we'll all float on

“You’re putting me in a really difficult position here,” James said, biting his lip. “And yeah, I’ve had frpas before. And yes, milkshakes are definitely better.” He bobbed his head side to side as he thought for a while. “You know what, let’s go with cookies and cream,” he said, before quickly adding “For now!”

“Well how about this we can start with cookies and cream and then try everything and we can  judge and make a decision then.” Willow said. Truth be told she thought that was the best idea she ever had, ice cream was her favorite thing every other than coffee and wine of course.

Grateful that he wasn’t going to be stranded at some random bus stop in Seattle forever, Rafael shot the other a quick smile. “Thank you so much, that’s very kind of you,” he nodded, a hand coming up to briefly fiddle with his glasses. “So, the EC3 is usually the one to go for, yes?”

“Oh anytime!” Willow said cheerfully. “Yeah I think it goes around campus to the other side after but I’m not sure so that’s on you if you want to try it. By the way I’m Willow. What are you studying?” She asked him while waiting for the bus to get there.

Jenna had been out of town for a couple weeks, only a state over, but coming back to Seattle made it feel as if months had passed. Mostly because of how weird the weather was acting– though it was true around at least the states, it just made it seemed as if months had passed instead of a week. Really, it was throwing Jenna’s entire day off. Which would explain why she walked into the a building, nearly colliding with another body, before realizing, she wasn’t sure why she was there in the first place. She took a moment to gather her thoughts before looking at the other person. “I’m sorry, I just don’t know where my head is today.”

Willow noticed the girl who was running around looking a little lost. Willow was running late but she also figure she should probably help the oddly familiar looking face. Willow walked up to her “Hey uhm you look a little lost, I’m Willow.... you look familiar, anywho can I help you find your way.”

It was just his luck that his phone would die now. usually, he has it charged or brought an extra battery pack to avoid this kind of szenario and the one time he forgot, he managed to also take the wrong bus and strand in a part of Seattle he’d never seen before. For the past fifteen minutes, he’d stood at the bus stop, considering his options. Taking a random bus and hoping for the best? Taking the one he just took back and just giving up? He knew all of that was stupid. All he had to do was ask someone for help – as much as he didn’t want to do that. But it would be good for him, healthy. So, he took a deep breath, mentally prepared himself and approached the next person he could find. 

“Excuse me? I really don’t mean to bother you but my phone died and I’m a little lost. Do you know how to best get to the University from here?”

Willow looked up from her book and looked at the guy standing in front of her. Willow chuckled a little “Well its your lucky day because that is where I’m going to.” She said. “Well so we are waiting for bus EC3 Its not this next one but the one after. It’ll drop us off at the north end of the campus.”

“Oh aren’t you just the cutest little thing?” The doctor cooed as she held onto the puppy, patting it’s back as she looked down fondly at it. “Poor little guy …” She added before looking up. “You don’t know who he belongs to do you?” She asked. “I wouldn’t feel right just leaving him all by himself, poor thing’s gotta be so scared all lost like this.”

“Awh pugs are literally my favorite.” She said looking at the dog with heart shaped eyes. “I don’t sadly but I can take her until they find someone.” Willow offered

          ❝ Do you ever just wonder about SPACE? Like, just — even just the  v a s t n e s s  of it all. I mean, when you really think about it, we’re so — so UNFATHOMABLY SMALL in comparison to the  p e r p e t u a l l y  e x p a n d i n g  and — and perceptually limitless universe.  It just keeps growing. It literally never stops growing. How big can it even GET? And what — okay, what about b e y o n d  that? What exists where the universe ISN’T? There’s gotta be a cusp, an — an outer edge or limit or something, right? What’s THERE? ❞ Alex hadn’t even stopped once in his tangential rambling to consider whether the person next to him actually wanted to have a conversation about space. No, it wasn’t until he ( finally ) trailed off and fell silent that the thought crossed his mind.  ❝ Sorry, you can, uh — you don’t have to answer that. It can be  r h e t o r i c a l, if y’want. ❞

Willow sat trying to drink her coffee while listening to the guy. She was mind blown, truth be told she didn’t think that much about this stuff. Of course she though about humans and life and where we come from but this guy seemed to really think about it all and deeply at that. “I mean no one really knows anything. Is there other life forms? How man galaxies are there and whats all out there beyond our galaxy.” She said to him. “And stars you know I mean they say everything is made from stars.”

“Never going to be a great date, love. Not now, not ever.” Sure, he was selling himself short but he always had. At least he was honest with himself. Hell, he was honest with the people around him - doing women a favor, in fact. “Perfect. It’s never happening again. You can tell the internet you danced with a rockstar, though.”

“And you can tell the internet you danced with Seattle’s best med student. Oh wait whats that you’d never do that? Because its stupid? Well Nathan that’s how I feel. You being some sort of rockstar doesn’t matter love. You have a nice voice but how you are is more important than who you are.” She said rolling her eyes.

“I’m honestly surprised that you have enough time to manage a coffee shop, nevertheless, really go out much.” she said, surprised. Marisol grinned, “a girl after my own heart. Maybe not drink a lot, but food is a great thing.”

“Well I’m not like the actually manager I’m a shift leader sort of deal.” She told her. “It just pays my rent and what not. I sometimes go out its just not often at all.”

“Ah, yes, please further explain to me, non-drug user, how much you know about drugs.” The sarcasm came off as a bit rude, not that she entirely intended it that way. 

“Well I wasn’t trying to be an annoying ass when I said that it was more of a joke but I know a lot more about drugs then you think I do. Ever think there’s a reason I’ve never done drugs.”

“Well, I wasn’t actually talking about the alcohol. Just the milkshakes,” James cleared up. “And yeah, I know fraps are basically cafeeinated milkshakes, but… I dunno, there’s just something about a good old fashioned milkshake that makes it better.” His eyes widened at her question and he started shaking his vigorously. “Oh no,” he said in a wary voice. “Oh no no no no no. That’s an impossible question to answer. You can’t go casually asking me that.”

“Oh yeah a classic milkshake is way better and I don’t know if you’ve ever actually had a frap but they are not good.” Willow said. “Well if you want me to make you the best monster milkshake I need to know what you like.”

James gave an exaggerated pout. “Why not? You know, they should actually put milkshakes and freakshakes on the menu over there. In which case, I will gain about 10 more pounds.” He went down for another slurp and then lit up. “You know what you could do? You could make one just for me. A special for a regular customer!” he proposed excitedly. 

“Although a great idea two thing, fraps are milkshakes pretty much and alcohol unfortunately doesn’t do so well in coffee shops so starbucks has already taught this all. You know James I will so do that for you friend.” She said happily “What is your favorite ice cream flavor?”

Marisol hesitated as the other girl abruptly responded. She nodded slowly, she couldn’t really ask, it would be rude to and it was obvious the girl didn’t want to talk about it. So the only answer was a change of topic. She smiled sweetly, “well then what else do you like to do, in your free time?” she questioned, hoping it would lift the mood. “When you’re not dancing in the rain of course.”

“Well I’m a med student and a manager at a local coffee shop so truth is I don’t really have much free time but I like to just check out new places like restaurants and bars and other coffee shops, so I guess I like to drink and eat a lot”

Nate looked at her, a confused expression bewildered on his face. “That so?” He asked as a challenge. As if the girl actually knew how he felt about these things. “I think most girls know I’m not worth a date but rather an over glorified one night stand. Dates simply aren’t my thing.” Once she took his hand, he spun her around and rested a hand on her lower back. “That’s about all I’ve got. I’m not that smooth.” He lied gracefully. It’s not like he ever took dancing lessons but he wasn’t a stranger to subpar dance moves. “Oh, this is so romantic. I want to die.”

“Okay maybe I don’t actually know maybe that’s just what I think but I also think you sell yourself short I think you could be a great date... you know if you stop talking about yourself for five seconds” She ended with a joke hoping he wouldn’t get the wrong impression of everything she was saying. “I’m sure you got more then that in ya kid” She said laughing after being spun around “But I agree lets promise to never do that again”

“Wow,” Kat mused, eyes widening with theatrical ire, “Someone is doing their required readings. Withering Heights, now that’s a classic.” Her hand floated to her hair, and she groaned at the texture of the blonde locks. “Sometimes I fantasize about this place flooding and my escape back to humanity on an arc that is made of just the top floor of my apartment.”

“I haven’t read Wuthering Heights since high school now all I read is medical theory” Willow said “I mean we all must fantasize about something right?”

Grinning, Abby ran out after Willow. As soon as she was outside, she squealed from happiness. “This feels just like when I was a little kid,” she said, grinning. Then, like Willow asked, she did her best running man, all the while laughing.

“I know exactly what you mean I used to always dance outside in the middle of storms with my brother and do the thriller” She laughed while attempting to do the thriller and failing.