A/N: The final score is 10 for A ; 6 for B (assuming that is what MXPW meant when he said I would know) ; 1 for C and 14 for Neither/I don't care which means that a good portion of you will be glad to hear the next one is the last.
Chapter 12: (8 Hours and 40 minutes later)
"Did you know the Blue Diner by the park doesn't do take-out?"
"Huh?"
Chuck repeats himself. "They don't do take-out." He turns back to look at her, not in the least apologetic. "I had to sit at a table, order the meals, and then pack it all to go. And tip them twenty percent—for the inconvenience I caused them."
Sarah's face flushed with embarrassment. Now the tables were turned back on her. Hadn't she been the one who directed him there in the first place?
"She recognized me first," Chuck explained. "We got to chatting. I was waiting for my food, she was eating dinner alone." Just when Sarah thought he'd never smile again, Chuck gifted her with a mega-watt beaming grin. "Sarah…she's a brunette."
Sarah narrowed her eyes. "I know," she growled. Don't remind me.
With one gentle squeeze on the shoulder, Chuck somehow managed to undo all her riled up tension. Her knotted muscles melted under his touch and she felt herself relax for the first time all day.
"So you know I have a pathological aversion to brunettes." He stuck his tongue out cheekily at her. "You're adorable when you're jealous, you know that? Adorable…and a little scary."
"I wasn't jealous!" she exclaimed. Sarah could feel the rush of denial color her cheeks a deep, deep red.
"So you wouldn't mind if I asked her out to dinner—"
Sarah glared at him, threatening him to finish the sentence.
Chuck stopped and grinned at her. "—with Morgan?" He clapped his hands together and laughed, and Sarah hated herself for being baited so easily.
"You can't," she said, pursing her lips.
"What? But why?"
"Because Morgan's going to have dinner with Carol."
Chuck wrinkled his brows. "Since when?"