Beth, ever aware of her surroundings, beamed when she saw Thomas glance their way and motion for them to save him a spot.  One hand rose high into the air to wave, indicating that she had seen his request.  "Save that chair next to you, Tay," she stage-whispered to ensure that the few people milling around did not take the empty chair that was very clearly for Thomas.<br/><br/>Tatum, who actually hated being called Tay, only offered her friend a smile and slid over so that half of her rear end was on her own chair and the other half was on the seat being saved for Thomas.  Spending time socializing with adults her own age wasn't actually all that bad.  It could be worse.  The teenagers and young adults actually had to have chaperones to monitor their interactions to ensure that nothing untoward happened.  After all, the young ladies' virtue had to be protected at all times.  Every time Carol fed the women that line, Tatum had to bite down hard on her cheek to keep from saying something she shouldn't.<br/><br/>Either way, Beth's permanently joyful mood was contagious.  It was hard to be dour around the other woman.  Her blonde hair was sunny much like her personality.  To complete the picture of bouncy energy, she typically wore her mess of curly blonde hair in a ponytail high on the top of her head like a cheerleader from Before.  Beth was the only person Tatum permitted to call her Tay simply because there was no malice behind the nickname, no teasing intent.<br/><br/>Tatum slid back into her own chair as Thomas crossed the room and settled down in the uncomfortable folding metal chair, relics from old church groups.  They had discovered them in an old storage room and had put them to good use for their Friday community dinners and the social hours that followed.<br/><br/>She remembered Thomas from Before, from when she had lived here with her parents before heading off into the big city to get her education and start working her way up the legal ladder of her law firm.  They had never really run in the same circles but they had shared classes together and had been cordial one another throughout the years.  One night, right after she returned Home, Tatum had spent an evening reminiscing and going through old high school yearbooks.  It had been strange to see a fair number of familiar faces staring back at her from the pages of pictures.  They had all seemed so young and full of promise back then.  And now, well now, they all just looked tired and drawn.<br/><br/>"Where's Wullie?" Beth asked as she leaned around her friend to address Thomas.  "He never comes to these things."  Hinted at, but not spoken aloud, was the question about what he could possibly be doing instead of attending these voluntary-yet-mandatory social hours.<br/><br/>Carol, ever eagle-eyed and with sensitive ears that seemed to hear<i>everything</i>, glanced their way from her seat across the circle.  She too had been wondering where Wullie was and knew that Thomas was the one person that would know where the older foreigner was and what he was up to.  Her arms crossed over her chest as she eyed the trio and did her best not to look too obvious in her eavesdropping.<br/><br/>"Beth, you know Thomas isn't Wullie's babysitter.  You shouldn't make him keep tabs on the poor man." Tatum's tone was light and upbeat but as she spoke, she caught Thomas's eye and glanced towards Carol for half a second then plastered a bright smile on her face.  Jean-clad legs crossed as she leaned back in the chair, adopting the picture perfect pose of casualness.<br/><br/>The fake smile changed to become more genuine as she really looked at the dark-haired man sitting next to her.  He had certainly changed since high school.  The grown in scruff on his face suited him.  She nudged him gently in the ribs with her elbow before briefly touching the side of his leg with her fingertips.  An innocent brushing of her fingers near his knee, a touch to get his attention more than anything.  "Your hair..."  That same hand lifted and gestured towards the top of her own head, indicating that his hair was still a bit ruffled from his hat.<br/><br/>Across the circle, Carol's eyes narrowed.  The lawyer was always breaking the unspoken rules.  "Ms. Cleary, please remember to keep your hands to yourself."  Instantly, a dozen pair of eyes shot over to the chestnut-haired woman, some sympathetic, others judging.<br/><br/>"Tay...," Beth whispered in warning, "...you know better."<br/><br/>"I do know better, Beth.  I know that this isn't right.  I know that this isn't how things are supposed to be.  I know a lot of things."  She finished in a huff, her own arms crossing over her chest.  Not wanting to start a fight with one of her friends, she glanced at Thomas, her eyes imploring him to come up with some mundane topic of conversation to pass the time.