A.N. I am so sorry for not getting this up sooner! Usually I write 2 chaps, so I always have one in reserve to post, but because I was on holiday I didn't - and then I got writer's block! So sorry for leaving you at that cliff-hanger - no-one was happy with it! Anyway, I just got my results, so I've been drunk and celebrating - not giving me much time! But it is up now!
This chapter is dedicated to Oxford University - for letting me in! Woohoo!
Chapter 9
Nick stared.
He couldn't help it – he was in complete and utter shock. Sara and Grissom were kissing. Kissing! A myriad of emotions swarmed through his stomach. First he was hurt, as she obviously didn't feel for him what he felt for her. Next he felt sick, at the thought that she might have a relationship with Grissom, and he would have to stand there and be happy for them, when inside he was breaking apart. Then he felt disloyal, as Sara was, first and foremost, his best friend, and he wanted her to be happy, and if being with Grissom made her happy …
Then one emotion overwhelmed them all – anger. Anger at Grissom. He wasn't going to let Sara go without a fight. Grissom had spent five years without making a move, without ever showing anyone what Sara might mean to him. Now that Nick had seen what it was like to be with Sara, he was going to show her how much she meant to him.
He would prove to her that he loved her with every fibre of his being, and that Grissom could only have her if Sara still didn't want him after that.
Trying to ignore the sick feeling in his stomach that that thought gave him, he squared his shoulders, and walked into the living room.
"Sara?" he questioned, immediately wincing at how feeble, pathetic and needy his voice sounded
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Sara felt Grissom's lips descend upon hers. Unlike with Nick, this kiss was clumsy, and while Grissom seemed to be enjoying it, Sara definitely wasn't. Her hands came up to Grissom's chest in an effort to push him away, but he was too strong, and his arms were around her too tightly.
"Sara?" she heard Nick's voice interrupt.
Thankfully Grissom broke the kiss in surprise, and Sara immediately moved away from him and closer to Nick, in the hopes that Nick might be able to protect her next time.
Sara looked at Nick, and could see the hurt in his eyes, that he was desperately trying to hide from her, and immediately realised how it must have looked to him. Worry and nervousness overtook her entire body, making her feel numb. What did he think she felt for him, or for Grissom? Sara decided to let her actions speak for her, and immediately rushed into Nick's arms, hugging him hard.
Nick was extremely relieved when he felt Sara's arms go around his waist, and he happily enveloped her in his arms, hugging her as tightly as she was hugging him, as though trying to rid her of the memory of Grissom's arms around her, rather than Nick's arms.
Grissom watched this whole exchange with confusion written over his entire face, with a little bit of embarrassment mixed in there, after Nick had caught them in that compromising position. Now he couldn't understand what was happening.
"Sara?" he asked her.
"Grissom," Sara said, now very close to tears, "I said no! Please, I think it would be best if you left now."
Grissom reluctantly started moving towards the door. "Well, Sara … think about it. See you at work tomorrow."
With that, he walked out of her apartment without a backward glance.
If Sara had thought the silence between her and Grissom had been bad, this was unbearable. Sara looked up at Nick, but couldn't read anything in his carefully neutral expression. She knew he expected to be rejected, and for her to tell him that she wanted Grissom, and she felt so dreadful because of that, although it was primarily Grissom's fault. The neutrality, however, only served to make her really scared, because she had no idea what his reaction would be to her declaration that she liked him rather than Graissom.
Nick looked down at Sara, trying to read her expression to determine her feelings, but her expression seemed almost at neutral as his. However, he could detect a hint of something in her eyes. Fear. Fear of what?
Sara detached herself from his arms, and, taking Nick by the hand, walked over to the sofa, where they had shared their kisses about half an hour, but what seemed like a lifetime, ago. Sitting down, she wasted no time in turning to face him and starting an explanation.
"Nick, I swear there is nothing between me and Grissom! I don't love him, just like I told you the other day, I've moved on, and I want to have fun … with you. The thing is, I don't want to just have fun with you, I really like you, and I'd like a relationship with you, if you want one. Grissom was the one who kissed me, not the other way around, and I didn't enjoy it at all. I felt absolutely nothing for him! But when you kiss me, I feel all giddy and nervous, like I'm a teenager on my first date, and I enjoy being with you, it's so easy and enjoyable, and not at all awkward! Please, you have to believe me! I - "
"I do Sara," Nick interrupted, his smile stretching over his face, lighting it up and filling it with happiness. "I feel exactly the same! I never thought a relationship with anyone would ever feel this comfortable. And that's what I want this to be Sar – a relationship. I don't want to just make out with you, or just go on one date with you – I want to date you, properly, in a proper relationship, because I think this has all the makings of being something very special."
Sara smiled back at him at this point, her fears finally alleviated. And when Nick saw her smiling at him, with such open happiness and feeling in her face, he couldn't help leaning down and capturing her lips with his gently.
The kiss was slow, soft and loving, and when they broke from it, they were both breathless. They smiled at each other.
"So," Sara said,with an impish grin, "what about this first date then?"
A.N.2/ Not a bad cliff hanger this time! Thankyou so much to everyone who reviewed - you all cheered me up so much when I was worrying about universities and results! Please review again!
