fandomhighdorms | Late Monday afternoon

Late Monday afternoon - at the Greenhouse

Lana tried to study a while, but found herself too distracted. So many thoughts kept going through her head and she couldn't make herself concentrate on anything. All the events of the past few days were just starting to feel very overwhelming.

The incident that made her forget the person she's supposedly been involved with, Gandalf leaving the school abruptly, Lex's visit...

She just needed to go somewhere quiet where she could distract herself.

Her mind kept drifting to Justin Quayle's greenhouse. She'd stopped by to ask if she could join his gardening class and he'd had her plant her bulbs so she wouldn't be too far behind the rest of the class.

That might be a good place to go. Quiet, secluded, and she could *do* something. And flowers and plants always made her feel grounded, brought back good memories of her aunt's flower shop.

She dropped off her books at her room and changed into comfortable clothes then headed over. She didn't think Professor Quayle would mind.

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Quayle, being the obsessive gardener he was, is settled in the back of the greenhouse occassionally watering and snipping a few growing plants here and there; his own private collection is in the very back were only the top of his head could be seen.

He really loved the smell of flowers when the light hit them just right, he took in a deep breath of all the Amaryllis he had planted earlier than his students in order to show them the growing effect. He loved to watch them bloom, loved to see them wither and then grow again next winter. All of it reminded him of back home, in his lovely garden in Nairobi.

Sighing, he sprits a few water droplets here and there, not really expecting anyone but he wouldn't mind company.

Lana came in quietly and went over to where her bulb had sprouted a small stem of green. She cupped her hands around the pot and just held it for a moment. It was so peaceful in the greenhouse. It was warm and fragrant and filled with life.

"God, it's so beautiful here," she said quietly, not aware that there was anyone else in the greenhouse.

Startled, Justin drops the spray bottle to the floor and rounds the end of a row of tall Amaryllis, only relieved to see it's Lana; the wonderfully bright girl he had ranted on about Africa too.

"Ah, Lana, my dear!" he extends his arms for a nice warm hug, "What're you doing here, love?" he chirps happily, always welcoming students into his dwellings.

Lana was startled to see Professor Quayle appear and more so when he hugged her. But after a second's hesitation she hugged him back. He had that nice homey smell of plants and rich earth that Lana associated with happy memories from growing up.

She stepped back after a moment, a little embarrassed. "I'm sorry, Professor. I didn't mean to intrude. I was just... looking for a quiet place and thought I could come check on my bulbs."

"Ah, don't be sorry, I don't blame you. The garden is a perfect place to get tranquility when you need it, and you're always welcome here." he smiles gently, cupping her sprout in one hand, "It's growing quite well, isn't it? Bloody fantastic."

Justin reeked of plants and soil, it was a natural smell to him atleast and he didn't think anyone minded much.

"Thank you, Professor." Lana smiled at him. He held her plant so carefully, she couldn't help but smile. " I wanted to thank you for allowing me to join your class. That was one of the very few things that went right last week."

He was so glad that so many students wanted to eagerly join his Gardening class, although his two other classes had been lacking and he hadn't had the time nor the patience to teach them as of yet; he liked the feeling of being appreciated again.

"Well, I'm glad I could've made your week feel right in some way. You're always invited to stop by my home and ask or demand tea or time." he says with a smile up at her, sliding his hand gently from under the sprout. "Would you like to see some lovely grown Amaryllis?" he asks her, pointing a finger near the sacred back of the Greenhouse.

"Really? You have some in bloom? I would love to see them." Lana's face lights up. "I've always loved amaryllis - I don't really know why, but they always, I don't know, maybe seemed *magical* to me."

A chuckle escapes his lips, his British accent weighing heavily as he describes the one infront of him, "Amaryllis live for a extremely long time, they may wither in the summer and fall but blossom again in the winter. You see? The lines of this Clown amaryllis are more poignent and profound; I've owned this one since I moved to Nairobi. Lovely flowers, long lasting as well!" he rambles on for a bit, pausing for a question or comment from Lana.

Lana listens as he talks about his flowers, impressed with how much he knows about them and enjoying the sound of his voice. She reaches out a hand to touch the petals delicately and suddenly finds herself near tears without warning.

He sees the tears glistening in her eyes but doesn't ask or approach her about them, he had learned not to get involved in others feelings until they let you in their own special inner garden.

He runs his fingers along the same petal as she, his fingers colliding with hers lightly, "Bloody beautiful creations these are. This is how tall your's will get." he says in a near whisper, his eyes so trained on the fingers running along the petal.

She is surprised when their fingers touch on the petal - surprised at how electric it feels. She glances up at him, but he's looking down at their hands. She starts to say something then has to swallow hard as her throat is suddenly so dry.

"I don't think mine will ever be as beautiful as yours," she finally says quietly. She thinks she should probably move her fingers away, but she doesn't.

"Ofcourse they will. Flowers grow with love and tenderness, just...love them as you would a child." he says in a philosphical way, his voice low and husky as his fingers nimbly trace the outline of each petal.

He feels as if he's found a connection in Lana, like no one he's ever met before, she was so intellectual and sweet; he had missed those two qualities since Tessa's death. His gaze drifted over to her and then snapped back to the flower infront of them, he had never felt so intimate before.

Stop imagining things, Lana, she told herself firmly. He's a professor. He's got to be twice your age. He's just being kind to you because you must look like some poor lost soul to him. Don't be ridiculous.

But right then, she needed some kindness and his voice and presence was so soothing...

"I used to help out in my aunt's flower shop when I was younger. I used to love helping her do the re-potting. I particularly loved the african violets - the fuzzy leaves and the small beautiful flowers." She was talking to distract herself.

A large smile breaks out across his face, he loves the topic of African wildlife and she's rolling right into his territory, "Ah yes, African Violets are rather gorgeous! Fun to re-pot and watch grow, they grow kind of wild, best to put under a window or some other low lying opening like that." he mused lightly, he had always planted those buggers under windows.

He enjoyed Lana's presence and it made him feel at ease, made him feel that he could really blab on about anything and she would agree or debate with him back.

She grinned at his enthusiasm. He was fun to be with and listen to. She felt that he could happily ramble on for ages or be quiet with no awkward silences. It was a relief to spend time with someone like that - someone she could just be herself with.

"I never knew African violets could grow wild. I mean, I suppose they must in some places, but I never thought of it. We just always had them in pots." She closed her eyes and imagined a flower bed of different varieties of the violets and sighed. "They must be so beautiful like that."

"Normally you wouldn't plant them outside, but since my genius wife figured that since they must be African violets that they must thrive outside." -- a long breathless chuckle --"She soon learned why they were planted outside when they overtook her lovely office window and she couldn't see out of it." he smiles contently at the thought, he remembered Tessa very freshly.

Lana laughed. She could almost see the violets taking over the window. "That must have been a sight." She hesitated. "Your wife sounds like a wonderful woman. Is she here with you?"

He lightly shakes his head, "No, love, she died a few months back in a tragic accident. But, if she were here right now, she would bicker with me that it was my bloody idea to plant them." he chuckles again, hoping he didn't scare the poor girl away.

A dead wife was a heavy burden to have, being a 40 year old widower wasn't that appealing to most girls either especially students.

"Oh, I'm so sorry. I shouldn't have said anything." Lana flushed, feeling like a fool to have brought up such a painful subject.

Acting on impulse she reached out and put her hand on his arm. "I'm so sorry for your loss."

Touching -- just human contact in general was foreign to Justin since Tessa's death, it was a rare occurance for him to feel anothers skin against his. It almost made him falter while stand, it made his face blush a shade of pink like the flower infront of them.

"Oh, thankyou very much but I'm sure Tessa wouldn't want me mourning. She was very keen on the idea of me moving on." his gaze sets on Lana's face, his cheeks feeling hot.

Lana knew she should take her hand away, but he just *looked* at her, his face slightly flushed, but with this... something... in his eyes. She stared back at him, feeling as if he'd captured her with his gaze.

Finally, she dropped her eyes and let her hand fall away. What was *wrong* with her?

Clearing his throat, he clasps his hands behind his back and turns to eye the flower to the side of her, "That one, right there, bright orange bugger. Beautiful isn't it?" he cocks a brow at her.

No, what was wrong with him was the question.

"It is," she said softly. She took a breath to steady herself and glanced down at her watch. "Oh no, I've got to get back. Thank you for letting me be here - and thank you for showing me your beautiful flowers."

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Late Monday afternoon - at the Greenhouse

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