Schiller hesitated in the corridor for a second, then turned and headed toward where he remembered the library being. He had just rounded a corner when a girl leaning against the windowsill across from him greeted him.
"Hi, Schiller." The blonde girl smiled at him. "Are you coming to the football party next week? Renee asked me to invite you. You know."
Schiller did not know the girl, but he knew he was supposed to. Clearly, from now on, the backstory would begin filling in its details. What he had not forgotten was that, in the Character Design Superego had written for him, he had quite a few admirers in college.
"Sorry, I'm always busy on weekends. I've already made arrangements with the priest." Schiller lowered his head with a smile, then looked back at the girl.
"Oh, no, you're just being shy. I promised her I'd get you there... Well, I know she's a little anxious, but what if I invited you instead?"
"I'm very grateful for your kindness, but I really did make plans with someone long ago. I need to go to the library now and catch up on this week's assignments. How is your little project going?"
The girl was clearly delighted by Schiller's concern. "So-so. Professor Vought doesn't like me much, so he hasn't been pushing me too hard. But you're Professor Bailey's prized student. You must be under a lot of pressure, right?"
Schiller shifted slightly aside and started toward the stairs. The girl followed, adjusting the pen in her pocket before descending at his side and slightly behind him. "He should give you some personal time."
"So I don't let all this kindness go to waste? Well, nothing gets past you, miss. I have been dealing with a little trouble lately. It's personal,