Quinn wasn’t sure what to make of this guy. He was smart, and could have a conversation that didn’t revolve around stories about how much beer he could pound. She wasn’t immune to his good looks. He was dressed casually, in very typical dreary weather attire. It didn’t matter if the sun was out, it could still be raining around Seattle.

She really wanted to not like him, and the feeling that he was invading a girls club was hard to push away. Quinn definitely considered herself a feminist, her mother had raised her to be a little militant in her views, and she wished it hadn’t been that way. Still, it made her have to figure out her own opinions even when they differed from her mom’s. She wanted equal rights for women. It wasn’t a new idea, but one that she still thought wasn’t nearly close to being accomplished. Those that would often join her in different events or groups had a much harder line about what they thought feminism was about.

Quinn believed everyone was allowed their own views. But inside a cause, differing ideas often caused conflict amongst those that should be a united front. She felt equality was a right and that was where she focused her efforts.

She conceded that having a man in the class could be a good thing. You can’t complain that someone won’t change if you don’t provide the information and tools to help make those changes a reality. It still wasn’t easy. There was a rooster in the hen house, and the part of her that didn’t like to share wanted to tell him that he should find somewhere else to find his credit.

Another part of her liked talking to him, and that he was apparently being honest, even candid with her. Her radar was not pinging that this guy was full of shit.

“I have to say, Rain. You are making a little too much sense for me. Although I’ll tell you that not everyone will be so welcoming to you in the class. I’m not saying it’s right, but they have their reasons to maybe feel like you’re in their space.”

“What makes it their space? The last time I checked this was not a gender segregated school.”

“No, it’s not. But some of our classes are spawned out of need. The changing times and new careers are the reasons we have classes like History of Feminism. Getting an education doesn’t always directly link to a requirement for a degree.”

“Does everyone have to be represented to get an education? Who decides what classes are worth having? Isn’t someone always being left out?”

“Are you saying that everyone doesn’t deserve to be represented?”

“That’s not what I’m saying at all. I’m saying I think we could get a lot farther if we focused on our common ground instead of our differences. Say, this is getting pretty deep. I think we should maybe save something to talk about for the next time we are alone together. Are you hungry? I could use something to eat.”

Quinn didn’t want to stop chatting. It had been a while since she talked to someone that didn’t think about things the same way she did. She liked it. The debate was fun. But they were getting awfully deep for two people that just met. It also didn’t hurt that she didn’t want to not like him. Normally she wouldn’t care. A guy was a guy, and in her experience, they were generally all the same. She had hopes for those that managed to make it through their late teen years without becoming a permanent douchebag, and Rain seemed like one of those potentially rare non-creepy guys.

“Is this a date? I don’t date. I mean I do, but not with strangers.”

“No, if I was to ask you out for a date, I’d be more formal about it and plan something before asking you. This is just mutual food consumption. I could go for some Dick’s.”

Quinn couldn’t help but let out a coughing giggle.

“Really? You’re going to laugh at that? Are you not a local?”

“I was born and raised in Yakima. I admit I haven’t completely understood the fascination with that particular burger.”

“Now you have committed a grievous offense. I’ll take you for some Dick’s. Stop giggling and we’ll talk about some frivolous topics.”

“Getting into a car with someone that I hardly know is not a very smart thing to do.”

“We could take the bus?”

“Wow, really not a date then.”

“I can drive if you want. I could even see if my brother is around to go with us or you could invite a friend. Let’s keep it casual.”

“My roommate is a hardcore vegan. I’ll need to brush and floss before I go back to our room. Alright, in the spirit of making smart choices, let’s bus it.”

“Sounds good.”

She gathered up what she needed and grabbed her backpack.

“Can I carry that for you?”

“Did you just ask to carry my books? Is this an afterschool special?”

“No, just being a gentleman.”

“I’ve been carrying my own books for many years now.”

“Sure you have. Wouldn’t it be nice for someone else to offer to carry them?”

They started out of the classroom, her backpack slung over one of her shoulders.

“Are you implying that I’m not strong enough, that I need a man to do it?”

“Again, no, it’s about accepting an offer of help without putting your own hang-ups on it. If you helped me out with something, would it be because you had the ability to help me or because you thought I couldn’t do it myself? I just want to help.”

Quinn heard the tone in his voice. It wasn’t patronizing, even though she really wanted it to be. It would help with some of the attraction she was feeling.

“I guess if I think of you as a pack mule, it won’t bother me so much.” Quinn slung the backpack off and held it out.

Rain smiled at her and took the bag. They walked outside towards the street. There were plenty of bus stops around campus and the buses ran all the time. Stopping at a covered bench area, she took a seat and Rain leaned against a support post.

He stared down at her and his eyes were soft, but at the same time assessing. Quinn didn’t think she ever had anyone look at her the way he was looking at her. It made her feel warm and a little confused. It had been years since she had thought about a guy that way. It was too easy to stay focused on her schoolwork and her extracurricular activities.

She wasn’t about to let a cute boy derail her plans for the future. But grabbing a burger was just a friendly thing to do. And they were taking the bus, so it wasn’t like he could steal her away somewhere. But she didn’t want to think he was the type to do something like that. But it was thinking like that that could get a girl in trouble.

“What are you looking at, Rain Rochon? I can see the steam coming out of your ears.”

His expression didn’t change when he said. “I’m looking at you. Trying to memorize how you look.”

That was a particularly odd thing to say. “Why would you need to memorize me? Do you have short term memory problems? I saw a telenovela once where this woman could only remember what happened in the past, but not make any new memories.”

“We’ll table the telenovela portion until I have some food in my stomach. As to your other question, I’m staring at you because I’m going to want to remember the day I met you for a very long time. I don’t want to miss any details.”

“You think that you will even remember my name after this class is over?”

“I guarantee that I’ll never forget your name. You’re too important.”

Quinn thought that was far from the truth. “I’m nobody important. I’m just like thousands of other girls that go to school here. I have no big aspirations. You won’t see my name in the news or in history books. I used to think that I was going to make my mark in the world. Make a difference, change the way things worked. As the years went by, I found that my goals were much smaller. I want to make a difference for people like me. I’m going to become a social worker. I’d love to say that I’ve made a difference even here, but I feel like I’ve barely made a dent.”

“I can’t believe that. I have managed to avoid anything not academically related for three years. You though, you look like a joiner.”

“I suppose I am. My freshman year I joined every group that would have me. Then I realized that there were only certain groups that were, well, not so concerned with making a difference as they were social clubs with impressive names that made you think that it was just a matter of will to change the world.”

“Is the group process that complicated?”

Quinn gave a snort. “I find it more complicated every day. Things that seem so obvious to me, yet I see others that are completely blind to them. I get frustrated because if they would just listen…”

The bus pulled up and they both got on. Taking seats near the back, Quinn ran her finger over the condensation on the window.

“I think that asking people to change who they fundamentally are is impossible,” she said to the window.

“Why should anyone change?”

“Because ignorance will only lead to more pain and suffering.” Quinn didn’t think this was a hard concept. It was one that she fervently believed in and was the only reason she kept trying to make a difference.

“That’s only if you believe that you’re right and they’re wrong.”

Quinn looked away from the window at him. He wasn’t trying to be cruel; he was very simply making a statement. It made her want to throw something at him.

“If they are?”

“Because you believe it? They might not think they are wrong. Odds are that they’re thinking the same thing about what you believe. It’s hard to convince someone to see the world in a different way when the first thing you do is insult their intelligence or perhaps their upbringing by telling them that they’re acting improperly. I know that I wouldn’t be open to hearing anyone else that told me I was wrong or bad for the way I thought or the way I was brought up. I’d resist, maybe even dig in on my beliefs. I might even resist seeing another point of view out of spite.”

Quinn thought that was a pretty obstinate thing to say and wanted to call him on it. And a few years ago she would have, telling him that he was ridiculous to ignore the truth. Now, after seeing people choose to remain ignorant in the face of change, she could see that he was speaking truthfully. People were obstinate, they didn’t like being told when they were wrong, and they certainly didn’t want to admit that they needed to change.

“Why are people so complicated?”

“If they weren’t, think how little we would have advanced as a people? Our conflicts give us a chance to recreate ourselves. Isn’t it wonderful?” he said with a smile.

“You’re crazy, you know that?”

“I just believe even with all the troubles we have in the world, we would get much farther if we took the time to seek out the good in people before the bad. Hate never gets us anywhere.”

Damn, he was good. And again, she didn’t want him to be good, she wanted him to say something she could get angry at. She had an arsenal of comebacks for ignorant assholes and misogynist dickheads that she had built over the years. It was a shield of attitude that she could pull up at any time, but she had a sneaking suspicion that this time, it wasn’t going to work. There wasn’t going to be a mental block for this man. It was inconvenient and irritating. It would also help that when her mind wanted her to remember how good looking he was she could override the urge by remembering he was a jerk.

Quinn couldn’t hide her look of confusion.

“Okay, I think we should switch topics. Tell me something I don’t know about you,” he said.

Quinn was grateful for the distraction from the thoughts swirling in her head. “That’s pretty much everything, isn’t it?”

“Not true, I know that you’re going to be a social worker, that you are involved in lots of groups and that you are set enough with credits that you aren’t scrambling around to take last minute classes like me.”

“That is all true. Isn’t this our stop?” she asked, looking out the window.

Rain glanced around. “One more. So what about you?”

“Okay, let’s see, I tried to be vegan but I love cheese. I could not make vegan cheese work for me. My most serious college relationship has been with pizza.”

“I can understand that. Pizza is the perfect food. I eat much better at home than I do when left to my own devices.”

They continued to debate the pros and cons of various foods, both agreeing that they couldn’t eat anywhere that left heads on the animals they were serving.

A few minutes later the bus finally stopped at 45^th Street. “This is us,” he said, standing up and offering his hand to her. She raised an eyebrow and ignored his hand.

Rain waited for her to get off, still carrying both of their bags. They were less than a block from Dick’s and the rain had finally stopped. Walking up to the drive-in, she could see that the parking lot was full. It didn’t matter what day or time you went, Dick’s was always hopping.

“What’s your poison?” he asked as they approached the counter.

“Isn’t it all poison here?” she snarked.

“I will show you the Dick’s way,” he said in his best Darth Vader voice

Rain walked up to the next open window and placed their order. “Two cheese, two chocolate, and two fries with tartar.”

The young man behind the counter tapped on his computer. “That will be eleven dollars and ten cents.”

As Rain reached for his wallet, a five dollar bill appeared at his side.

“Here, I’ll owe you a buck,” Quinn said.

Rain ignored the money and handed the man a twenty. When he got the change he dropped it into the charity box on the counter.

“Rain, I can pay for myself,” she said with an exasperated tone.

“I’m sure you can. But this was my idea, so I’m paying. Besides, I ordered for you and you didn’t have a choice in what was ordered. I’m determined to change your opinion about this Seattle institution.”

“Institution is right, or institutionalized. I don’t really feel comfortable with you paying for me.”

“I guess you are going to have to just find a happy place about it because I’m not taking your money.”

“Is that some kind of macho thing?”

Rain turned fully towards her and stared for a second. “Yes.”

Quinn let out an exasperated sound. “Seriously?”

“Yes. Here, food. Let’s go over to the side counter.”

Not having any indoor seating at this Dick’s took a little planning to eat. There was a counter along the outside wall, or you could eat in your car. Since they didn’t have one, they would have to tough it out outside.

Setting out the food, he divided it up and then gave instructions. “You have a choice, you can either dip your fries in the tartar sauce or dip them in the shake. I like to alternate between the two to keep it interesting, but it it’s up to you.”

“Eww. In the shake? Don’t little fry bits get in there?”

“Yes, it’s like cookie bits in your milk. Tasty surprise at the end.”

“I’m not a dipper so I’m not sure about this,” she said hesitantly.

“Go slow, ease yourself into the grease.” Rain took an enthusiastic bite of his cheeseburger and smiled around his full mouth.

Quinn shook her head at him and took a bite herself. It was a good burger, grilled so the meat was thin with a crispy edge to it, and there was some kind of mustard, mayo, relish concoction slathered on the bun that was sweet, but not in a bad way. The fries were thin and a little overcooked. She happened to like them that way. Cracking open the little container of tartar sauce she dipped some fries in. “I don’t care what people think, fries and sauce are the best.”

Rain was stuffing fries in his mouth. “I agree, free the sauce!” he said, mimicking her donut salute.

Quinn laughed at his antics. She took a pull on the shake trying to suck the chocolaty goodness up the straw. The sweet, salty, tangy mix of the foods was actually really good. It seemed that to get the full effect you had to eat all the food at the same time.

“So, you still think it’s overhyped?”

“I think most foods in Seattle are overhyped, but this is good.”

“Just good?”

“No, fine, it’s really good. Geez, twist my arm.”

“I’m glad you like it, Quinn. I didn’t mention it before, but I like your name. You know my terrible middle name. Do I get to know yours?”

“I don’t have one,” she said, taking another bite of her burger.

“Seriously?”

“Nope, my mom named me Quinnlynn as in Q U I N N no space L Y N N and figured that was enough. Saddling a kid with a name that contained four N’s was cruel enough.”

“Quinnlynn, I like it a lot.”

“You can like it but you can’t use it. I hear it and think I’m in trouble.”

“I doubt you heard it very often.”

“I heard it enough. What about you? Were you a trouble-maker?”

“No, I think I was pretty good. I only did the usual kid stuff. My brother and I weren’t very adventuresome. Any scrapes we got into were because of our friend, Angel. He was behind any of the things we did that disappointed our parents.”

“Oh no, the disappointed parents. Let me guess, that was worse than grounding or spanking?”

“How’d you guess? My friend Angel skipped college, found himself a lady that puts up with his crap and is living life. My brother Finley, well, he was the sweetest guy you’d ever met, but college has corrupted him in a way which I’m still surprised by.”

“Maybe he’s just finding himself. Away from home and getting to experience new things. Maybe the old little brother wasn’t really who he was. Maybe that’s what he thought he needed to be within the dynamic of your family.”

“You may be right. I’m protective; I want him to be successful. Whatever that means. I can’t lie and say that I’m not a little worried about him being on his own.”

“I’m sure he’ll be fine. We figured shit out, didn’t we? That no longer a kid, but in limbo before adulthood where we are faced with our ideologies versus the realities of making a living. It sucks.”

Rain chuckled. “It does. So, I really don’t want to have to wait until next week to see you again. Any chance I can talk you into another casual interaction?”

“Casual interaction?”

“I figured I’d avoid the D-word.”

Quinn raised her eyebrow in question.

“Date. Get your mind out of the gutter.”

She gave a sweet little laugh. “I’m not a dater, if that’s a word. I need to focus on school.”

“What if seeing me is guaranteed to have a positive influence on your education?”

“That’s a pretty bold claim, Mr. Rochon. I’ll tell you what. I’m attending a sexual violence awareness rally on Friday night. Why don’t you come?”

“I’d be happy too. Since we are making dates, would you like to attend a party with me tonight? Strictly for educational purposes. I figure we will gather some interesting insights into human nature.”

“We aren’t making dates. Just events that either one of us might show up at.”

“Sounds like a date to me. What do you say? My little brother will be there. You can judge for yourself if he’s a lost cause or we should think about enrolling him in military school.”

“What kind of party?”

“Zeta house. Their luau was such a success last week that they decided it needed a repeat. I really think they just had left over beer and coconut bras. And luaus in Seattle means down jackets and leis with plastic coconuts full of mystery punch.”

“I don’t venture much onto Greek row. I find it a little too, well, too much for me.”

“Think of it like delving into an undiscovered tribe in the Amazon. We can study the native population and try to figure out their social structure and mating rituals.”

Quinn gave a sharp laugh. “I know the mating rituals. Alcohol plus minimal clothing equals at the very least an ugly hangover and someone you might not call back.”

“I realize asking you to a fraternity party and then going to a sexual violence rally is swinging to the opposites. I’m not trying to make light of it at all,” he assured her.

Quinn liked that he wasn’t oblivious to the conflict. “Here’s something that I’ll tell you that some of my friends wouldn’t understand. They see men and women drinking and making bad decisions that can lead to violent situations so their approach is to negate the environment that led to it. But that’s not what I think freedom is about. Everyone has choices about getting drunk or hooking up. Chewing off your arm in the morning to get away from whoever you slept with the night before.

That isn’t the same thing as what we are raising awareness about. Sex and violence are not synonymous. Telling girls they can’t embrace their sexuality because they could get attacked is going backwards. Educating men and women about keeping themselves safe and making the best choices is what I want to promote. Someone who is a predator is just using these parties to hunt their prey. It’s not the alcohol or the lack of clothing; it’s someone who would commit these acts without any of those things present...”

“You think people don’t want to hear that?”

“I know they don’t. I’ve almost been kicked out of a number of groups. I guess it’s that seeing everyone’s point of view thing, it’s complicated and never easy.”

“No, I don’t suppose it is. I think that if your group had more male involvement, it might change some of the 'us against them' attitude. I’m happy to help with that. I know some guys who feel the same way. They’d help out.”

“That’s great. I would really appreciate it. I want to at least have more dialogue. People get so wrapped up in their causes that they don’t stop yelling enough to talk about it.”

“Very true, passion is a tricky gift. What do you think about helping me out tonight keep my brother from getting his stomach pumped?”

Quinn sighed. All of her usual refusals that she’d thrown out over the years to guys asking her out were falling from her mind. Rain was nice, too nice. There was a good chance if she said no to him, she’d just spend the time next few days thinking about him.

“Alright, you got me. I’ll go with you, but only as a chaperone.”

“Deal.”

The pair finished their burgers and walked back to the bus stop. Quinn couldn’t stop her eyes from sliding over to him while they were sitting on the bench waiting. Most of the time when she did look, he was looking back.