(Michael's pov)
Michael thought he heard something outside the door and wondered if it was Sara. She was late and he was beginning to wonder if he was going to get stuck doing all of the work alone.
And though the idea of being alone with Sara for the first time since she had walked in on him in the shower, and of course the even more awkward moments they had spent together under the dock, made him extremely nervous, he knew that if she was a no show he would have to come back tomorrow, and he didn't relish the idea of spending two days cooped up in a warm stuffy room full of musty old books…
Ah, the lake… Why had he let himself think about the lake?
He felt his breath quicken at the thought of her body pressed tightly against his, her mouth so warm and… God, what was wrong with him?
Sara could arrive any minute and here he was thinking thoughts that were sure to cause more embarrassing moments between them.
He put his palm against the wood and then when he heard what he thought was a mumbled few words, he reached and opened the door.
Sara's fist knocked on his chest a few seconds later and seeing her standing there with her eyes closed and a look he couldn't quite place etched across her beautiful features went straight to his heart.
He wasn't sure what exactly she was doing, but when she opened her eyes Michael found her reaction extremely cute as he watched her cheeks brighten with color.
"Oh my God, Michael, I'm so sorry", she said visibly embarrassed.
"I thought, I mean", she reached to brush a little at her hair before her hand fell away leaving it even more in her face than before she had fussed with it.
He couldn't help but smile.
"It's no big deal, Sara. I don't bruise easily".
I don't bruise easily? Did he just say that to the girl who the last two times he was alone with, one or the other of them was naked?
Sara stepped passed him and he followed her further into the room.
He told himself not to look at the way her legs looked in the shorts she was wearing, and made his way around her and into the stacks of boxes where he had been working the short time he had spent at the library thus far.
"Um, I was working over here on these stacks", he said as he maneuvered around another stack of boxes.
"I think the M's are mostly in this area", he added as he went further in. "That's where the last volunteers left off".
When Sara showed up beside him a few seconds later he told himself to relax and be casual, and handed her some books to pack.
Funny he thought to himself the space hadn't seemed quite so small with just himself and the hundreds of books that surrounded them. But now it seemed minuscule.
He felt a bead of sweat roll down his cheek and told himself he didn't remember it being quite this hot either.
"Um, I'm thirsty, I think I'll go get a soda or something", Sara said and was turning to leave.
"Sara, wait", he heard himself saying and then realizing his fingers were wrapped around her wrist he dropped her arm.
He knelt down and telling himself he would probably burn in hell forever, he let his eyes travel quickly over Sara's bare legs before grabbing the cooler full of water he had stashed under the table upon arrival.
He set the cooler down, popped it open and pulled out a bottle of water, then closed it.
"Sorry, I only brought water. I thought that was what you liked", he said holding out the bottle.
Sara took the bottle and smiled.
"Um, yeah, water is great, thanks", she said and unscrewed the cap before lifting it to her lips for a long swig.
Michael thought how beautiful she looked as he watched her, not even realizing he was staring until she met his eyes. He looked quickly back down at the books he was holding in his hands, trying to hide his embarrassment at having been caught staring at her again.
He knew he couldn't keep doing this. He knew they needed to talk about what had happened between them, get it out in the open. If there was any chance for the two of them to be friends they had to talk.
And though he seriously doubted he would ever stop feeling the way he did about Sara, he knew it was the only solution. He was tired of avoiding her on a daily basis. And he missed her. He told himself to open his mouth and say something; to just do it.
"Um, Sara, I was um, thinking maybe we should talk about um, about what happened between us"?
And though he had stuttered and sputtered it out he was amazed he had gotten up the balls to even say it.
Sara didn't move for a few beats and then,"Um, yeah, sure, Michael", she said barely recovering her toppling water bottle.
"What about it"?
He watched her avoid looking at him as she continued to pack.
"I think we have been avoiding each other, Sara", he spoke the truth softly.
Sara froze again and then looking up from the box she was packing she met his gaze.
She nodded.
"Yeah, I guess so. I mean I was avoiding you. I just… I feel like… You must think I'm such a slut"! She blurted. I mean the way I acted, God! How could you think anything different"?
Michael looked at her for a moment before speaking. How could she think that? That was the furthest thing from his thoughts where she was concerned.
He thought she was amazing. He thought maybe she was the most beautiful girl he had ever met. And he wanted so much to get to know her better. If only as friends than so be it. That was why he had forced himself into this awkward conversation.
"I don't think that about you, Sara. I could never think something like that", he said his discomfort growing as he realized where the conversation was headed next.
He knew he had to mention the shower, and the fact that she had seen him naked. His heart sped up at the very thought.
"Well that's good, because I don't make a habit of doing stuff like that", Sara said rubbing her arm along her sweaty fore head.
He nodded and took a deep breath, telling himself to just say it.
His heart pounding with nervousness he made himself speak,
"Yeah, and I usually lock the bathroom door".
He noticed her embarrassment at his words as her face bloomed brightly with color.
"Oh, God, I'm sorry I barged in like that! I was um, hung over and"…She began,
He saw she was struggling to explain and held up his hand.
"Its okay, Sara, something like that was bound to happen eventually. I'm just glad we're talking about it", he said and felt his own face turning more and more pink as he spoke.
"I had kind of hoped that the two of us could be friends, but after everything that's happened… I guess what I'm trying to say, is I think we should start over and I think the only way to do that is to talk about everything that happened to make us avoid each other like we have been".
He saw her expression change and told himself it wasn't regret he saw reflected in her beautiful brown eyes, that it was probably just wishful thinking on his part.
His speech finished, he looked down at the box in front of him.
He really didn't want to embarrass Sara anymore than he already had so he remained quiet, leaving the rest unspoken. Besides if he were to be honest with himself he knew it would be impossible for him to talk about his antics in the shower with Sara.
Besides, maybe she hadn't even noticed what he was doing in there. After all she was probably too busy being sick to notice.
He felt her fingers lightly touch his hand.
"Hey", she said softly, making him look up at her.
"I would like that, Michael, for the two of us to be friends, I mean".
He felt relief flood through him at her words.
With a smile touching his lips."Good, I'm really glad, Sara".
They worked quietly for a few minutes and then,
"You're taking Christy to the dance", she said suddenly surprising him.
"Um, yeah, I guess I am. I mean I am, yeah", he heard himself stutter
"You're probably going with David, right"? He said and shoved another book into the box, thinking here comes the answer to the million dollar question.
Sara nodded, "Yeah, he asked me about a week and a half ago".
Right after the bonfire at the lake, thought Michael.
He nodded and tried to shrug it off telling himself he had no right to be jealous.
"It should be fun, huh? I mean if I don't kill myself out on the dance floor, that is".
Sara laughed, and he loved the sound of it.
"I think you'll do just fine. Just remember, relax and breathe. I mean dancing is supposed to be fun, right"?She added cheerily.
Michael felt himself grinning, "If you say so".
Sara laughed again and tossed a book at him.
"We need to work faster, Scofield".
He felt his grin widen at her words, and promised himself he would make this friendship work if it killed him.