Does He Ever Get The Girl?

3. Belated

Greg's mind was racing as he continued to struggle with the situation he had found himself in. There he sat, on his couch in his apartment, beside the very woman who had confined him to this very same position a mere hour ago. He'd allow himself to feel hope once again, though he cautioned himself. She might have different intentions to yours...He continued to process the thoughts that raced through his mind as Sara placed her empty beer bottle on the table.

"You want another beer?" He offered as he stood, noticing that his own was getting low.

"Sure," she replied with a smile.

She leant back into the couch as she gently sighed. She didn't know what she was doing here. Sure she'd wanted to set things straight, to apologize for what she'd done. But so far they'd both had comfortable conversations, and even joked with each other. She couldn't believe her luck when he'd invited her in with a smile, when he'd offered her a beer, and they'd just mended back together like old times. It was almost as though the last week hadn't happened. In a way she wanted to continue to ignore it, to focus on what was happening now. But at the back of her mind it lingered. I need to set things right...Her thoughts trailed off as Greg returned with another beer.

"Thanks."

"No problemo..." He said as he returned to his position on the couch.

Greg looked over at the clock and realized just how long they'd been sitting there. They really hadn't said much to each other. Sure they'd spoken, but nothing about their date...He found that they'd both fallen into a comfortable silence, and began to wish that he could read minds. What is she thinking? He quickly glanced across at her, noticing that she was fidgeting with her beer. A smile crept onto his face, and he found himself feeling as comfortable with Sara as he'd ever been before.

"You know, peeling off the label is a sign of sexual frustration." He said matter-of-factly, preparing himself for the retaliation that was more than likely imminent.

Sara stared at him for a moment, half in shock, half in amusement. She picked up the pillow from beside her and threw it at his head. He ducked just as the pillow went sailing past, and he began to laugh.

"I guess that's a confirmation on the sexual frustration, huh?" He teased as he raised an eyebrow.

Sara couldn't help but allow a smile to cross her face as she stood and pulled back a balled fist. Greg stood and put his arms up in defence as she slowly moved towards him. He couldn't help but study her, and realize that she wasn't angry at all. If it had been anyone else, they would've slapped him by now...but with Sara, things were different. They were comfortable with each other, and her sexual frustration...He giggled at his thoughts, distracted just long enough for Sara to punch him in the arm.

"Hey, hey!" He managed to say as he continued to laugh, "I'm sorry okay?" He apologized, rather unconvincingly.

Sara punched him again just a little harder, easily noting that his apology wasn't even remotely sincere, "say it like you mean it." She teased, as she pulled back her fist again.

"Just sorry that you have to suffer from the sexual frustration..." He readied himself again for her retaliation, but before she could punch him again she pushed her back, causing her to lose her footing and land on the couch. She glared at him as he took a seat beside her. His facial expression made her giggle, he was really starting to look afraid. Greg looked across at her, and found that laughter really was infectious. The two of them sat side by side and laughed for a few more seconds before it died down, and the room fell into silence once again.

Sara frowned at herself. She'd never laughed that much in a while, and especially over something like that. Maybe it was just the alcohol, or maybe it was just being with Greg. She suddenly felt self conscious and shifted her weight on the couch. She almost felt guilty for feeling so happy, after all that she'd done. She realized that she wouldn't allow herself to be happy, not until she'd say what she'd needed to. And she didn't want him to have to sit there, beside her, after all that she'd done...

I've never felt so bad in my entire life
But this time I did it to myself
What do you expect from me
I did it
So what do you expect from me

Greg leant back into the couch, clutching his side. He hadn't felt sore from laughing in a while. He'd noticed that the two of them had fallen into a silence again, only this time, he wasn't so sure that it was a comfortable silence. He wanted to go back in time, to the previous moment when he was so happy. But now he was allowing for old thoughts to re-enter his mind, and wondered if Sara was doing the same. He wanted to tell her that it was okay, that he'd forgiven her...but was it really true? Before he could continue to think about it, Sara cleared her throat and turned to him. She looked at his face, allowing for their eyes to connect for a second before she broke the connection. She looked down, noticing that she was fidgeting with her hands...it was her turn to be nervous. She felt foolish sitting there, pretending as though nothing had happened...well at least you're trying...

She took in a deep breath, noticing the concern etched across his face, and the knowing in his eyes. He knew exactly what was about to come, and she was grateful that he stayed. He watched her, waiting for her to say something, anything to break the silence, the tension...

"Greg I'm...I'm sorry..." She stammered, not accounting for just how nervous she really was. She blushed, more conscious of herself than ever. She drew in another breath, trying to make sure that she could steady her voice as she continued, "I shouldn't have done what I did, I just...I regret it...and I realize it now. I've thought about it so many times, I wish that I didn't leave you outside, I wish that I didn't...I am so sorry."

Greg noticed the tears that were forming in her eyes and watched as a single tear ran down her cheek. He couldn't find his voice, and he realized, maybe it was better if he didn't say anything at all, she could more than likely see everything in his eyes and etched across his face, just as he could see what she truly felt, though she wasn't able to say it to him. He leant forward slowly and cupped her face in his hand as he wiped away the tear from her cheek. He pulled her in to a hug as more tears began to fall. He held her and whispered into her hair, "It's okay Sara, I forgive you...It's okay..."

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Sara finally opened her eyes, and still found herself in his arms. It was so comforting, she dreaded having to let go, but she knew that she had to. She didn't even get to say everything she wanted to before she broke down. She inwardly sighed. She'd never done that before, she'd never really needed to. But with Greg, everything was different. She gently pushed herself away from him, lifting her head from his shoulder to find him looking down at her. She forced a smile, which he returned with ease. She wondered what she looked like. Probably puffed up and red..very attractive Sara. She brushed her hair from her face, knowing that it was a complete mess. She looked down, and again he brushed her face with his hand.

"You look fine..." He said soothingly.

She was taken aback. It was as though he could read her mind. Maybe he just knew her that well. She shrugged it off before shaking her head. She still felt foolish. She shouldn't have cried. She wasn't the one that was hurt. Suddenly her guilt quickly returned, taking up residency in her mind once again. Greg watched her, wondering exactly what she was thinking about. He wanted to say something, something so charming, so amazing that she would never cry again, at least, not because of him. He searched for something to say, but kept drawing a blank. He really was lost for words.

A question still lingered in his mind...although he'd caught sight of it in her eyes, he still wondered exactly how she felt towards him. Did she say what she had to fix things between them as friends, or something more than that? He realized that he had more than one question that was nagging at him, but he didn't want to ask. He felt as though he couldn't, as though he needed to hear it from her without him needing to coax her...at least then he'd know for sure. Sara was looking down at her lap, her hair was a mess, but he didn't mind. He couldn't help but keep his eyes focused on her, even when she looked up at him, he maintained his gaze, making her blush. He smiled. She looked away, before looking at him once again as her gaze began to fall once more.

"Since that night, I've been thinking, actually, more like realizing a few things. And I realize...I owe you a date, a proper date, without any regrets." Sara said calmly, though a little quicker than she usually spoke.

Greg was surprised. It'd come from nowhere, as though she'd been waiting all night to say it, and it had taken her this long to get it out. He grinned as his mind raced and he felt himself becoming dizzy. Was this really happening? Did Sara Sidle just ask him out on a date?He looked around the room, pretending to think the question over in his mind, although the answer had sprung into mind beforeshe had even finished her sentence.

"Hmmm...well..." He said as he placed his finger on his chin and looked up at the roof, his 'thinking' pose.

She knew what he was doing, and as cute as he was while he was thinking,she really needed ananswer..she desperately needed an answer."Greg..."

He moved his gaze from the roof down to her, and recognized the slight hint of annoyance in her voice. He realized that he shouldn't piss her off, especially not now after she'd just asked him on a date.

"Yes, Miss Sidle, I would love to accompany you on a date..." He said as he grinned.

Sara wanted to throw another pillow at him for making her wait like that, but she refrained..mostly because there were no more pillows nearby. She smiled. He was letting her make up for her mistakes. She only hoped that this date would end so much more better than the last. She began to think about what she would wear, where they'd go...when he interrupted her thoughts.

"...on one condition," he said as he raised his eyebrow, waiting for her to accept. She tilted her head and a slightly puzzled look crossed her face. She felt a lump form in her throat as she dreaded what he would say."My one condition...you have to wear the red dress." He wiggled his eyebrows as he looked her up and down and pictured her in the dress he'd bought for her.

Sara let out a short sigh of relief. She thought he was going to say something different, something much worse. She nodded, "Deal." Wearing the dress would save her from having to chose her own outfit, and she really did love that dress. Greg excused himself as he left the room, leaving Sara alone with her thoughts, her plans, for this new date. She wasn't going to make the same mistake twice, she wasn't going to hold back, and she wasn't going to ignore her emotions. She smiled, knowing that this was going to be an amazing date.

Greg closed the bathroom door behind him and restrained himself from screaming like a woman who'd found the perfect shoes at a clearance sale. He leant against the sink and stared into the mirror. This was really happening. He'd gotten his chance, he'd forgiven her, and he'd gotten another date to make up for the last. Things couldn't have gone any better. Even in his previous thoughts, he couldn't have planned their meeting to have gone so well, and to have ended the way it had. Their date would be amazing. He decided he was going to go all out, make the night the best Sara had ever had, and hopefully tell her exactly how he felt.

I'm not ready to turn my back on you yet
I'm not going to let you down
Let you down

Thanks to everyone who reviewed the first chapter and CSIslave, remoob1513, crimebuff and Maddyfor reviewing the 2nd. Thank you guys, you're keeping me going. You're rad. I know I'm kinda late, but rock on the irony, lmao. Belated (by New Found Glory), the longest chapter yet! Hope y'all liked it. I really didn't know where to go with it, and don't even know how my characterization's going, are they even in character? Lemme know what y'all think./ Britt