The Red Dress
2. The Ruined Puzzle
Greg faultered. He didn't want to be there. He thought he'd never feel that way, but today, he did. He thought about calling in sick, but he couldn't bring himself to make the call. Instead, he stood in the parking lot. Static. Wondering whether or not he should just turn and go back home. But he couldn't. Greg promised himself that he wouldn't let this get to him. Although he didn't even have a chance to say that she only had to pretend...He knew her true opinion of him now, and he was afraid. He didn't think he could face her, not now. And he now knew why he'd never asked her before...because of this. Whatever he was feeling. He took a deep breath and muttered to himself before stepping across the threshold and heading in to work.
Greg had been lucky so far. Sara and Nick were out working a case together and Catherine and Warrick were quickly sent out too, and so he was able to begin his shift without feeling extremely humiliated. He found himself without any work. He'd already ran the tests that needed to be done, now he had to wait for the results. Until then, he had nothing to do.
The hours they creep,
the patterns repeat.
Don't be concerned, you know I'll be fine on my own.
He was almost falling asleep when he heard Warrick and Catherine enter the room. He looked down at his watch, he'd been in that same position for hours. He frowned. He managed to keep thoughts of the weekend, and thoughts of the 'S' word from his mind up until now. He looked up at Catherine as Warrick disappeared, and sighed a sigh of relief. He really didn't need Warrick to rub salt in his wounds.
"Hey Greg," Catherine greeted him cheerfully.
"Hey Catherine," he replied, almost convincingly.
"What happened?" She asked, knowing that tone and that facial expression. She'd seen it all before.
He shook his head, and felt his heart sink once again.
She sighed as she placed an arm around his shoulder, "I'm sorry Greg." She thought Sara would at least try to help him out, just for one night. It wasn't as if he was asking her to marry him.
"Am I interrupting something?" Warrick asked as he entered, grinning to himself.
Greg looked up at him, and his grin quickly faded.
"What's up?" He asked, concerned about Greg. He didn't look like his normal self.
"Nothing..." Greg dismissed before standing from the seat
"I left some samples from our crime scene on your desk." Warrick called out after Greg as he left the break room, "what's wrong with him?"
"Sara."
"Oh...Harsh." Warrick shood his head as he took a seat beside her.
Greg found the samples waiting for him on his desk. He felt like hurling them at the wall, but he stopped himself. Instead he turned on the stereo and let the music work out the anger, the hurt that he was feeling. He got to work, and before long had all tests up and running. Once again, all he could do was wait. He thought about returning to the break room, but he decided against it. He didn't want to have to talk about it anymore. He was having enough trouble just thinking about it. There was no way he'd be able to find someone else, not now. His plans were ruined, and he knew that he'd have to 'fess up to his parents.
Greg continued to replay what had happened through his mind. Why would she say no? And why wouldn't she say yes? He remembered back to the scenarios he used to run through his mind, of how he'd sweep her away with his charm, his wit, but things never work out the way you plan them to. He continued to think things over. He hated feeling this way.
I've hidden a note,
it's pressed between pages that you've marked to find your way back.
It says, "Does he ever get the girl?"
But what if the pages stay pressed,
the chapters unfinished,
the storied too dull to unfold?
Does he ever get the girl?
-----------------------
Sara collapsed into a chair in the break room. She couldn't believe how quickly she and Nick were able to solve their case. For once it was straight forward, no twists or hidden facts that they couldn't uncover. She hated cases like those. They never felt right, and it bothered her. But deep down she knew that it wasn't the case that was truly bothering her. It was Greg. Or not so much Greg, but herself. She hated how things had gone. Why were things always so complicated? She felt horrible. Restless, she couldn't sit any longer. Sara stood and went into the corridors. She couldn't help but head out to find Greg. She needed to tell him why, to try and set things straight. She just hoped that he'd hear her out. She stopped as she caught sight of Greg slowly swinging in his chair. She saw him reach for his stereo and took the opportunity to speak to him.
Greg took out the current cd and reached for something to replace it. For some reason, every single song he listened to was depressing, regardless of the subject matter.
"Greg.." Sara trailed off. She saw him jump slightly out of his chair and knew that she'd frightened him, "sorry..."
He turned, hoping that he'd only just imagined that she was there behind him. But no such luck. There she was, looking at him, waiting for him to speak. He couldn't. He didn't know what to say, and he wasn't sure if he really had anything to say anyway. He looked away, making sure that he didn't make eye contact. If they did, he knew that he'd turn bright red, if he hadn't already.
"I just...I need," Sara began, her voice almost shaky.
"I don't need to hear it, ok?" He interrupted, almost surprised by the tone of his voice. It almost reflected exactly how he was feeling.
I'm buried alive.
I'll die in here just to be safe.
...I get nothing
and you're off with barely a sigh.
He turned his back, and knew that she was gone. She wanted to give him an explanation, but not while he was like this. Greg couldn't believe her. He shook his head. For someone so stubborn it didn't take much her leave. She must've really wanted to talk to him. He felt himself calm down, and he began to wonder. What was she going to say? He doubted that anything she could've said would make him feel any better. Nothing except for a change of mind, and what were the odds of that happening? He sighed as he took a seat, content with sitting in the silence, alone with his thoughts, however depressing they may be.
I never said "don't go."
-----------------------
Catherine took a bite from her apple as she noticed Sara storming towards the break room. She frowned, this couldn't be good. She watched as Sara entered the room and sunk into the seat across the room. Sara looked as though she was ready to hit someone. She took another bite from the apple, and wondered. Was this about Greg? She couldn't help but get involved.
"What's wrong?" She asked, although she was sure that she knew the reason behind her colleague's discomfort.
Sara shook her head, "nothing," she replied angrily. Why were men that way? She just wanted to speak to him, but no. If he really had wanted her to go out with him, why didn't he ask again? Push her to say yes? She began to ponder what her answer would be if he had asked her a second time...
"C'mon Sara, something's bothering you," Catherine said, pushing Sara to talk to her.
Sara couldn't help but wonder why Catherine was so interested in her problems. Unless Catherine already knew what her problem was..."What did Greg tell you?"
"Greg?" Catherine asked, trying to sound surprised. Off Sara's unimpressed look, she knew she'd better provide her with an explanation, otherwise she might be on the receiving end of her anger. "He just mentioned how his parents were coming this weekend and how he was going to introduce them to his girlfriend. That's all."
"His parents? Expecting to meet his girlfriend?" Sara was confused, what the hell was Cath talking about. Greg never mentioned anything about his parents.
"He told his parents that his girlfriend, Sara, would meet them this weekend, but I guess that isn't going to happen..." Catherine trailed off, trying to stir up a response from Sara. Surely she'd have enough compassion to go out with the guy for one night just to satisfy his parents.
Sara didn't reply. Catherine's words were running through her mind. She felt worse than she had before. He only wanted her to go out with him for the sake of meeting his parents. Why didn't he just mention that before? She thought back, and realised that she never really gave him the chance to. She was hating herself, and she couldn't shake it. She went into the corridor and again set out in search of Greg, but he was nowhere to be found. She checked every room where he was likely to be found, but nothing. She wondered if he'd left early. She wouldn't blame him if he did, but she really didn't need to be the reason why he was avoiding work. She checked the locker room before giving up her search. She couldn't find him. At least she'd tried. She sighed as she left the room and headed to her car.
Sara crossed the parking lot to her car, and noticed that Greg's was still parked in its usual parking space. He was still there. She wondered where he was hiding. Seeing as she couldn't find him, she decided to leave him a note on his windscreen before returning home.
Does he ever get the girl?
Thanks for the reviews! It's rad to hear that you guys actually like what I'm writing. I hope you liked this chapter, I couldn't go and leave Greg without Sara, wouldn't be right. Sorry it went for so long, and kinda ended with a cliffy. Once you pop you can't stop. Lemme know what y'all think. And just a short disclaimer.."This Ruined Puzzle" is owned by Dashboard Confessional, not me... / Britt
