Meeting Sam

Entering the room, Ethan sees the blond head of hair that called him over sitting behind a desk working at a computer with one hand and writing notes on a pad with the other.

As he starts into the room, heading toward a chair, she speaks without looking up. "Close the door, please."

Ethan turns back, closing the door.

"Thank you," she doesn't look up. "Have a seat. Please."

The vibes she's giving off remind Ethan of being called to the principal's office. He takes a seat then clears his throat, starting to talk when-

"One moment." She cuts him off, still not looking up.

"Ah..." Ethan sits in silence. Waiting.

A moment that was a minute later, the woman sets her pen down, turning her attention to the computer fully. Ethan frowns, but, still without looking up, she speaks. "So what can I do for you today, Ethan?"

"Oh um..." he collects his thoughts. "I was told you could help me..."

The corner of her mouth curls, and she lets out a soft snort. "I'm sure I can. Care to elaborate?"

Clucking his tongue, Ethan focuses. "I'm told you could help me find..." Ethan almost says 'a job', but course corrects at the last moment. "Work."

"Work?" The woman stops typing, looking up for the first time.

Ethan looks at her. REALLY looks at her.

It's Sam.

Obviously. But now that she's looking at him and him at her he remembers her clearly. She's older now, also obviously, but she's not all that different from all those years ago.

But there's something else. Something about her. Something right in front of him he can't quite grasp...

Realizing he's been staring, Ethan quickly tries to recover. "Uh, yeah... Sorry I was told that you could pull some strings and find me something."

Sam frowns. "Who told you that?"