Library Meetings

## Chronology

*"Library Meetings"* is an RP scene that took place on December 23rd, 2018.

## Synopsis

Ethan and Jasper bump into each other in the library. An awkward exchange ensues.

## Lore Summary

* Ethan was "made" to be introverted and anxious.
* Ethan's parents are "strict."

## Content

Jasper was in the library

Ethan walked into the library and headed to his usual back corner, slumping over a thick tome.

Jasper saw Ethan walk in and wanted to say hi but all he could muster was a smile

Ethan didn’t seem to notice Jasper at all. He kept his head down, gaze trained on the floor as he walked to his back-corner table. He had earbuds in.

Jasper looked back at his book a little disappointed

Ethan sat down and pulled a book from his bag. He shuffled a little in his seat and set the book out in front of him, hunching over it as he opened it and began to read.

Ethan flinched as he got a notification, the sound of it ringing in his ears through his earbuds. He grunted as he fished out his phone. It was from Emilia: ‘Yo, do u have any hot friends?’ He rolled his eyes and replied with, ‘i have no friends’. He returned to his book with a huff.

Emilia texted Ethan back with, ‘Ur lame. Throw a party or smth.’ Ethan jumped as the notification startled him again. He grumbled something unintelligible under his breath as he took out his phone again and typed out a reply: ‘leave me alone’.

Jasper looked over at Ethan and began to stand up but sat right back down as if glued to the seat. Jasper face planted into his book “why do you have to be such a dweeb” he mumbled to himself

Ethan flinched as he saw the movement out of the corner of his eye. He stared at Jasper for the moment, taking him in, and then turned back to his book quickly.

Jasper got up and head to Ethan but ended up walking right past him

Ethan’s heart leapt in his chest as he saw Jasper move towards him. He stiffened, and did not relax, even when the other boy walked past him. He kept his head down, eyes fixed unseeingly on the pages of his book.

Jasper put his head in his hands and went out of the library door. He slouched onto the ground “man you’re such a riffraff.” He said to himself “riffraff no that can’t be right I need a better word”

Ethan looked up as the boy left. He frowned, a little confused. Almost disappointed, even. He texted his sister, ‘i think this guy just tried to interact with me but we’re both too awkward.’ She replied with ‘Grow some and talk to him, idiot.’ Ethan sighed.

Jasper sat talking to himself trying to find a better word

‘i hate you’ Ethan replied. Emilia was right, of course, but that just made him hate her more. He closed his book and spent a solid five minutes giving himself a pep talk.

“Ah dork” Jasper said happy he had found the word “I’m definitely a dork… And an idiot I’m talking to myself”

Ethan tore himself from his desk and speed-walked towards the library exit before he could convince himself that it was a bad idea. He stood just outside the doorway for a moment. This was a bad idea. A very bad idea.

Jasper still had his head in his hands

Ethan cleared his throat. His hands were shaking. This was a bad idea. “Hey,” he murmured, voice barely audible. He stuffed his hands in the pockets of his hoodie so that this boy wouldn’t have to see them shake.

Jasper heard a small noise and looked up “oh.. Um.. Hi” he said brushing his long hair from his face

Ethan flushed brIght red. This was bAd. VEry bAd. He was nEver taking advice from Emilia evEr again. What was he supposed to say now? “H-Hi,” he stuttered. Ah yes, Ethan, you absolute idiot. Say hello again. That’s cool. Was he internally screaming? Yes. Please save him.

Jasper just smiled “I’m um Jasper by the way.”

“That’s a nice name. It’s like the plant. Ethan. I’m. My name. Ethan. Yeah. I should go-” Ethan? Did you mean: a tomato? Because that’s what he looks like right now.

Jasper blushed “thats a pretty name” he said rather quietly

“I…” Ethan was confused. Ethan wasn’t a pretty name. It was so… boring. He laughed nervously. “Uh, thanks,” he mumbled awkwardly, not knowing what else to say. Compliments? For him? Unbelievable.

“Um… Well… I was nice meeting you… You were nice meeting me… I-it was nice meeting you..” Jasper stammered ‘wow nicely done idiot.’ “Sorry.. I’ll see you later.. I guess.” He was now looking at the ground

Ethan nodded. So they were both terrible at this. “U-Uh, are you b-busy?” he managed to stutter out. “Right now? I’m busy. Not busy.” Damn it, Ethan. “I, uh…”

(Koby continued eating what ever it was that she was eating “I wonder how your parents got you and the most awkward person in the world as children. You guys are complete opposites”

“Ethan wasn’t always this awkward,” Emilia said. She ate a Cheeto. “He was made this way.” She shrugged. “Or something like that. He just needs to come out of his shell again.”)

“No.. I’m not busy.” Jasper said 'good job you made a sentences’

Ethan shuffled awkwardly. “Uh. Out h- Hang out. Maybe we could?” Broken sentences, Ethan, wow. You sound like someone who doesn’t speak English. “If not, it’s fine- I understand-” There we go, something comprehensible.

“Sure” Jasper 'good simple answer’

Ethan started panicking mildly. Sure? Just sure? Didn’t that usually mean no? “I-If want- If you d-don’t- I-” Ethan. Breathe. Breathe. But breathing was so hard. “S-s-sorry-”

“Like to.. I’d like to.” Jasper stammered 'Great, now you’re back to phase one.’ “Hang out that is”

Ethan took a deep, shuddering breath. “O-Okay.” He steadied himself with a second breath. “We need to calm down,” he laughed shakily. Make jokes. Make light of the situation. Be less awkward. Yes, good plan, Ethan.

Jasper laughed “you’d think of all people to talk to it would be easiest to talk to each other”

Ethan chuckled. He held out a hand to the other boy to help him up. “Maybe we should start over,” he joked, feeling lighter. This was alright. He could do this.

Jasper took it “yeah”

“Well, I’m Ethan,” he chuckled. “I come here a lot. To the library, I mean.” He jerked his chin at the door to the library. “It’s quiet. I like it.”

“Well I’m Jasper and I’m new but I really like the library too. It has all my favorite books” he smiled

Ethan latched onto the conversation topic as he started walking, not really knowing where he was going and hoping that Jasper would follow. “What are they? Your favourite books, I mean.”

Jasper was happy for the moving standing had become awkward “I love Grimm fairy tales, and Harry Potter” he chuckled

Ethan nodded. “Which house are you?” he found himself asking. He wasn’t fond of fairytales, but Harry Potter? He had a poster above his bed. Call him a teenage boy; he didn’t care.

“I’m a Ravenclaw, not for brains though because I’m commonly scatter brained but for the creative part.” He laughed “and how about you?”

“I’m a Slytherin, actually,” Ethan admitted. “I’ve always felt I should be a Ravenclaw, though.” Not always, really, but he wasn’t about to admit it.

“I love the Slytherin house. I always wish I could be a Slytherin but I have like zero ambitions.” Jasper laughed

Ethan laughed within him. “But you must want to do something with your life, no?” he found himself asking.

“All I’ve ever wanted to do was go to college so I could get away from my family, and I did that. Here I am, now I have no idea where to go from here.” He said with a a laugh at the here I am

“Ah. What’s your favourite class?” Maybe Ethan could help this new friend of his find a purpose.

“I’ve always like potions.” Jasper thought

“You should look into careers in alchemy, then,” Ethan suggested. “Maybe talk to the Potions teacher about it. I’m sure they can help you figure things out.”

“I’ve never thought to that” Jasper said

Ethan raised an eyebrow. “Really? Do you never think about your future?” He worried about his all the time.

“Not really I’ve only ever had one goal and I did it.” Jasper said

Ethan glanced at Jasper, curiosity glimmering in his eyes. “What goal was that?” To escape from his family, Ethan presumed, but he’d learned that presumptions are not good.

“To get away from my hometown.” Jasper said

Ethan nodded. “I’m sorry,” he muttered quickly. “Don’t mean to dredge up bad memories.”

“It’s fine they are in the past.” Jasper smiled “look at us I’m so proud of us” he laughed

Ethan chuckled. “Beating that anxiety! Hell yeah!” He did an unenthusiastic fist pump.

Jasper laughed

Ethan sighed. “So.” What to talk about now? He had no idea. He stuffed his hands further into his hoodie pockets.

Ethan ducked his head. “So, um.” He still had no idea what to say now. He’d run out of conversation topics.

“What about you what’s your family like?” Jasper asked

“Well.” Ethan chuckled. “My twin’s a maniac. And my parents are… strict, but they mean well.” 'Liar. Liar. Liar.’ He smiled.

Jasper knew something was off about that but he didn’t want to ask “I’ve met your sister. She’s very… Dramatic”

Ethan chuckled. “That’s one word for her. I’d say over-the-top, but yeah. She’s insane.”

Jasper laughed

“It’s getting dark. We should probably get back to out dorms.” Jasper noted

Ethan nodded, scuffing his shoe against the ground. “I guess so, yeah,” he mumbled.

“I guess I’ll see you later.” Jasper smiled

Ethan smiled back. “Yeah! This was fun, thanks.” He took one of his hands out of his pockets to wave at Jasper.

Jasper waved back and headed to his dorm

Ethan headed off to his dorm, stuffing his hands back in his pockets.

## Trivia

* This scene establishes Harry Potter as a point of connection between the boys.