Markets

Peeking around the corner he saw her sitting on the ground. Back against the wall, face tilted towards the ceiling. With tear tracks on her cheek.

His own heart ached at the sight.

"Soon." He whispered to himself, vanishing into shadow.

Feeling a surge in energy Annabelle struggled to her feet. Wiping her face and looking around.

'What was that. I could have sworn I felt someone teleport.'

"Boo!"

"The hell!" Annabelle jumped forward away from the person behind her.

Cass doubled over laughing. "I can't believe I got you! You should've seen your face!"

"Seriously Cass?" She glared before looking back at the corner.

"What's got you so tense? Normally you'd just flinch." Cass looked at the corner. "What's so special about it?"

"Nothing, it's fine. We going to lunch?"

"Sorry came to tell you I got roped into research with Marc, apparently they need a techy, Jazz put some lunch money on your IO, you can have lunch on campus or at home."

"Okay, thanks, see you tonight."

After Cass left Annabelle decided to go check the corner one more time. Finding nothing there she decided to go look for her other classrooms.

'Why is it so hard to find a single classroom. Don't they know they should organize it by class number so annoying.'

"Hey need help?" Rou walked up beside her. "I remember my first year here, couldn't find my classroom, who knows what they were thinking when they numbered them. Makes no freaking sense."

'I'm still annoyed, but he was doing his job during the test, and Jazz, Marc and Cass seem to think he's great, plus if I'm rude to him after he asks if he can help then I'm just being a brat.'

"Thank you, that'd be awesome. All I've got left are these two, but I have no clue where they are."

"Oh, that's easy Diplomacy 101 is down the hall to the right, and Sentient Rights: Promises and Problematics is back towards the stairs. All first step classes will be on the floors one through five. Why isn't Cass with you? Marc said you'd be having lunch."

"She got dragged into technical work for Marc. Thanks for the directions."

"Hey, I'm sorry about orientation, I didn't think you'd be targeted for it."

"Nah, I'm being targeted because I fell asleep during the test but still passed, and I'm an immature Ayeri. There's no way I wouldn't be targeted. Trust me, it's not your fault."

"Do you know when Cass, Jazz and Marc are going to be done? I haven't seen them in forever."

"No, but you can come to the apartment for dinner, they should be back by then and one more person won't hurt."

"Thanks, just have Jazz message me when they get back? Tell them I'll bring over some of my collection."

"What does that even mean?"

"You'll see." He stuck his tongue out at her and then changed into a hamster. "I think it's time for me to go bother some bratty first years."

'I can see how he gets along with Marc and Cass. They're all up to no good at least eighty percent of the time.'

Shaking her head, she left the building.

'Do we even have ingredients for dinner at the apartment? I remember Jazz getting stuff for breakfast, but I didn't see anyone pick up anything else. I guess I can stop for something, not like I'm Marc. Jeez I don't understand how everything he made on the ship looked like poison. How do you fail at making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich?'

'I think the market was a few blocks behind the apartment. I should probably leave Marc and Jazz messages about me picking this stuff up, so they don't do it on the way home. Hopefully I'll be able to get dinner ready for them before they get back.'

Pulling her IO out she contacted Marc and Jazz. "Hey guys, I'm stopping at the market on my way home to pick up dinner. Oh, and Rou said he'd be by for dinner with some of his collection."

When she arrived, she was surprised. It was an open-air market; the stalls were full, and each was manned by a shop owner. The stall closest to her held fresh fish, and opposite was one full of vegetables.

'So, what should I get? I'm not really feeling fish today, but the veggies look amazing. Hmmm…'

She walked around until she was standing in front of a stall that had chicken.

'Maybe I could make sheet pan chicken? It's easy and filling. So, I would need chicken, I wonder if that first veggie stall has acorn squash?"

"Sir I'd like to buy about four pounds of chicken thigh please. Also, do you know where I can buy olive oil?"

"Sure, it's gonna be 20 con or 2 FSP credits. You can get the oil at a stall near the end of the road, it's kinda small, but you'll notice it."

"Here're the credits, thank you so much, have a nice day."

'So, near the end of the road… Where are you?'

"The hell is your problem! I told you to clean that an hour ago! Get out! You're fired!"

'What the heck?' Annabelle looked towards the source of the commotion. An old woman was throwing a man out from behind a stall.

"Old hag!"

'Just my luck…'

"Did you need something?" The old lady snapped at Annabelle.

"Ah, yes please, I'm looking for olive oil?"

"How much?"

"I'm not sure, the smallest bottle you have?"

"Why are you asking me? I'm not the one buying it!"

"Sorry, I'll take the smallest one."

"10 con."

"Can I pay using an FSP credit?"

"Fine."

"Thank you, have a nice day." She paid the woman, took the oil, and all but ran away from the stall.

"Hi, can I have four onions, two red and yellow peppers and about a pound and a half of the small potatoes?" The man at the vegetable stall nodded, and put all her requests in bags, pricing as he did so.

"Thank you."

"No thank you, are you using con or FSP credits?"

"FSP."

"Alright then the total comes to 1.5 credits." She transferred the credits. "Thank you, have a nice night Miss."

"Thank you, you too."

It had grown cold, and it was starting to get dark as Annabelle got back to the apartment.

'Thank god I beat them all home. Let's just throw this all together, toss it in the oven, and get a nice warm shower before Marc and Cass get back and take all the hot water.'