Queen Of Science

After Fern and Emily have collected all their food, they move to sit down at a table. Emily's plate is overflowing with pasta, meat, fruits, and veggies and Fern has gotten a chicken caesar sandwich wrap and an apple.

Spotting a table that has other people who are living in the dorm, Emily starts walking in their direction. Not one to enjoy talking with people that she barely knows, Fern is immediately alerted to this foreboding behaviour and searches the room for an empty table. She speed walks to an empty table and sits down before Emily can protest.

Grumpy, Emily says, "this is supposed to be the prime of our lives! Why are we sitting over here when we could be talking to people?"

"You've been talking to people all day. Please spare your introverted friend from more social interaction."

Picking at her food, Emily says, "Well... I'll allow it because I'm a good friend, but I have a demand."

Amused by Emily's contradiction, Fern says, "I don't think you can both be a good friend and make demands."

"Good friends make each other leave their comfort zone." Opening up the excel sheet app on her phone, Emily says, "Anyways, I made a list of all the clubs we could join. Pick one or two."

With a groan, Fern says, "If I didn't know any better, I would say that you're my mom. I don't understand why you want to be so involved in school."

"Because this is a once in a lifetime opportunity to network with as many people as possible! Besides, university involvement looks good on a resume. If you don't pick a club, I'll pick one for you."

With a frown, Fern takes Emily's phone and starts skimming through all the clubs.

After the two have eaten almost all of their dinner, Fern finally hands Emily back her phone. Looking expectantly, Emily says, "well?"

"I don't like any of them."

"What? How can you not like any of them? There's even one where all you do is watch movies. I thought you would be all of that one, at least."

"Being a part of a movie-watching club isn't gonna help me get a science job, is it?"

"... Fair point."

"So, you're gonna give up on the club idea?"

Emily looks at Fern as if she said the most absurd thing ever and responds, "of course not."

"Uh-huh"

"We'll just start our own club."

" ... "

"Yeah! Let's start a club!" Lightly bonking her head with her hand, Emily says, "Honestly, why didn't we do that in the first place? That'll look way better on resumes, and we'll get to meet a bunch of people. I wonder what forms we have to fill out- "

"Hold on! Starting a club?! Do you have any idea how much work that is? You can't just casually say, 'Oh yeah, let's make a club.' It's a big commitment."

"Sure, I can. We, the world's best team, can totally do it."

Getting up to drop off her empty plate at the dishwashing station, Fern just shakes her head as she walks away.

Still optimistic, Emily follows behind and says, "It could be a pet sitting club where we just play with people's pets?"

"..."

"Or... A sustainable gardening club where we grow plants in a building?"

Interested, Fern says nothing but looks at Emily out of the corner of her eye.

Encouraged, Emily says, "How about- a research club! We'll get funding to do research projects."

Now fully engaged, Fern says, "Who will be in charge of finding club members?"

With a big grin, Emily says, "Obviously, me! I'll even do all the social media and fundraising. All you need to do is do some interesting research."

"Sounds too good to be true."

Wrapping her arm around Fern, Emily looks forward and smugly says, "You're welcome."