Angelo & Tabitha | Office | About That Offer...

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Tabitha has that talk with Angelo. She's nervous.



She shouldn't be nervous. She'd known Angelo forever and the Prof wasn't an unreasonable man.

But she stalled talking to Angelo for far longer than she should have. Even now, seeking him out had taken every nerve in her body.

Maybe if she snuck away before she knocked on his office door...

"I can hear you out there", Angelo called through the cracked open door. "Old building, the floors creak. Coming in?"

She attempted nonchalance as she strolled in, looking everywhere but at Angelo. "Oh, hey, you know there's a dent in your wall?"

"I do", he said easily. "One of the kids had a rage moment but hey, only the wall, Fred'll fix it. What can I do for you, Tabs?"

She continued to avoid his eyes. "Oh, you know, I was just in the neighborhood... thought I'd say hi." If "outside the library" could be considered "in the neighborhood."

"Yeah?" Angelo tilted his head at her. "Nothing to do with what we talked about before?"

"Oh, yeah! Have you had a chance to talk to the prof?" she asked, forcibly ignoring the extra octave in her voice.

"Yep, and he's all for it. He's let me take on Sam, too." He grinned. "Our little NGO's growing."

She brightened. "Really?" Then the rest of what he said registered. Sam!?! She barely managed to keep that particular squeak internal.

She might not have said anything, but it was written all over her face. Angelo's grin broadened and took on a teasing glint. "Of course. You know it was never likely he'd turn either of you down."

"Yeah, well, Sam's a teacher and good with people. I'm..." She searched for an appropriate description. "Not."

"That's why we're going to start you on paperwork and build you up to dealing with people", Angelo said matter-of-factly. "And you can start with the people we have established good relationships with."

Tabitha attempted to summon her sense of humor. "You're so brave," she said in exaggerated awe.

"I know you won't let us down", was the easy response. "I mean, you're a librarian. You're good with organizing."

She saluted cheerfully. "I will do my best not to turn into an OCD hosebeast."

Angelo blinked, then grinned. "If you must, just keep it to your own cubicle."

Tabs smiled crookedly. "I get a cubicle? Can I decorate it?"

"Of course. There will be no grey corporateness in this office."

Suddenly, there were nerves again. "Is there anything in particular I could do?" she asked. She didn't want to be a charity-case.

"I'll think of something", he assured her. "Don't worry, we will put you to work. Maybe we'll start our own little library."

Tabitha nodded, warming to the idea. "I'm sure a reference area could be useful."

"Then we've got us a plan. I want you to enjoy the work too."

Tabs stood, happy smile on her face. Now to leave before he changed his mind. "Thanks, Angelo. I really mean it."

"You're welcome." He smiled back. "Just let me know when you'd like to start and I'll get you all set up."