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The break was over. Classes started back up again and Dawn was already ready for a nap. Her bag was full of books, her notebooks scribbled over with notes, her phone filled with reminders of classes, tests, papers, and work. And all she wanted was a nap. But she was determined. She was going to get through this new semester with great grades, it was required for her scholarship, and excel in her extracurriculars too. She was still just working on her core classes but she already knew what she wanted for her major and even her minor, and was already looking at the coursework needed to fulfill those goals.
She was so focused on those goals, on her own thoughts, that she kept moving forward even as she yawned. Her eyes instinctively closed as she hid her open mouth behind her books since her hands were occupied with her large load of literature. This visual impairment was not a good thing since it meant that she didn’t see the bag that someone had temporarily put down near a bench. Her foot caught in the strap and she went tumbling, her books scattering across the entire sidewalk.
She was so focused on those goals, on her own thoughts, that she kept moving forward even as she yawned. Her eyes instinctively closed as she hid her open mouth behind her books since her hands were occupied with her large load of literature. This visual impairment was not a good thing since it meant that she didn’t see the bag that someone had temporarily put down near a bench. Her foot caught in the strap and she went tumbling, her books scattering across the entire sidewalk.
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Cass was heading to get a coffee before his first class of the day in an hour or so. Usually he had coffee at home, but his son’s were having none of it and his arms were full all morning before he got the chance to drop them off with his brother as both he and his wife had work today.
He noticed the girl walking down the sidewalk and was barely fast enough to keep the girl from meeting the pavement herself, catching the back of her shirt and an arm. “Woah their kid, you really need to make sure everything is packed up properly before you head out. That strap almost took you out.”
He helped up upright, arching a brow, “you okay?”
He noticed the girl walking down the sidewalk and was barely fast enough to keep the girl from meeting the pavement herself, catching the back of her shirt and an arm. “Woah their kid, you really need to make sure everything is packed up properly before you head out. That strap almost took you out.”
He helped up upright, arching a brow, “you okay?”
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Dawn was expecting to go down and go down hard so when she didn’t feel the sting of concrete on her braced arms, the throb of an abused knee, or the general ache of just being tossed to the ground, it took her a moment to realize that someone was talking to her. That someone who had a secure grip on both her arm and her shirt to keep her from face planting. She mutely nodded that she was ok even as she made sure her feet were securely on the ground. She didn’t want to fall again. At least that scared her awake, her heart was racing and she didn’t think she would need tea to get her through her next study session with the way the adrenalin was coursing through her veins.
“Thank you,” She said once she got herself sorted. “I guess I missed that. I really appreciate the save. Getting concrete burns isn’t exactly my idea of fun.” Dawn smiled even as she dusted off her pants before starting to gather her fallen books, wincing at the damage to some of them. They were almost all second hand so it was to be expected but she was still hoping to sell them back at the end of the semester so the extra damage made that harder. The young woman paused for a moment and studied her savior a moment, her head cocked to the side like a puppy. “You look familiar. I don’t know you do I? I swear I’ve seen you somewhere but I really can’t place it!” It was going to drive her nuts. She just knew it.
“Thank you,” She said once she got herself sorted. “I guess I missed that. I really appreciate the save. Getting concrete burns isn’t exactly my idea of fun.” Dawn smiled even as she dusted off her pants before starting to gather her fallen books, wincing at the damage to some of them. They were almost all second hand so it was to be expected but she was still hoping to sell them back at the end of the semester so the extra damage made that harder. The young woman paused for a moment and studied her savior a moment, her head cocked to the side like a puppy. “You look familiar. I don’t know you do I? I swear I’ve seen you somewhere but I really can’t place it!” It was going to drive her nuts. She just knew it.
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Cass chuckled and nodded, “no thats not exactly the best morning mishap.” He helped to pick up the scattered book and then found himself chuckling again. “Well that is likely because I'm a professor here. I teach Biology over in the science wing. Professor Cassius Giordano, pleased to meet you.”
He stood up with the book and hand poised to help make sure everything the girl had was stacked a bit more neatly this time around. “Here let me help you make sure you are all set up here. Don’t want you to take another spill.”
Cass didn't understand why she was carrying so many books in the first place. Thinking she really ought to put them in a backpack or satchel.
He stood up with the book and hand poised to help make sure everything the girl had was stacked a bit more neatly this time around. “Here let me help you make sure you are all set up here. Don’t want you to take another spill.”
Cass didn't understand why she was carrying so many books in the first place. Thinking she really ought to put them in a backpack or satchel.
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“OH! Of course! I’ve seen you around then! I’m Dawn, Dawn DaLumos. I started here last fall but I’ve already had my prereq science class over there. Thank you for saving me, I really appreciate it! I would offer to get you a cup of coffee but I’m sure the professor is busy as all get out.” The strawberry blonde quickly ordered her notebook and two textbooks into a much more sane stack than it was before she gestured for the third book to be added to her stack. She knew that once she got to the library, or really the next quiet spot where she could take a few minutes, that she would have to see about rigging something up to keep her books together. They weren’t overly large today but she didn’t want them to go flying again today if she could help it. Why, oh why, did her backpack have to rip this morning? Even duct tape wouldn’t fix it this time. She was going to have to get a new one and that was something she was going to have to budget for, if only to make sure she wasn’t going to eat cheese sandwiches for the next week.
“I like your hair by the way. It's really neat! How long does it take to get it to look like that?” Her own hair was tied up in her typical ponytail. It never really wanted to do anything fancy like his hair. Not that she could pull that style off. It was just really neat to learn about how others deal with their own unruly mops of hair, assuming their hair had the same sense of personality of her own that is.
“I like your hair by the way. It's really neat! How long does it take to get it to look like that?” Her own hair was tied up in her typical ponytail. It never really wanted to do anything fancy like his hair. Not that she could pull that style off. It was just really neat to learn about how others deal with their own unruly mops of hair, assuming their hair had the same sense of personality of her own that is.
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“Dawn is a nice name,’ he said as he passed over the books so that they could be organized into a respectable pile. It was then that he noticed she did indeed have a bag and the strap she tripped over appeared to have broken off.
“It's quite alright, you should use that coffee money on a new bag. I was on my way to grab a coffee anyway, a thank you is more than enough.” He handed her the last of the book and made sure the strap was tucked away where it wouldn’t trip the girl up.
He chuckled again at the question and tried not to shrug, “Honestly I dont remember … I think it will be a few months. My hair has been like this for years. I cut it recently so that’s why it's short now, but it's grown a lot since I cut it. Are you thinking about locking your hair? It may be a little longer for straighter hair, mine is pretty curly.”
“It's quite alright, you should use that coffee money on a new bag. I was on my way to grab a coffee anyway, a thank you is more than enough.” He handed her the last of the book and made sure the strap was tucked away where it wouldn’t trip the girl up.
He chuckled again at the question and tried not to shrug, “Honestly I dont remember … I think it will be a few months. My hair has been like this for years. I cut it recently so that’s why it's short now, but it's grown a lot since I cut it. Are you thinking about locking your hair? It may be a little longer for straighter hair, mine is pretty curly.”
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“Thank you! I just love my name,” She smiled and settled her stack securely, the sad remains of her bag were easily tucked into the stack. She needed to see what could be done with it. Maybe repurpose it into a hand bag or something? There had to be something she could do with it other than throwing it into the trash. It was such a waste otherwise. “Alright, I’ll make sure to, then. Maybe even find a coffee tag or something to put on the bag.” Dawn actually liked that idea. She could use the old bag to make a patch for the new bag, it would just take some fabric paint, iron on backing and time. Pretty simple really, especially since she did have the paint already. It would just take the backing and even that could be skipped if she wanted to hand sew the patch on the new bag, once she got it that is.
Dawn thought for a moment before shaking her head. “Nope, can’t say as I have. My hair tends to do what it wants when it wants so I dont think locking would work well for me. But I can definitely keep it in mind next time I go to get my hair cut. Anyway,” She bobbed her head in a quick ‘thank you’, “I’ve got a study group waiting in the library for me. I really do appreciate the save. Thank you again.” And with a ‘Bye’ from over her shoulder the young woman hurried off towards the library. Her eyes peeled on the ground this time. No more possible faceplants today for her. That's for sure.
Dawn thought for a moment before shaking her head. “Nope, can’t say as I have. My hair tends to do what it wants when it wants so I dont think locking would work well for me. But I can definitely keep it in mind next time I go to get my hair cut. Anyway,” She bobbed her head in a quick ‘thank you’, “I’ve got a study group waiting in the library for me. I really do appreciate the save. Thank you again.” And with a ‘Bye’ from over her shoulder the young woman hurried off towards the library. Her eyes peeled on the ground this time. No more possible faceplants today for her. That's for sure.
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Dawn seemed like she was probably a whirlwind to Cass, but was glad his suggestion seemed to be well received. When she talked about the coffee tag he chuckled thinking about how it would probably be a quirky memory for her. He wasn’t the most sentimental person until he got married and had kids, but everyone was different. If she wanted to remember the occasion, she would be able to easily with a little keepsake.
He nodded when she talked about her hair, thinking if it was really unruly that locs might be for her, but he didn't get to say so as she needed to be off. She said goodbye so quickly Cass figured she must have been running late. He waved off her thanks, saying goodbye as she walked away and turned to make his way to get his coffee.
He frowned when he realized he should have told her to drop by the theater or art department to see if someone could temporarily fix her bag, but hoped someone else would suggest it. It was a big campus, he probably wouldnt see her again soon to suggest it.
He nodded when she talked about her hair, thinking if it was really unruly that locs might be for her, but he didn't get to say so as she needed to be off. She said goodbye so quickly Cass figured she must have been running late. He waved off her thanks, saying goodbye as she walked away and turned to make his way to get his coffee.
He frowned when he realized he should have told her to drop by the theater or art department to see if someone could temporarily fix her bag, but hoped someone else would suggest it. It was a big campus, he probably wouldnt see her again soon to suggest it.
