The sleep she'd had was oddly deeper than usual. For one who only got a few hours a night, she'd slept in a bit later than she often did. But of course, catching up on much needed sleep was not exactly a good thing...
Larune raced out of the bathroom, hobbling on one leg as she tugged wildly on the nude hosiery along her legs, pulling it up to the garters and hooking it before dropping down to turn her race into a two-legged one. Fast, she zipped through her duplex, rushing down the stairs with her circular spectacles crooked upon her distressed features. All she could think was that she was late, and she had to get out and be to VCU within a matter of minutes. Down the narrow oak stairwell, she spun outwards into the living room and headed to the kitchen. There, she dropped the pair of black Mary Jane heels in her hand to the floor, stepping into them while her now freed hands lurched out to the counter. One banana-nut muffin in the wrapper tucked into her chocolate leather purse. Then she grabbed the small coffee pot which had been set to turn on and make coffee for her two hours prior. The still hot, steaming dark liquid spilled in a rich flow into a thermal mug, before she mixed in creamer and sugar, and screwed the top onto it. Grabbing it, and putting it on the counter, Larune would turn sharply, her long dark sienna hair tied into a long knee-length braid swinging around her limber curvaceous form. Her teeth captured her barely glossed lower lip as she moved to the hanger on the back door of her duplex, pulling off the long white lab coat for her Cognitive Psychology class, pushing her arms through it and rolling up the golden-embroidered cuffs. On the left breast was the tag "L. Nazana : Psych Assistant".
Once the coat was on, and her feet ducked into her shoes, everything else followed up rather smoothly. She moved through the kitchen gracefully and quick, missing the overflowing bowl of Purina One kitten chow, and grabbing her coffee as she went. With haste and no second-thoughts, she danced out of her duplex, locking the door with the key jingled next to her car's on the ring she'd withdrawn in her path's progression. The sidewallk outside was small but welcoming, as her heels clicked madly on the concrete as she made the mental note to see if Josef next door would mow her grass for fifteen bucks again. It was getting a bit overgrown, she'd quirked to herself, as she slid into the driver's seat of the silver Porsche her Aunt had given her. Classy, nice, and expensive; though material things meant nothing to her which was odd considering she had the money to get quite a few of them but often refrained. If she wanted, she could've lived somewhere a lot nicer than the quaint little double-home in the city.
With the car cranked and the engine purring, her coat tucked under her and glasses straightened, she'd take off towards her destination through the late morning traffic towards VCU where she'd slip into the classroom she worked in...
~: : : : : : :~
The door swung open, a heaved breath first heard in its archway as Larune peered inwards at the classroom. The students- all mostly her own age or just a tad younger- were gathered, and seated. Professor Roux was already standing in the front of the room, a slightly bushy salt-and-pepper brow raised at Larune's 'entrance'.
"I'm sorry, my alarm must not have gone off this morning." She said in a soft song-like tone, her full bow-shaped lips pursed in hopes that he wouldn't be mad. But with a smile cracking through that leathery hard expression, the Professor laughed and so did some of the students. With a raised of his hand, protruding in a weathered, detailed manner through the dark navy blue and underlying white of his undershirt and jacket's cuffs, he'd wave her in.
"Come Ms. Nazana, you're fine. Sleep well?" He jested in a deep, rasped tone that was light and airy no less, almost fatherly.
"Yes sir." She said, before looking to him. With a grin, Professor Roux would turn and grab a book, leaning back to hold it out to her. Shutting the door in her wake, Larune would wander further inwards until she had at last come up to him. "Thank you Professor." She said, a bit more ease evident. But when she'd thought all was well, something new struck her. As nimble and slender digits outstretched and wrapped around the bind of the book he'd held out for her, she seemed to freeze. Eyes widened, dark gray hues like thoughtful storm clouds within the frames of her thick lashes and little bit of feminine eyeliner. Then, the book slipped from her weak grip, seeming almost to move in slow motion before thudding heavily against the floor, like the sound of the liberty bell in her mind.
"Ms. Nazana? Ms. Nazana?... Larune?!" The Professor called as students jumped from their seats. She'd no idea she was falling, as her mind was locked in a moment of flooding. But Professor Roux reached out, hooking his arm around her back and mid-section, catching her. "Larune?!"
"Hm?" She said, blinking as she stared up at him through her glasses. Her head slowly lolled over to the side then, her braid falling along the floor as she saw the book. "Oh, oops." Reaching out, Larune gripped the book once more and stood, shaking her head as she sat it on the edge of the desk. "My apologies, just, got lost for a moment. But I think I've read that book before." She smiled, staring up at him as if nothing had happened. One by one, the few standing students sat back down.
The Professor quirked his head to the side, a slight curious cant as he raised a brow and crossed his arms in deep thought.
"But Ms. Nazana, that book was preordered. I have one of the first editions mailed to the college, and outside of the school system, the book has yet to reach the shelves..."