Yeah, I found some time and decided I spent it on writing Chapter 4. Enjoy!
Sara's Pov
I lie.
I lie to my friends.
I lie to my co-workers.
I lie to myself.
I lie to myself when I say that I am strong.
Because even if I say that I am strong and even if I act like it, I am not. And I am definitely not strong right now while I am sitting in this club, emptying my second beer, trying to forget the fact that I am lying to myself.
No, I am not strong. At least not as strong as I liked myself be.
I let out a sigh and grab a toothpick.
Toothpicks somehow got me. I like to play with them. It makes me look busy. Not lonely. Only busy playing with my toothpick. I can alternate between drumming the toothpick on the table, rolling it between my fingers and chewing on it.
The latter looks really cool.
Somewhat mysterious.
Somewhat thoughtful.
I met Anna whilst playing with a toothpick.
I let out another sigh and stare at the wall in front of me.
"I like toothpicks."
I just said that, no need to repeat yourself... wait that wasn't me.
I turn my head to look beside me. A brunette, a really sexy brunette by the way, sat down into the bar stole next to me and is, according to her look, waiting for an reply.
I am not sure what to reply to that. 'Yes, toothpicks are really great. Are you an expert? Do you produce them?' would be a bad idea, i guess.
She's sexy. She is obviously trying to start a conversation, even if it's about toothpicks, on the other hand I like toothpicks. So, go for it Sidle!
I take the toothpick between my thumb and forefinger and check her out openly before replying, "There are better things.", and with that I put it back leaning my head on my hand waiting for her reply.
"Like what?", she asks, leaning in closer. Her voice sounds a little lower than before.
"Like... two toothpicks.", I say as I sit up again and hand her one.
She laughs and takes the toothpick.
"I am Max.", she says still smirking.
"Here in town I am known as 'Toothpick Sara' but you can call me Sara", I wink.
"Let me guess your middle name is 'funny'?", she plays along.
"No. My middle name is 'witty'. Goes with the toothpick.", I explain signaling the bartender to bring two beers. One for me and one for my new friend here.
"Figures.", she says before continuing, "Well, and what is 'Toothpick Witty Sara' doing here?", she asks playfully.
"Well...", I start leaning in a little closer but before I can continue the bartender arrives with our drinks. I pull back slightly and thank him. When he vanishes again to serve the other guest I lean in again and finally continue.
"Well", I start once again, "I've been here... drinking and trying to act mysterious with my little toothpick here...", I stop and lean in even closer in order to be able to whisper into her ear, "when this gorgeous and really sexy toothpick obsessed came to me and told me that she liked toothpicks, and you? What have you been doing?", I husk into her ear letting my breath tickle her neck. When I pull back she has her eyes closed.
Ha! I still can do it!
She clears her throat and looks at me.
Suddenly she gets off her bar stole and I am worried that I scared her off. So I get off my bar stole too and want to start to apologize only to be cut off by her positioning herself in front of me. She locking eyes with me. Our bodies are almost touching, almost.
"I was already on my way home when I spotted this stunning brunette who is definitely worth staying a little longer.", she says seductively.
Well, she isn't that bad either.
"And what are we...", I start when I suddenly see Warrick enter the club, Nick and... oh no... Catherine following him.
Max follows my stare.
"Someone you know?", she asks turning her head back to me.
"Yeah, and at times like these I wish I wouldn't.", I say keeping my eyes on the three of them.
Max is sitting already in her bar stole again when Warrick spots me. Smiling he makes his way to the bar. I fake that same smile.
"Hey, Rick.", I greet, not so happy about the fact that we are at the same club.
Don't get me wrong he's a great friend and I really like him as I like Nick, but I came here to be alone. I didn't forbid going home with someone else but I wanted to be alone which means being with people which I don't know and I certainly didn't intend to spend the night at this club with Cath.
"Sara! Didn't knew you were here", he says.
Well, you guys not knowing where I was is what I intended by coming alone without telling someone.
"Yeah, thought I get some distraction.", I explain daring one glance at Catherine knowing that she'll understand the hidden meaning.
Nick joins in now and greets me heartily.
"Hey, Sar! You want to join us? We spotted a empty both back there.", he tells me and before I can make up my mind about what to do Max notifies herself by giving me a matchbook with her number on it adding,
"Call me."
With that she empties her beer and leaves.
Damn! I was this close.
I look at the matchbook and then back at Nick and Warrick who are smirking like idiots. Before they can say something embarrassing I take my beer and make my over to the empty booth not missing the hurt look on Catherines face.
"So, Sara you know that girl?", Nick asked as we sit down trying to get the attention of the bartender and when he finally gives up on trying he looks at me again, full of expectation. He looks hopeful actually. As if he expects me to say something like, 'Yeah, Nick. I know her. We had a couple of pillow fights.'
"No, not really. I just met her.", I say truthfully.
"Oh, but she seems to like you.", he says, smirking even wider nudging Warrick who sits to his left.
"She likes toothpicks.", I state. Totally confusing him.
"Erm... I am going to get a fresh round. What do you guys want?"
"A beer.", I say emptying mine and hand him the bottle.
"Make that two.", Warrick says.
"And you Cath?", Nick asks her directly.
"I'll take one, too. But get me some shot will ya?", she answers.
"Okay. So three beer and a shot, anything else?", he asks. Taking the silence as a no he leaves for the bar.
"Excuse me, ladies", Warrick gets up and straightens his shirt, "But I need to take care of something.", he says making his way over to a girl on the dance floor.
"Charmer.", I mumble smiling to the floor deliberately trying to avoid eye contact with Cath. The only person who's left on the table.
"You would know."
My head snaps up and I see her staring at me with hurt and anger in her eyes.
"Excuse me?", I say.
"I said you wou...", she begins but I cut her off before she can repeat herself.
"I know what you said.", I snap, starting to feel the anger boiling up.
That's typical Catherine Willows. We ignore each other. We don't even manage to say 'hello' to each other but when she's jealous, and she's definitely jealous, she decides to provoke me just to get a damn reaction just so she can let off her steam.
"I always thought I am the one who uses her sexuality to get what she wants but you really know how that's done.!", she says while she steps into her office with me following her.
I close the door. Even if us fighting isn't anything unusual to the others I don't want them to witness our fight.
"My god Catherine, what is your damn problem?", I ask slightly annoyed by her reaction.
"My problem is that you are hypocritical, Sara. Telling me I use my sexuality but you aren't doing any better. That's my damn problem.", she yells at me stepping closer to me.
"Yeah, of course. Catherine you've been there. He flirted with me...", I start but get cut off.
"Sara, Sara Sildle.", she mocks my earlier words, "Come on! Who are you kidding?You totally flirted back."
I start to lose my patience and step even closer so we are barley a feet away from each other.
"I wasn't flirting back. I was merely telling him my name! And even if I was flirting back it is nothing of your damn business!", I yell back.
"Yeah, of course. If that was just telling your name I don't even want to know what you do when you flirt.", she snorts. "And it gets my business when it affects your work!", she justifies.
Good god, I don't get her. She's acting like she's jealous.
And suddenly it hits me. She IS jealous.
"You know the only one who is affected by that, is you, it seems.", I tell her smirking viciously.
"Oh, come on...", she exclaims.
"No, no, no... everything fits. How you looked at me when I was interviewing him and how you are acting now. All frustrated...", I stop smirking at her again stepping behind her and bend down so that my mouth is directly beneath her ear, "Tell me Cath...", I whisper, "Could it be that you are jealous?"
I can't do her the favor to fight back because Nick comes back and puts down the drinks. I grab the shot, her shot, and gulp it down. I look at Catherine and take my beer and take a big swallow of it before I stand up, immediately feeling the alcohol. I pull out my wallet and throw some notes on the table not caring how much I left.
"I really need to go.", I say and start to make my way over to the exit.
"Have fun", I throw back over my shoulder meaning it more to Cath than to Nick, knowing she'll also understand the sarcasm.