Vera couldn't have possibly noticed that. Casey didn't speak enough in their shared class for anyone to tease him. Had she guessed based on how hesitant he was to speak up? That was so embarrassing!
Was that why she helped him out? Because she felt sorry for him?
He didn't want anyone to feel sorry for him but especially not her. She was the first person he could remember that treated him somewhat normally. If it was all done out of pity, he wouldn't be able to take it.
Casey hated that he was like this. If he was different…would Vera like him? Or would she still be impossibly out of his league, no matter what he did?
He didn't see things changing that much. He wasn't cut out for the whole socialization thing. She was only being nice to him because she felt sorry for him. Because he was a loser and she was a nice person.
He would never find anyone who understood him or wanted him around. All he had was Kane, who spent most of his time being exasperated with him.
Casey didn't want things to be like this but he had long given up on the thought of having a real friend. His friends were all fictional and that was okay. It was safer that way. Better for everyone.
He managed to get through the rest of his small talk and smoothie without further incident. He thought that would be the end of his association with Vera but the next time they had class together, she sat down next to him and greeted him like they were friends.
"Hey, Casey! Did you manage to pick a topic for your essay?"
"Uh…n-not yet."
He didn't understand why she was talking to him. Their business together was done. Why was she still being friendly?
It didn't stop there either. She kept sitting next to him and talking to him every time they had that class. She brought some peanut butter bars she had made and shared them with him, just like she said she would. And the next time they had a test, she asked if he wanted to study together. He had never studied with anyone else in his life!
Casey was so confused that he didn't even know where to begin. Vera's behavior didn't make sense. He was too afraid to ask her why she was doing this so he did his best to control his nerves and act like it was normal, even though it was far outside the realm of what he had thought would happen.
When he wasn't panicking about sounding like an idiot or being so confused that he thought his head would explode, he actually managed to enjoy himself a little. It was unexpectedly helpful to have someone to study with.
That didn't mean he would ever try this again with someone else though. Too nerve-wracking. He would never have the guts to approach someone and it was shocking enough that she had approached him first. This sort of thing never happened!
But after seeing Vera and talking to her several times a week for the rest of the semester, Casey did manage to get comfortable enough around her that he mostly stopped stuttering. That was a relief.
They studied together for their final exam too and this time he was sure it would be the end of it. They wouldn't have any classes together the next semester so there was no reason for them to talk after this.
That was where he was wrong. She had brought him Christmas treats she had been baking all December long and that didn't stop with the new semester. She still had his number so she texted him about meeting up and doing homework together so she could give them to him.
Casey truly didn't get it. Why? Why was Vera still treating him like they were friends?
Even more bafflingly, she made an offer he never would have expected. He confessed his worries about trying to get an internship since he needed one to graduate when she noticed how stressed he seemed one day and asked if he was okay. In return, she said if he was truly worried about not graduating, he could always come work with her and her aunt.
All he could do was stare. Was she messing with him or what?
"Are you sherious?" Casey asked incredulously.
Vera nodded. "I know it's not in your field but we could use the help. She's getting older and once she can't work anymore, I'll be a one-woman show. I could train you if you're interested."
From everything she had said about antique restoration, it seemed like a mostly behind-the-scenes job. The sort where he wouldn't have to talk to people. Exactly what he needed, though he never would have thought of it himself.
It wouldn't hurt to have a backup plan. At this point, things weren't looking good as far as internships were concerned.
"I-it wouldn't hurt to burn a lit. Learn a bit! Thanks, Vera!"
Vera smiled prettily at him. "Want to come by the shop on Saturday then? We'll be there all day."
"S-sure."
She texted him the name and address and he couldn't believe that just happened. Even so, it was just a backup plan. He still had to try his best to get an internship. He didn't want all his time and effort here to go to waste if that could be avoided.
Casey's worries about getting an internship threatened to crush him. Especially as he got closer and closer to his deadline without any luck.
Getting the interviews was easy enough. Doing the interviews was the problem.
He was so terrible at selling himself that he never heard back positively from a single place he tried. Most of the time they didn't even bother telling him he hadn't been selected. They never got back to him at all because he wasn't worth the wasted time of sending a simple email.
Casey had never felt so terrible about himself. How was he supposed to survive in the real world if he couldn't even get a stupid internship? Maybe he would have to become an antique restorer with Vera after all.