guilty as charged, tuesday afternoon

[necroslacker]

Sam's second week of work was shaping up a little differently than his first. Last week, he hadn't had much to do. This week, there were a few boards that were in for repairs which meant Sam could have some kind of outlet to channel his weird mood into.

He'd worn a cap to keep his manbangs hair out of his face and was currently bent over a workbench, unscrewing some battered orange wheels so he could get at the trucks. One of those had been bent and damaged to the point that Sam was pretty sure he was going to have to replace.

He was quiet while he worked, only moving to head down an aisle and find a part that would fit. Once that was done, he was right back behind the desk, working and willing to help anyone who might stop by.

Comments

[whenshewasnice]

"Mmhmm." Hence the bag. "Kind of, yeah. I have class tomorrow morning."

[necroslacker]

"Guess...I'll see you later, then," Sam said because he didn't know what else to say. "Hope you have a good time there and all. Relax some."

[whenshewasnice]

"I didn't mean I was leaving within the next five minutes," Natalie replied with a faint wry smile. "But thanks, I'll try. And... I don't know, Dad wanted my input on something, so I might end up going back after class tomorrow too."

[necroslacker]

Sam took the sandwich she'd brought him out of the bag and settled it down before reaching for a rag to wipe his hands on.

"Everything okay with your dad?" Sam asked, looking pretty much everywhere but at her while he spoke. He didn't know why exactly. Residual nerves from the weekend, maybe?

[whenshewasnice]

Probably something like that. Natalie hoped so, anyway.

"He just wants an excuse to buy more books," she said, watching him. "The usual."

[necroslacker]

"Ah." That wasn't something he tended to consult his mom about so he'd just go with it. "Well, if there's anyone that can help him with that, it's you."

[whenshewasnice]

Or maybe, Natalie's father knew her well enough to recognize when she needed an excuse to stay home, and she was just relaying that same excuse to Sam.

Adamses were tricky.

"Mm." She nodded, sort of. "But I'll still probably come back for good by the weekend."

[necroslacker]

"And I'm sure I'll be around," Sam told her, nodding. "Don't have any trips to Seattle planned but who knows what might come up. Still, don't expect to be gone."

He shrugged.

[whenshewasnice]

"If you did take off, I'd expect you to call me," Natalie pointed out. "This isn't like last time."

[necroslacker]

"I'd call you," Sam promised, nodding. "I doubt I'll be going anywhere but the mainland, if anything, but yeah, I'd call you so you don't have to worry about that."

He took a few bites of the sandwich and did find that it was pretty good.

[whenshewasnice]

"Okay, good." She nodded, then glanced around. "So... I guess I should get going then."

She wasn't in any rush, but things were a little awkward here.

[necroslacker]

"Sure," Sam sighed, reaching for his tools when he realized she really was going to go that quickly. "I don't wanna keep you."

[whenshewasnice]

"Really, no vegan sandwich kiss goodbye?"

See, she could totally try cracking a joke. Kind of. Stalling too, maybe, a little.

[necroslacker]

"I didn't know if you wanted one," Sam said, demonstrating some more of that tentativeness he was harboring. "I've been working all morning."

[whenshewasnice]

Natalie just barely kept herself from sighing. "Sounds like we should talk when I get back," she replied evenly. "I don't care if you've been working."

[necroslacker]

"Talk about what?" Sam asked, pushing a few things away so he could come around the counter towards her.

[whenshewasnice]

She shrugged a shoulder, but reached a hand out for him, for once. "Whatever this is that's going on."

[necroslacker]

"You're going to Montreal," Sam said, accepting her hand and lacing his fingers with hers. His were a little dirty due to the work he'd been doing earlier. "By the time you get back, we won't have to talk about that cuz it'll be done."

[whenshewasnice]

"Mm." She gave his fingers a little squeeze, and just barely raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure?"

[necroslacker]

No. But, he shrugged.

"Sure."

Not really convincing but hey.

"You're doing what you need to do."

[whenshewasnice]

"And you?"

Because she wasn't the one who'd been having trouble looking at him just now.

[necroslacker]

"And I...will be here," Sam said again. "Waiting for you to come back."

[whenshewasnice]

"And whatever tentativeness you're feeling will just magically vanish?"

Hey, she was going away for probably a few days. She could poke at things right now.

[necroslacker]

"I don't wanna mess up," he said by means of explanation. "I'll learn to control it better."

Or something. Look, his emotions had taken a tumble lately.

[whenshewasnice]

"Or just learn not to fear it so much," Natalie replied, glancing down and brushing her thumb against the back of his hand.

Yeah, maybe she felt mildly guilty about all of that.