#bergen_county

"LA is a shit hole in parts... but.. you know.." Lupe ponders "For her, not so much. She'll probably love every sunshiny latte sucking minute while she talks about her dreams with folks who share thier own. " A curse "I could be a fucking lady vol... second best team.. at my height? You know what a win that would be? But it's... the .. I can't leave the gang here"

Grunt, nod.

"Likewise, yeah?"

"Can't tell May that - I want her to GO."

"Even when it means losing her. Dammit."

Lupe reaches up and pats Sam on the shoulder "We'll visit her, right? We both have.. tricks no one else does to do it. ANd we live closer, at least on this coast, where we go to college"

"Yeah..."

"BCC talk to you?"

"Yeah... actually, I talked to her." She admits "Limited number of scholarships.. they're looking for taller girls on their team but she admits I'm a demon on the court. I got a sure thing in Knoxville.. that I have to turn it down"

"Sucks."

"My parents do not need to know about that offer"

"Still sucks."

"Maybe, like - New York something?"

"Maybe... but you know, you do what's best for you and your crew. I'll be fine with my pack somehow"

"I don't want to leave, but..."

"Hey, it's ok. We don't have to decide on anything right away, either of us..really. You should go to college though. If you can get a full scholarship? That's like a damn lottery that you earn"

"I know. I.. I do..."

"College is a big deal."

"Yep" A pause then she whispers "We've both been in combat- Why is THIS terrifying?"

"Right?"

They have moved outside into the cold for better privacy

"Your rents ARE gonna be proud, you know?"

"Gah."

"Well, they are" She says

"Yeah, but they're gonna be all... excited, right?"

"Oh yeah.." A wince "We're gonna get hug mussed at the least"

"Oh yeah."

A shift in the shadows near the doorway, as Symon slides out the door. Brrr. Puffy coat zipped tight, and hand knit cap pulled down tight over his ears.

The garou turns, eyes narowing then.. "Oh"

"Hey Sy."

"Hey. You leaving? I'll walk with you as far as Cross Street. Didn't mean to interrupt. Hey, Lupe."

"Heading home, yeah."

"Hey, Symon. Need me to scram?" She says , but doesn't seem offended by the notion

"Nah. Got any good offers? Or going to hold out for the next round?"

"Really good offers. This was the big guns" She admits "Not sure I'll be taking them. I mean, Sure, Knoxville sounds nice but I'm not really into country music"

He shudders a bit. "No thank you."

"Well, one for a full ride at Bergen County..."

"I mean, it's a full ride..."

"A lot of money from UCLA, but..." Frown.

He nods. "I heard."

"Hear anything else?" Curious. She doesn't .. REMEMBER everything, but for some reason she feels he should have the scoop

"I don't want to go that far away."

"I don't know if you care about Harriet." He says, naming another player, his tone soft but not a true whisper in the presence of Lupe, "But the scout from DC was offering her a poisoned apple."

"How poisoned?" Curious, ignoring the question about how much she cares instead just saying "She's played with us." As if anyone who has deserves some looking after

"Perfectly 'legal'. If you don't care that the 'deferred costs' will come back with an interest rate 4 times what you'd end up paying with other 3rd party loans." He snorts softly.

"Oh, what a scam!"

"It's not really a scholarship at all, it's just masked as one."

"Oh HELL No" A frown "Okay, Harriet can make excuses when she fails a play instead of sucking it up and moving on, but she does not deserve that" Lupe starts to check her phone "I got her on my call list. I'm gonna text her. "

He nods.

"THanks, Symon, we owe you.. I'll handle it. Tell her that I took a look at what she was offering"