darkest timeline } { of geds and graduation parties

[braveandstupid]

Derek: [and he will not be in his normal spot at the library. Instead, he will be in one of the study booths. On the table next to him is a scientific calculator, scratch paper and pencils. There is a GED book up on the shelf, and he will have a photocopy of the test he's working on. His watch is in timer mode counting down how long he's been working]

Elena: [and, being the curious person that she is, she makes her way over to see what he's doing] You're being very ... studious.

Derek: I'm taking a practice test. [he's trying to figure out this stupid math question]

Elena: You're thinking about taking the GED?

Derek: I probably should. I mean, most places want at least a high school diploma if I want a job.

Elena: That is very true. [she tips her head to the side] Do you have a place in mind to work?

Derek: No. Just, in case I want to.

Elena: Well, if you need someone to quiz you, I'll be over there. [and she points to her usual table]

Derek: Sure. I just want to get through this practice test first.

Elena: Okay. Let me know. [and off she will go to do her own studying]

Derek: [and he will finish the test and check his answers, and throw his pencil at his crap math scores]

Elena: [glances over curiously] That bad, huh?

Derek: Why the hell did they change the way people do math in the last seven years? What was wrong with it in the first place?

Elena: I don't know. They thought they were making it better?

Derek: Well they failed. How am I going to pass this test if I have to relearn an entire new way of doing math so I can show how I got my answers?

Elena: Well, it's multiple choice, so I don't think you have to show you work. You just have to get the answer right.

Derek: It says that they take my scratch paper.

Elena: [she shrugs] Yeah, but I think that's more so other people can't cheat. I'm pretty sure the test is scantron.

Derek: Actually I'm supposed to go to some testing place and take it on a computer.

Elena: Even more reasons why I don't think they will be actually looking at your work.

Derek: [sighs] It still doesn’t make sense.

Elena: Well, do the math the way you remember it and see if you get the answers right.

Derek: i could try. I don’t remember a lot of equations from then wither. It wasn’t important.

Elena: [pauses for a moment, before getting up to sit on the other side of him] Which one are you having trouble with?

Derek: You mean which ones am i not having problems with.

Elena: [smiles softly] Okay. Then let's take it from the top. [and she'll sit with him, very close since those pods are tiny, and they'll go through problem by problem]

Derek: [and he will listen, and he is a fast learner, even with math]

Elena: [so she will do her best to catch him up, give him new problems, and check the test when he's done] I think you've got it.

Derek: Thanks. It makes some sense now.

Elena: No problem. I'm happy to help.

Derek: So what were you working on today?

Elena: Just some general studying. I'm trying to get as much pre-finals prep in as possible while I have the time.

Derek: Want me to quiz you?

Elena: Sure. I was doing developmental psychology. [and she'll slide back to go grab one of her text books]

Derek: Okay. [so he will learn something new as well today]

Elena: [and it'll be fun and easy and nothing too complicated in terms of complicated psychological stuff, but maybe he'll learn some things about Cora's arrested development or something]

Derek: [probably, not like it would really help much at this point, but he can understand her a bit more]

Elena: [yep, and eventually she will put her head down a few hours later] Okay, enough. I think my brain is overloading.

Derek: We could take a break. Maybe get something to eat?

Elena: That sounds great. Do you have a place in mind?

Derek: Not really. I haven't explored the city that much yet.

Elena: Okay. If I play restaurant roulette with Caroline are there any hard no's on food you won't eat?

Derek: Tofu.

Elena: Got it. [and she will text Caroline for recommendations] We'll see what she says.

Derek: I know I should actually explore the city now that I live here. I just don't really know what I want to do.

Elena: Well, it's a big city. It can be hard to figure out a place to start.

Derek: I'm still getting used to the smell.

Elena: [she wrinkles her nose] I guess it is kinda strong, huh? [her phone then goes off] Oh! She says there's a great seafood place not far from here?

Derek: The subway openings are the worst. And that sounds alright.

Elena: Okay. Let's go. [and she will gather up her stuff] Yeah, I can imagine. A lot of air gets trapped down there, and there's nowhere for the scents to escape to.

Derek: Also a lot of sewage and rotting dead animals.

Elena: That too. [and she'll lead the way to a low key seafood place around the corner from the library] Have you gone to the park, though?

Derek: Not recently. I've been staying indoors for the most part.

Elena: Well, maybe you should go. It's probably much better smelling?

Derek: Probably. [he shoves his hands in his pockets. She will notice that his eyes dart around a lot, taking in everyone around them, tense as if he's waiting for someone to jump out at him.]

Elena: [sees this, and takes his arm gently, giving it a small squeeze to keep him close, before stepping up to the hostess] Two please. And do you think we can get somewhere near a window? [the hostess nods and off they go]

Derek: [he gives her a small smile at that, and he will relax as they sit, him taking the seat where he can also see the door]

Elena: [smiles in return and she will sit across from him before looking over the menu] She said the fresh dishes are usually pretty good.

Derek: It's been a long time since I've had fish. [he will look over the menu, seeing the catches of the day] This is on me, by the way.

Elena: You don't have to do that. I can cover me.

Derek: Please. Just as a thanks for helping me today.

Elena: ... Okay. As a thank you. [because usually people are only paying for her on a date and Derek doesn't feel like he's at a dating point at the moment]

Derek: You can get next time if that helps?

Elena: [smiles a bit and nods] Deal.

Derek: Good. [because that also means there will be a next time. He likes being around her. He feels comfortable]

Elena: [she likes being around him too. it's nice to have a friend who doesn't know her whole sordid Mystic Falls history. She feels like she can be herself] Good.

Derek: [of course, he doesn't really have anything that could relate to small talk, and he feels awkward now]

Elena: [that's okay. she'll start chatting about school and work as they eat and he can respond and fill in the gaps when needed]

Derek: [he can do that! He's good with being the quiet one]

Elena: [and it's ... really, really good seafood so by the time they're done she's leaning back in her seat with a groan] I think I ate too much.

Derek: [chuckles] And we haven't even looked at desserts.

Elena: I think we might have to call a rain check on that. Banshees still have human metabolisms.

Derek: Poor you. [smiles]

Elena: C'mon. We should go and see if I can walk this full feeling off.

Derek: You're going to suggest that we take a walk in the park, aren't you?

Elena: No, we are too far from the park, and it's getting late so being in the park would be a bad idea, even with a werewolf. But maybe we can just wander for a bit and see where we wind up?

Derek: [and he will shrink a bit in his chair] I don't know...

Elena: Or we don't have to. I don't want to do anything you're not comfortable with.

Derek: I'm sorry. I just... working on it still. But I think it's going to be a long time before I'll stop jumping at shadows.

Elena: No, I get it. It's a marathon, not a sprint. But maybe you could walk me home instead?

Derek: I can do that. [nods]

Elena: Okay. [and she'll let him pay for their meal before they slip out of the restaurant and start walking back towards her apartment, and she'll slip her arm in his as they go]

Derek: [and he will pay in cash and leave a generous tip, and when she threads arms with him, he can get her scent and it comforts him as they walk down the street] So how much longer is your semester?

Elena: About six more weeks? And after that I'll be officially a resident.

Derek: And then you'll live at the hospital.

Elena: For a little while, yeah. I do get theoretical days off though.

Derek: So I could theoretically see you at the library on those days off?

Elena: Theoretically, yes. Or we could be daring and make actual plans instead of just hoping to run into each other.

Derek: We could do that. Maybe you can show me a few places around the city you think I should know about.

Elena: I could. I think I know a few good spots we can try.

Derek: So it's a plan. You get a break from residency, and I learn about the city.

Elena: Plus I owe you dinner too.

Derek: Of course. [he's rich. He will never remind her, and will pretty much try to pay every time if she lets him]

Elena: [nope, she will not forget. fair is fair and she's so very careful of keeping herself from positions where guys can claim she owes them] Good. I'll have to pick a good place.

Derek: [and she will learn that it is something he would never, ever do to someone] Surprise me.

Elena: [she will. but for now she's being careful. it's her own trauma that she's trying to work through] Just no tofu.

Derek: No tofu.

Elena: Got it.

Derek: [and they arrive back at her place] I guess we're here.

Elena: [glances up at her building] Yep. Thanks for walking me home.

Derek: You're welcome.

Elena: So I'll text you the next time I have a day off, and we'll plan an adventure.

Derek: Great. [thinks] And, well, if you want you can also text me if you're bored at the hospital on overnight shifts. I'm a night owl.

Elena: I will keep that in mind. [small smile] I have a couple of those coming up.

Derek: I'll keep my phone charged.

Elena: Good. Do you want me to wait until your car shows up?

Derek: You don't have to.

Elena: No, I don't mind.

Derek: Ok. [and he will pull up his phone app and summon a car] Okay, it says eight minutes.

Elena: Cool. [and she shifts to go sit on the stoop of her building to wait, leaving space for him next to her] Probably faster depending on how they drive.

Derek: Or if they hit traffic.

Elena: That too. [a pause] Oh! Speaking of me finishing classes - we're going to do a graduation drinks at the Abattoir - I know you don't drink but it's not going to be a lot of people, and there will be food and stuff?

Derek: Are there going to be a lot of people there?

Elena: [she shakes her head] A small group of friends from home and the Mikaelsons. [a beat] Which I guess qualifies as a lot given that there are ... eight Mikaelsons alone, but one of them is going to be Caroline. And I think Tyler's going to want to have dinner with your alpha so you might have met him before that too?

Derek: I know Klaus and Hayley already. So that's four people I know.

Elena: Oh! There you go. [that makes a couple things easier] And it's a pretty big space, so you hopefully won't be too crowded? Freya said she'd just let us have the whole place for the night.

Derek: Would there be a place I could go if I get overwhelmed?

Elena: Yeah. There's a whole second floor. I'm sure they wouldn't mind.

Derek: [takes a deep breath and then nods] Okay then.

Elena: [and that makes her smile because good.] You don't have to stay the whole time either. But good. I'm glad.

Derek: Me too.

Elena: I promise that they're all ... way more chill than Caroline.

Derek: I assume they also all know about werewolves?

Elena: They do. Bonnie's a witch and everyone else is human, but they've been in the know for a while. And ... Tyler is an alpha, obviously.

Derek: Yeah, I got that. [smiles]

Elena: But yeah, Bonnie and Tyler, Matt, my brother Jeremy and my aunt and her fiancé.

Derek: And the Mikaelsons.

Elena: And the Mikaelsons. Elijah basically saved my life, I kind of can't not invite them.

Derek: I think I'll be okay.

Elena: Good. And I meant it, if it's too much and you need to bail, then it's okay.

Derek: I appreciate it. If I feel the need to, I will text you so you know.

Elena: Good.

Derek: [and there is the Uber] I guess I have to go.

Elena: [nods as she gets to her feet] Yeah, guess so. I'll talk to you later?

Derek: Yeah. Talk to you later.

Elena: [and she'll go to head inside once he gets into the car]

Derek: [and home he goes]