#bcuz i project my neurodivergencies onto my blorbos

[sarahshot1st]

"Do you want to go see a movie on Saturday?"

Diana frowned, pulling out one earbud, arm resting lazily against the library table.

"A movie?"

Leona stuttered. "Yeah, I mean - it's just, there's a lot of good ones showing right now, you know?"

Diana huffed. "I guess."

"I was planning on going alone, but it's nicer when you have someone to go with." Leona forced a smile, which completely failed to cover up the nervousness she was obviously feeling. Diana had the distinct impression the red-headed jock had planned this interaction out, and that it wasn't going how she had planned.

She decided to be merciful. "Yeah, I know what you mean. At least if the movie sucks, you have someone to shit-talk it with afterwards."

"Right! And if it's good, you can talk about what made you like it."

Diana gave a faint smile. Based on what she knew of Leona, she could likely talk someone's ear off for thirty minutes about a movie she enjoyed. When the brawny athlete got excited about something, it became her entire universe. She reminded Diana of how her History of Religion professor gave lectures, jumping from topic to topic, making connections with whatever else was currently on his mind; only instead it was about Taylor Swift's latest album, or the plot of some anime Leoma had been watching. Diana honestly found it amusing to see that same level of hyperfocus applied to much more light-hearted subjects than the heavy things Dr. Terris discussed - topics like ethnic displacement and conflicts between rival sects.

"I suppose that's a fair point," Diana said, closing her notebook. She had finished studying an hour ago, and had been passing the time doodling on blank pages and listening to her mellow playlist. She could have left, but Leona studied better when she had someone with her. It didn't matter if they talked about the homework or not, having another body present helped Leona stay focused.

"...So? Do you wanna?" Leona's tone was so full of innocent pleading, she might as well have been pointing her index fingers together.

Did she? They had been study partners for two weeks now, and Diana was honestly coming to enjoy Leona's company. Goodness knew she could stand to expand the size of her friend circle. She had become something of a loner at Targon University, with most of the people she knew from high school going off to different schools or starting careers. Having someone to consistently spend time with had proven good for her. But going from "study partners" to "actual hang-out friends" was a big leap. Is that what she wanted?

"Fine," Diana said, trying not to make a big deal out of it. "What do you want to see? I hear the new Scream movie's supposed to be halfway decent."

Leona paled. "I'd … I'd rather not see a horror film. They're not really my thing."

Interesting, Diana thought. The big, tough, jock-girl is squeamish. She filed that information away for later use.

"Well, I'm not that picky. Pick something out and let me know. But Leona?"

"Yes?"

"Let's do Sunday instead of Saturday."

"Okay…" Leona's brow furrowed in confusion.

"Monday's your off-day for practice. I don't have work, and our classes aren't until the afternoon. We can stay out late and sleep in. Thar way, we can dodge the Saturday evening crowd."

Leona nodded. "Good thinking."

Diana shrugged. "I worked at a movie theater during high school. The employees would always fight each other over who got the Sunday shifts because the place was practically dead. The less people going out on dates, the less popcorn there is to clean up afterwards."

She kept her tone of voice completely neutral, avoiding Leona's face by taking a sip of water. When she lowered her Nalgene, however, she saw that the girl's face had turned nearly as red as her hair.

So Leona did consider this to be a date.

Did Diana mind that?

"I'll … I'll pick you up at 7?" Leona asked, hastily packing up her things. Her homework, Diana noted, was only half-finished.

Well, this could prove interesting.

"Sounds like a plan."

#leodia #short fiction #short ficlet #college au #leona is on the football team #diana is majoring in religious studies #adhd leona #bcuz i project my neurodivergencies onto my blorbos #not alluded to here but trans leona #demisexual diana