A/N: Thanks to all my reviews! You guys really cheered me up! thumbs up By the way, just in case anyone was wondering, this is placed in 2005, so everything is up to snuff, and also… I do not own CSI or any of its characters, but I wish I owned Nicky… oh well, maybe in some other fiction. Enjoy!
Sara and Grissom walked down the stairs, comparing schedules. The only classed they shared were Literature and Science, 3rd and 6th period. Grissom made witty, but kind comments that made Sara find that she couldn't stop smiling, something that rarely happened with her. Usually she was serious or frowning. Something about being with Grissom made her feel happier than ever. Grissom seemed different than anyone else in the school, but just his presence made her happier. The first bell rang and Sara and Grissom had to go to their first classes. Grissom went off to Shop, which he didn't seem too happy about, and Sara went to Math.
Grissom started out awkwardly, adjusting the goggles over his face as the shop teacher yelled out instructions on how to use the various tools to a group of jocks who had never even given Grissom a second glace. Grissom sighed and focused on the 12v impact drill.
Sara sat in algebra as the teacher sat at her desk, reading a large book. Tapping her pencil impatiently, Sara tried to focus on the problem, but several boys kept making kissy noises and flirting with her, and frankly, she found that she found distracting. It seemed like third period would never arrive. The door opened with a squeak, making everyone turn to see who was entering. A short African American boy tripped into the room. His glasses skidded across the room as he hit the floor. All the jocks laughed, but Sara jumped up, worried, and grabbed the boy's glasses. He was standing, looking highly embarrassed and trying not to look any of his classmates in the eye. Sara handed him his glasses.
"Here. Are you okay?" He looked up at her and Sara noticed his brilliant green eyes.
"Yeah, I'm fine," The boy said, putting his glasses on. "I'm Warrick Brown." He stuck out his hand.
"Sara Sidle. You have gorgeous eyes, by the way," she stated in her usual straightforward fashion.
Warrick smiled weakly. "People always tease me about them," he admitted to Sara.
Several of the boys who had been flirting earlier proved his point by elbowing each other and whispering something about "glow-in-the-dark green". Sara said to Warrick loudly, " Well, Warrick, that's because people are stupid." They shut up and shifted in their seats, looking away from the couple up front.
"Do you have a note?" The teacher asked, standing. Warrick stepped forward to give the teacher his note. She read it, then glanced at Warrick, then back at the paper. "Everyone, this is Warrick Brown." Oblivious to the fact that she was being ignored, the teacher pressed on. "Would anyone be willing to let Warrick sit next to them for the rest of the semester?"
Sara smiled at Warrick. "He can sit next to me, Miss Link." Sara walked up and tugged on Warrick's sleeve. He smiled thankfully at her. "Come on Warrick, I'll show you where you can sit," Warrick followed Sara down the aisle. "Just ignore them," Sara whispered, referring to the other boys, who were glaring jealously. Warrick sighed, glad that someone in his class was nice.
Grissom plucked off his goggles, disgusted. The class had been mostly the other boys throwing piece of wood and small nails at each other while Grissom stood aside with the teacher and asked questions about how the tools worked. Half the time Grissom knew more than the teacher about the tools. She unzipped his binder and pulled out his schedule. Next he had Drama. Now there was something that he could enjoy. Hoping for some cold reading of Shakespeare, he hurried down the hall.
"What do you have next Warrick?" Sara asked, leaning over to glance at his schedule.
Warrick looked at it, grimacing. "Art class," he said sourly, cramming his schedule into a book.
Sara felt her spirits drop. "Me too… art isn't my best subject," she said, gathering up her books.
Warrick smiled at her. "Mine neither."
Sara stood, waiting for Warrick. "Let's go," she sighed, already dreading it.
A smiling woman stood at the door, ushering students inside the art room. Sara and Warrick walked slowly up the door, talking about their days so far.
"I missed the bus, so I had to walk to school. That's why I came to class late." Sara smiled.
"I got here early, and I met this really nice boy. He's kind of strange, but really nice. His name's Gil, but he liked to be called Grissom. You'll probably meet him at lunch," she told him, suddenly worried that Grissom might not want to sit with her. They looked up at the smiling teacher.
"Hello children!" Sara felt her eyebrows rise. Children? She glanced over and Warrick, who was looking like he couldn't believe it. "Today is a super day, and you're just going to love art! I'm Mrs. Cast, but you can all call me Daisy! Come in, come in!" she pushed the reluctant couple forward.
Grissom entered the classroom. The teacher stood up front taking attendance. Grissom looked around the room. There were several seats open. One was next to a girl who looked disgusted as she looked him over. Grissom tried to ignore her and considered the other options. Another was next to several guys flexing their muscles at girls nearby, who giggled and batted their eyelashes. Looking quickly away, Grissom saw his last option. A boy with dark hair and brown eyes sat next to an empty seat. He was the only one in class with a book open. Taking a leap of faith, Grissom walked up to him and sat down. The boy glanced up at him, gave him a half-smile, and looked back at the teacher.
"Who are you?" the teacher asked, pointed at the boy next to Grissom.
"Nick Stokes, sir," he responded. Grissom detected a Texas accent in the boys' voice.
"And you?" the teacher pointed at Grissom.
"Gilbert Grissom," he said.
"Gilbert?" Several people laughed out loud, making Grissom blush involuntarily. Nick turned, gave him his full attention and introduced himself.
"I'm Nick. You like Drama?" he asked.
"Not yet," Grissom said truthfully. "Call me Grissom."
Nick smiled at him and class began.
And hour and twenty failed pencil sketch self-portraits later, they shuffled out of art, exhausted.
"What do you have now, Sara?" Warrick asked, adjusting his glasses.
Sara beamed, excited. "Literature! You?" Warrick frowned.
"I got Technology. Well, I guess I'll see you at lunch."
"Yeah, see ya!" Sara waved at him, walking as fast as she could towards her Lit. class.
Nick sat with Grissom, looking over their schedules. "Well, looks like we've got Literature together next, and lunch of course, and that's it." Everyone but a group of jock-looking boys had left. The jocks stood near the door, looking at Nick, then at the clock.
"You with them?" Grissom asked glancing nervously to the boys at the door.
Nick looked up. "You go ahead guys, I'll catch up," Nick shouted at them, and then looked back to the schedules.
"Friends of yours? Grissom asked Nick.
"Yeah, we've played football together for years," he replied, handing Grissom back his schedule. "Should we go?"
Suddenly, Grissom's heart rate seemed to increase. "Literature's next?" he asked Nick, trying not the blush.
"Yeah, why?" Nick asked, confused. Grissom walked quickly towards the door.
"Let's hurry. Don't want to be late," Grissom shot over his shoulder, smiling to himself.
Sara saw the door for Lit class and broke into a run. Grabbing the doorknob, she shoved the door open and stumbled in, glancing around quickly.
Grissom wasn't there.
Sara sighed and looked at the clock. Class was about to start, and she didn't want to sit alone. She looked at open seats and spotted a boy with spiky brown hair tapping his fingers on his desk as if he was playing the drums. Smiling, Sara sat next to him. Startled, the boy looked over at her. Sara looked quickly around and found the seating was perfect; not only was she next to someone who looked interesting, but just in case Grissom showed up, there was an empty seat right in front of her and one beside her.
The boy leaned across the aisle and said, "Hey, I'm Greg. What's your name?"
"Sara. Nice to meet you," unsure what to expect from this boy, Sara kept looking at him.
"So, what's a girl like you doing in a boring class like this?" Greg asked, smiling at her.
Sara smiled back. "You know, you're the first boy all day to hit on me in some other way then grunting, making kissing noises and showing of your muscles," she said, flattered at the attention from a boy who seemed smarter than a lot of the boys here. "What make you so special?"
"Well, you see, all the other boys here are probably desperate jocks, obsessed with themselves. Now me, I'm a desperate scientist, obsessed with molecules and atoms." Sara smiled at Greg and leaned back in her seat. She was just about to ask him if he knew Grissom when a tall dark haired boy walked into the classroom. He sat next to Sara, who felt her heart tighten. Grissom walked in right behind the boy, and Sara let out a nervous sigh. Grissom saw Sara and smiled at her.
"Hey Griss! Come sit in front of me," she said, pointing at the seat in front of her. Grissom slid into the seat, and the teacher stood, about to start class. Grissom turned and leaned towards Sara. She leaned in towards him to hear what he was whispering.
"It's great to see you again Sara," Grissom said genuinely. Sara bit her lip to focus on stopping herself from breathing in the smell of him. Just a whiff of his hair, he won't even notice… Sara closed her eyes and sniffed the air. Nothing. She opened them to see Grissom had already turned around to face the front.
"Friend of yours?" Greg asked, sounding a little disappointed.
Sara smiled at Greg. "Yeah. I guess he is."
Questions? Comments? Any remarks whatsoever? Sorry the chapters aren't too long; I'm still a little timid about this! Remember, reviews are always needed! Thanks everyone!