fandomhigh | Philosophy classroom: Monday office hours, 10am-2pm

Philosophy classroom: Monday office hours, 10am-2pm

Tara sits at her desk, ostensibly grading but scarcely able to focus on anything. The footsteps in the hall were driving her insane, so the door is closed, but a note sticky taped to the door reads "Open for Office Hours. Please knock."

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Tara nods. "Maybe. After class. I'm sure Mr. Phale could help, I just..." she sighs. "It's like everyone getting mad at Angelus, or Belthazor, just because they're... what they are. Not everything bad that happens is Mr. Crowley's fault. This is different, Beka."

Her eyes flash with panic and she looks towards the phone.

"I'm not answering that."

It's not ringing.

"Honey, I don't blame him. He's just doing his work. But he is dangerous. Temptation is a powerful thing."

Beka tracks Tara's gaze to the phone. It's definitely not ringing.

"Do you want me to get that, Tara?" she asked cautiously.

Slowly, Tara nods. "If it's him... tell him I'm not here. You don't know me. I don't exist. I died. It was tragic."

Beka watched Tara carefully. She offered her hand to the teacher who'd quickly become a friend. "It's OK, Tara," she said, before answering the phone.

"Hello?" she waited a convincing length of time.

"No, I'm sorry, you have the wrong number. This is not the Fluffypants residence."

"Of course I'm sure," she said, sounding mildly miffed.

"Yes, you do that." She hung up the phone, and turned back to Tara. "Nothing to worry about. Wrong number. Maybe we should take it off the hook now?"

Tara breathes a sigh of relief, slipping her hand into Beka's.

"He keeps calling," she whispers. "He can't come on campus, but he's waiting at the gates."

She shakes her head, taking a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Beka. I'm okay."

Nevertheless, she takes the phone off the hook. And unplugs it fron the wall. And puts it in the drawer of her desk. And locks the drawer.

Beka held Tara's hand gently, wracking her brain for what to do.

When in doubt, call the lover. It worked with Bel. The thought held a trace of bitterness but it was a good thought.

"Maybe we should call Shane to keep you company for a bit? Sounds like you could use that?"

Tara shakes her head. "I just talked to her. She can't come on campus until it's time for class, and she's meeting me at the gates soon."

She smiles softly, shrugging one shoulder. "I'm really okay, Beka. As long as I can get through class without incident, I can hold together just fine. Don't worry about me."

"If you're sure, Tara," Beka said in a tone that clearly indicated she wasn't. She gave a wry shake of her head. "Can't stop me from worrying. It's what I do. Even Angelus has given up trying."

Tara chuckles. "I guess everyone needs a hobby. Have you tried knitting? Or origami?"

"There you go with thinking because I'm a girl that I'm a girl," Beka said, grinning.

"Beka!" Tara replies, her tone scandalised and her eyes sparkling with genuine humour. "I'll have you know that origami is a very manly art! Dangerous, too, with the paper cuts, and the agony of correct folding."

Her smile fades. "Seriously, though... I need to thank you. The last few days you've been... amazing. I'm sorry for all I've put you through."

Relieved at the momentary good humor, Beka smiled brightly. "I didn't say I wanted to be manly. I'm just not a girl."

She gave Tara a gentle hug. "You don't need to thank me, or apologize. Friends. That's what we do."

"Are we, Beka?" Tara asks, tightening her hold for a moment. "Are we friends?"

Beka didn't try to dislodge Tara's grip, just let her hang on. "Yes. We are. I consider you one of mine. As backward as that is, you're one of my girls."

"Thank you, Beka," Tara replies, her voice muffled. "I don't know what I did to deserve that, but... thank you."

"~~You have a finely honed sense of whimsy and you fed my vampire obssession~~ That would be a long list," Beka said gently, stroking a hand over her hair.

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Philosophy classroom: Monday office hours, 10am-2pm

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