A Large Library – Late night

Two university students sit next to each other in a large and dark library with vaulted ceilings and a few other students. On their table is a green lamp, a few assorted three ringed binders, and several textbooks on quantum physics.

The two students, JIM and SAMANTHA, are of roughly the same age but are seated awkwardly distanced from one another. Jim is in a grey sweatshirt embroidered with the college’s crimson seal and Samantha is in thick rimmed tortoise shell glasses and a stretched out tan lambswool sweater.

They are both nose deep into their books and notes when Jim taps Samantha on the shoulder.

She looks up. Jim gestures to a problem.

Samantha leans over to look, thinks for a moment, writes a few things on a piece of notebook paper, and slides it over to Jim.

Jim nods and smiles.

They return to their books.

Samantha rests her elbows on the wooden desk, and then, the CLACK of her pencil rolling off the table.

Jim looks to Samantha, bends down, and picks up her pencil. Jim comes up and hands the pencil to Samantha.

A look.

Almost too long.

And back to the books.

Jim taps Samantha on the shoulder again. Her eyes shoot to the side to look, and he gestures to another problem.

She leans over, and without pausing to think about the problem, writes on Jim’s notebook.

Jim looks over her shoulder to see what she writes.

In precise cursive handwriting Samantha writes: “are you serious? we learned this in sem 1”

She leans back over to her seat and looks at Jim, he shrugs. They return to the books.

Jim looks at Samantha and taps his foot, while Samantha, head down, copies lines from the textbook to her binder.

Jim waits, before resting his arms on the table, and going back to his textbook.

Then, CLACK CLACK, Jim’s pencil rolls off the table.

Jim looks at Samantha. Her eyes haven’t moved from her books. He exhales and picks up his pencil.

He returns to his notebook, and his pencil hovers above the page, before he sets it down and turns to Samantha.

Jim gives Samantha another tap on the shoulder. She looks up slowly and raises her eyebrows.

Jim points to another problem and Samantha leans over.

As Samantha leans back to think, Jim leans over and gets close to her.

Closer. And closer. And closer, until…

SAMANTHA: (barely a whisper) Jim, no.

Jim leans back. His face is flush.

JIM: I’m…

Jim taps his foot, as they both sit there, doing nothing. BEAT

Jim breaks. SCREECH!

He pushes his chair back and stands.

Jim takes his books in his hands, turns away and mutters:

JIM (CONT’D): Bye.

Jim walks away down the aisle with his head down. Samantha grips her pencil tightly, not writing anything.