Gabe was seen at the University, sitting alone for a very long time; he was always with someone, whether it was the tutees in the uni or the gang in the cafe, in his past life, he was an introvert, a trait he didn't have now, but he did miss the occasional quiet time by himself, he was just reading his so many textbooks that he needs to read but he was reading it in record time and it looks like he was just scanning it.
"Wow, you're reading really fast! How do you even keep up with all that?" A stranger's voice broke his concentration.
Gabe, not looking up, sighed internally. "Maybe just let me enjoy my book in peace?" he replied, trying to keep his tone neutral.
"Whoa, touchy," the stranger said, pulling out the chair opposite him and sitting down. "Just curious, that's all."
"Yes, I'm oversensitive since you just decided to come up to me and suddenly insulted the way I read, so yeah, I'll be rude if I want to," Gabe said calmly, still not looking up to see the stranger who was now sitting at his front.
"Alright, Sorry I guess" The stranger just said, while also bringing out a book to read, they just sat there reading, Gabe was just speedrunning his reading, finishing book after another in a matter of minutes, it was thanks to his superpowered brain that he can read like this, while the stranger was also engrossed with her book, after a while, Gabe finished his last book, finally looking up to see who was the stranger in front of her, he was shocked to see it was someone he recognize in the past life, her face is similar to Mckenna Grace, the one that played Paige Swanson in the series he watched called Young Sheldon.
"I'm sorry for my actions earlier, I just did not want to be interrupted while reading at peace," Gabe offered his apology. The stranger also looked up and looked at him.
"No worries, I have a friend who was ruder than you and has more attitude, so I'm used to dealing with that kind of behavior. My name is Paige Swanson, by the way, what's yours?" The stranger said while also introducing herself, Gabe, already having the idea of who she was, confirmed it, it was the TBBT world that was mixed in with FRIENDS, like god said, I thought it would be Dr. House, some other medical drama, considering my choices.
Gabe, already piecing things together, replied, "Gabriel Geller, but my friends call me Gabe."
"Gabe," Paige repeated. "Can I call you Gabe?"
"Sure?? I guess"
"Thanks, I don't have many friends here. I'm from Texas and moved here to study, I'm majoring in biological sciences. You? " Paige said, oversharing, considering she was struggling to make friends in New York.
"Pre-med, I take it that you don't have any friends here, since you are alone reading here."
"Yes, but you know, I'm just adjusting," Paige said,
"You are just hanging out with the wrong people, especially with that kind of get-up, it will be hard to make friends here," Gabe offered his advice.
"So? What do you suggest?" Paige asked.
"Maybe... maybe try checking out some campus clubs or something? And, uh," Gabe hesitated slightly, "you could also just try striking up a casual conversation, you know? Like maybe a simple 'Hi' to someone reading near you."
"Well, you were reading," Paige pointed out with a slight smirk. "Didn't want to bother you. But hey, it worked, right? Now we're talking."
"Anyway, to answer your question earlier, I can retain the information when reading at that speed because I have low latent inhibition with eidetic and photo Eidetic Memory," Gabe answered her question earlier, the one that sets off this whole interaction.
"What?" Paige asked, confused.
"A little while ago, you asked me, 'How can you retain the information if you're reading it like that?' I just answered it." Gabe clarified.
"So you're a genius too, I have eidetic memory too, but I don't have low latent inhibition, what is that anyway?" Paige asked after saying about herself.
"Means I overanalyze things, combine that with my Eidetic Memory, I can read at that fast speed, it just makes me crave sweets though," Gabe said,
"Cool, how old are you?" Paige asked.
"15, why?" Gabe answered,
"I'm 17 years old, I thought you were older than me, you look more mature, but I guess you are a super genius," Paige said.
"Hey, wanna grab something to eat? I'm craving sweets," Gabe said.
"Really? I mean, alright," Paige answered.
The two then packed up and went to the cafeteria, where they just ate and talked for hours and hours, until it was now 7 pm, and Gabe was planning on leaving.
"Wait, do you want my phone number?" Paige said, clearly wanting to be in contact in the future,
"I don't have a phone, sorry, but you can always find me at the library, I'm always there Monday to Friday, 1 pm to 8 pm, you can find me there, maybe we can go on a real date that time," Gabe said straightforwardly, clearly moving fast.
"Date? Are you asking me on a date? Really? Paige asked,
"Is there any person here? Of course I'm asking you," Gabe said smoothly, after making plans, Paige then went to her dorm, while Gabe was seen taking a cab to go home, reaching the apartment of Monica, where he saw Ross trying to comfort Chandler.
"Look at it this way: you dumped her. Right? I mean, this woman was unbelievably sexy, and beautiful, intelligent, unattainable... Tell me why you did this again?" Ross said.
"Hey guys," Gabe greeted,
"Hey," They greeted enthusiastically while Chandler just greeted him normally.
"What's wrong with Chandler?" Gabe asked,
"Ohh, he just broke up with someone great, but a lot of complicated things," Phoebe explained.
"Ohhh, that's tough, man." Gabe offered his condolences, while Chandler just nodded. After a few minutes, Joey arrived.
"Hey guys," Joey greeted,
"Hey, isn't that the guy who played Al Pacino's butt" Monica said, while Gabe was just confused.
"What? How?" Gabe asked.
"Well Joey auditioned and got to be an extra to a new Al Pacino movie, just as his butt," Rachel explained.
"Well, not anymore," Joey said,
"Why? What happened, men?" Ross asked
"I got fired," Joey said, clarifying for the others,
"Ohhh! Why?" They reacted while asking.
"Yeah, they said I acted too much with it. I told everybody about this! Now everybody's gonna go to the theatre, expecting to see me, and-" Joey said while ranting about how his family will see it.
"You know what, Joey, no one will be able to tell it," Gabe said,
"No, my Mom will know," Joey said.
"That is both terrifying and adorable.
Joey: Y'know, I've done nothing but crappy plays for six years. And I finally get my shot, and I blow it!
Monica: Maybe this wasn't your shot.
Ross: Yeah, I mean- I think when it's your shot, y'know, you-you know it's your shot. Did it feel like your shot?
Joey: Hard to tell, I was naked.
Phoebe: No, I don't think this was your shot. I mean, I don't even think you just get one shot. I believe big things are gonna happen for you, I do! You've gotta just keep thinking about the day that some kid is gonna run up to his friends and go 'I got the part! I got the part! I'm gonna be Joey Tribbiani's ass!'.
Joey: Yeah? That's so nice!
Gabe: Yeah, man, just keep working hard, if you want it, it will happen, maybe you will be a star on your show, you know
"You think so? That's sweet, you guys," Joey said, while they all hugged each other. After that, Chandler and Ross just hug each other, too
Monica: I'm sorry, Joey. I'm gonna go to bed, guys.
All: Night.
Rachel: Uh, Mon, you-you gonna leave your shoes out here?
Monica: Uh-huh!
Rachel: Really? Just casually strewn about in that reckless, haphazard manner?
Monica: Doesn't matter, I'll get 'em tomorrow. Or not. Whenever.
Ross: She is a kook.
Gabe: 10 bucks, she would pick it up after we leave.
Rachel: Yeah, she will, I don't need to bet.
Everyone: Oh yeah, totally,