I sped up the timeline a bit. This was originally Chapter 1, but the Sara character needed a backstory, so this is now Ch. 2. Read, enjoy, and review.

Homecoming Dance

Sara was still adjusting to being in the United States, grateful that Malachi had allowed her to participate in the Foreign Exchange Program, despite her ulterior motives for signing up for the Program, which Malachi still didn't know about.

She breathed a sigh of relief and looked around the packed gym, still wondering (As she had all week) why American students put so much stock into this thing called "Homecoming." Sure, it was an excuse for her to cut loose, but some of the student body took it too far, she thought, like the majority of the football team. She thought of those few as morons, and while some of them treated her like she was a disease (She said a thousand times that just because she was Israeli, she was not a terrorist, yet they never listened), one did not. All she knew was that he was the quarterback for the football team. She surveyed the gym again, wondering why she had even come to the Homecoming Dance.

But soon she found her feet moving, not to the door, but to the DJ booth. She had a song she wanted to hear, one that made her feel safe. Little did she know, but she was being watched... by one Ari DiNozzo.

Ari watched Sara move across the floor to the DJ booth, becoming entranced by her movements, and a few of the guys on the football team started ribbing him about it.

"There's no way, DiNozzo," one of them said.

"I'll bet each of you twenty bucks," Ari said, "That I can get her to dance with me by the end of the night."

"You're on," the other players said.

Ari tugged at his tie and walked over to where Sara was at. He stole a glance at her, giving a quick smile. She smiled back, and soon, they were talking.

"Shalom," Ari said. "You new around here?"

"Yes," Sara replied. "And you?"

"Born here. Mom's Israeli; Dad's Italian. You?"

"Israeli by birth. My father was killed ten years ago after he attempted to assassinate Eli David, and he deserved it. Since then, I have been raised by my godfather."

Ari tugged at his tie again. "My name's Ari DiNozzo. I've actually been trying to work up the guts to talk to you since the first week of school."

"Well, Ari DiNozzo, my name is Sara Bodnar."

Ari closed his eyes started rubbing his temples. "I thought you looked familiar."

"What?" Sara asked.

"We met once three years ago, the last time that my family was in Tel Aviv."

"You have a great memory. What was your family doing in Tel Aviv?"

Ari gave Sara one of those 'If you have to ask' looks. She nodded and they kept talking, until the song that Sara asked the DJ to play started.

I found God
On the corner of First and Amistad
Where the west
Was all but won
All alone
Smoking his last cigarette
I said, "Where you been?"
He said, "Ask anything."

"I love this song," Ari said. "You want to dance?"

"Sure," Sara said, allowing Ari to lead her onto the dance floor. And as they were dancing, Ari noticed that Sara was tearing up.

Where were you
When everything was falling apart?
All my days
Were spent by the telephone
That never rang
And all I needed was a call
That never came
To the corner of First and Amistad

"What's wrong?" He asked.

"This song," Sara said. "I listen to it when I feel lost. It keeps me sane and makes me feel safe. That probably sounds ridiculous."

"Not really. For me, it's Never Say Never. Still The Fray." Ari lifted her chin with his hand. The emerald green found the sapphire blue, and the next thing they knew, they were sharing a kiss. They were both speechless when they broke apart.

"Wow." The word escaped Ari's mouth before he could stop himself, but the smile that he saw on Sara's face was well worth a slip of the tongue.

Lost and insecure
You found me, you found me
Lyin' on the floor
Surrounded, surrounded
Why'd you have to wait?
Where were you? Where were you?
Just a little late
You found me, you found me

They danced the night away, and Ari told his teammates to keep their money, having completely forgotten about the bet. When he got home, it was obvious that a spark had been ignited in his heart. Sara's heart was also fluttering when the dance ended. They did not yet know it, but this chance meeting (Reunion, if you prefer) was written in the stars.

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