Lydia’s fingers crumple the edges of her velvety dress in her hands as she sits in the car, staring at the glowing lights of the venue not too far away. Part of her feels frozen, unsure if she should even go in there, despite the fact that she was invited. It’s the first real campus event she’s attended since her trip to Eichen House, and she isn’t sure she’s even really wanted. She just keeps staring for a moment before Parrish’s hand slips over hers, linking their fingers together as he does.
“I don’t think they’re going to bite.”
There’s a pause before she glances over at him, the uncertainty clear in her expression as she swallows hard. “No, but there might be a fair amount of awkward staring, and I think I had enough of that on my first day back at work. This is the first official staff event since my little stint in the insane asylum.”
“I think you can survive the awkward staring.”
“Maybe, but I’d almost prefer them being out to bite me.” She sighs heavily, her free hand coming up to pinch the bridge of her nose, so as not to disturb her make up. “I used to be their golden goose, future Field Medal recipient. Now I’ve gone to the John Nash end of the spectrum and that’s not necessarily a good thing.”
“Okay, fair.” She hears him shift in his seat as he turns to face her, resting one arm on the steering wheel as he does. “But you going to Eichen House doesn’t make you any less of a genius. Their genius. You just have to remind them of that.”
“That’s not going to be easy. Academia is incredibly judgmental.”
“And the rest of the world isn’t?” He tips his head to the side. “I still get weird stares now that I’m back at work. But they’re getting better.” She opens her mouth to give some kind of protest, and he cuts her off. “It’s not going to get better if you keep avoiding things. You have to show them you’re fine, just as much as telling them.”
She huffs. “I know.”
“We don’t have to stay for the whole thing, either.” He squeezes her hand gently. “We can stay until things are really too weird, and then we can leave. If you don’t think your colleague will be too upset.”
“Honestly, I’d be surprised if he’s even here,” she replies. “He’s not exactly known for the hobnobbing and ass kissing of academic events, even if it’s his ass their kissing.”
“Even better. We go in, stay long enough to not be rude, and leave. No harm, no foul.”
She pauses, considering the offer for a moment, before nodding her agreement. “Alright. I think that could work.”
“Good,” he nods before smirking at her. “C’mon. Time to go show me off.”
She raises her eyebrows. “Show you off?”
“Obviously in this scenario, you’re the brains and I’m the pretty one,” he teases, moving to climb out of the car. “My only job here is to look nice.”
She laughs as he comes around to open her door and offers his hand to her. As she takes it, she gives it a small squeeze and lowers herself to the ground. “Not the only reason you’re here.”
He tips forward and leans in to kiss her gently, before offering his arm. “Ready to go?”
She pauses, taking a deep breath, before nodding and taking his arm. “Let’s do this.”
don't freak out, don't strike out ~ spamalot ~ 586 words
“I don’t think they’re going to bite.”
There’s a pause before she glances over at him, the uncertainty clear in her expression as she swallows hard. “No, but there might be a fair amount of awkward staring, and I think I had enough of that on my first day back at work. This is the first official staff event since my little stint in the insane asylum.”
“I think you can survive the awkward staring.”
“Maybe, but I’d almost prefer them being out to bite me.” She sighs heavily, her free hand coming up to pinch the bridge of her nose, so as not to disturb her make up. “I used to be their golden goose, future Field Medal recipient. Now I’ve gone to the John Nash end of the spectrum and that’s not necessarily a good thing.”
“Okay, fair.” She hears him shift in his seat as he turns to face her, resting one arm on the steering wheel as he does. “But you going to Eichen House doesn’t make you any less of a genius. Their genius. You just have to remind them of that.”
“That’s not going to be easy. Academia is incredibly judgmental.”
“And the rest of the world isn’t?” He tips his head to the side. “I still get weird stares now that I’m back at work. But they’re getting better.” She opens her mouth to give some kind of protest, and he cuts her off. “It’s not going to get better if you keep avoiding things. You have to show them you’re fine, just as much as telling them.”
She huffs. “I know.”
“We don’t have to stay for the whole thing, either.” He squeezes her hand gently. “We can stay until things are really too weird, and then we can leave. If you don’t think your colleague will be too upset.”
“Honestly, I’d be surprised if he’s even here,” she replies. “He’s not exactly known for the hobnobbing and ass kissing of academic events, even if it’s his ass their kissing.”
“Even better. We go in, stay long enough to not be rude, and leave. No harm, no foul.”
She pauses, considering the offer for a moment, before nodding her agreement. “Alright. I think that could work.”
“Good,” he nods before smirking at her. “C’mon. Time to go show me off.”
She raises her eyebrows. “Show you off?”
“Obviously in this scenario, you’re the brains and I’m the pretty one,” he teases, moving to climb out of the car. “My only job here is to look nice.”
She laughs as he comes around to open her door and offers his hand to her. As she takes it, she gives it a small squeeze and lowers herself to the ground. “Not the only reason you’re here.”
He tips forward and leans in to kiss her gently, before offering his arm. “Ready to go?”
She pauses, taking a deep breath, before nodding and taking his arm. “Let’s do this.”