A/N: I do not own CSI or any of its characters….

I'm sitting here in my Nick Stokes shirt all ready to write another chapter, but before I do, I want to thank everyone who continues to read and give me positive feedback. The reason that my chapters are so short sometimes is because I can't wait to post them and hear what everyone thinks! So sorry about that, but again, you guys rock!

VeganCSI: It seems like Brass is sort of a schizophrenic; a soft, sensitive guy sometimes, a total jerk others. So which side do you think I should focus on? Your input means a lot to me!

Islanders-15: It seems there's a lot of Brass fans out there, so I probably will have Brass in. The problem, though, is if there are Brass fans, I don't want to destroy that complex character! Maybe you could help me out with Brass, since I'm not very familiar with him, if you're interested.

Berta101: I like that idea of Brass coming in after the dance, but I was thinking of having this story ending after the dance, and then continuing later. Would that bother you? And as I replied to VeganCSI, Brass has that split personality and I don't know which side to show. Or do you think I should show both?

EllowynTinuviel: Catherine's plan is definitely good-evil! Just wait… Thanks for all the advise on my story, and my life!

QueenKate: Sorry, but there seems to be a lot of Brass fans out there! If you read the other comments, though, you'll see that I might put him in the next part of this story if there is one. I know, I know! But I don't want to make a bad last name for Catherine, and Willows just seems to suit her style so well! So sorry for that, but I think it's better that way.

NeoAthena: Thanks for reading!

Luvit: Like I said before, it seems there's too many Brass fans to leave him out, but maybe for this part I will. Thanks for the feedback!

Ladyemera1d: I just love all the CSI gang to bits, so I tend to edit out the major flaws in my head. Cath seems to me like the kind of girl who would help someone crying in the bathroom, and that would usually jump-start a relationship that could have turned out crappy. Thanks!

Jamie L.: "Ellie" is a good episode. But (and sorry for this if you're a Brass fan) did you notice how when Nick was blamed for murder, everyone was freaking out and the whole episode revolved around that, and when Brass got blamed, no one really cared all that much? Just a little observation. Maybe my brain made it up because I LOVE NICKY! Thanks for reading and the feedback!

Me: At the beginning of the story, I acknowledged that they are all different ages but for the purpose of this story, they're all going to be in the same grade. And obviously, they didn't all live in the same place, but again, for the sake of this story, they do! Thanks for reading!

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Sara looked around the lunch table. Everyone was still smiling, except, of course, Grissom, who she had come to believe, never really smiled. She took a bite of her sandwich and felt a sharp kick from underneath the table. Holding back a yelp of pain, Sara looked around. Catherine was staring right at her, jerking her head toward Nick. Sara sighed and nodded at Catherine, who grinned and kept eating.

"Hey, Nick, do you have a date to the Autumn Dance yet?"

"No, not yet."

"Would you like to go with me?" Sara noticed that Catherine was holding her breath. Nick grinned at Sara and nodded.

"Sure, Sara. Thanks for asking."

Sara smiled at Catherine, who grinned back ecstatically. The bell rang and everyone in the group got up to dump the remainders of their lunches.

"Come on Nick, time for math!" Catherine called over her shoulder, already leaving the lunchroom.

"Me and you have Home Ec now, Warrick," Greg reminded Warrick, who now looked as if he had been sucking on lemons.

Sara walked out of the lunchroom with Grissom. "So, Griss. We never really got around to talking much before school started," Sara began carefully, trying not to upset him. "What's your favorite subject?"

"Science." He didn't even look at her. Sara, ignoring the sinking feeling in her stomach, pressed on.

"Really? Me too! Everything about it just fascinates me!" Grissom turned and smiled warily at her. Sara smiled back, though her smile was sad.

"Are you going to the dance with anyone?"

"Catherine invited me." Sara felt her jaw drop.

"Are you kidding?"

"No. Though I think she did it mostly out of sympathy."

"Well… it's okay with you that I go with Nick, right?"

"Sara… it's up to you who you date." Sara waved goodbye and walked into her Social Studies class. Grissom continued down the hall to P.E.

"What are you doing Catherine?" Sara whispered to herself as she sat down by herself. Consumed in her thoughts, Sara pulled out a piece of paper and began to write.

Why can't life be simple? I wish there was somewhere I could go where my family life would be perfect… where someone would actually appreciate me for who I am. I've met so many nice people today, and the one I care most about seems to hate me. Catherine has a plan, and I'm guessing it has something to do with the dance. Hopefully she doesn't do something to make Grissom hate me even more. She and Nick seem to like each other. They just met today and they're already getting along so well. I just met Grissom today, and I've already said or done something to make him mad at me. I guess I'm lucky Catherine is a good friend. She and Nick seem to be so much more popular than Warrick, Greg, Grissom and me.

Sara just let all the stress from her life and her day pour out onto the paper, writing through every minute of class, only stopping to tell the teacher she was present. Near the end of class, she took her pages of worries and crumpled them together tightly and then threw them towards the trashcan. Sara Sidle put her head down on her desk and bit her quivering lip, begging herself not to cry.

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Grissom stood in the corner of the gym while the rest of the class was playing a game of basketball. Grissom had never bothered himself with learning how to play, so he was excused to stand and watch. Everyone seemed to not even know Grissom was there. He was, as he was accustomed to, like a ghost. When Sara had befriended him, it was as if a light had been cast on his otherwise dreary life. When Sara had smiled at him, he felt better than he could ever remember feeling. It gave him the confidence to talk to and become friend with Nick. Being friends with Nick and Sara had led to three more friends. Grissom couldn't remember feeling like part of a group in his whole life, and suddenly, he had five friends. They didn't exactly all fit into a group, but they were friends nonetheless. Rubbing his temples, Grissom sat down on the floor, watching his classmates pass the ball back and forth.

Word had traveled that Catherine Willows, the most popular girl in the freshman year, had asked Gil Grissom, whom no one really knew anything about, to the Autumn Dance. Because of that, people were still avoiding Grissom, but looking at him more, whispering to each other about him. Annoyed by the gossip, Grissom stood and went to the bathroom. He stood next to the sink and splashed cold water in his face. Looking up at his reflection, Grissom could almost see Sara standing behind him, smiling. I can't just block her out, he realized. She was my first real friend. I can be nice to her; I just have to be careful not to give her the wrong idea. Shaking his head, Grissom wiped off his face and got ready to see her again.

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The bell finally rang, and Sara lifted her head. The rest of the class was already headed out the doors. She quickly scooped up her stuff and followed them out the door. Time for science, she reminded herself. The class she had most looked forward to at the beginning of the day she was now beginning to dread. She watched her feet as she walked towards science. Someone grabbed her from behind and she whirled around quickly. Warrick stood behind her, grinning from ear to ear.

"Sorry if I scared you."

"Oh, it's alright."

"Do you have science now?"

"Yeah, how about you?"

"Yep."

"Warrick, will you do me a huge favor and sit next to me?"

"Of course!" Smiling now, Sara walked confidently into science class. Grissom was already sitting there. He looked up when she entered the room and smiled at her.

Huh?

"Sara, Warrick. Sit here!" Extremely confused, Sara walked cautiously over to Grissom and sat down. Warrick sat on her other side. Grissom continued to smile, although he seemed nervous about something. Sara, accepting the good things, found herself smiling as well. The teacher walked stood up from his desk and walked to the front of the class. He asked the students to get into groups of four. Grissom made eye contact with Sara and Warrick, who nodded, and then turned to his other side.

"Who are you?"

"Heather." The girl sitting next to him looked into his eyes and smiled slightly.

"Would you like to be in our group, Heather?"

"Of course. But… you have not told me your name."

"I'm Grissom."

"Grissom… I'll remember that." She leaned back so she could see Sara and Warrick. "And who are you two?"

"Warrick Brown."

"Sara Sidle," Sara muttered, not exactly overjoyed with the fact that Heather and Grissom were now looking into each other's eyes. Disgusted, Sara coughed loudly. Grissom looked up.

"Are you okay, Sara?"

"Yeah, just something in my throat," Sara put her hand up and pretended to cough again, covering her smile. Heather, Grissom, Sara and Warrick each reached into the middle of the table to get a textbook. Sara accidentally rested her hand on Grissom's hand as she reached for her book. She left her hand on his for a moment, shocked at how quickly she had forgotten what just the touch of his hand made her feel inside. Then she pulled away, watching Grissom for a reaction. He didn't seem to react. He just took his book and opened it.

"How do you think he hides his emotions so well?" Sara whispered to Warrick, completely unaware that Warrick hadn't noticed what had just happened.

"What are you talking about, Sara?"

"It's like he doesn't feel anything. Hiding your emotions like that… it must be hard to do."

"No one said it was easy," Warrick commented. Sara let this sink in, and then glanced at Grissom, who was biting his lower lip in concentration. Smiling, she read her own book.

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A/N: As always, tell me what you think! The quicker I get reviews the quicker I update! Thanks!