xp_logs | Manuel, Tabitha and Amara (Reply)

Manuel gets caught in the middle of a two blondes getting under his skin and he turns the table a bit, leaving both to be unhappy with him.

As much as he enjoyed the computer, there was plenty of useless information on there as much as there were facts and frankly, at this point, Manuel tired of staring at a screen, taking to the books in the library much better. It was easier on his eyes, but even an hour within the library was tiring him to the point that he rubbed his eyes in a futile attempt to ease them from the growing headache. Not one of the better times to have his shield lowered.

Manuel wasn't the only one to retreat to the library - while Amara did most of her studying in her room, occasionally she need the peace and quiet that was the library. And the space to spread out, it wasn't entirely easy to have two text books spread out around the place and take notes at the same time. She was currently taking a break, and had gotten up to check to see if there was something on the shelves she could read for a bit of mindless pleasure... yes, reading was a legitimate break from studying, what are you talking about. Now that she was on the move she noticed Manuel, and she paused not far from him, a little concerned frown on her face. "Are you okay?" She asked quietly, being careful not talk too loud since they were in a library.

Tabitha was not paying attention to her surroundings at all. Every ounce of her attention was pointedly focused on the book in her arms as she paced the floor. It was a quiet time of day and most of the time she could get away with it. So it shouldn't have been a surprise when she ran straight into somebody.

Looking up from his book, he opened his mouth to respond to Amara when Tabitha practically dropped into his lap. "Woman." Manuel cursed. He grasped her shoulders and moved her very firmly away from him. "If it is not one thing, it is another with you. Watch where you are going."

Amara blinked a couple of times and stepped back - at first surprised by Tabitha crashing into Manuel, and then Manuel's hostility towards her. After a couple of moments of stunned silence, she actually spoke, this time directing her concern to Tabitha. "Same question, I guess. You okay?"

Lips pressed firmly together, Tabitha attempted a small smile in Amara's direction. "Just fine, sorry. Didn't mean to run you over," she apologized, straightening her blouse awkwardly with the large book draped over one arm. She pointedly ignored Manuel.

Manuel regarded Amara, also ignoring Tabitha. "Yes, please be careful around her. Especially when she has a truck. Her apology tends to be the same,' he quipped, clearly referring to Tabitha herself.

Amara returned Tabby's smile, before looking a little awkwardly at Manuel. "I'm fine, really." She wasn't entirely sure what to make of his comment, so she just frowned a little. There really wasn't any need to be so rude.

Tabitha clasped her book to her chest, "You find everything you need? We just got this month's shipment of new releases." She pointed to the circulation desk. "I can break them out for you to look over."

"I see we are still grouchy from our last encounter. Perhaps another trip to California would cure that," he quipped to Tabitha.

"I was actually just taking a break from studying, but I'd love to take a look. I've been doing so much reading for college these days, I miss reading just for fun." It looked like ignoring Manuel was really the best thing to do for now.

The librarian brightened considerably at Amara. "I like you," she poked Manny in the shoulder. "I really do, can we keep her?"

Manuel grunted at the poke, obviously not pleased to be ignored. "She is blonde and therefore, put on this planet to annoy, much like you. I say we throw her back."

Amara grinned at Tabby. "I'm afraid you're stuck with me. I still have at least three and a half years left at college to get through." ... watch her still continue to ignore you, Manuel.

Tabitha sat in the seat next to Manuel, her back to him. She gestured across the table. "Sit, tell me about school. What are you studying?"

Rich. Manuel rolled his eyes. Not only were they blatantly ignoring him but continued to make him an obvious part of their conversation by making it impossible to ignore. "She is studying why blond jokes resonate truth."

Weren't they sweet? Amara slid into the seat indicated, trying not to smirk too much. "Actually, I'm still undecided. I'm looking at majoring in literature or classics. Or maybe a language, I'm pretty good with Spanish and my Latin's not bad either, though I'd take Latin as a part of classics anyway." So many choices!

"Never thought I'd end up a librarian," Tabs admitted. She blew a lock of hair out of her face. "I blame my nosiness and the urge to be a know-it-all. NO comments from the peanut gallery." She attempted to forestall Manuel's snide remarks.

His hand went to his face and laughter rolled off his tongue, deep and rich with delight to her latest comment.

"I never imagined I'd go to college," Amara replied, trying not to laugh along with Manuel. "But apparently life moves in mysterious ways."

She signed almost mournfully. "I could have been a surgeon. A brain surgeon. Then there might be hope for our friend back here." She jerked a thumb at Manuel. "As it is, I'm a librarian, selectively enforcing the silence rules." She toed Manny's leg with the soft sole of her shoe. "Hush, minion."

Manuel's arm lazily fell, draped across Tabitha's shoulders, and his fingers tangled through her blond locks with ease as he tipped her head towards his own, a dominating but endearing and loving gesture. For him, that was almost unheard of.

"Do you honestly believe I would allow _this_ to come near me with a knife?" he asked, tempting Amara's gaze with his own.

Tabitha leaned closer to murmur in the Spaniard's ear. "I'm abstinent, not dead. Watch your hands, Romeo." Even she could feel her pulse picking up in her throat.

Amara shifted her gaze to look at Manuel, looking rather flatly back at him as her eyebrows rose a little. "I don't think you'd allow anyone to come near you with a knife," she said, before smiling just a little. "Especially not a brain surgeon. I don't watch Grey's Anatomy too regularly, but I am fairly sure they use scalpels and saws for brain surgery."

His hand teased her hair, tangled between his fingers and inhaled the faint but rich scent of the shampoo she had used in the morning. "Lo siento, bella," he murmured seductively.

His gaze flickered to Amara. "Librarians are very selective about their toys, Senorita." His other hand tipped Tabitha's chin down, meeting it with an intense desire that hadn’t been there before. His thumb dragged along her bottom lip and lured her close to his lips. "Mmm.. very selective." He grinned devishly.

Her breath caught and in that moment, she knew she was going to kill him. "You will be," she promised.

"I see." Amara pushed back her chair, taking the moment to stand. "I'll leave you two to it, shall I?" Watching people paw at each other was definitely not something Amara particularly enjoyed, and she really had better things to do.

He watched Amara briskly exit the library and unlaced himself from Tabitha, returning to his book. "See, that was not as hard as you thought," he said, picking up his pen.

Tabs pushed away from the table. "You are a dick. Your methods leave a lot to be desired." She whirled angrily away. "You could have done that without hurting her feelings or making her think I was riding the mansion bicycle."

He waved his hand briefly, dismissive in the gesture and ignored her comment about his past history. "She will get over it and so will you."