Those Interesting High School Days

Pairing: Nick and Sara, Grissom and Catherine, Warrick and Mia, Greg and Sophia

A/N: This is my first totally AU story. This takes place in a high school in Las Vegas.

Greg Sanders is a freshman. Nick, Sara, Mia and Warrick are seniors looking forward to graduating from high school and harassing freshmen. Sophia is a foreign exchange student from England in her junior year (the actress who plays her is British). Gil Grissom is the biology teacher. Catherine Willows is the English teacher. Jim Brass is the friendly paternal principal. Sam Vega is the Fighting Squirrels football coach. Conrad Ecklie is the sadistic economics teacher. Chris Cavaliere is the Spanish teacher. There will be references about Nigel Crane and Hank, but they will be Warrick and Nick's tormentors from a few years back

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the characters of CSI. I only own my original characters.

Summer Talk and Homeroom Torture

"Nick, how was your summer?" Mia asked slamming her locker shut.

"It was great," Nick said. "I worked at my mom's law firm as a gofer. One of my sisters had twins – a boy and a girl. I took Sara with me to visit my cousins in Texas. My parents celebrated their 34th anniversary with a party that my older siblings and I put together. Now I am looking forward to senior year and pestering a new crop of freshmen. How was yours?"

"I went to Lake Mead a lot with Warrick," Mia said. "The poor guy got sunburned once. Of course, I worked at the Gap."

Sara and Warrick arrived and went to their significant others. Warrick already had his necessary school supplies while Sara had to put her bag in the locker.

"Warrick, my man, what's up?" Nick said giving his buddy some weird handshake. "How was your summer?"

"It was okay," Warrick said. "My grandmother put me to work. I also went to Lake Mead with my girlfriend. I got sunburned one time and it hurt like a bitch. Nick, your girlfriend told me that you're an uncle again."

"One of my sisters had twins – one of each," Nick said.

A loud beep went off and all the students had to report to their homerooms. Nick and Sara were in the same one while Warrick and Mia both were in different ones. It was based on the first letter of one's last name.

Sara was happy that her friends saved two seats for her and Nick. Nick's friends were in different homerooms so he didn't mind sitting with Sara's. He should be used to it growing up with an older brother and five older sisters. Sometimes, he would participate in the discussions Sara and the girls were having.

A woman entered the room and loudly cleared her throat and got the attention of 23 high school seniors.

"Hello, I'm Ms. Willows," the woman said. "I am going to be your homeroom teacher this year. I have to go over a few things with you. Tomorrow morning, there will be a mandatory senior assembly at the auditorium."

The students groaned in mental agony. It was more pronounced coming from Nick and Sara.

"I know that you aren't looking forward to it," Ms. Willows said impatiently. "It will be the first and last one you will go to, I promise!"

Oh, I could sleep through that, Nick thought. I will sit with my girlfriend and I'll sleep on her shoulder.

"I was informed that there will be a new forensics club forming," Ms. Willows said. "If you are interested, talk to Mr. Grissom, the biology teacher."

The same Mr. Grissom that keeps a fetal pig in a jar with formaldehyde in his classroom, both Nick and Sara thought. Forensics is fascinating, but not if we have to hang out with Miss Piggy.

"I am now going call roll," Ms. Willows said. "When I call your name, please raise your hand and say 'here'. You know the routine."

Nick and Sara were looking out the window waiting for their names to be called.

"Sara Sidle," Ms. Willows said.

"Here," Sara called out and raised her hand.

Nick just stared at his desk for no apparent reason.

"Nicholas Stokes," Ms. Willows said.

"Present!" he said. "Please, call me Nick!"

Ms. Willows looked at him funny and proceeded with her roll call.

"Good morning, I am Mr. Brass," a man's voice at the PA system said. "I am your school principal. Welcome back classes of 2005, 2006 and 2007, I hope you had a wonderful summer. Welcome to high school, class of 2008. Today is day One in a cycle of Seven. Now I am going to give you the SAT word of the day. Today's word is ambivalent meaning contradictory feelings or attitudes towards an object. I will use this word in a sentence. She was ambivalent about her future choices."

That was the lamest sentence he has ever uttered, Sara thought.

"Tomorrow after school, there will be a pep rally for the Fighting Squirrels football team," Mr. Brass said. "We are all hoping for another state championship season led by Head Coach Sam Vega. I hope you can attend the rally and attend the games. Go Fighting Squirrels! Good luck to everyone this year!"

The PA system fell silent. Ms. Willows had already finished calling roll. She just watched to see if any senior in her homeroom was causing any trouble. Nick and Sara resumed talking to Sara's friends.

There was a loud buzzing noise that caused the students to grit their teeth in mental agony. They should have been used to it, but still it was irritating to hear. Why could they have gotten a bell instead of a buzzer, every student thought.

Sara got up from her desk first and looked at her schedule. Nick followed her out the door.

"What do you have for first period?" Nick asked.

"I have Economics with Mr. Ecklie in room 323," Sara said with dread in her voice. "It'll be boring and I could sleep through it. What about you?"

"I have Spanish with Mr. Cavaliere in room 242," Nick frowned.

"Looking from our schedules," Sara said. "We have study hall fourth period and lunch fifth period together in Café Vomit. I'll see you at fourth period."

"I will be there for sure," Nick said. "I love you, Sara."

"I love you, too, Nick," Sara said as they went their separate ways.

TBC