A/N: Two in one day! Yeehaw. Oh yes, and here is a completely pointless sidenote: Don't go swimming at 12:30 in the afternoon for four hours without sunscreen. The consequences are not entertaining. And now presenting chapter twenty one...
Headliner
Chapter 21
Alexis was biting the inside of her cheeks to keep from smiling. Keeping a straight face had never been so hard. She tried to act calm as her mother and father took turns explaining to her their newfound relationship.
"Lexi, over the weeks we've been living together, we've all become a closer family, don't you think?" Sara asked. Lexi nodded.
"Just as you've come to love each of us even more, we've realized that we like each other a lot more too," Nick said. Lexi nodded again.
"While we understand that we would all be taking a big risk if this thing grows too much, it's one we're willing to take," said Sara, "That is, we're willing if you are too."
"Your mother and I both care about you very much and we wouldn't want to make you uncomfortable, so this is entirely up to you."
Lexi put on her best faux-quizzical face. "So you guys would go on dates and stuff?"
"That's the idea," Sara responded.
"I think I'm okay with that," Lexi asserted. Sara and Nick each gave her a hug and she hopped off the stool and waltzed nonchalantly to her room.
Nick was about to speak, but Sara covered his mouth with her hand and shushed him. They stood paused for a moment and then they heard it. Inside her bedroom, Lexi was squealing.
She jumped up and down on the floor and made her way to the stereo before turning on some celebratory music. She wished she'd been a gymnast. Then she could do what she felt like, a series of back flips, all around her room. As soon as she had calmed down somewhat, she picked up the phone. She had two very important calls to make. The first would be to Courtney, the second to Lindsey.
Nick and Sara soon found that dating was not much different than the way they already acted around each other. They had always gone out for meals; they just did it more often now. Of course, now, they showed their affection more often. They also realized that their daughter was very mischievous. It had occurred to her that if Sara had kept her daughter a secret, that they were probably keeping the relationship under wraps as well. Lexi would not have this.
One evening, Sara and Nick sat on the couch watching a movie. Lexi picked up the digital camera and snuck over to the back of the sofa. As soon as they moved to kiss, Lexi popped up and snapped a picture. She ran off and propped a chair under her door before either one had realized what happened. She had proceeded to upload the picture on her computer and send it to the one person who would make sure it got around: Greg. She was only slightly hesitant to press the send button because of Nick. After all, he hadn't done anything wrong. But of course, her desire to keep her mother from hiding anything was stronger and she clicked away.
Greg, as it seemed, had different plans than posting the picture all over the lab. He wanted to personally confront each of them on the issue and make a big deal about it hurting his feelings that they hadn't told him. He'd never been an actor, but this could be fun. He was ready for them in the break room when they arrived the next night.
Sara and Nick arrived at the lab side by side. They planned on being completely professional at work. They wanted to do no damage to their careers. Neither one could afford to lose the job. Sara walked into the break room and headed straight over to the coffee pot. She took a swig and grimaced. Lab coffee. "Greg, why don't you make a batch of your good stuff?" she asked.
He stood up and placed his hand over his heart. "I want to, Sara, I really do, but I'm hurt." He patted his chest for extra emphasis. "There's a pain right there and I don't think it's going to go away." He placed his extra hand on his forehead and pretended to faint into his chair. Nick came in to see the last of the act.
"What's with the drama queen?" he asked.
Sara stopped him as he picked up a mug. "It's not good coffee. He's hurt or something. It's really quite funny."
Greg jumped up. "Sara, must you taunt a man in pain? Must you add to the misery you have already caused?"
Seeing that he was obviously not going to give this up she said, "Okay Greg, what have I done?"
"Word through the grapevine is that you've thrown in your towel and decided to date this guy," he said jabbing a finger at Nick.
Sara carefully avoided Nick's eyes. "What would give you that impression?"
"It's just what I heard," he stated in a breathy voice. He whipped a small piece of paper out of his pocket. "Oh, and of course, there's this." He handed it to Nick. "I really thought you loved me, Sara. It's just so devastating to find out this way. I guess I'm going to have to go back to sleeping with Catherine. Not that that's a bad thing," he added winking at Nick. He picked up an apple and tossed it from hand to hand. He was grinning devilishly as he left.
Nick unfolded the slip of paper and knew what it was immediately. "Well, at least we know whose side she's on," Nick said as he placed the paper into Sara's hand. He got coffee, cringed, and left the room.
Sara rolled her eyes at the picture, decided to call Lexi later, and threw it in the trash. She walked out the door and got a few steps before rushing back in. She picked the paper back up and shoved it in her pocket. It was better that less people saw it. They'd all know soon enough from Greg anyway. She wondered how many of these he printed out. She sighed as she saw him down the hall chatting with Catherine. He looked back at her with his eyes twinkling.
A/N: I'm quite happy with this chapter. It's not a cliff-hanger really, so it'll give you time to relax. Tell me what's on your mind.
