An Unintentional Nap

[Lynette Chevalier]

”Now I have to make sure not to fall asleep this time. Remember Lynette, you’re in a public place!”

Lynette had warned herself initially when she moved the chair so she could sit in the sunlight filtering through the window. It was a particularly bright day, so when she came into the library she immediately saw the spot bathed in the warm rays from the glass. After that it had only taken her a few seconds before she got a chair and sat down with one of the new books she’d gotten from the bookstore.

“Gone Girl.” She read, mumbling it to herself. “I guess we’ll see exactly what this is all about.”

It had started out according to plan, with Lynette getting through more than just a few pages. However gradually the sun was beginning to get to her. The warmth was slowly seeping through her limbs and heating her up to a pleasant but drowsy temperature. She was unaware that her own eyes were drooping shut slowly, the change so slow she barely recognized she was sagging in her chair. Eventually she faded away into sleep with her book resting open in her lap.

It’s not clear how much time passed, but eventually someone thought enough to wake Lynette up. However in classic Lynette fashion, she jerked awake and ended up falling over with her chair. A hiss of pain escaped her as she rubbed her hurt shoulder and stood.

“Well there’s one way to wake up."

Her voice trailed off as she felt the horrible stiffness in her neck from how she'd slept and groaned. After she’d rolled it a few times and rubbed it, she eventually turned to see who’d awoken her.

“I’m sorry I'm,” She covered her mouth as she yawned, “Extremely clumsy. That and I didn’t mean to fall asleep.”

Lynette paused after the statement, remembering she had advised herself against exactly what had evidently happened. A burst of color bloomed in her cheeks and turned her face a vibrant shade of rose while she picked the chair back up.

“Oh dear. What time is it?” She looked around for a clock before smiling sheepishly. “Forgive me. The sun tends to make me very drowsy whether I like it or not. I’d meant to do some light reading while I had free time, not nap I swear!” She retrieved her book as well, brushing some hair out of her face with a huff. "This is so embarrassing."

[Gabriel Mendes]

After catching a couple of kids trying to harass the librarian, Gabriel thought to check up on her every now and then to make sure she was okay. Because he had a lot of downtime as of late, seeing as recruiters didn't have everyday assignments, Gabriel decided to help her out with the books.

In his helping out, he saw someone slumped over one of the chairs and concerned, he went over to them and saw that it was Lynette, one of the teachers in the school. His abilities picked up on hers almost immediately but he toned it down, not sensing any danger.

Shaking her gently, her reaction made Gabriel step back rather than springing forward to help out. Cringing as she started to roll her shoulders, he tried to help her get up. "Oh no, it's okay. It happens." He smiled good-naturedly, wondering why she was sorry at all.

When asked of the time, Gabriel looked at his watch and stated the time. "Just after three. And...it's absolutely fine. I like sleep. You don't need to justify falling asleep in the middle of the afternoon." He chuckled.

[Lynette Chevalier]

”Unfortunately I think it happens to me more often than not!”

The blush was still firmly settled within her cheeks, although now it was beginning to fade into a slightly less vibrant rose color. Regardless of what he said, Lynette still felt very embarrassed. After the chair was righted again Lynette glanced at Gabriel and faintly recognized him. She still wasn’t familiar with all the staff, but she at least knew he wasn’t a teacher.

"Just after three.”

She gave a silent sigh of relief, glad she at least hadn’t slept her entire day away!

"And...it's absolutely fine. I like sleep. You don't need to justify falling asleep in the middle of the afternoon.”

Although Lynette giggled a little, she still smiled a bit sheepishly. She felt partially foolish and a tad frustrated with herself that she’d fallen asleep from the sun yet again. Truly she figured it had to be a sort of weakness of hers.

”Yes well,” She trailed off, smoothing out her skirt before flashing Gabriel another smile, ”Thank you for waking me up. I think I’ve seen you around the school but we’ve never met?” She honestly couldn’t remember so a good portion of her hoped she’d never met the kind man yet to save her from further embarrassment. ”I’m Lynette. I’m fairly new here.”

[Gabriel Mendes]

Her insistence that she did it more often than most had him chuckling with a shrug. When he noticed the blush on her cheeks, he didn't comment. Clearly she was the type to be even more embarrassed if he pointed it out.

"No problem," he shrugged with a smile, happy to help in any way. Reaching a hand out to shake, he introduced himself. "Gabriel and yeah, I've seen you around. I uh...haven't gotten around to introducing myself to a lot of the newcomers. Sorry about that." He grinned sheepishly, rubbing the back of his head. "Are you a teacher or...?"

[Lynette Chevalier]

”It’s nice to meet you Gabriel, and that’s alright. I’d be impressed if you could manage to do that!”

The blush was starting to recede from her cheeks, which Lynette was certainly thankful for. She always thought she resembled a tomato whenever she managed to get badly embarrassed like that. Although from what Lynette saw, she wasn’t the only one who felt a little awkward. She noticed the slight sheepishness in Gabriel’s grin. Oddly enough it actually managed to make her feel a little more comfortable.

"Are you a teacher or…?”

Lynette smiled kindly and nodded her head while she shifted slightly on her feet.

”I am! I actually teach physics. I transferred over from St. Bethany’s.” She tilted her head to the side, curious. ”Can I ask what you do? I don’t think you’re a teacher, or at least I don’t think I’ve seen you teaching before.”

She trailed off a little towards the end. She still wasn’t exactly sure where she’d seen Gabriel around the school. Although as she looked around, she was a tad curious why he was in the library.

”Were you here looking for a book? Or something else?”

[Gabriel Mendes]

"Pleasure's all mine!" He responded, a little laugh escaping at her remark. "I think I'd be impressed with myself too." He said after his laughter died down.

Although it didn't come as naturally to him as other things did, reading Lynette's body language made him feel a lot better that she was getting more comfortable. The rest of the conversation from now on should be smooth sailing.

"Ah, well, I'm a recruiter. I don't think I could stand in front of a class and keep them from falling asleep for an hour." He chuckled before tilting his head at her question.

"Oh! No, no." He laughed, running his fingers through his hair. "Nah, I had free time and decided to help out the librarian. There were some boys harrassing her." He shrugged.

[Lynette Chevalier]

"Pleasure's all mine! I think I'd be impressed with myself too.”

She was glad to her him laugh a little, and the rest of her tension fell away. She felt a little silly for feeling it in the first place, but after her little chair stunt she couldn’t help it.

”I wish I could do that! I feel bad I sometimes forget another’s name only a little later in the day!”

Lynette knew she really had to work on remembering her coworkers’ names better. if she was going to get around the school easily, that would most likely help! Luckily most of the staff Lynette had met so far were kind like Gabriel appeared to be.

"Ah, well, I'm a recruiter. I don't think I could stand in front of a class and keep them from falling asleep for an hour.”

Lynette had to giggle a little at Gabriel’s remark, although she could understand it. Lynetter herself wondered how on earth she was able to do it herself and it was her job!

”It is hard I’ll admit. I’m sure being a recruiter is hard as well! I don’t think I could do it.”

Part of Lynette knew it would be hard for her to pull new students away from their families to come to a mutant school. It had been hard enough being the student getting taken away, and she would have no desire to be the one to inflict that feeling.

"Oh! No, no. Nah, I had free time and decided to help out the librarian. There were some boys harrassing her.”

Lynette was surprised to hear about that, but glad that Gabriel had helped her.

”That was very kind of you! I haven’t spoken with her very much at all, despite how much I tend to be in here,” She mumbled the last bit shyly, ”But she always seemed very sweet.” She smiled at gabriel again but then couldn’t help but feel curious. ”I hope you don’t mind me asking, but I’ve always wondered how recruiters can find new mutants? Or is that some trade secret?”

[Gabriel Mendes]

Chuckling, Gabriel shrugged and put that topic to rest since he really didn't have anything else to add. He also shrugged when Lynette mentioned how hard it must be being a recruiter. It sometimes was. Convincing the parents took about seventy percent of the work. He could be charming but when he was facing two stern parents who didn't want to believe mutants existed and were very protective of their only child, charm just falls flat.

"It has it's moments." He nodded.

Lynette's surprise had him chuckling and shrugging. "She is." He nodded before chuckling again at her question. "Hardly a trade secret." He responded. "We have power sensors and a team of people who work relentlessly day in and day out to track down the recruits. Sometimes some slip through the cracks but they all eventually come here."

He slipped into the chair beside Lynette and rolled his shoulder. "I'm getting a little sleepy myself." He grinned. "Must be the sun."

[Lynette Chevalier]

"It has it's moments.”

Lynette nodded along with Gabriel; she had no doubt he was telling the truth. Her own recruiters had certainly had to work to convince her mother. She imagined it was the same for most newly manifested students.

"Hardly a trade secret. We have power sensors and a team of people who work relentlessly day in and day out to track down the recruits. Sometimes some slip through the cracks but they all eventually come here.”

It wasn’t that Lynette ignored his response about the librarian, but Lynette really was curious on how recruiters did their job. Although when he answered, she felt partially foolish for not thinking of that herself.

”Now I feel silly for not thinking of that.” She admitted with a small giggle and a light blush. ”I’ve even met power sensors before. I guess I simply never considered it.”

Thinking it over, Lynette really could see how power sensors would be important to recruiting. They were needed to find the new mutants, and Lynette noted that some still managed to fall through the cracks as Gabriel said. She didn’t know which would be more stressful; having powers and no one to teach you, or being taken away because of them. Lynette had no idea how she or Olivier would’ve turned out if they’d stayed home.

"I'm getting a little sleepy myself. Must be the sun.”

Pulled from her train of thought, Lynette glanced over at Gabriel and flashed him a smile.

”At least I’m not the only one!” She giggled and shook her head. ”No matter how many times I promise myself I won’t doze off, I do. It’s my worst weakness. I swear it’s mainly due to my powers.”

[Gabriel Mendes]

Gabriel shrugged, not really thinking she was silly. "It's kind of easy to forget that we're even mutants, let alone having the mind to hire specific mutants for specific jobs, you know?"

Chuckling at Lynette's response, he nodded in agreement to her statement. "It's just the perfect amount of sun without being scorching mixed with the cool of winter still. Perfect napping weather." He stated before waving a hand in Lynette's direction. "In addition to your abilities...I mean I don't blame you for falling asleep." He chuckled.

"I should actually go home though. I think the librarian's safe for now. How about you, are you going to stay here longer?"

[Lynette Chevalier]

”True.” Lynette said with a little giggle. ”I occasionally forget I have my powers until I’m by plants. That or the sun.”

Lynette managed to fight off the blush from entering her cheeks this time. She still felt a little ridiculous for falling asleep in the sun again, although she really couldn’t help it sometimes. It simply felt too relaxing and good to feel the warmth on her skin, even filtered through a window.

"It's just the perfect amount of sun without being scorching mixed with the cool of winter still. Perfect napping weather.”

Lynette found herself nodding and smiling a little wistfully as she looked at the sunlight again. It didn’t take much thinking for her to remember how good the sun felt on her.

"In addition to your abilities...I mean I don't blame you for falling asleep.”

Lynette had hardly heard Gabriel, so caught up was she by her thoughts gazing at the warm rays from the window. However she snapped back to attention with a slight blush and offered him a small, sheepish smile.

"I should actually go home though. I think the librarian's safe for now. How about you, are you going to stay here longer?”

Lynette glanced down at her watch when Gabriel mentioned that. It was late enough now that she’d taken her impromptu nap. She glanced over at Gabriel and flashed him another smile.

”I think I’m going to head home. I’ve finished my classes for the day and should probably get to grading papers and the like.” She admitted with a soft laugh. ”Do you live on the academy ground? I know there’s dorms for the staff.”

[Gabriel Mendes]

The faraway look on Lynette's face brought a small chuckle to Gabriel's lips. Was he boring her? Or was the sun just too delicious for her skin? Wasn't it just like a drug to someone with her abilities?

When she seemed to follow suit in his train of thought, Gabriel nodded before shaking his head at her question. "I have my own place." He stated. "Even when I was a student I never stayed in the dorms. Perks of having family." He grinned.

"Where do you stay? Maybe I could give you a lift?"

[Lynette Chevalier]

”That’s definitely a perk I never had.” Lynette admitted with a giggle.”When my twin and I went to St. Cadou, we had to stay in the dorms. Our family wasn’t close enough for us to stay with, and we didn’t want to buy somewhere close because we were trying to transfer out. Once we reached St. Bethany’s we finally got our own home since we decided to stay.”

Thinking back on the topic made Lynette miss Olivier dreadfully, but she knew he was doing fine right where he was. She contacted him enough to not feel disconnected, but sometimes she couldn’t help but want to see him in person.

"Where do you stay? Maybe I could give you a lift?”

Lynette glanced over, genuinely surprised at such a kind offer when they’d only officially met. The longer she spent at this school, the more she was finding individuals like Gabriel and Kara whom seemed so kind hearted. She smiled, pleased at the inquiry.

”I live in the Alpine Grove housing complex. If that’s out of your way, you don’t have to drive me! Although thank you very much for your offer. It’s very sweet you.”

[Gabriel Mendes]

Now that he was away from family, Gabriel was aware of how lucky he had it when he was a kid. He had the best upbringing, as far as he was concerned, despite the fact that his parents weren't always around. He only smiled at Lynette and nodded as she spoke.

Her surprise was matched by his when she told him where she lived. Laughing, he rubbed his hand against the back of his neck and looked at her with a sheepish grin. "That's exactly my way. I'm at Alpine Grove too. What're the odds, huh." He chuckled and stood up.

"Shall we?"

[Lynette Chevalier]

"That's exactly my way. I'm at Alpine Grove too. What're the odds, huh.”

At first when Lynette saw the sheepishness in his expression and the way he rubbed his neck, she feared her home was far out of his way. She was just about to assure him that he didn’t have to drive her when he announced they actually lived in the same area. Lynette was surprised at the coincidence, but ended up laughing and shaking her head.

”Apparently high for us!”

She stood up with Gabriel and pushed in her chair, relieved she wouldn’t be a burden to him on the way to her home.

"Shall we?”

Lynette flashed him a bright, grateful smile and nodded.

”Yes please! Although I’ll need to grab my things. I can meet you in the parking lot in only a few minutes I promise!”

After assuring him, Lynette hurried off to grab her things. She still had a good number of things she needed to grade and get done, but after her little impromptu nap in the library she would most likely have enough energy for the job. After she’d gotten her bag and locked her classroom door, she made her way to the parking lot and looked for Gabriel. Once she found him she approached.

”Sorry about that! I hadn’t been expecting the nap so I left everything still out of my bag.”