Posted by Lieutenant Alexandra Garfield (Xenobiologist) in AP Bio 210 — Twelve Years Ago —

Posted by Lieutenant Commander Jacen Drayke (Chief Engineer/2O) in AP Bio 210 — Twelve Years Ago —

Posted by Lieutenant Alexandra Garfield (Xenobiologist) in AP Bio 210 — Twelve Years Ago —
Posted by… suppressed (4) by the Post Ghost! 👻
Professor Tallum was a tall man, built like an oak tree and twice as large as he sat up in front of the class, to what Christopher thought was yammering on end. This class was going to be the death of him, he knew it. He took the course cause that girl when he was signing up was showing more cleavage than he cared to admit. Granted he got to see the inside of her quarters but he was starting to think that going after fourth year girls just cause he could and getting stuck in classes like this seemed a waste of his time. His older brother would give him crap if he ever learned why he was in this class, his younger might just high five him. Regardless Nathan was still finishing primary and while Paul was finishing his fourth year he would avoid telling that eagle scout what he did until he needed to drop the class.

Looking over at the seat next to him he felt he found the utter opposite of him sitting next, the girl seemed utterly engrossed as she took notes. It wasn’t so much Chris didn’t know his biology, just physics, chemistry, and more hard sciences where always more his forte’. This, was taking his needed biology up a notch for no reward other than the satisfied look on the girls face as he left.

“You getting all of this?” Chris asked as he leaned over and whispered next to the girl as she continued to take notes, she was cute but for once trying to get in someone’s pants wasn’t quite his agenda. Deep down he really did hope she was taking notes, maybe he could charm those out of her hands and squeak by with a B-.

Robinson First Year Cadet

“Yes I am or was until you started talking,” Lexi said glancing at the handsome blonde next to her and then back to the professor. “It’s pretty self-explanatory. He is just going over the classification of life and how we can define it based on the presence of nucleotides in a sample. If the sample contains nucleic acids, nitrogen bases, five-carbon sugars, and at least one phosphate group then we get amino acids and the expectation that the sample has the potential to be classified as possibly living or at the vary least organic. It was all in the chapters from last night. This is just a review. You did read last night’s chapters, right? Neucolotides, nucleic acids, and Poly-Carbon Atoms,” she let her voice trail off. The man beside her was easy on the eyes. There was no denying that but was this a lame pick up line or was he really that lost on the material.

“I read it, and then I did a lot of drinking with a very perk red head… or was she brunette… wait was there two of them?” Chris said with a bemused face as he tried to remember the night. Chris paused as he tried to remember the night, biting his lower lip he looked back over at Lexi. “I did though read it eventually, it just… it was very boring. I mean I took this class… well… I probably should have just had bio 210 but I got cocky and thought I could do this when my strengths are in completely other sciences.” Chris said as he reached down into his bag and pulled it up to be in between the two of them.

Twiddling her stylus back and forth on the PaDD, Lexi made a decision. “If you really have read and really are lost I can give you my notes,” she agreed. The cadet was cocky but as he said people had strengths in different areas of science but you had to take some course in each of them. If she helped him here, maybe he would be better in something she wasn’t. Still, she would be cautious. He might be this way in all his classes and skating through due to big shot parents. Time would tell.

Unzipping his bag he began to rummage in it, searching as he did for what seemed like hidden lost treasure. “I’m Chris by the way, Christopher Robins… skittles?” he said as he pulled from the bag a large bag of skittles he held out in front of her. “If not these I do have some M&Ms or fun size babe ruth bars, and almond joys.” he said with a smile full of charm and hint of swagger. He was handsome, he knew this and it was clear he didn’t mind using it to his advantage when he felt the need arise. Sometimes though it was better to simply make a friend than to try and find a conquest and right now the woman in front of him was someone he desperately needed to be his friend.

“Alexandra,” she replied with her first name and let out a laugh. The eye candy has candy. Oh, you are good, she thought to herself. “Are you buying my attention, affection, or academic preparation with your Halloween haul,” she countered looking at his stash. “I am not cheap so I will need two pieces but unfortunately I am not sure I see anything I like.” The sentence was definitely loaded and part of her wanted to see which way he would take it.

“Well then doll you are just going to have to let me know what you like if you are going to be my study buddy.” he said with a small wink at her as he popped in a few of the skittles.

“I am not a huge fan of chocolate but chocolate and peanut butter might get you some bonus points with me,” Alex smiled softly. She really had no issue with the Almond Joys or skittles but a girl had to play hard to get.

It was always this was with the plebian class. Half of them joined from the flashy We Want You recruitment posters and their above-average intelligence always made them think they were top dogs. Yet the Academy held the best of the best so actually they were just tiny minnows in a large sea. Usually, one example made at the start of the semester got his point across that one should attend to his lecture and not those around them. It appeared Cadets Garfield and Robins would be his sacrificial lambs this term. “Cadet Garfield, I’m sorry. I was not aware this was the Student Union and time to socialize. Can you please refrain from finding a date for this evening until after class. You are a beautiful woman. You should have no issue finding someone to take you out for say a pizza or would you like some pointers,” Professeur Tallum’s voice rang out in the hundred-plus seat auditorium.

“No Sir,” Lexi turned ten shades of red and looked down slightly.

Not wanting to stop the momentum of his lesson on why not to gossip in his class, Tallum continued. “And you Cadet Robinson’s. I am sure with your perfect looks and the way the sunlight glints off your teeth as you smile to the ladies you will have no problem gaining some companionship for the evening. Am I mistaken Cadet Robins?”

“I mean I was planning to ask your wife out sir but she was busy so I am free. Would you like to get some dinner after the lecture? We can get some Sharma or maybe find a nice bistro…” he said pausing as he looked over at Lexi. “How about you, feel like a nice bistro?” he said as he looked back at Professor Tallum. “So all three of us at the Italian Bistro off of Keys and Harper? I mean we can try to get others here but I don’t know how many they can fit.” he said as he leaned up trying to count the student heads.

“Did he just say he was taking out the professor’s wife,” Brent Stiller leaned over to the cadet next to him. “Has he seen the wife?”

“Have you,” Peter Stampton shot back? This got a deep chuckle out of Brent who shook his head.

Audible shocks could be heard from the large crowd of students. The stadium shape held at least three hundred when full, though this class was half the full capacity.

“That guy is going to make Captian overnight,” Anastasia whispered to her friend Olga next to her watching the events play out. Anastasia was always on the lookout for the sure thing. This guy had charisma, brashness, and was hot. The trifecta in her book was met and all with perfect tens. “Write down the name of the bistro. We are showing up,” she said biting the cap to her pen. “He’s remarkable,” she let the words slowly roll off her tongue.

“You’re trouble,” Lexi said through straight lips starting ahead. “Stop talking. Sit down. Don’t move.” Her voice was steady but she had a deer in the headlights look as she focused on Tallum. Lexi’s heart pounded as she waited for the reply that was inevitably on its way. If she was not sitting next to him, Lexi might have found the bravado endearing or even roguish yet she was sitting next to him This means she could be guilty by association.

“My wife. That’s…that’s a good one cadet,” the professor nodded his head like it as a good joke. He even scratched his brow as if trying to come up with a punchline of his own. “Out,” Tallum pointed to the door suddenly snapping into a formal mode. “Get your PaDD and flippant arse out of my classroom. Maybe take it to oh I don’t know the corner of Report to and Dean of the Department. Maybe you could order in because I am sure you will be there a while.”

“I mean if you don’t like the bistro you just need to say so there is a dozen other locations nearby.” Chris said as he stood up and began to leave down the seats as he got to the end.

“Yeah but the one on Oaks and Sherman has trivia,” a cadet called out from the back row. In the light, it would be hard to tell who said that but it didn’t matter. This voice was followed with a yell of, “Franklin and First have live music.”

“Shut up,” a decidedly female voice hushed him. “Don’t encourage this kind of thing. It was rude and disruptive.”

“Or the most exciting thing that happened today or possibly ever in a lecture,” another random voice yelled out.

As Chris spoke murmurs from the students began to get louder, all eyes where on the pair as they seemed to begin to decide which parties they were rooting for, the professor or the rebel scientist and his lackey.

“Out,” Tallum repeated his command still pointing to the door. The professor was known for having little in the way of a sense of humor yet there was something mildly amusing about the situation. The low rumble of coughs and throat clears indicated others in the class saw a modicum of humor in the display too. Lexi however did not.

Lexi shook her head some in stunned surprise. Her mouth dropped and looked back and forth between the two men. People did not just get thrown out of class at the Academy. This was not some public school where the riff-raff settled down to enjoy four more years of being a kid. It was the academy and Robins was just ordered out. Alexandra’s heart pounded feeling all eyes in the auditorium fall on her and Robins.

“Oh!” he said out loud as he walked back, giving the pardon and excuses me as he got back to his seat as he grabbed his back back. “Sorry hon my candies… but here you can keep these.” he said as he reached in his bag and placed the bag of Almond Joys on her lap as well as a blank piece of paper as he wrote down his communication number.

Lexi stiffened as the candy was placed in her lap. The teenager in her felt a hot rush fill her body. She had never met anyone like him. She had heard about guys like this but n her high school they never had the brains to match the brawn. The adult in her fought the impulse to flirt back. This guy was nothing but trouble.

Whatever silence had begun to settle over the crowd as it appeared to be dying down as others kept watching to see what the handsome cadet would do. Was he flirting, being an asshole, a combination of the two? Needlessly to say whatever his goal he had a humors approach all the same.

“You are giving me your number,” Alexandra picked up the paper between her index and middle finger holding it up. Her face held a bemused expression. It was hard to be too firm with him. Especially when she let herself forget exactly where she was.

“In case you need to meet up for those notes.” he added with a small wink and a smile as he popped a few more skittles as he began to make the trek back down the aisle.

“Don’t you mean you meet up with me for those notes,” she yelled out focusing only on Chris and not that she was the center of attention in the auditorium. “I am not hand-delivering them.”

“I mean I could be then however can I cook for you.” he said with a small wink as he began slowly making his way back down the aisle.

“Cooking or buying. Make up your mind there cowboy. The devil is in the details,” she yelled out. What stop are you nuts. Do not say another word or you will be joining him, her conscious chastised her.

“Of course you are not hand-delivering them, Cadet Garfield. You are going with him,” Tallum made a shooing motion with his hand.

“Me,” Alex stared at her professor. “Why me? I didn’t do anything,”

“Except make a date in the middle of my lecture. Out now,” Tallum’s voice took on a harsher tone. “You wanted to spend time with him. Now you can. And maybe you can decide on dessert in the lobby of the Dean’s office. You did this as much as he did so take the punishment.”

“Oh please no, not the pretty girl… do anything but send the pretty girl with me as a punishment.” Chris said in a mocking tone as he looked over at her, part of him felt bad he truly didn’t intend to get her dragged out with him. Yet part of him felt like if he was going to be removed might as well go with the hottest chick in the room.

“Besides you can’t let your study buddy roam the halls all alone now can you,” Tallum had a smug look on his face as he saw the sheer horror on Alex’s.

“Oh I don’t know if buddy is the right term yet we haven’t even gotten to goals, hopes, and dreams yet.” he quipped back as he rolled his eyes. Some professors where more hard nosed than others, truth was they hadn’t been that loud yet Tallum seemed to want to take shots and Christopher never backed away from a challenge, Professor or no.

“Yes I can,” Alex said sitting up straighter and assuming the posture of someone intensely focused on the material on the large classroom PaDD. As if to point out her zeal for learning, Alex began to recopy the notes she had written five minutes earlier.

“Really? You would just let me wander alone out there without any company at all? Come on you can’t be so heartless to do that to a guy.” he said turning from Tallum to Lexi. “I mean we have the bistro to look forward to, I think everyone is missing the importance of the bistro.”

“I didn’t. Just the one we decided on. Oaks and Sherman or Keys and Harper,” the mystery heckler called out.

It was at this point that all control Tallum had began to break, the classes snickers where louder than him as everyone seemed to almost be rallying on the pair. Tallum may begin to wish that just letting it all slide would have been the far better option instead of stocking the flames that was the cocky first year.

“Cadet Gardfield…out,” Tallum pointed to her and then to the door Chris was standing at.

“Ugh really…really,” she vented shoving her materials into her bag as she headed to the exit.

“I hope you have a wonderful afternoon and if anyone in this class gives them the notes you all will fail. Now the poly-carbonate sugar chain,” Tallum began to lecture seeing both of the cadets heading to the exit.

“Ugh,” Lexi growled narrowing her eyes at him as she ducked under the arm holding the door open for her. “You know that would have been a very gentlemanly gesture if you hadn’t gotten us tossed out,” she yelled over her should as she head to Dean Stiller’s office. “That man’s voice is a metronome.”

As Chris left with Lexi close behind there could be chants of Robin and Garfield seemingly mixed as Tallum began yelling to try and regain control. It wasn’t Chris problem anymore as he began to walk off. “Where are you going hon?”

“The Dean’s office,” she stopped and turned around. “Tallum told us to report there.” While Lexi was slightly scowling, she also had an innocent look on her face. It spoke of the good girl who had never done anything like this and never had seen the inside of an administrators office except to pick up her do gooder award.

“Really? You are really going to head to the Deans cause he said so? Come on the bistro is not far away, I wasn’t kidding it’s wonderful and I owe you some food if I want to make up for that. I feel an apology may come out of me at some point if you keep it up, maybe they can even have some lasagna for you Garfield, it is a Monday after all…” he said with a snicker as he put the bag over his shoulders as he began to untuck his uniform. He hated wearing the cadet uniform, classes seemed though one of the few places the enforced the look. If Chris could get away with not feeling buttoned up he would gladly take the chance.

Cadet Christopher Robin

Lexi stood there with her lips moving but no words coming out. She had no words. She also had no idea how to handle someone like Christopher Robins in her life.

Cadet Lexi Garfield

“We aren’t in grade school love, this isn’t like they can give us a detention and tell us to be good.” Chris spoke as he looked back at her, a smile forming as he saw her near flabbergasted state.

“No but they can give us demerits and and,” she stammered, “and…anything really. I mean you did get the speech from Herman Hornsby where he said Starfleet didn’t issue you a spouse and child with your duffle bag so procure them at your own risk because your arse belongs to us. Right,” she gave him a highly confused look. “I don’t know what they can or can’t do which is why I should have just said yes to giving you my notes and focused on the class.” Alex moved towards the wall and slumped against it. She was clearly lost as to what she should do. Moving her bag to the front of her body she toyed with the strap as she spoke. “I’m kinda out of my element here Robins,” she admitted.

“Live a little… if it makes you feel better I admit I may have gone just a little too far… just a little.” the last part he gestured with his fingers pressing them tightly together.

“Just a little,” she rolled her eyes with a smile and imitated his hand gesture but this time instead of having her fingers pressed together she held her hands far apart. His smile was infectious and it was making it hard to stay mad at him.

“Besides you seem the type that already memorized the book, so it’s worth taking some time away and just living a little… food drink good friends… it’ll all be a fun time and you can meet some locals. It always pays to know the people you are going serve and help you.”

Cadet Christopher Robin

“Fine but you are buying,” she pointed a finger at him, “and for the record, I eat a lot so I hope you have a lot of credits,” Alex said walking towards the door.

Cadet Alex Garfield

“Oh really now? Well I have you know I cheat… throw food on floor, feed the dog, do whatever I need to win.” he said as they walked, finding the walk to be one of the best times he had of the day.

“I didn’t mean an eating contest dork,” she joked inhaling the crisp air of the sunny September day. It was not yet Fall but the mornings were cool, leading to a hot afternoon, but pleasant evening. Right now the pair was between the weather types and in that perfect temperature mode.

“I meant that I am not one of those oh give me a salad type or throw a whole bunch of crap in a blender, mix it with yogurt and claim it is yum me,” she drew out the word with a fake smile. “I mean a bowl of blended spinach with hunks of bread is not a meal. It is an appetizer and don’t even get me started on tapas. Last week I went out with a group of women and they went on and on about how freakishly good this tapas place was. Twenty credits later I was starving,” Lexi shook her head. “I like to actually order something that stands a chance of coming home in a to-go bag and not result in me licking the plate looking for a crumb.” Chris had no idea he had hit her hot button and it was not politics or social equality. It was women that were too afraid to eat something they actually had to open their mouth and chomp down on when on a date.

It was only minutes later they arrived, having so many locations near the academy it was sometimes like a commercial center than an military academy. So many souls came to see the halls that the greatest captains roamed, Kirk, Picard, Sisko, Schultz, all of these and more made there way through the academy and set their stamp on the Federation.

Oh god please do not say the Caprese salad is the best thing here or I swear I will lose all respect for you Lexi thought looking at the joint. The only reason she did not give her two cents again about fancy tiny foods that so many girls swooned over was because of the exterior. Places like this did tend to surprise you.

The Italian Bistro was small, Vito Provolone was the name as the pair came up. For most this place seemed a hole in the wall, small and beat up but when one entered the atmosphere seemed to challenge the surroundings of this quaint little location. It was clear as they came in that Chris was well known as many shouts could be heard of Christopher as they all seemed to greet him. One of the plumb older women who seemed to be managing the front came and wrapped her arms around Christopher as she kissed both sides of his cheeks.

Lexi eyed the woman who seemed to be charging down the pair like a rhino hell-bent to get to the waterhole first on a Savanah. She was all about warm welcomes but the people here were acting like Chris was a relation to them and not just a patron.

“Chris, you are looking skinny you need to eat!” Petunia said as she waved over one of the waitresses by. It was clear from most of the stares many of the other women didn’t really like that Lexi seemed to be with Chris as the younger girl came up to them. This young girl seemed to be glad Chris was there, and even smiled at Lexi. “So what’s your name?” she asked her as she tried to bring Lexi into conversations.

“This is Lexi, Lexi this is Francisca, she’s my study buddy from AP Bio, I got her kicked out today for me… kinda running my mouth.” Chris said through clinched teeth as he told the story, looking over at Lexi then back to Francisca.

“Talking smack again?” she asked as she looked back over at Lexi, “Hon don’t let him bring you down with him… he’s cute but trouble.” she said as she nodded her head for the two to follow her to a nearby table next to the bar.

Lexi followed Chris past the typical lacey white table clothes and drippy candles until she arrived at the table. Looking around she could see two faces to this place. The first was a casual family place where one came for good food and great conversation as if they were home at their own kitchen tables. The second was a complete booty call joint where the slightly dimmed lights and candlelight provided a cheap ambiance for the savvy college students. Time would tell which face Vito Provolone would have this evening.

“So the usual or are you wanting something new for once?” the young waitress asked as she looked over at Chris as she waited to see what the orders would be.

Lexi leaned back some and processed what the woman had asked. The owner called him by his given name without missing a beat and the young waitress apparently knew his order. This meant he had to be a regular or family.

“Well… let’s try something new… how about that lasagna dish you talked about, the baked stuff chicken lasagna?” Chris said, small wry smile over his face as he looked over at Lexi. “Does Stuffed Lasagna sound good?” he said, wondering what she might say. Ever since he heard her name was Garfield the jokes had been subtly but surely coming as he got to know the young lady.

Cadet Christopher Robin

“Sure I have never had it with chicken but then again I have never been tossed out of a class before,” she joked happily. “Let’s continue on the wild side and go with the chicken lasagna and a coffee.”

“So what do you think of the academy so far? I know we are just in for a few days, what brought you here though?” Chris opened up as he sat leaning back ever so slightly as he looked over at Lexi. Everyone had different reasons for wanting to join, but when you went down the science fields you were joining for some more of the poindextery of reasons. Not that Chris could say different himself wearing the blue uniform just as much as she was.

“Stiff, competitive, and filled with people who are all pretty much bordering on a narcissistic psychiatric condition present company included of course,” she winked at him with a smile. Chris would know exactly what she meant by that comment and if he didn’t she was about to explain. “Everyone thinks they are the top dog but in reality, you are just average here. For example, I shall use my pool analogy. When you were young and growing up there were a few people that had a pool and you maybe even befriended them on a sweltering hot day in July even though they wanted to talk about igneous rocks or their mom’s gave out strange snacks you choked down. You wanted that pool and in some ways, you put that person on a pedestal because they had a pool and you didn’t. Now move to secondary school. You have someone that has an inground pool and that is so much better than Dexter’s above ground pool so you mosey on over to Priscilla’s house. The snacks are better and she doesn’t have a hump or smell like cat hair and ham. You think you are moving up in the world but a part of you is like do I really belong here. I am didn’t like cats or ham so that is why I left Dexter. Now I am sitting around a different pool with better snacks but the conversation has changed to everyone saying how nice or bless your heart,” Lexi shoved a forkfull of lasgana in her mouth. After chewing a few seconds, she continued.

“The academy is a bizarre cross between the inground and above ground pool. Half the people here are weird as all heck and are barely able to carry on a conversation that doesn’t include them pointing out how smart they are or having to wear an arm sling from patting themselves on the back so much they blew out their own elbows. They all are crooning about their brilliant IQ’s and how they got here a year early because they graduated high school in their third year instead of their fourth but,” she held her hands out, “who doesn’t have a close to genius IQ. I mean it is Starfleet Academy and not Billy Bob’s Po Dunk U. If we cling to the water analogies, everyone is normal and no one is special. Can you pass the salt,” she pointed across the table.

Hours seemed to fly by as the two sat and talked, only the plates of meals past seem to be a sign they had eaten as Chris’s laughter seemed to resonate through the building. “Yeah and that’s when I told the guy that he had it upside down, needless to say once he turned it right side up and saw just how big the tip was supposed to be he wasn’t as eager…”

Lexi let out a full-bodied laugh that seemed to resonate in the room.  Her whole body shook and Lexi began to tear up.   Waving a hand in front of her eyes she tried to fan away the moisture forming there.   Chris’ story was funny but Lexi was obviously entertaining herself at this point.   
“Oh my god I know that poor guy,” she started to try and talk yet large alligator tears began to run down her cheeks.  The more she tried not to cry the worse it became as she kept sharing her story between her fits of laughter.   “Melanie Burke and I were his lab partner at the start of the quarter.   I’m sorry,” she cried out an apology as she continued to cry but clearly wanted to share the story.   

“We were in immunology and plating agar with differing strains of bacteria.  I tend to make faces or patterns in it so I can easily spot mine. That day I was going for Bomer Dipson but that is not part of the story,” she waved a hand under her eyes trying to dry them. “Anyway, I set the inoculator down on what I thought was the lab table. Turned out is was his notebook. Three days later he came down with Streptococcus,” she started to laugh again. “I felt so bad but I wasn’t going to admit it. He was fine a few hours later,” she took a sip of her coffee. “What I can say is he does not want me for a study buddy.”

In the faint background a sound of a bell could be heard, the door was old fashioned with the coming and going bell that many older places sometimes had, remnants from a bygone era. “Christopher?” could be heard faintly from behind them as Chris turned his head to see who’s voice it was that called his name. As his eyes made contact with the figure his body sunk as he wondered just how well this was going to go.

Lexi’s eyes followed the voice coming over. The willowy, hehe type that needed help bending over to tie her shoes due to her endowments was exactly the kind of girl Alexandra expected to be on Chris’ arm. What did surprise her was his reaction.

“Tiffany?” he said, looking her up and down as if he was staring down the face of a old foe come to claim his life, he knew the name was wrong the second he saw the furrow of her forehead.

“It’s Tiana… I…” Tiana paused as she looked from Lexi to him confusing changing to anger as she stared. As figures go, she was typical for the women one might figure associated with Chris, blonde, perk, large chests with listless dull eyes with atypical names such as Cinnamon Apple, and Ruby. “You, didn’t call… I thought you said you were going to call. Ian said you got home safe but you didn’t contact me.”

“Ian is so bad at that,” Lexi inserted a comment where one wasn’t needed or asked for. It just seemed appropriate on some level.

“Ian? My roommate? How did you find where I live? I mean… I....” Chris seemed a lost for words as he bit his lower lip looking from Tiana then back to Lexi. “Something tells me I think we had the wrong impression here doll. We had fun, and well… that was all. I didn’t even get your comm number, nor you mine.”

“Well not in so many words but you have to keep that information on file so I put it in your book for the class…” she said as she looked at the table, it held his bag in the free chair as she leaned down to unzip it bringing out the AP Bio book as she opened it. “See, here.” she showed, her name and number written across as Chris looked at the ink then back to here.”

Alexandra leaned forward and looked at the book where Tianna was pointing “Well look at that. It is right there. Up at the top. In bold,” Lexi confirmed tapping the spot with a perfectly manicured fingernail. “It is kinda hard to miss,” Lexi nodded locking eyes with Chris. Her expression was neutral and hard to read especially since this was the first time she had spent any real time with Chris.

“Well… I hadn’t quite gotten to read it, but I was… ” he said looking at Lexi then back to Tiana. Lexi leaned back in her chair and gave Chris a few long steady nods as if she was responding to something he was saying. The problem was Chris had gone as quiet as a catholic nun in the middle of a mass lead by the Pope. Tiana’s face held a different expression. Her jaw was set and if you looked at her neck you could see the small veins starting to bulge a bit. This was bad, worse cause he hadn’t done anything truly wrong yet he knew Lexi wouldn’t see it that way. In this moment he just was trying for once to get to know someone he felt would be lost in a case of wild oats being sewn.

As making bad to worse, Francesca came by seeing the three as her eyes lit up, “Wait what are you back for? Wasn’t he with you last week? He never brought the same girl twice here…” she said, before looking at Chris with a slight grimace as she realized she let her mouth run before her mind caught up. “I mean… who are you?” she tried to cover with but found it all too little too late.

“Tianaaaaaa I didn’t get the last name. I am not sure he knows or that she feels it should be necessary to supply it,” Lexi announced to the cute little waitress. “If it is possible however could you supply me with a fresh cup of coffee,” Lexi asked politely. “I am dying to hear about how all this ends. Depending on the answer I will tell you if I want dessert or not but a menu would be fabulous.’’ Slapping her palm on her forhead she waved the woman off. “Never mind. I am sure Chris here has it memorized doncha cowboy.”

Francessca looked between the two women and then to Chris trying to figure out what to do next.

“Really? You couldn’t wait five minutes to come back to the table?” Chris said with a sense of defeat in his voice, knowing today was going to be bad he might as well accept the fallout.

Cadet Christopher Robin

“Or told your little doxy here that you and I are seeing each other and that she probably should give us a minute,” Tiana leveled a gaze at Alexandra. ‘We have a few things to discuss so why don’t you mosey on to the bar or something.”

Lexi had nothing to lose at this moment with Chris. She didn’t know him enough to like him or hate him but she knew enough of Tiana’s type to become judgy Judy. Alexandra was probably never going to have dinner with Chris again so she didn’t care if he liked or hated her after this but sometimes one just had to go with your gut. “Oh by all means,” Lexi stood up gesturing for Tiana to take a seat. “How about I give you five minutes,” she looked at Chris as if for confirmation of the length of time. “That will give me enough time to freshen up my makeup in the ladies room and make that call to your mom,” Lexi looked at Chris sincerely. “She wanted us to come for dinner next week and I told her I had to check my schedule but your Nana Cassie did text me to say your little sister won that science fair with the project you helped her with.” Lexi was making all this up on the fly. She had no idea if Chris would back her or not. All she cared about was taking the chance to put someone like Tiana in her place. There was a fine line between confidence and arrogance and so many times people hide behind arrogance due to low self-esteem trying to put others down so that they seemed to sparkle. Tiana had strutted in acting like she had the inside scoop. Knowledge was power and right now Lexi hands down created a mythos that the perky little trollop either could debunk with a single word or slink away realizing she was playing on the B Team.

“Be right back baby,” Lexi said confidently strutting from the table. As she walked away, Garfield thought about her next move. If Tiana was still at the table when she returned, Lexi would walk out the door and never look back. If the seat was open, she might try the cannoli. Places like this had amazing cannoli.

Cadet Alexandra Garfield