of him as he flipped through it, his smile grew as he flipped through it. He skimmed over the notes you had made and the summaries of each chapter and notes of the full summaries of each section with notations from other books. When he made his way to the end of the book, closing it with a soft chuckle he caught your gaze after you had placed your other book and the empty food container back in your bag. “You read and summarized the entire book. I’m going to have to break out my second syllabus for you to teach you anything new.”

You bit your lip quickly before releasing it as you let out a slow breath as his eyes sparkled at you again, “My teachers at my old school didn’t like my study habits, you don’t have to go to any extra efforts.”

He chuckled and leaned in a bit closer as he set the book down on your desk again, “I didn’t mean it as an imposition, I’ve been dying to have a student force me to pull out my extra work, normally my students barely scrape through my course. Since you’ve done the work already and laid out the groundwork, it’s my job to find something you haven’t learned yet.” His eyes darted to the door as he spotted the first of the other students walking through the halls, he took in a deep breath as he pulled away and stood as one walked through the door, before leaning down quickly whispering, “I enjoy a good challenge, I look forward to seeing what you can do.”

You smiled at him again, this time larger making his heart skip again as he saw a spark through your eyes, “I can’t wait to see what you’ve been holding back from your other students.” He smiled and chuckled again as he nodded his head turning and biting his lip in a failed attempt to keep his smile hidden. He finished laying out the papers before heading to his desk and waited for the rest of his students to arrive, eying you occasionally as you pulled out your notebook and pen, and dropped your foot from the desk in front of you as a student tried to choose the desk in front of you.

Through his class he tried as best as he could to focus on his lesson, trying to keep his eyes off you. Even going as far as throwing in a few of his hidden facts, confusing the other students as they didn’t see them on the sheet he had given them, leaving him smirking at their reactions and at your small smile that still hadn’t left since he spoke to you. After his class when you passed his podium he offered you directions to your next class then sat down against his desk as he watched you walk out of his classroom. Quietly admiring the bounce in your step, followed by the slight sway in your walk as best as he could from under your large shirt while your curly ponytail bounced and swung side to side as you walked away.

…

Thorin Durin - History (Not specific on which, couldn’t choose.)

You took the shortcut that Thranduil had given you. When you reached the door you spotted the last of the large group of what could only be perceived as depressed and irritated young adults rushing out of the door to freedom. Slipping inside quietly, avoiding one of the last of the students you slammed into something, you took a quick step back as you spotted the obstacle. Turning to face you was a tall solid Man in a dark blue button down shirt with the sleeves rolled up, black jeans over a pair of black boots, as you looked him in the eye you caught his soft gasp as his mouth opened a little catching your eye color. His sparkling blue eyes ran over your face quickly trying to place how he knew you as you noted his black hair tied back with a short black beard, his face softening a bit as you quietly said, “Sorry.”

He gave you a soft smile as he reached out his hand with a hint of pride in his posture as he said, “Thorin Durin.”

You gave him a small smile as you took his hand, noting the paw of a hand with a few calluses on it, “Jaqi Pear.”

His head titled to the side as he recognized your name speaking again in a lower gravely voice as he smirked, “Theoden’s niece.” His smile grew a bit as you slid your hand out of his grip gently, grabbing your bag strap again as he looked down at you before spotting the students behind you hesitating to enter his class having heard from the last class what he had said about the workload. While he watched them you quietly slipped around him choosing a seat in nearly the same spot you always chose, where you pulled out your book, notebook and pen before he had noticed you were missing. Curiously he turned to see you in your seat already, causing him to smirk slightly as he looked over you again.

After a trip to his desk he grabbed the stack of packets he was going to hand out to the desks, heading for yours first. Dropping it down gently he noticed the papers in your book, as you noticed his inspection of your book you held it out for him. which he accepted with a smile that grew as he flipped through your book. He eyed the summaries and notes you had made, including several references from other books on certain topics most of his students barely noticed. He set the book down as the first students in your class were pushed through the door and others hesitantly followed, he gazed down at you with a soft smile, “I think I’m going to enjoy having you in my class very much.”

You glanced from the other students to him, “I take it you’re a tough teacher, I look forward to seeing your worst.” This caused a spark to fly through his eyes as he smiled, and turned to pass out the rest of the packets, starting his lecture with a loud stern voice with a face to match until he glanced at you, causing a soft gaze to flash across his face before going stern again.

Through his class you saw exactly why the others had been so upset. He had assigned two essays on the first day and said there would be at least four due a week, with a workload nearly double every other History course, the students, who unlike you, didn’t choose his class were placed in it because the others filled up much quicker. As he was going through his explanation for the yearly workload he spotted the small smirk on your face at the other students groaned before catching your gaze again, quickly softening before forcing himself to look away to start on his first lesson. After his class he also gave you a shortcut to your next class, eyeing you closely as you left, with his heart still pounding halfway through his next class.

…

Dwalin - Calculus (Just picked one)

As you entered his class, once again you were met by a mob of depressed students making you chuckle quietly as you slipped inside. On the path to your desk you saw the large broad shouldered Man with salt and pepper stubble over his head with a short matching beard in a maroon sweater rolled up at the elbow with black jeans and boots, laying a packet down on each desk. His actions paused as he spotted you choosing the seat in front of him, dropping your bag on the desk as you pulled your book for that class out with similar notes through it. He stepped beside your desk as you grabbed your notebook and pen for that class out of your bag. Quietly he set his stack down and lifted your book examining it with a similar grin as you asked, “Are you related to Professor Thorin Durin?”

He glanced up at you as he reached the last section of the completed book, closing it as you spotted the same striking blue eyes with a matching gasp at his notice of your eyes reminding him of someone he’d seen in a picture somewhere before. In a rough voice he replied, “Yes.” Holding out his hand, “Dwalin Durin.”

You smiled at him slightly, accepting his giant paw of a hand, “Jaqi Pear.”

You caught a spark in his eyes as he recognized your name and you continued, “Just how many of my teachers has he spoken to about me?”

He chuckled and smiled as he said, “All of us.” Chuckling again as you rolled your eyes and sat in your seat, crossing your left leg over the other, making a smirk slide across his face as he leaned down to ask, “You went through that entire book?”

You nodded, “Of course.”

He smirked, “I’ll have to work twice as hard to teach you then.” Shooting you another quick smirk as he caught a spark in your eyes as you laid your bag across your lap and he kept passing out his packets while your mind went blank at any response at all. Once again a class of groans sounded as he laid out his lesson plan and work load, crushing the hopes of the students who had wished for a simple Math class.

…

After his class you had Denethor for Physics and Minnas for Photography then your lunch and four more classes before heading back home. In your photography class you met another Durin, Ori Durin who introduced you to his brother Nori after class as they let you eat with them.

Quietly you eyed the set of long tables with untrustworthy looking stools formed from spiraling legs stirring an uncomfortable twinge in your stomach. Under slightly furrowed brows you eyed them all, and chose a spot closer to the projector board not far from the teacher’s crowded desk and eyed the other students entering after. All chose their own seats to be nearer to some item they wished to inspect further, until a thin cardigan clad Dwarf walked in eyeing the few empty seats. Avoiding the pair near the boisterous band of Elves admiring the crystal horse statues and followed the intuitive little tug in his heart leading him closer to the fellow cardigan clad student. A flashing smile eased onto his face as he gave a soft “hi” as he set his bag on the desk beside yours and sat down. His first glance at your face directly earned a common gasp as he took in the face of an Elleth, in his mind, far more likely to be a model for this class than to be one of the students. A weak smile flashed on your face as you repeated his simple greeting then turned to look to the Professor when she began speaking.

Moments after class had ended he had turned to you at the news that the students in similarly colored stools beside one another would be yearly partners for any group projects coming up. With a weak chuckle he smiled at you again catching the flash of an expression of your seeming wish to hear any and everything he had to say mingled with your same stoic yet soft resting expression, “I suppose we’re partners then.”

You nodded and his smile inched up at your flashing smile, “I suppose so.”

After a look around the near empty room he continued, “Which class do you have next?”

“It’s my lunch now, I guess.”

“Well I’m meeting my Brother over in the eastern courtyard for lunch if you wanted to join us?”

Quietly you nodded and joined him wishing you had anything at all flashing into your mind to say to him to break the awkward silence on the walk. Finally at the table you eyed the fiery haired brother with three thick braided spikes along the sides and top of his head almost looking like the top of a star who eyed you curiously and smiled when you sat across from him on Ori’s left. Without a word you sat as they shared their days so far after your trading of names. At least until you looked up as Ori asked you, “I noticed you’ve got my Uncle’s books in your bag?”

Glancing between them you asked, “You’re related to the Durin Professors?”

They nodded and Nori replied, “Our Uncles, well, more like Mum’s Cousins but Uncle is easier to have understood by others.”

Ori, “You like their classes?”

You nodded, “They seem nice.” Their brows rose curiously unsure if you were trying to make a joke. “My Uncle teaches here too, sort of told them to be.”

Nori inhaled softly, “Ah, Theoden’s Niece. Ya, the warning came up over breakfast. We sort of had bets on how you’d be. Though our Cousins were all imagining another blue eyed blonde.”

“Ya, Grandpa was a twin, both Uncle and my Mother took their Mother’s hair and eye colors.”

Ori, “You’re really close with him then?”

“He took me and my Brother in when I was 14.” After this a few more rounds of questions were asked and answered as they both eyed your blank reactions and forced soft expression as an uncertainty remained in your eyes. When lunch was over you were invited back again the next day as well before they walked off to their next class assuring each other you had been given a warning flag of being shy, so that could just be the reasoning for your stand offish-ness with the pair.

…

After their shift at work the Teachers had agreed to meet up after school, choosing the same diner as before. All agreeing that you were an amazing student, noticing your shyness but also your willingness to learn, each sharing that you had gone through their textbooks and hearing from the other teachers that you had done the same with their classes again. Each of them eager to see your first homework assignments and tests they had planned.

…

After school you had returned to your apartment finalizing the details for your upcoming essays and assignments as your mind reeled at your floundering attempt at befriending the pair, something you hoped to achieve to pull yourself more out of your shell. Though your sleep came difficultly you managed a nap before the sting of not having your usual knock on your door signaling your Brother being left in your care when your Cousins headed off to a late shift at work. Quietly past midnight you sat up relenting to your inner pain to change into your gym clothes and make the short trip to a nearby gym you had signed up for when you wished to work out your inner turmoil in a healthier way instead of repressing it.

Around you the empty gym you spied the random men mid workout stealing glances at the new face among them. After locking your bag up you made your way to the first set of pull up bars to warm up. Slowly you worked through a few sets of those before moving on to a bench press station where you caught the same brunette from Thranduil’s class earlier sneaking glances at you through the wall of mirrors as he did his own sets nearby. In the middle of your adding on the weights from the corner of your eye you spotted his approach with his lip tucked between his teeth anxiously nipping at it through his obvious mental rehearsal of what he was going to say.

His eyes sank over your knee length sweats and tank top that cut low on the sides in different shades of green matching your shoes contrasting your black sports bra, tighter spandex shorts and socks. Behind his back he wiped his hands on the back of his shorts and white t shirt with the sleeves removed in his attempt at subtly hiding evidence of his nerves. “Need a spotter?”

“If you like.” His flicker of an awkward smile flashed on his face through an even more awkward chuckle stirring your smile out only making his nerves worse until his near pleading glance to hear anything you wished to say when your lips parted again. “Professor Greenleaf’s class right?”

He nodded, rubbing the back of his neck and fumbling with a stray section of hair from his loose ponytail he undid and started pulling back tighter again. “Ya, Ada mentioned he talked to you. Didn’t think you were as worse off as your Uncle said.” You weakly chuckled as you secured the final weight lock as his face straightened as he realized what he said, then rapidly fired out, “Not that he said you were terrible or anything. Just not to pull too much attention to you. But I mean Ada certainly won’t do that.”

Your next giggle silenced him, “Breathe, just take a breath. My Uncle told all the teachers about it, his way of making me feel more comfortable I’m assuming.”

Awkwardly he chuckled again watching you walk around to sit on the bench, “Well that’s good. You certainly do need to feel comfortable, Miss Bunny.”

Your eyes met his as he rested his hands on the bar through your smirk back at him, “You’re the first to call me that. The ears gave it away huh?”

After a glance at your slightly pointed ears matching his he chuckled through your growing smile as you giggled again, “I have your posters on my wall. And one of your old bunny charms, for luck.” His face dropped again, “That sounded less creepy in my head.”

You giggled again, “Not creepy. No where near the worst I’ve heard.”

He smiled again as you turned and laid back and readied to begin your set, “You still keep up with swimming? I mean, I know you’ve retired, but um, do you still watch competitions?”

Lowering the bar again you replied, “Yes and no. For one I didn’t retire.” His brows rose curiously, “At least not officially or anything.”

He wet his lips, “But, you just stopped.”

“My Parents died, and um, I was injured. Had to go through rehab for a while.”

“Oh, anything serious? I mean, you had to go through rehab…”

“Broken ribs, the doctors thought I had a herniated disk in my back but the swelling went down and it healed. Um, after, I just needed a break, besides my baby Brother was sick and needed surgery so swimming sort of got pushed back. I watch occasionally.” You racked the bar and sat up turning to him again, “Used to go to Uni in Gondor, my Brother’s out there, he loved watching it and asking all about it when I watched him after classes. You swim?”

He nodded, “Got a place on the school team, not very high, but, hoping to get higher. Seventh actually.”

His expression sank as you stood up and he went to take his turn, “It’s just the first day, you’ve got time.”

“I was first in high school though. Just hard being up against so many first placers and struggle to get the full attentions I had back in my old school.”

Your smile inched up watching his ease with your weight choice even though his sets were shorter, when you traded again you asked, “Pool here any good?”

He nodded, “Part of why I’m here, they lock up the one at Uni at sundown. Used to come in with Ada but he goes in the day and the pool’s always crowded then.”

Laying back again you asked, “Your Ada, he didn’t mention knowing me, at least not past the coffee shop I used to work in he went to.”

His smile inched up realizing you must be the woman he wouldn’t stop talking about from back then, “He played rugby in school, so my swimming sort of knocked him sideways. Never really got into it, but still supportive. He’s seen the posters, just, didn’t give them too much attention I guess. He still comes to my meets when he can.”

“Doing laps today?”

His eyes met yours rapidly, “I, yes.”

“At least I won’t be alone in it then.” Your response drawing another awkward chuckle from him. After your sets there you switched stations then made a stop at the mats training with your own body weight continuing your conversation as he both exercised beside you and sat through his resting watching you in awe at the sheer strength and size you had gained in your eight year break. But going from your formerly starved figure to your size now wasn’t as large of a change as some would imagine, simply eating and training healthier finally allowed your body to fill out as it was intended at least physically marking you as closer to your true age, unlike your near child like appearance back at 14 before you were freed.

At the pool side Legolas shifted on his feet then decided on simply starting his first lap in his wait for you to join him. A pair of legs sinking into the water beside him as he neared the wall signaled your joining him. He surfaced with a smile and you began your own laps matching his pace easily, feeling your body relaxing comfortably back into the motions before you started inching faster testing if he could match you. After your final lap you both sat on the pool’s edge removing your goggles and caps before you eyed his thin barely defined form and said, “How far are you wanting to go in swimming?”

He smiled at you, “As far as I can.”

You nodded, “Well, you’re not at a bad starting point. Few easy tweaks to your form and you could be first soon enough.” His expression lit up as you suggested you could work out together when you ended up there in your shared sleeplessness. To which he eagerly agreed and joined you in showering and changing, on your walk outside you stole another glance at him as he asked, “Live far?” He pulled the keys to his Father’s car from his pocket, “Ada let me use his car.” His smile alone made you giggle again and nod in reply.

“Not far, but I would not mind the ride.” Outside your apartment you swapped numbers and headed to your warm beds again, both sharing a growing eagerness at your new friendship as he grew more excited and fired off an email to his oldest friend, “Ta, you are not going to believe who is training at my gym!!”

After learning you had two classes together, the next day he started sitting closer to you, slowly becoming another of your friends, both bloodlines of your friends made it damn near impossible not to focus on anything but the gorgeous Men around you. With your late nights with Legolas and your early mornings spent with Thranduil set your days off to a great start, and your classes with the Durins easily lifting your mood and easily helping you through the rest of your day.

…

As each day passed you shocked your teachers with turning in assignments early and taking the extra credit your three new favorite teachers along with Denethor had given you. The three Professors kept a good eye on you during class to see your reactions during their lessons, within a few weeks you were known as their best student and all the other students sent you jealous glares as you got back perfect scores as they failed with flying colors.

Each day settling the fact that they were absolutely too attractive to be teaching, each of them tempting in their own way, making you sure that you would very much enjoy this school over your last, tempted to force your learning into two years but your course list refused to let that happen now. So you forced yourself to try to talk more, to them and your two new Durin friends.

After his class you walked over to Thorin as he dug out his next classes packets, “Who would you rather hit, Napoleon or Caesar?”

A smirk ran across his face as he glanced up spotting you, letting out a quiet chuckle, setting down the stack of packets and straightening up as he raised and lowered his eyebrows as he pondered for an answer, “Napoleon, after I saw the first Bill and Ted movie I wanted to hit him.” As he saw your smirk he asked, “You?”

You gave him a large smile as you gave a quiet chuckle, making his heart stop, “Caesar, no doubt. Mostly for changing the calendar, just to prove how great a guy he really was he just had to go and make up three new months to name after himself and his family, I would have sided with Brutus too.” Your words made him laugh loudly, partially scaring his next group of victims as he handed you your extra work assignment and headed out the door.

…

At lunch again you joined the Durin pair, who once again tried to mask their growing discomfort at your near silence around them leading them to believe your disinterest in being their friend. But as they pulled out their lunches you clearly stated, “I, was home schooled until High School.” Their eyes rose to meet yours, “I’m still not, very good with talking to people near my age.”

Ori’s brows rose as Nori replied waving his hand, “Oh it’s no trouble. Just figured you’d still be warming up to us.”

Looking between them you said, “It’s easier answering questions. My mind goes blank when I’m expected to ask them.”

Ori smiled, “Shouldn’t be too difficult to find a common interest or two after a bit.” Your smile flinched back and they traded turns asking questions they both answered as well for you then were simply floored when the mention of a book you all loved triggered a massive smile on you the more you delved into that world giving them a glimpse of just what your friendship could be after you had relaxed more. Through your meal you were completely oblivious to the crowds around you unable to keep from staring at you and the rare beaming expression from you.