The Meeting

Toby arrived at the student-teacher-liaison comittee and met the usual crowd.

The professors rolled in, wanting to be done as soon as possible. They saw this as a waste of time in their tightly-packed schedue. The students there didn't care very much either about improving their education or "liaising" with teachers, whatever that meant.

It was just a space for over-achieving students and professors who wanted tenure to pretend to talk about things so that they could put this on their CV or their record.

As Toby walked in, he recognized a couple of new faces. There was one guy who was talking to a professor and another student.

The other new face was a girl. She was smiling politely as she spoke to Spencer, another one of the students in the committee. Spencer was well known for being annoying and pedantic. Toby could only imagine the self-important story or his latest theory about "what no one seems to get but I do".

She looked clearly uncomfortable, looking around the room as she rhythmically nodded at Spencer's schpiel.

"Hello, you must be new" said Toby, interrupting Spencer's monologue.

"Oh hello Toby" said Spencer. The girl's expression became one of cautious releif.

"Hey" said Toby, then turned to the girl "you're the new student on the comitte right?"

"Um...yes...yes..." she said nervously. Her frame was small, and it looked even smaller as she held it so close to herself, as if trying not to occupy much space.

"Oh cool" said Toby, extending out his hand diplomatically "I'm Toby"

"Oh I'm Jade" she said, energerically shaking his hand. She had black hair, and he looked Asian, but she didn't have a trace of an accent.

"Must be 1st or 2nd generation" thought Toby.

"What are you studying?" asked Toby.

"Oh, I'm doing art and anthropology" she said. Her face did a little grimasce when she said it.

"Oh, what was that for... that thing you did with your face?" asked Toby playfully "you did something like this" he imitated her.

Jade laughed, covering her face in embarrassment.

"Oh, did I do that?" she laughed "I don't know I guess I don't really love it that much. It's not turning out to be what I thought"

"Oh fair enough" said Toby "so you're here to add random crap to your CV in the hopes that will help you get a job if you do like shit in your studies?"

Jade laughed and nodded, surprised at how well Toby had read her.

"Alright guys let's start the meeting" said one of the professors. Everyone sat around the table of the meeting room.

Jade looked lost, not really knowing what she should do. Toby pointed at the chair next to him, inviting Jade to sit next to him. She nodded slightly and sat there.