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Post by Caitlyn Garner on Dec 28, 2006 17:43:35 GMT -5
As usual, Caitlyn - in her dark blue pinstrip pant-suit (school teacher attire) - was staying late at the school. All of the kids had gone home and left her alone in the history class room. The south wall was a giant book shelf and to the left was the teacher's desk and charkboard. She was sitting at the desk with atleast five books open on the desk and a notebook at her side. Currently, a book on British history was catching her eye, she was reading through the recorded list of royalty in England.
She was searching for one name alone. As her finger ran down the list she spotted the exact name she searched for. King Authur. She wrote down the estimated date for his reign as well as the names above and below him and their dates. This might give her some clues. She began to turn the pages when there was a knock at the open door and her eyes snapped up.
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Post by Tatiyana Fraser on Dec 28, 2006 18:01:01 GMT -5
Tatiyana Fraser had been in her home in Beverly Hills, visiting her parents. She also had come to California to meet her friend and informer, Henry Gregory. She had a question to ask him as she wished to find Avalon during her year sabbatical from school. She had gone to him and asked where she could find the information she needed and he told her of a private school in New York. Surprisingly Tanya had never been to New York and quickly bought a ticket and arrived in New York the next day. She stopped off at the Radisson Lexington Hotel where she got some sleep before heading over to the school. She decided to dress in a dark blue, knee length skirt, white blouse, and a matching blazer that was tailored. She looked very professional with her hair done back and a little lip gloss and blush applied to her face.
Tatiyana took her rental down to the school and with her purse on one shoulder, she walked up to the office. She asked around at the office and was told to go to a particular class room. After following the rather difficult directions, she found herself in front of a class room door. She gave a small knock on the door before opening it and popping her head in.
"Hello?" she said, looking around before her eyes lay on a woman who looked about her age.
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Post by Caitlyn Garner on Dec 28, 2006 18:28:51 GMT -5
Caitlyn looked up at the sharp looking girl in the doorway. She closed the book she was looking in and folded her hands over the book on the desk. Trying to sound pleasant, but not quite letting a smile cross her face, she address the young woman. "May I help you, miss?" Cate inquired. She was unaccustomed to guests after-hours, so this was quite a surprise.
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Post by Tatiyana Fraser on Dec 28, 2006 18:42:38 GMT -5
"Yes, please," Tatiyana said as she fully entered the room and let the door close behind her. "Hi, I am Tatiyana Fraser. I've come to look at some history books that are on loan here." These books were one of a kind and though there were copies, it was always best to look at the originals. "I was told that there would be a book about King Arthur and Avalon," she added, looking the young woman over discretely. Her pin striped suit made her look professional though she couldn't be a teacher.
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Post by Caitlyn Garner on Dec 28, 2006 18:53:10 GMT -5
Cate raised an eyebrow at her request but didn't inquire. It was usual for books to be borrowed once in a while, though it was odd since her topic of research was quite simular. She didn't mention that though. Rising she went over to the bookshelf and walked down the line of books. They were ordered by date so it was easy to find. Also, there was a gap in the books because they were the ones she had out. Scrolling a finger along the book bindings, she looked for the most promising ones.
Caitlyn's finger rolled over a book about historic locations in England. She pulled it out and flipped through a few of the pages. This book might be of interest to the young lady. She didn't want to give up her own research books so she checked to see if there were anymore. She didn't find any that matched the request. Reluctantly, Cate held the book in one hand while she went to her desk and picked up a closed book all about the Legends of England.
She held the two out to the girl, dismissing the other's scattered on the desk. "I hope that these will have some information that might assist you," she said. "Though as far as written-down, factual history goes, I believe the resources on Aurther and Avalon grow quite thin," she added, waiting for the books to be taken.
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Post by Tatiyana Fraser on Dec 28, 2006 19:04:43 GMT -5
Tatiyana watched as the woman searched for the books. As she did, her own curiosity made her look at the books that were lain out on the table. She saw a chart of the Kings of England and a few passages that paralleled her subject. When the girl returned, Tatiyana took a step back to where she was standing and smiled before taking the books. "Thank you," she said. "I just need to take a quick look at them." She nodded her head at the table as if to say 'may I' before laying the books down and taking a seat.
She opened one book and flipped through before she found a chapter devoted to Camelot, King Arthur, and Avalon. "Ah, here we go," she said. Her eyes scanned the text, taking in the common knowledge and new found facts. After a minute Tanya looked up. "I see you are looking up King Arthur yourself. It seems as if the legend has become popular again, probably thanks to Clive Owen," she said, implying that the movie King Arthur had given people a new found interest in Camelot.
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Post by Caitlyn Garner on Dec 28, 2006 19:13:36 GMT -5
Caitlyn would have objected, but since these weren't here books and this wasn't her school, she didn't have any valid reason to say no. Anyways, the girl seemed to be taking the librety on her own anyways. "Perhaps, but I would say that that merely gave more interest in Keira Knightly and Clive Owen themselves rather than the actually myth from which the movie arose," Cate said with a very refined and intelligant air that she always had while in the school.
She stood by the desk with her arms crossed in a very content but not annoyed way. She watched the other young woman's eyes glide over the page with interest. "Is that how your own interest in the legend came to be? You saw a film that attempted to depict it's own version of the tale and decided to find out how much of it was true?" she inquired, not as an accusation, but merely as a question that came from curiousity.
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Post by Tatiyana Fraser on Dec 28, 2006 19:25:03 GMT -5
"I suppose you are right," Tatiyana said. Her first opinion of the woman quickly changed from observing her. Perhaps it had been a mistake to sit down and she should have left since the woman didn't seem pleased with the company, but now she was hear with the books open. The woman did seem intelligent though.
Tatiyana gave a small, light laugh at the comment the girl made. "No, no. I have been interested in King Arthur and Avalon way before the movie, or before I had seen any movie about the legend. I admit that the TV series The Mists of Avalon only made my interest in the topic increase." Tanya looked up and smiled pleasantly at the woman before opening the other book and browsing through the pages.
"And what has caught your fancy? A historical novel? Or a collector's Barbie doll your mother had given you when you were child with a watered down summary of how great Lancelot and Guenevere's love was?" she asked, looking back up, her smile never fading.
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Post by Caitlyn Garner on Dec 28, 2006 19:35:41 GMT -5
"Was that a joke?" Caitlyn said with a slight laugh at the way the other girl posed her question. She might as well clear things up though, it was obvious she was seen as a Malibu Barbie in a library. "Actually, I can upon the tale of King Authur though many different encounters. My mother was envolved in one of them though it was more so from my general interest in history, espeically European history," she said as she walked over to the desk and closed to the book in front of Tatiyanna. "And I'm sorry but the books on my desk are for personal research and not eligable to be borrow today," she added. Perhaps she was being stern, but she just couldn't help it.
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Post by Tatiyana Fraser on Dec 28, 2006 19:49:38 GMT -5
Tatiyana continued smiling though she found the girl to be quite rude. "I understand," she said as she stood up, her hand still lingering on the table. Then she reached inside her purse and pulled out a small silver object. She opened it up and inside were little cream colored cards. "Here is my cell number. Call me when these books become . . . eligible to be borrowed," she said, handing the girl a card. "I will be staying in New York for a few weeks." Tanya put the card holder back into her purse.
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Post by Caitlyn Garner on Dec 28, 2006 19:56:47 GMT -5
Caitlyn took the card reluctantly, thinking 'She has a card? What, is she a professional annoyance?' She then replied in kind saying "Of course," though she secretly intended on through the card away. She thought of a few curt thigns to say, but decided against it. "I hope you have found something you needed. As for myself, I have a lot of note-taking and reading before me and I would like to get through atleast a quater of of the pages in these books before dark," she said with a smile. She glanced out the window, it was almost dinner time, dusk would come soon. She needed all the time she could get. "If you need anything else, feel free to call," she said, standing straight. She almost added '...call your lawyer.' or '...call a shrink.' but for the present, getting her out of Cate's office was the matter.
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Post by Tatiyana Fraser on Dec 28, 2006 20:06:19 GMT -5
The card was pretty simple. It just had her name, cell number, and home number. She only used it for these occasions and still it was rarely. "Thank you," she said before going to the door. "And if you don't call anytime soon, I suppose I will drop in one more time so I can go over the text one last time." Tatiyana opened the door and walked out. Once the door closed behind her, she finally let out the breath she had been holding. The woman could come off as cold and menacing and Tanya had been a little scared. She brought her hand up to her had and let down her hair, letting her hair fall straight, framing her face. She then unbuttoned her blazer and walked back to the office to get the phone number. Her plan was to return when the lady was not there. She did not want to meet her again.
Tatiyana thanked the secretary and walked out of the office. She then looked around the school at all the class rooms. She hadn't gone to high school but was rather home schooled. She decided to roam around a bit before the school closed.
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Post by Caitlyn Garner on Dec 28, 2006 22:08:52 GMT -5
It was nearly dark out so Cate put the books back on the shelf, they might be needed for the studies the next day, then, afterwards, she would study them all over again. Like she did everyday. She grabbed her briefcase and purse and pulled the pins out of her hair, letting it fall loose. She shook her head to make the hair more of a natural shape and then turned off the lights to her classroom.
She went to the Teacher's Lounge to file a paper or two and then on her way past the front desk she saw the secretary only just packing up. "Sherry, what in the world are you still doing here? You could have locked up and left, I could still get out," she said to the dark woman behind the counter who was reading a book.
"I would have, Cate, but a young lady's been looking around so I thought I'd wait before leaving. Anyways, Timothy and Samuel are out camping so I have nothing home for me by a box of chocolates and E.R. re-runs," the woman said with a smile, looking through her small glasses.
Caitlyn was sure she knew who the 'young lady' was. "Well, I'll go check up on our guest and get her out so that you can go home. Tomorrow may be Saturday but I know you'll be busy, and I have to come in to," Cate told her with a smile. Saturdays she came into the school to host an academic program for students with working parents. It was a pleasant way to spend an otherwise boring day.
She walked down on hall into another and saw the girl - Tatiyana - soon enough. "Excuse me, Miss, but I think it is about time you went on to where ever you are staying. I need to be getting home and the secretary can't lock up until all visitors are out," she said, glancing at her watch. Sherry was putting in too many over-time hours. She needed this time by herself at home.
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Post by Tatiyana Fraser on Dec 28, 2006 22:34:27 GMT -5
Tatiyana had lost track of time as she wandered the quiet halls wondering what it could have been like if she wasn't home schooled. After awhile she heard another person coming upon her and saw it was that woman from the class room. She really didn't want to deal with her at the moment.
"Oh, I am sorry," she said truthfully. "I was home schooled," she added as a poor excuse then turned to leave. "I was just about to go. Please tell the secretary that I am sorry, truly." Tanya straightened up and began to walk down the hall, but saw she would have to go in the same direction as the lady. "So, you are not a teacher here, are you?" she asked, trying to get to the front as painlessly as possible.
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Post by Caitlyn Garner on Dec 29, 2006 8:29:56 GMT -5
"As a matter of fact, I am," Caitlyn said, she was sure that wasn't the answer this Tatiyana was looking for. "And if you want to background check me, my name is Caitlyn Garner...since you've informally already introduced yourself," Caitlyn told her, taking the card from her pocket, holding it in the air for a moment, and then putting it back away.
Some society in New York was certainly different from what she was accustomed to. 'Hopefully, she comes back during hours or at least when Hailey is here,' Cate thought. Hailey had more patience and grace and would avoid any confrontation and would approach things with a much more sweet manner.
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