volume 1

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

[ Peter has no idea how he ended up here, on a couch, listening to a bunch of middle aged women and a few other assorted people talk about Pride and Prejudice. He lost count of how many times he was nearly force fed a cookie by some woman claiming that he's too skinny, and this is starting to feel like all those dreams about showing up to class without any pants on.

He's barely said anything about the book since showing up, instead opting to just sort of listen, and nod every once in awhile. It's easier to just agree with everyone than to pretend he cares about a rich guy marrying some poor guy's daughter. Great, it's heartfelt and mooshy, he gets it.

Running a hand down his face, he flips through the book again for what feels like the hundredth time, stopping on some page to skim through a paragraph, while another woman starts to talk about the historical ramifications of things that Peter chooses to ignore. At this point, he's pretty sure he's forgotten why he even agreed to this in the first place. ]

So what do you think about the book? [ And it's the first question actually directed at him. Oh yeah, this is exactly like those pantsless dreams he used to have, and now he's just... at a total loss for words. ]

Comments

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

Course there are, but.. [ He shrugs. ] Love isn't always what they're waiting for.

[ While Peter might be one of those guys, most of the other guys he's always known... well, love isn't exactly the thing that's generally on their minds. Not that Peter can really argue that point either because that's pretty damn self explanatory. ]

And i'm pretty sure the book's marketed for girls more than it is for guys.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

'Guys only have one thing on their mind' [she sounds like she's quoting] huh?

This might sound pretty strange for me to say, but that doesn't seem true. They're capable of making a lot of other mistakes as well.

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

Some of them, yeah. And we can make mistakes doing anything.

[ For a second, he gets stuck thinking that he's pretty knowledgeable when it comes to the realm of making mistakes. ] Same holds true for everyone.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Like ending up at a book club you're not paying any attention to? Yeah, it probably qualifies. Ami lowers her voice as a few private conversations break off.]

You weren't planning on this, weren't you?

I won't overlook it if you don't do the reading next time.

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

[ Yeah, pretty much, exactly like that. Among other things. Doing the same, he leans cover in an attempt to keep anyone from hearing what's already... pretty painfully obvious to everyone ever. ]

You could tell? Believe me, i'll do my reading for next time. I'll even read ahead.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

I'll believe that next time. [She gives Peter a sly smile.]

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

[ Peter's obvious cringe is more than a little obvious. ] You sure there's gonna be a next time?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Don't want there to be? How ungracious to your host and acquaintances.

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

Hey, I've been gracious. Just saying I wouldn't be upset if they forgot to invite me.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

My, my! I feel insulted. You're saying you don't want to see me again.

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

I didn't say that either! Pick an interesting book and we'll have our own book club. [ and no that's... not a creepy double entendre. ]

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

This is the one I've been interested in lately.

[Why yes she just happens to have it. And it turns out to be a rather thick medical textbook.]

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

[ Oh, hey, that actually peaks his interest. ] You work in the medical field? Or do you want to?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

I'm a doctor at Meiwa University Hospital.

[She looks rather young for that; late teens at best. She's quite proud of this fact.]

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

[ Peter cannot handle these Doogie Howser doctors, man, he's just not that smart. ]

Did you graduate when you were ten?

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

I went to University instead of high school.

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

Wow.. That's impressive.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

[Her teachers had said she could probably have handled the work in junior high; but she'd nixed that. It would have gotten her nowhere - she wasn't old enough to be on staff anywhere - and she'd been misguided enough to still want to stay with her so-called friends back then.

She smiles now, warming to praise as always.]

Thank you. But you're smart yourself, aren't you? And, even if you don't seem to enjoy this sort of book, you probably like literature if you came here.

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

[ He just shrugs, because all things considered, there's obviously no way he's as smart as this girl. And it's doubtful that a lot of people run around calling Peter smart on a normal day. ]

I don't usually have a lot of time to read. But I used to.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

You should make time. It's important.

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

I'm trying to find time for something. I just don't know what.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

What do you mean by that?

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

Trying to remember what I used to do with my spare time.

[waterfell.livejournal.com]

Could it be you finally have some again?

[askedtobe.livejournal.com]

Sort of? At least more than I used to.