Oxford University Part 1...

Jayden enters the library, wearing black slacks, a button down white shirt, a waist lenght leather jacket and his Edwards' family lapel pin. He removes his sunglasses and nods to a couple of his classmates and then sees the stack of books. He smiles...knowing that Jessica always does this on Thursdays. He sneaks up behind her with a smile...

Jayden: You know...my favorite quote from that book is, "Now, in their love, which was stronger, there were the seeds of hatred and fear and confusion growing at the same time: for love can exist with hatred, each preying on the other, and this is what gives it its greatest fury."

He looks at her with his smile beaming...

Jayden: It...reminds me of my parents.

Jessica startles and scatters a few of the books, which drop, echoing loudly and drawing stares from around the library. She glares at Jayden.

Jessica: Stop doing that!

Her look softens when she realizes what he's said.

Jessica: Wait... you've read this?

Jayden: Of course. Along with others. A Game of Thrones being my favorite series. It really helped me with my fencing.

Jessica: Oh, I love that series!

Jayden: Really? You never mentioned your love of fantasy before...

Jessica shrugs.

Jessica: The subject never came up.

Jayden: You know...you should really come and visit my family's home. I think you'd be pleasently suprised.

Jessica: Oh? Why is that?

Jayden pulls out his phone and sits next to Jessica. He shows her pictures of his family in front of the Edwards' family mannor...

Jayden: This is why...

Jessica's eyes light up.

Jessica: Oh... wow! You live there?

Jayden smiles...

Jayden: Yeah....Yeah, I do. Hey listen, would you like to meet me after my fencing practice? We have that big match coming up against Cambridge and I really need to get some work in...

...unless you'd like to come watch?

Jessica: You fence? We've been in the same study group for 3 years but I feel like I know nothing about you.

Jayden: Yeah, you know you're right. Well, I've been working with a sword for years. Fencing, Kendo, Kenjitsu, Battoujitsu....ever since I was 4 or 5 years old. Considering my family, it works.

He stands and extends his hand to her...

Jayden: Come on.

She takes his hand

Jessica: Considering your family?

Jayden helps her up and the two start to walk through the courtyard on the way to the fieldhouse...

Jayden: Yeah...it's...well, unique. My family holds very dear to our warrior heritage. Wrestling, MMA, Fencing, Martial Arts. My brother and I have been trained in wrestling and shootfighting since childhood with our cousins. I just choose not to speak about it too often.

Jessica looks awed

Jessica: Warrior... heritage....

Jayden: Heh...though I've always felt more Merlin then Lancelot...

He looks over and sees she's impressed. He can't help but smile...

Jayden: You really like this subject, don't you?

Jessica blushes.

Jessica: Yeah... I guess.

The sound of clashing metal can be heard from the fieldhouse as they approach...

Jayden: Man...I love that sound.

He looks back at her and smiles and gives a knightly bow...

Jayden: Shall we enter, my lady, into the realm of blades?

Jessica grins, taking Jayden's arm.

Jessica: We shall.

Jayden and Jessica enter the fieldhouse where the fencing team is practicing. As Jayden enters, the team stops and lifts thier foils and sabers and traditional longswords in salute and hail thier "Captian". Jayden blushes a bit...

Jayden: Gentlemen, Ladies. Back to work. Jessica, you can sit over there. I've got saber and longsword practice today so it shouldn't take too long.

He smiles at her and winks...

Jayden: Don't run off, my lady. I'll be with you shortly.

Jessica looks at Jayden shyly.

Jessica: I'm not going anywhere... you're the captain?

Jayden: Yeah, I was voted captain at the end of last year. I got one match away from the national championship and well...I guess the rest of the team respected that. Have a seat.

Jayden goes into the locker room and emerges in fencing gear. The team kneels in a straight line as Jayden removes his helmet and give a short lesson in sabre technique and attacking points. He then breaks the team up into pairs and practice starts in earnest. The team is wonderful...but Jayden looks like he's been born with sword in hand. Near the end of practice, Jayden and another blonde male put down sabers and pick up the two kendo sticks in the corner of the room. They stand in stance and in silence until Jayden yells, "Hajime!" and the kendo match starts....in the next fifty five seconds, Jayden's mastery is displayed. It ends with Jay disarming the other male and the team clapping. Jayden bows and winks at Jessica before dismissing the team from yet another practice...

Jayden: ~breathing heavy~ Heya...