darkest timeline } { of pizza and book recommendations

[braveandstupid]

Elena: [it's late. the library is closing. everyone is moving except for Elena who may have passed out an hour ago after coming off a twelve hour shift at the hospital and trying to study for an exam in a few days. but this is what happens when you push yourself too hard. you fall asleep in your books and don't actually learn anything]

Derek: [he is there as well, usually spending most of his day at the library reading. He is trying to catch up still on seven years of news and events. Today he had been reading in the science department, and when the library announcement goes he stands up, tucking the magazine back onto the rack and heading through the library. He sees Elena with her head down in books and hesitates a moment. The dark hair gives him pause, knowing it can't be her but needing to see. A soft hand will go to her shoulder and Derek will shake her to rouse the sleeping beauty]

Elena: [she blinks at that starting to straighten up to see who's trying to rouse her and blinks, her brain not computing yet] Hi.

Derek: [and it's not her. He is sad and relieved at the same time] Hi. The library is closing.

Elena: [ her brow furrows, confused, before she reaches for her phone and checks the time, and when she sees it her eyes widen, and she covers her eyes with one hand] I feel asleep. Good job, Elena. [and back to Derek] Sorry, I'll pack up now. [she's assuming he works here]

Derek: I've done it before too. They don't always check for sleepers.

Elena: [she blinks before glancing back to him as she gathers her books] You don't work here?

Derek: [shakes his head, standing up and shoving his hands into his jacket pockets] No. I just come here a lot.

Elena: Gotcha. [and her books go into her backpack] I do too. I don't always sleep here though. I'm not that weird person who just falls asleep in public all the time.

Derek: No narcolepsy then. Got it.

Elena: [she grins a bit at that before sliding her back pack over her shoulder and holding out her hand] I'm Elena, by the way.

Derek: [he hesitates again before slowly reaching out to take her hand] Derek.

Elena: [notices that hesitation, so she won't make him shake it for long. just a small squeeze before she lets go] Nice to meet you.

Derek: Same. [he swallows, hand back in the packet automatically. And not knowing what else to say...] Good night. [and he turns to go]

Elena: [her eyes narrow a bit in surprise, but lets it go. they told her new yorkers were weird] Night. [and off she'll go to go home and eat and sleep in an actual bed]

Derek: [and he'll go to meet an uber to take him home because it's faster and safer than walking the streets]

Elena: [until they meet again. He said he comes into the library a lot so it probably will be sooner rather than later]

Derek: [yup. He will probably be in the same area reading through a book talking about the current presidential administration since he wasn't conscious of the old one or the making of this one]

Elena: [and she will come in to do some more studying, because she's generally more productive than she is in her apartment. She spots him and gives a bit of a wave if he looks up, heading to a table nearby]

Derek: [he caught her scent and looked up, seeing her wave. He'll give her a small smile and head nod, and go back to reading]

Elena: [which is fine. she will settle in and do some more studying, but when her brain hits a wall and she needs to look away she'll just tilt her head as she studies Derek's book for a moment and wrinkles her nose] Are you actually enjoying that?

Derek: It's not meant to be enjoyed. [he turns the page, and then looks up at her] It's historical, not fictional.

Elena: That doesn't mean some people don't enjoy it. Sometimes when you've got a really good nonfiction writer it can make it really easy to digest.

Derek: I guess. [he just shrugs and goes back to reading]

Elena: [she shrugs as well before going back to her studying, taking notes occasionally as she goes]

Derek: [and he will finish the book after a bit and get up, leaving it behind to go and find another to compare it to]

Elena: [and she will also get up and see if she can go find some of the fun non-fiction that she's read in the past. There's a couple of the less maudlin options by Mary Roach (though if he wants to read about cadavers and the afterlife than she could find those two) and a couple of essay collections by David Sedaris. She'll just leave them on top of the book he left behind, giving him some options if he wants to try them but not forcing him to say yes or no on his own]

Derek: [and he will return soon after with another book and see the ones added to his pile. He's never heard of either of those two writers. He picks one up and flips it over to read the back cover as he sits down, and then puts the one he had brought back onto the pile and opens up the Sedaris one to read]

Elena: [and she smiles a bit at that, but focuses on her schoolwork and gives him a chance to read and really sink into it]

Derek: [which he will do, and miracles abound, he might even crack a smile]

Elena: [success!! told you non-fiction could be fun]

Derek: [and he will read for most of the day. He won't actually break until someone reminds him he needs to eat, or that the library is closing. He does have a water bottle though so he won't be thirsty]

Elena: [when the library announces they were closing, she will glance down at her watch and weigh her options for a moment, before making her way over] Did his style agree with you?

Derek: [and he will look up from where he is now reading the book he had grabbed, and shrugged] It was okay.

Elena: Only okay. Alright. [challenge accepted] At least you gave him a chance.

Derek: You thought strongly enough to leave it here. Why wouldn't I?

Elena: Not everyone likes getting recommendations.

Derek: [he licks his lips a moment, then shrugs. It's not like she can tell him he's still learning to be an individual again, instead of a hostage] I don't mind.

Elena: Good to know. [not everyone is bubbly and she's used to people with poor social skills. a lot of interns at her level haven't nailed down their bedside manner yet] So I was going to go kill a little time before work at the pizza place across the street if you want to join me?

Derek: [he swallowed, unsure if he was ready for that step yet.] You sure?

Elena: Yeah, I've had way too many dinners by myself lately, so it's starting to get a little depressing. [there's a pause because Elena is an empath and good at gauging emotions] But if you're busy, it's totally okay. No pressure.

Derek: I'm not busy, I just...]he takes a deep breath] I usually just go directly home.

Elena: Oh. [she nods] If you don't want to, it's totally okay too. [and she's very genuine when she says that, her heartbeat doesn't even blip] I just thought since you like books and I like books, we might be able to talk about them over some really good pizza.

Derek: I could probably do a slice...?

Elena: I promise I won't keep you too long.

Derek: [nods, and he looks at his pile of books] Let me just put these back.

Elena: Okay. I'll meet you at the door.

Derek: [and he'll get up to do that, doing it fast enough to quickly text his sister he was going to be home late because a girl at the library asked him to join her for a slice of pizza]

Laura: [the text is something along the lines of "okay see you later" but he best be prepared to be pestered about his new friend when he gets home]

Derek: He figured as much.

Laura: [she loves you little brother]

Derek: [and he will grab his jacket and head up to meet her, his hands in his pockets]

Elena: [and she will be there waiting, smiling when she sees him before pointing to the pizza place across the street] Have you been to Charlie's before?

Derek: [and he shakes his head] No. But I haven't been living in New York that long.

Elena: Me either! I just moved here a few months ago.

Derek: Same. Where did you come from?

Elena: Mystic Falls? It's a really small town in Virginia.

Derek: I've never heard of it, sorry.

Elena: It's okay, most people haven't. [they cross the street she pulls the door open for him to go in ahead of her] It's got maybe ... a thousand people living there.

Derek: [he would, but he is run over by a waft of garlic, onion, and pepper. He coughs, trying to clear his nose a bit]

Elena: [she frowns, concerned] You okay?

Derek: Yeah, I'm good. [he gives her a hint of a smile] Smells good in here.

Elena: [nods and they make their way in to look at the pies over the counter] I'm in here at least twice a week. It's terrible for me, I know, but it's quick and good and way, way safer than anything I would make on my own.

Derek: My family eats pizza at least once a week. No judgements.

Elena: Do you have a favorite topping?

Derek: Meat. I'm not picky which kind.

Elena: Pepperoni then?

Derek: That works.

Elena: Great. Do you want a bottled drink or a fountain drink?

Derek: Just water.

Elena: [nods and goes to place the order for a pepperoni pie and two bottles of water] If you want to go grab a table, I'll get the drinks.

Derek: [he nods and turns to look where the seats are, but it's a tiny pizza joint and things are very tight. He can feel the claustrophobia sneaking up in his gut, but he pushes it away and finds a table near the back door.]

Elena: [and she will grab two bottled waters from the cooler before moving to join him. if he's still uncomfortable by the time the pizza gets here they can always go find a bench somewhere] So where did you move from?

Derek: California.

Elena: Oh nice. [a smirk] So why abandon all that sun for New York winters?

Derek: This is where my family is now.

Elena: [she nods] Fair enough. I'm still waiting for my brother to miss me enough to plant himself on my couch until he 'finds a place of his own' which we both know will never happen.

Derek: Where is he now?

Elena: Still in Mystic Falls. He had a rough go of things when we were younger so he's been working on it.

Derek: Oh.

Elena: He's a good kid, it's just ... hard when you lose both your parents at the same time.

Derek: [nods, and rubbing his neck] Yeah, I know how that goes.

Elena: [her eyes softened] I'm sorry. It's not a fun club to be in.

Derek: I'm sorry too. It isn't.

Elena: [the pizza gets brought to her table and she straightens with a bit of a nod] Sorry. I lure you out here with the promise of book talk and somehow we wound up talking about sad, depressing things.

Derek: It could be worse. You could be trying to make me talk about my feelings. [there is a small smirk, teasing]

Elena: [she laughs] I do enough of that at my job. Rather not do it in my personal life.

Derek: I appreciate that.

Elena: [reaches for a slice before nodding] So ... books?

Derek: I've read a lot of classics. I'm fond of Jack London.

Elena: Oh, wow. I haven't read Jack London since I was in high school.

Derek: That's where I was introduced to him. He's a good writer.

Elena: Oh, he is. I just do so much reading for school and work such crazy hours, I guess most of the time in my down time I want something that isn't going to make me think too much.

Derek: I've had a lot of free time to myself.

Elena: And I envy you as a lot of the time I find myself wishing for more hours in a day.

Derek: [and he is silent, because a lot of that time, before his escape, was spent healing and his reading distracted from the pain] The medical field is like that, I hear.

Elena: Yeah, but it's really fulfilling all at the same time. I'm in that weird place where I'm doing what I love, but I also need to do things like sleep.

Derek: Better time management?

Elena: I think it'll get easier once I'm fully in my residency and have to worry about exams a little less.

Derek: How long does it take you to go through this schooling?

Elena: Well, currently I'm an intern, but I only have until the end of the semester in terms of classes and then it's all practical training, all the time.

Derek: So full time clinical rotations. [nods] You may get some sleep then.

Elena: One can only hope.

Derek: And once the semester is over, you won't be at the library anymore, I guess.

Elena: [glances at him for a moment, before giving a small shrug] I think I could find a reason to stick around.

Derek: To continue to suggest books for me to read?

Elena: Eventually I'm going to find a non-fiction narrator you actually enjoy. It's a challenge that I've already accepted. [grins] That and I'm part of a book club, so sometimes I like to read in the library for a change of scene.

Derek: Book club?

Elena: Me and a couple friends rotate through books. One of us will host and pick a book and we get a month to read it and then we get together and talk about it. A lot of it is just a way for us to definitively hang out each month but I've also read some pretty cool books as a result.

Derek: That does sound nice. What book are you reading this month?

Elena: American Gods. Which I've read Gaiman before but this is really different. I like it.

Derek: [shakes his head] I haven't read anything of his.

Elena: Do you like fantasy with cheeky narrators?

Derek: I don't know.

Elena: Then you should try it. You might really enjoy it.

Derek: Maybe.

Elena: [she will take maybe] On the other hand, if you're worried about me disappearing from the library and never seeing me again, I could always just give you my number so you can text me.

Derek: [and he is going to try and not choke on his soda as he sucks on his straw.]

Elena: [she can't help it, she laughs a bit at that] Are you okay?

Derek: Yeah. [and he is going to wipe at his mouth] I just... it's been a long time since I got a girl's number.

Elena: [she shakes her head] It doesn't really have to be like that. It's could just be us getting to know each other as friends. [which she is totally saying to take the pressure off] Unless you want it to be like that?

Derek: I'd like that. [yeah, no pressure is good]

Elena: Okay. [and she'll fish a pen out of her backpack before writing the number down on the napkin and passing it to him] Feel free to text me whenever, just when I'm at the hospital I may not respond right away.

Derek: [and he will tuck the napkin into his packet] Okay.

Elena: [and she glances up at the clock over the counter and sighs] But speaking of work, I should start heading over to the hospital. Do you want any of the leftover pizza? [she'll just take it with her to eat during her shift, but she feels like she should offer him some too]

Derek: [shakes his head] You take it. I'm good.

Elena: Okay. [and she will shuffle it into a box before] Thanks for eating with me.

Derek: Thank you for inviting me.

Elena: I'll see you later. [and with that she will head to the subway and off to the hospital]

Derek: [and he will catch and Uber back to the penthouse]

Laura: [where his sister will be waiting and glance over to him with a smile] Hey. You're back.

Derek: Yeah. Sorry I'm late.

Laura: No, don't be sorry. I'm glad you're spending time with other people. [pats the couch next to her] So what's her name?

Derek: Her name is Elena. And it's not like that. She just is at the library studying while I'm reading.

Laura: But she asked you to have dinner with her?

Derek: No. She just asked me for a slice of pizza before she went to the hospital for work.

Laura: Okay. [fine. be that way] Do you like her? And I don't mean like her like her, I just mean do you think she's a nice person.

Derek: Yeah, she is.

Laura: Good. I'm glad you're making a friend.

Derek: Me too. I wasn't sure I'd be good company.

Laura: You are. You just have to remember how.

Derek: I don't really have a lot to talk about.

Laura: Maybe not now, but that could change as you get to know her. I'm glad you took the chance anyway.

Derek: Laura, I don't have a lot to talk about in general. I'm trying to catch up on the last seven years of the world.

Laura: I know. But you're not going to be catching up forever.

Derek: But I can't tell people why I'm like this. I didn't even graduate high school.

Laura: [there's a long pause as she considers] Do you want to talk to someone about it?

Derek: Who could I possibly talk to?

Laura: [she wants to say her, but that isn't really what Derek needs.] A therapist, who also happens to know about us?

Derek: [and he just shrugs]

Laura: If you do want to, one does exist. There was a TA I had when I was in school who's an actual doctor now, and he works out of a hospital in New York. If you want to go, I'll make you an appointment. If anything, he might be able to work on strategies with you when it comes to social interactions. [she gives him a small smile] But that's only if you want to. I won't push you.

Derek: I'll think about it. [noncommittal as always]

Laura: [of course he is. she nods and squeezes his shoulder] Just let me know.

Derek: I will. [and he will get up to head to his room if she doesn't have any other questions that he might answer]

Laura: [nope, that's all. she's just glad he's making a friend that isn't related to him or that Cora didn't introduce him to]

Derek: [or a cat]

Laura: [that too]

Derek: [and he will go up to his room, stretch out on his bed and look up at the ceiling. Only then, alone, does he let himself smile fully]