After a rough shift, Sara wasn't sure she could cope with going out. But as Nick said goodbye to her in the car parking lot with a huge grin on her face, she didn't have the heart to tell him. Instead she went home, rifled through her closet, emptied it's entirety onto her bed and still struggled to find something to wear.
'Somewhere special,' those words ran around in her head. What exactly could you wear to 'Somewhere special'? Finally, just as she thought all hope was lost, her eye caught sight of something under several garments on the bed. Noticing the time, 6:40, she rushed over to it - pulling it out of the pile and hastily put it on.
As she stood, admiring herself in the mirror, she couldn't help thinking that something was missing… She wore a sleek, deep purple halter necked dress which complimented her figure perfectly.
The necklace her friend had given her… That's what was missing! As she attached the clasp around her neck, the Amethyst stone slide into place just in time as the doorbell rang.
Sara opened the door and her stomach sunk. Nick was standing at the door in a pair of jeans and a blue shirt and a jacket - looking as casual as anything. As she looked Nick up and down, form head to toe, she was a little speechless.
"Oh… I'm sorry, I'll go change. I though we were going to a restaurant or something," embarrassment clearly edged Sara's voice and face as she turned and started to head towards her bedroom; but a hand caught her arm, stopping her in her tracks.
"Sara, you look beautiful…" Nicks voice and compliment allowed Sara to relax a little despite being a bit uncomfortable by the rarity of a compliment, "I want to apologize for you getting mis-lead about what to wear, but where I'm taking you really is special."
"I should still change though, I mean… I look a bit out of place," Sara's insecurities were getting the better of her as her nerves made themselves known.
"Why would you do that when you look so gorgeous?" Nicks voice was deadly serious and he smiled as Sara's face showed the faintest hue of pink in them. "Come on," he said, taking her hand, "Your carriage awaits madam."
Grabbing her purse, which lay upon her work surface, Sara allowed herself to be lead down the pathway and up to Nick's car. He quickly opened the door so Sara could get in and then made his way around to the driver's side.
As he started the ignition the radio came on. Immediately, Nick started singing softly to the tune which was playing. Sara just sat smiling as they drove through the hustle and bustle that was Sin City.
- - - - -
After a half an hour drive, the banter between the pair had resumed. Nick pulled his Denali up into the car park and Sara finally realized where they were.
"Lake Tahoe..." Smiling, Sara followed Nick out and round to boot.
"Oh no! You have got to be kidding me!" Nick said as he looked at the picnic basket and interior of the Denali.
Somewhere in their journey, the wine that Nick had packed had smashed and leaked all over the back of the car and all over the picnic food. He quickly rescued what was left of the food and grabbed the blanket from the back seat, determined that nothing else was going to go wrong.
"These sandwiches are nice… Despite the slight taste of wine," Sara giggled as she spoke, which bought a smile to Nicks face.
"At least it can't get any worse," he replied. Despite the small problems that had occured, Nick felt that it was all going pretty well. He had succeeded in making Sara laugh and had a chance to see her in an amazing dress that was an image of perfection in his eyes.
"Ouch!" Sara swiftly moved her hand in an attempt to kill something, "Ow! Something's biting me!"
Sara swatted around a few more times before Nick finally got bitten. In the space of a few moments they seemed to be surrounded by the flying creatures, who seemed all to happy to feast on the pair.
"Ouch! Ah, damn mosquitoes," hastily taking Sara's hand and taking hold of the blanket and remaining food he lead her to a nearby bench which had bug repellant lights around it.
"You would have thought it's a bit cold for mosquitoes this time of year," Sara said jokingly as she rubbed her arm. Even with it being fall, the mosquitoes seemed to be out in force.
"Here," Nick pulled off the jacket he put on Sara's shoulders in an attempt to stop the onslaught of midge bites, "At least this will stop them a little..."
Sara pulled it tight around her shoulders and she basked in the warmth and shield it gave her, "Thanks."
"I'm really sorry about all of this Sara, I'll understand if you…"
Before Nick had a chance to finfish his sentence, a deep rumble echoed throughout the land. The pair looked up at the skies.
"You have got to be kidding!"
The heavens opened and buckets of water came flooding to the ground. Sara quickly slipped off her shoes before she and Nick looked towards one another and simultaneously smirked and shouted, "RUN!"
They immediately got up and started sprinting to where they had parked, hand in hand. As they sat in the warm, dry interior of the Denali they both burst out laughing as they looked at one another. As the laughter subsided, Nick had a foolproof plan that wouldn't be able to go wrong.
"Would you like to come back to mine?" As he registered what he just said he quickly continued talking, "I mean, to watch a movie or something?"
"As long as I can borrow a towel, I seem to be a bit wet," she replied.
Nicks famous Texan smile crept across his face, "Deal! I think I may be need one as well."
He tousled his wet hair a little, trying to get a few of the drips out before starting up the car. The radio jumped into life and Nick's singing started up again.
