Part Two: Ring Around the Collar

Catherine and Sara handed the sealed evidence bags over to the evidence room attendant and headed for the break room. "Okay, we've got some time before we find out anything else. Spill it," Catherine demanded as they entered.

Sara pulled a bottle of water from the fridge and sank down on the couch. "It's a ring," she said before taking a long swig.

"I noticed that much," Catherine said dryly. "Chunky ring, too. Not your usual style."

"Nope."

"You're going to make me drag this out of you, aren't you?"

"It's just…a little embarrassing. Silly, really." Sara pulled the chain out from under her tank again, slipping the ring halfway over her index finger and running her thumb over the engraving on the side. Catherine leaned in to take a closer look.

She frowned, reading the inscription on the top of the ring. "Rice University? But you went to Harvard." With a glance at Sara to make sure it was okay, she tilted the ring to see the inside. The name inscribed there made her jaw drop. Wide-eyed, she looked back up at Sara for confirmation. Sara's blush was all she needed. "Nicholas J. Stokes? Sara, why are you wearing Nick's college ring on a chain around your neck?"

"Because wrapping the band with embroidery thread until it fit would make it too bulky to wear under gloves?" she replied cheekily. Catherine's glare made her bite her lip. "I told you, it's silly. Nick and I've been hanging out a lot, after shift, and we started talking about high school…"

-#-

"You never had a boyfriend in high school?" Nick repeated, incredulous.

"You make it sound like something terrible," Sara said, smacking him with a pillow she found on his couch. "I told you, I was a science nerd. I didn't really think about dating." She pulled the pillow against her, hugging it. "Besides, it wasn't like guys were lining up to date Science Nerd Sidle anyway."

"I would have."

"Pffsh, right." Sara kept looking at the carpet, mentally tracing the green T, not wanting to see the look of pity she was sure Nick was wearing.

"No, I mean it. I bet you were cute in high school, science nerd or not."

"You wouldn't even have noticed me."

"Sure I would have." Nick tugged on a corner of the pillow she was still clutching. "Sidle, Stokes…we would have been in homeroom together. I'd have been behind you, so yeah, I'd have noticed you. Bet we'd've had some classes together." He grinned, tugging on the pillow again. "Chemistry. I'd have the chair right behind you, and I'd spend as much time studying your hair as I did taking notes."

That got Sara's attention. "My hair? Why would you be studying my hair?"

Nick shrugged, then reached over to tuck a stray curl behind her ear. "I like your hair, especially when you let it curl like this. It's cute. When the sun hits it just right, it gets these flecks of gold."

"Right…." Sara dropped her eyes again, to keep Nick from seeing how his simple gesture affected her. "Like you would have noticed that at sixteen."

"Hey, teenage boys do notice things other than breasts. Especially if the girl's back is to us. Besides, it would give me a reason to catch up to you after class." He grinned. "Since I was distracted, I missed half the lecture. I could ask to borrow your notes."

Sara couldn't help grinning back at him. "Oh, I'd loan you my notes, Stokes, I just don't think you could read them."

"Miss Chicken-Scratch."

"No." Sara whacked him with the pillow again. "I took notes in shorthand. Almost in code."

"Even better. Means I'd have to ask you to decode them for me. Study date." Nick paused, thinking. "But not at my house."

"Why not at your house? Afraid to introduce me to your family?"

"No…remember, youngest of seven? We'd be interrupted every five minutes, one of my sisters, my brother, if he was home, my parents, wanting to make sure we were still vertical…." He reached over and snagged the pillow away from her. "There, no more ammo. Besides, I don't know if you'd come over if I invited you to my home back then. I'd probably suggest library, or a local hang-out. Work up my nerve to ask you on a real date."

Despite herself, Sara found herself caught up in Nick's storytelling. "So, on this 'study date,' would I have to defend myself against any primitive advances?"

"Nah." Nick shook his head. "I'd be a perfect gentleman. Might be a little distracted, though."

"Why?"

"Well, see, I was finally sitting next to you, not behind you. When you weren't looking, I could be watching you. And smelling you." He leaned in a little closer to Sara, keeping his eyes on hers. "I bet you smelled like soap, just like now. Not a perfume girl, drowning in Baby Soft or Soft Musk or whatever the crap scent of the day was."

Sara swallowed, trying not to back away. "Um, yeah…I didn't really wear perfume. What about you?" Trying to lighten the mood, she gave a shaky smile. "Hai Karate? Brut?"

Nick laughed and leaned back on the couch. "Nah. Just good old Irish Spring soap." He grinned. "Bet you would have smacked me if you'd noticed me watching you instead of paying attention to the notes."

Sara shook her head. "No…no, I don't think I'd have hit you. I would have been…confused."

"Confused enough that you'd say yes if I asked you to a movie?"

She looked up, met Nick's eyes. Something about his expression made her wonder if he was just talking about high school. "I…maybe."

He moved closer to her on the couch, not breaking eye contact. "Would you go to a movie with me, Sara?"

She was drowning in his eyes. "Yes."

"Today?"

She nodded, not trusting her voice. Is he…is this…a date?