Getting To Know You

(Takes place night 2, after dinner. During the same time as the Heath, JD, Conner talk)

Dawn had been filled in by Zander about what her twin had told Conner and that Conner had said he wanted to help with Melissa. Something about him having a friend that might help; as well. She assumed but wasn't sure that it was Courtney; after all, if Doug was jealous Conner being around Melissa might be tricky but Courtney would seem like less of a threat; she was sure that her older brother wouldn't like it but probably be less combative about it or so she hoped.

Dawn hadn't known Doug to ever be physically abusive or anything like that; she had known him to manipulative and a user when it comes to girls but, then again, Doug seemed different, changed, and not for the better. It might have been easy for some to not see it but Dawn knew Doug, as much as her older brother didn't like that, and she and Zander could both tell he was different. The question was why? What had happened to make him worse?

Having no answers, she got out of a meeting where a few of the theater kids had gotten together to discuss possible ideas for the school's music;l this year and headed to her room.

Dawn, as it turned out, shared a room with April one of the nerds who had become fast friends with Zander and the group of nerds. Dawn got along with the girl rather well but the two hadn't spent that much time together. She thought April was cute and sweet and smart, really smart. Not that April showed off, actually the other girl came off as a little shy but Dawn had lived with Zander her whole life and knew her brother really well, so, she knew smart.

Dawn was happy when she got back to the dorm room to find her roommate already there. "Hi," She said with a smile and a slight bounce to her voice.

"Hi" April spoke softly but still gave Dawn a smile.

Dawn wanted to know more about her roommate but started off with. "How was your night?"

"Good." April paused as if finding the courage to say more. "A few played some Round Robin Speed Chess. Zander was there; he's really good."

Dawn had to think. "Oh, yeah. That's when you play Speed Chess and anyone who loses a match is eliminated until there are only two competitors left and they play for the win. Right?"

"Yes," April a little surprised then remembering who Dawn's twin was. "I made it to the second to last round but then Leonard beat me."

"Making it to the second to last round is really good." It took another moment before Dawn said. "Leonard Hofstadter?"

"Yes." April nodded. "Then it was down to Leonard and Zander. They had to call the first and second game a draw and then Leonard barely beat out Zander in the last game."

Dawn breathed a laugh. "That must have been interesting to watch. Not too many people can beat my brother at chess. He was state champion in Nevada."

"Oh. Really?" April was impressed but her thoughts were wandering to Dawn, she was so pretty and outgoing and talented, she wondered about her.

Dawn had gone over to the refrigerator when she asked April. "Do you want anything?"

"A Coke would be great," April replied.

Dawn grabbed a Coke for April and a root beer for herself. April was sitting at her desk so when Dawn made her way back across the room to sit down on her bed; she handed the soda to her roommate.

Dawn sat down on her bed and tapped the top of the can before opening it. She had spent too many years; as a child with Doug thinking it was funny to shake up the cans to not do that. They had both been much younger than; she kind of wished things were that simple now.

April didn't notice as it wasn't uncommon people tapped the top of cans. April took a sip of her soda before asking. "So, how was your night?"

"Good. A few of the theater groups got together to start discussing which musical to do this year. We have it narrowed down to about 20." Dawn laughed. "Theater people; extremely organized when it comes to putting on plays, but trying to decide on things before that is kind of like....well....herding cats."

April almost spit out drink at that last comment. She managed though to swallow the liquid in her mouth and not choke. "Herding cats?"

"You know..."

Before Dawn could finish April interrupted her. "I think I've heard that expression before. I know what means. I just didn't expect you to say it."

Dawn smiled. "Oh, sorry guess I should have waited until you weren't drinking something."

April didn't know why she was feeling more at ease with Dawn than most people that weren't in her circle of nerds. Dawn was just ....just ... April couldn't have actually put it into words at the moment. The feelings she was starting to feel weren't something she could have described because they were so unexpected.

April then asked. "So, you're from Nevada?"

"Yup. Vegas, actually."

"Is it as fun as everyone says?" April had never really traveled any place before she came to Sakura.

"It can be. There is a lot to do there. The shows that come through there are great." Dawn said before taking a sip of her soda.

"What have you seen?"

Dawn finished sipping her soda. "Oh, Phantom of the Opera, Rent, Wicked, Moulin Rouge, The Lion King. I've been a few times to see Cirque Du Soleil. A bunch of concerts. I saw Hamilton but that was on Broadway. Really, we'll be here all night if I list them all off. " Dawn wasn't bragging and didn't say it like she was. It was just her life and shows and concerts had been a big part of it. Musical theater was her passion.

Dawn had her own thoughts about April. There was something about her roommate that had caught her own interest. Neither girl was exactly understanding it but Dawn was getting an idea.

"So, how about you? Where are you from?" Dawn asked.

"Chicago." April was really from a suburb of Chicago; it was one of the suburbs that were extremely working-class like her family was but it was just easier to say Chicago.

"Oh, that must be a great place to live. A lot to there and there is a lot of theater there."

April nodded. "It is great. I would go to the museums a lot." The museums were either free or had special deals for lower-income people so she could to them for the price of riding the train into the city. "Well, it's great but really cold in the winter."

"Is it as windy as everyone says?"

April laughed a little. "Worse at times but it's still a nice place. And don't tell the New Yorker's here but Chicage has the best pizza."

Dawn laughed at that. She wasn't from either place but she knew of the New York/Chicago pizza debate. "Mum's the word." Dawn then asked. "So, I know you like D&D, computers and chess. What else do you like to do, in your spare time?"

"Oh..umm..." April fumbled over her words because not a lot of people knew about her other love. "I read a lot mostly sci-fi and fantasy but uh....Ok, but you can't tell anyone."

"I swear." Dawn held up her right hand as if taking an oath.

"I write."

"Write? Like stories? Poems?"

"Both but most sci-fi or fantasy stories. I've also written some fan fic."

"Oh, wow. That's really cool. Well, no pressure and you never have to but if you ever want to show me something you've written I'd like to read it." Dawn meant that. She could only imagine that April's writing was probably good.

"I'll have to think about that," April said but she was really close to letting Dawn read it.

The two girls talked some more about the school, Katz, the beach party, and a few more mundane topics. They found a connection in liking similar music and that Dawn did actually like Sci-fi and Fantasy movies. They talked about almost nothing for almost two hours before realizing the time and that they should get ready for bed. There was a connection there but what it was, excately, had yet to be named.