ARCHIE
Whew! Greg's right. His theory of being paced and steady works. I asked, and SHE AGREED! Score one for me… it's been a while since I went out with someone.
Good thing my Mom packed my white tuxedo I wore during my high school reunion two months ago. She insisted that she would buy not rent. She heard of one show, 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy' that renting are for losers. And according to her, "My son is not a loser… he's the most wonderful boy in my life." That used to be sweet when I was growing up, but when I reached puberty; I prayed that she wouldn't to that in front of my friends.
Anyway, I'm always told that I look good. Even Sara said it. But when I go on a date, I cannot be satisfied of what I look like. And Hannah seemed different. She was someone within the job, someone who doesn't seem to be bored watching 'Alias' and 'Star Wars', and she's very easy to talk to; unlike those gushing college girls I used to go out with.
"Hey, Arch, going out this fine California Thursday morning?" Catherine said with a bounce on her step. "Warrick, Greg and I are going out shopping. You might want to give a little something to that cute little date of yours tonight." I raised an eyebrow at her. "Don't look at me…" then I shifted my gaze to Greg lounging by the coffee maker.
He looked around innocently and pointing at himself. "I – uh seem to have forgotten something in the room. If you'll excuse me…" and then he snaked himself out of the situation.
Warrick chuckled. "You got to love Greg. So, you with us, Archie? I mean you like her, right?" I nodded. "Well, maybe you should buy her something for your first date."
"Yeah, maybe I should," I concurred. So I went in back to my room I shared with Greg. He was sitting there huddled on his bed avoiding my gaze. I headed to me suitcases to get my overnight bag, money and cards, and my cell phone from the bedside table.
"Hey, man… sorry about that," he said.
I smiled. "Don't worry about it. At least I won't be embarrassed if Warrick and Nick bug me later tonight. And Greg," he looked up, "thanks for the tips last night." He smiled and I made to the door. "And one more thing," he stood up, "whatever happens between Hannah and me tonight, will be off limits to you from now on. Capish?" He gestured a salute and we went out shopping with Warrick and Catherine. Where Grissom is, I don't know but Nick is in his room pacing… his door was open. Man, this guy is panicking.
By the time we got back, we had a little over three hours to prepare for the 8pm affair. This will be my first one; I always wanted to go to one of these even though I don't have any intention leaving the AV lab any time soon. We had fun in the arcades; we even had Catherine play on a game that is not Whack-A-Mole. I bought for myself a new The Sims Bustin' Out DVD game; for my mum, Victoria's Secret Strawberries and Champagne lotion (I had Catherine venture into that department) that she had been bugging me about. What I was going to give Hannah was a tough one. Thanks to Warrick to be very observant.
"She loves cats… kittens preferably," he simply said when we were in the toy store. Catherine was buying something for Lindsay when we passed by some stuffed animals. "She has about four key chains of kittens on her bag and she was wearing a silver pendant of a cat on a gold chain."
"And she likes Harry Potter," Catherine cut in pushing a stuffed toy kitten into my hands. "There was a collection of those in their break room all labeled with her initials." Now, it's nice to have CSIs with you… very observant persons. "Now, that Archie… according to my daughter is Crookshanks, a cat from the Harry Potter books. That's two birds with one stone."
I smiled at them. "Thanks guys!" We headed to the cashier to pay for our purchases. But before that, I got her a Beanie Baby conveniently named 'Hannah'.