INT Library Booth, Afternoon
ANJALI sits in the bright coloured booth, focused on the screen in front of her wearing earphones. She is concentrating heavily on whatever is on the screen, notebook open in front of her. She writes notes occasionally, fidgeting with her pencil nervously. Two different coloured blinking cursors stare at her from a mostly empty shared document.
CALUM sits across from her, writing his own notes. He also has headphones on and seems less anxious about whatever he is working on. The two look like they have been sitting in the same space for a long time. There isn’t anyone else around.
CALUM looks up from his work, noticing ANJAlI’S increasing worry. He reaches for his phone then stops, thinking for a moment before pulling up something on his laptop.
ON ‘THE PROJECT’ GOOGLE DOC - TYPED
CALUM
What’s wrong :(?
He looks over his laptop to meet an annoyed ANJALI’S eyes. She stares at him before deleting the message and returning to her work. CALUM shakes his head and bares down, leaning back in his seat.
ON ‘THE PROJECT’ GOOGLE DOC - TYPED
CALUM
What’s wrong?
CALUM
What’s wrong?
CALUM
What’s wrong?
CALUM is smiling softly by the time he annoys ANJALI enough to look at him, raising his eyebrows at her. ANJALI rolls her eyes, her typing punchy and short.
ON ‘THE PROJECT’ GOOGLE DOC - TYPED
ANJALI
Stressed
ANJALI gives CALUM a pointed look before going back to her notes.
ON ‘THE PROJECT’ GOOGLE DOC - TYPED
CALUM
Take a break :D
ANJALI stares at him, aspirated. She opens her mouth, humphing in annoyance before typing again.
ON ‘THE PROJECT’ GOOGLE DOC
ANJALI
Too busy
The two have an unspoken conversation over the top of their laptops, arguing back and forth without any words but instead through looks and raised eyebrows. When CALUM clearly doesn’t back off, ANJALI closes the document tab. She makes a face at him, before going back to her work.
CALUM stands up and shakes his head softly as he walks away, leaving all of his belongings on the table.
INT Library Booth, Late Afternoon
CALUM returns with a small brown paper bag. It feels like he has been gone for seconds but in reality it was at least fifteen minutes. The sound of frantic typing can be heard as he returns to the table, ANJALI still working away.
CALUM opens the bag and pushes food towards ANJALI. ANJALI doesn’t even look up from her laptop, headphones blocking out sound. He pokes her, earning a glare. ANJALI looks down at the soft bun in front of her and tries to suppress a smile.
ANJALI opens their shared document and types something as CALUM turns his laptop back on, eating his own sandwich.
ON ‘THE PROJECT’ GOOGLE DOC - TYPED
ANJALI
You remembered
ANJALI smiles as she takes a bite, fingers leaving her laptop keyboard for the first time all day. CALUM shakes his head, laughing silently.
ON ‘THE PROJECT’ GOOGLE DOC - TYPED
CALUM
Like I could ever forget anything about you.
ANJALI’S cursor blinks on the white page, letters typed out before being quickly erased. A few long moments pass, the typing stopping as she finishes her food.
ON ‘THE PROJECT’ GOOGLE DOC - TYPED
ANJALI
I’m 10% away from failing this semester. This assignment… is everything for me.
ANJALI deletes the message the moment she see’s CALUM has read it, refusing to meet his eye. The two cursors blink on the screen.
ON ‘THE PROJECT’ GOOGLE DOC - TYPED
CALIM
I won’t let that happen
He erases his message before rewriting it, with one clear revision. He’s eye to eye with ANJALI as soon as the message is sent, sincerity clear in his features.
ON ‘THE PROJECT’ GOOGLE DOC - TYPED
CALUM
We won’t let that happen.
ANJALI smiles and leans back in her seat, closing her eyes for the first time all day.
She mouths a ‘thank you’ at CALUM and breathes deeply. CALUM looks at her for a moment, a fond smile appearing as he does, before resuming his work with an earnestness he did not have before.
Sounds of typing fill the empty library once more, but for the first time all day the library is enveloped in a calmness it was not before.