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Eloise glared at her friends as they tried to take her book from her. “Eloise, this is a party, not a book club,” Sophia said with some exasperation.

“You enjoy it your way. I’ll enjoy it my way,” Eloise snapped. “I only came because you dragged me out of the apartment.”

“We made you leave your pad behind because we knew you’d just read all night.” Melinda glared at her.

“Yes, and you know I always carry a book on me for situations like this.” Eloise wasn’t going to be deterred.

“Look, the lazerball team is staring right at us,” Anya said, giggling and blushing.

Eloise buried her nose back in her book. The last thing she wanted was one of the jocks from the lazerball team coming over to talk to her. They were all just skating by at the university, taking easy courses so they could play the game.

“Interesting read?” A male voice interrupted her reading a short time later. Eloise looked up with some irritation into what was admittedly one of the most handsome faces she’d seen in a long time.

“Interesting enough,” Eloise said, not wanting to engage anyone in conversation.

“I find that Vertiv’s thesis on the thermal dynamic properties of halconite to be a bit outdated though, don’t you think?” he asked.

Eloise closed the book and looked at him. The only way he’d know that was in there is if he’d read the book. “It is, but his thesis on balurite is…unique.”

“Are you an idiot?” he asked scornfully. “That was disproven ages ago by Norton.”

Eloise grinned. “Yes, and Norton was disproven again by Junkit.” The two began discussing several engineering topics, Eloise becoming quite animated. One of her friends giggled. Eloise paused. “You hungry? I’m starving. I know a great place for food.”

The young man paused as well. He glanced back over his shoulder at the lazerball team. “Sounds good to me.” The two walked out together. “I’m John, by the way.”

“I’m Eloise. I hope you’re hungry. It’s a heavy worlder place. I’m a heavy worlder and I need to eat.” Eloise realized she should have asked him first. Most featherweights couldn’t eat where she wanted to go.

“Is it Harvest Moon?” he asked, startling her. She nodded. “I’m a regular there. I know I don’t look it, but I’m a heavy worlder too.”

“Perfect. Now, you were saying about Grelik’s theorem?” Eloise got him back on the topic of their conversation and the two dove deep into their topic.

They ate, never pausing in their conversation, and didn’t stop until the waitress politely told them they were closing for the night. They apologized, paid, and headed out. “Well, this has been one of the most enjoyable nights I’ve had in a long time,” John said. “Want to do it again?”

“I do, but my schedule is pretty crazy,” Eloise said, pulling out the pad she was supposed to have left at home. “How’s yours look?”

“Same,” John said. He pulled out his pad and the two compared schedules. “Look, we have the same class here and the same lunch hour. Meet me for lunch at the fountain?”

“I’ll see you there,” Eloise said, smiling at him. The two separated and Eloise made her way back to her apartment.

“Eloise, there you are. How did it go?” Melinda asked as she came in.

“Fine.” Eloise yawned. “We had a great conversation. I’m going to bed.” She walked into her bedroom and pointedly shut the door against her nosy roommates. She changed and curled up in her bed. She idly wondered what position John played on the lazerball team, because she knew he had to be on it with the way he’d glanced over at them when she’d suggested dinner, and drifted off to sleep.