Alrighty, I know it's been four years but I don't like to leave things unfinished and Mojo decided now was the time to tackle this. The sequel of Shrink being a bit dark at the moment, I shall compensate with fluff in this one.

Enjoy

So ;)

ps: Immi shame on you for challenging me and lurring me into the land of butterflies and raibows.


Act 9: Sara

"I'm soaked and I need a hand because I'm getting nowhere by myself."

"I must say that when picturing you saying those words to me it's always sexier, now it's plain dirty not in a good way," Catherine remarks. "Not to say that I'm actually picturing you saying those words," she adds quickly with a light blush.

I glare at her and purse my lips not to grace her with a smile. "Right, guess I set myself up for that one," I shake my head. "Come and help me down there smarty pants."

"I'm not stepping in that bin."

"Why not?"

"There's plenty to do outside of it."

"You just don't want to get dirty," I narrow my head at her.

"Damn right," she nods firmly.

"Come on, help me and I'll make it up to you," I plead.

"How?"

"Breakfast and lunch are on me for two weeks."

"Hmm..." she thinks it through.

"You want to play tough I see, let's sweeten the deal, I'm taking you out for dinner, somewhere fancy."

"Wow, you are that desperate, uh?" she chortles.

Truth to be told I don't so much need help now than I want an opportunity to ask her out without being too head on. I'm trying to keep the tone of our banter light, not wanting to appear like I was holding my breath, even though I am.

"You have no idea."

"Two weeks breakfast and lunch, and fancy dinner," she repeats.

"Yup."

"Deal."

I beam at her response.

We've been dancing around one another for the past month. She propositioned me after hearing the boys taking a bet and that led to 24 rather disastrous hours. However, it also revealed that we might have wanted a chance to explore something beyond friendship. There was an almost kiss and I slept twice in her bed, her in my arms, in a very short span.

I've wanted to ask her out on a date since but there was a lot to process during those 24 hours. I can't speak for the both of us, but I needed some time to think it through. Did I really want more? Was it a crazy idea? Did she want really want more or was it just a moment of weakness?

Needless to say there were many questions to be answered, pros and cons to be weighted. We engaged in this awkward dance where we obviously want more but are not sure that we're on the same wavelength. And if I'm honest the whole bet thing was still in the back of my mind, not that I think Catherine would be one to go to such length for a bet, but the sting of it all was still present and I guess I needed time to be sure that whatever may happen was not connected to some bet.

I now know that my desire to have a chance at something more with her override any fears I have. And if the shy flirting going on between us is any indication, I'm confident when I say that she wants it too. That being said I'm still me, and when it comes to ask someone I really like on a date, I'm nothing more than the clumsy, shy nerd I've always been.

Asking her out while I'm knee deep into in a bin stepping onto things I don't dare naming – ignorance is bliss in this case – is not exactly how I envisioned things, but considering that it worked – kind of – I'm not going to complain. Alright, so I didn't call it a date, but I'll act as if it's one, no pressure or anything.

Hours into the bin, we did find body parts so it wasn't vain but disgusting nonetheless, several showers later – lemons be blessed – we are finally reaching the end of the shift. Hoping that my chance hasn't turned I decide to start my end of the deal right now.

We are all in the locker room, chatting about our respective shifts, having a breather sharing more than welcome laughter. I'm dragging on to gather my things and soon Catherine and I are the only one left in the room, which was my objective.

I take a deep breath and clear my throat. "So… are you going to pick up Lindsey?"

"Hmm no, not today, she stayed at my mother's. The time for me to get there and get her to school she'll be late, so I'll pick her up at the end of her day."

I stand and close my locker. With my backpack hanging on one should, me holding on the strap and shifting my weight from one foot to another, mentally reminding myself to be cool, it dawns on me that I might have stepped back into high school – not that I ever was the cool kid back then.

"So hum…" oh yeah real smooth, Sidle. "Right," I shake my head a bit. "I seem to recall that I owe you breakfast, are you up for it?" that's not too bad, all things considered.

She sends me a dazzling smile. "Sure."

"Cool," I even manage not to sound like a teenage boy breaking his voice, and not to jump up and down like a lunatic. That has to be two brownie points.

"I'll wait for you in the parking lot," she smiles while biting her lower lips and winks at me before leaving the locker room.

Oh.

So that's my stomach making a back flip.

I sigh and I hang my head once I'm alone. It's safe to say that I'm screwed if this is the reaction I get with a simple smile.

I shake my head but can't help the grin stretching on my lips.

Oh well.

Fuck.


I shalle return with more in two days.

Thanks for reading.