A/N: I continue to LOVE writing this story, mostly because I can wake up, get dressed, and start the day smiling by reading all the reviews from the readers! Because I love ya all so much, I'm responing to anonnomys reviewers now! First off, I do not own CSI or any of it's characters.
Islanders- 15: I'll put in something to divide the two POV's from now on. Thanks for the advice!
unfortunateforever: Thanks! Kids are jerks, and I'm just bringing that reality into this story, but in most cases, there are also great people like Catherine!
berta101: I'll probably stick Brass in there, but I was just wondering to myself how he would fit into "the system"? I just don't know what group he'd be in! So if you could think of something, tell me!
Gossamerwings7: Thank you so much! I always worry that readers will get lost, but I'll try to lay off it a bit. Thanks for the critique!
!robin: I let Greg have some shots here, because there's a lot of Greg/Sara shippers out there. I plan to hook Greg up with an OC, and sorry if he sounded obsessed!
justme: Alrighty Greg Fan! Thanks for the lovins'. Love you, sissy!
EllowynTinuviel: Really? Everyone tells me freshman year is really hard! Well, I have an evil plot in my mind for the dance thing. Also, what a great way to get obsessing boys off your back about a dance date! Most preps, in my experience anyway, are nice when their apart from their groups and in the groups, STAY AWAY! I just can't imagine Catherine being really mean, so I'll keep her away from the groups for the most part. Thanks for the review!
leothelion04: I don't really mean to write certian relationships into this! I just write what I think would happen if the chracters were places in certain situations, and whatever comes out comes out!
DvD: Dad, you're such a weirdo! But thanks. I love you!
Enjoy!
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The dog likes to run and leap. Enter.
The turtle is a very slow animal. Enter
Sara sat back, frustrated. Warrick leaned across his computer and whispered in her ear.
"Didn't we practice with these when we were in third grade?"
"Reading my mind," Sara grunted back. She had always hated typing. She was more of a research kind of girl. Sighing, she got back to work.
The fox family lives in a hill. Enter.
"Hey, Sara, is this your friend?" Greg sat back from his computer so Sara could get a look. Her friend Veronica smiled up at her, her brown hair up in a ponytail and her cheer outfit on. Sara leaned forward in disbelief.
"I didn't know she had a picture on the computer." Greg grinned.
"She probably doesn't know it either."
"How'd you do that?"
"I can do anything," Greg boasted. Sara lightly punched his shoulder and the bell rang.
"Go to lunch!" The teacher said. Sara picked up her bags, already feeling her heart thumping wildly.
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"Catherine, what were you thinking?" Grissom seethed in the hall. Catherine was still laughing.
"Lighten up, Grissom. It got them off your back!" After a moment of thought, she added, "And mine." Grissom ran his hand through is hair.
"There are two problems with this. Number one, I can't dance."
"Everyone can dance, Grissom, just some people are too afraid to try."
"Number two, people might get the wrong idea," he concluded. Catherine grinned.
"Who you thinkin' of, Gil?" she teased. Grissom shot her a venomous look and kept walking.
"Look Grissom, the dance is Friday. It's Wednesday now. We have two and a half days to figure out what we want to do about this dance thing. But I'm telling you know, unless you get another date for the dance, I am not un-inviting you. You'll be pulverized." Grissom sighed, realizing that Catherine had a point. They reached the lunchroom and Catherine walked straight in, leaving a hesitant Grissom in the doorway. Realizing he wasn't walking with her, Catherine turned sharply on her heel and looked directly into his eyes.
"You just gotta grit your teeth and do it," she told him, not looking away. Grabbing his hand, she pulled him into the lunchroom. Grissom looked around for Sara. He found her fairly quickly leaning against the soda machine. She had her head tilted to the side and she was laughing at something that Nick had said. Grissom felt jealousy deep within his stomach, but as he had agreed with himself earlier, he kept his face blank. Catherine released him and Grissom looked over at her. A blush had found its' way to her cheeks and she was looking uncharacteristically meek. Grissom followed her eyes to Nick, who, it seemed, was doing an Elvis impression for Sara. Grissom saw an African American boy with glasses and a boy with spiky hair sitting down near where Sara and Nick were standing. Catherine continued to stare, a dreamy smile passing over her face. Grissom shook his head and walked towards the table. Catherine followed him, not paying attention to her surroundings. Nick turned, still laughing at himself, and saw Grissom.
"Hey Griss!" he called, waving him over.
"Hi Nick," Grissom called back. Sara seemed to jump at the sound of his voice. She looked up and smiled at Grissom, then saw Catherine.
"Hey Catherine! Catherine?" Snapping back into reality, Catherine turned to face her.
"What?"
"Are you okay? You're spacing out." Catherine looked confused, then suddenly smiled at Sara.
"Boys, we'll be right back," she told the four boys who were sitting at the table. Sprinting down the hall as fast as she could without getting in trouble for running, Catherine headed straight for the girls bathroom, Sara tailing close behind.
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"So, how were everyone's classes?" Nick asked conversationally, sipping on a thermos of coffee he had brought from home. Grissom looked up at the other boys, who were looking down at the table. He starting drawing circles on the table with his finger. Nick hit himself in the forehead. "Sorry, I forgot to introduce everyone. Sara already did intros, but you were late Grissom, so I'll fill you in. This is Greg," he said motioning to the spiky haired boy who gave a small wave. "He's captain of the chess club. And this is Warrick." The other boy nodded uncomfortably. "And guys, this is Grissom." Everyone sat in silence for a moment, and then Greg broke out into a smile.
"Alright, I know we just met, but this ground has got to be covered while the ladies are away. Who's dating who here?" Nick and Warrick smiled and Grissom continued to look down.
"Do you really think girls date guys like me?" Warrick asked, scoffing.
"I'm single... sadly," Nick laughed.
"What about you Grissom?" Grissom looked up. The three boys were looking at him, genuine interest reflected in their faces. He sighed.
"I think girls are a waste of time." He saw Greg's jaw drop in disbelief and he continued. "They get in the way of everything. The future is so much more than having a girl want to be with you."
Nick nodded. "I know where you're coming from, man. But for me, if I like someone, it's gonna be special, you know what I'm saying? I'm not just gonna date any girl that moves. I think you should just know when it's someone you want to be with." Grissom reminded himself of his deal and turned away.
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Catherine was pacing the bathroom while Sara stood next to the paper towels, watching her friend anxiously.
"Cath, are you okay? We've been in here for three minutes now and all you've done is pace!" Catherine suddenly stopped and looked at Sara.
"You know about the Autumn Dance, right?"
"Yeah..."
"Do you have a date to it?"
"Well, no. I'm too nervous to ask who I want to, and there's no other boys in this school that I like."
"Well, you know that boy who was standing by you?"
"Who, Nick?"
"Yeah... Nick. Nick told me that he really wanted to ask you to the dance as a friend, but he was nervous."
"Catherine, Nick and I just met today." Catherine just glared at Sara.
"Look, just trust me on this. Ask him to the dance." She could feel Sara's hesitation. "Please? For me?" Sara sighed.
"Fine. You win. I was going to ask Grissom, but he'd probably say no. But you owe me!" Catherine smiled.
"Believe me, you'll be owing me when the dance comes."
The two girls walked out of the bathroom.
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"Hey, where you been Sara?" Nick yelled across the now crowded cafeteria. "And... who's your friend?" Catherine looked up at Nick through her eyelashes.
"I'm Catherine Willows." Nick grinned at her. She lifted her head and smiled back. Sara gently pushed Catherine into her seat, leaning over to whisper, "What happened to acting all flirty and getting in his face?" Catherine just shrugged, still smiling at Nick. Sara looked to Nick, who was also grinning. Shaking her head, Sara took her seat next to Grissom. He was looking down at the table, not touching his food.
"Grissom?" Sara gently touched his sleeve. He quickly stood and Sara jerked back, hurt by this rejection.
"Does anyone want a soda?" He asked the table. Greg asked for a mountain dew and Warrick said he could use a coke.
"I'll have a Pepsi."
"I'll have the same," Catherine said, glancing at Nick. Grissom hurried off to get everyone their drinks. Sara quickly wiped a tear away and turned to talk to the table.
"So, Greg, you gotten in touch with Veronica yet?"
"Nope. I'll write her as soon as I get home, though. Or maybe call her."
"I didn't give you her phone number!" Greg just smiled at Sara. "Oh right. 'You can do anything'."
"Double technology bites, man," Warrick was telling Nick at the other end of the table. "Not only does the teacher stink, but I'm not learning anything in that class!"
"I know what you mean. Typing about fluffy animals isn't gonna help us in life."
"What classes does everyone have for the rest of the day?" Greg asked, pulling out his schedule. There was a loud rustling as everyone else pulled out their schedule. Sara half- heartedly pulled hers out. Grissom sat next to her and she tried not to look at him, though she could feel him looking at her. Greg collected everyone's schedules and quickly made a list. He set the list in the middle so everyone could get a look.
GRISSOM:
Per. 1 Shop
Per. 2 Drama
Per. 3 Literature
Per. 4 Home Ec.
Per. 5 P.E.
Per. 6 Science
Per. 7 Social Studies
CATHERINE:
Per. 1 Technology
Per. 2 P.E.
Per. 3 Meal Management
Per. 4 Home Ec.
Per. 5 Math
Per. 6 P.E.
Per. 7 Social Studies
SARA:
Per. 1 Math
Per. 2 Art
Per. 3 Literature
Per. 4 Technology
Per. 5 Social Studies
Per. 6 Science
Per. 7 P.E.
GREG:
Per. 1 Science
Per. 2 Math
Per. 3 Literature
Per. 4 Technology
Per. 5 Home Ec.
Per. 6 Social Studies
Per. 7 P.E.
WARRICK:
Per. 1 Math
Per. 2 Art
Per. 3 Technology
Per. 4 Technology
Per. 5 Home Ec.
Per. 6 Science
Per. 7 Social Studies
NICK:
Per. 1 Home Ec.
Per. 2 Drama
Per. 3 Literature
Per. 4 Technology
Per. 5 Math
Per. 6 P.E.
Per. 7 Social Studies
"Hey, we've got the next three periods together!" Nick told Catherine, who smiled and nodded casually. Sara recognized the look of a person trying to hide their true feelings, in this case overwhelming excitement. Sara turned and forced a smile in Grissom's direction.
"Hey, remember, we've got science together 6th period." Grissom just gave her a half smile and looked back at the paper. Sara, satisfied that he didn't completely hate her, grinned at everyone, who was smiling. Anyone who walked into the lunchroom would have noticed the unlikely mix of people, all leaning into the table and smiling as if they had known each other forever.
Sorry, kind of short… review! Also, I need feedback on who wants Brass in or out, and does anyone mind if I stick some original characters in here? Tell me, or I can't fix it!
Thanks!