Chapter 5
"Jason, I love you. Seriously. You're my best friend and you take care of me. Are you staying the night tonight?" Sara had consumed some extra pink punch and was feeling the effects. She was arm in arm with Jason who was trying to keep her steady. She tried to kiss him.
"I don't think so, not tonight. You know how you get when you drink. Tonight isn't going to be different."
"Whatever." Sara threw her arms around herself and marched off toward her apartment. She hated it when he called her on her feelings toward him. She let herself into her apartment and went to sleep.
When she woke up she got ready for that day's lecture and took some extra time in the shower washing off the drunkenness of last night. She remembered, with a shudder, how Jason had pushed her away and she was disgusted with herself. It wasn't that she wanted him, per se, she just wanted someone.
She attended the lecture and Grissom took a seat next to her. She yawned, trying to conceal her hangover.
"Long night?"
"Just sampled the punch more than usual."
"Ah. That can be dangerous. Where is your partner in crime?"
"Mad at me. I'll be attending the dinner tonight sans Jason."
"May I ask why?"
"Basically, because I get lonely when I'm drunk and he, rightfully, gets offended by it. I'm a head case, ya know?"
"No excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of madness." Grissom quipped.
"Who said that?"
"Aristotle. Bit touched, himself, you know."
"Well, I'll see you tonight?"
"I'll see you there."
They all arrived at the Sushi place at about the same time. Sara sat next to Grissom and, to her surprise, Jason sat next to her. "Hey."
"I thought you were mad at me." Sara raised her eyebrow and looked at him.
"I am. But I love sushi. I couldn't miss it, even if it means that I'll have to sit by you," he joked and Sara was relieved to have her friend back.
"We would've missed you." Grissom said across Sara.
"I'm glad I'd be missed. Am I still taking you out tomorrow night? Dr. Grissom, you'd be welcome to join us, It's my birthday."
"I'm sure the man has better things to do." Sara was getting nervous. Going out meant more drinking and after last night's episode, she wasn't too keen on repeating her experience.
"I'd love to go. How old are you?" Grissom seemed interested in going. Sara nearly spit out her drink in shock.
"24. Sara's going to show me how to do it."
"You're 24?" Grissom seemed to stare at his plate, guiltily.
"26, actually," Sara said like a ten year old exclaims her age to be 10 and a half, not just 10.
"So where do you all go?"
"We usually go to this art bar. I buy on my birthday, its a tradition that Sara and I have. We pay for the other poor sod to go with us on our birthday." Jason was smiling now and threw her arm around Sara. "We family-less folk have to stick together."
"You, neither one, have family?" Grissom was glad to have something to talk about. This week had been full of idle conversation so far.
"Sara has a mother, but she doesn't see her much, and a brother she hasn't heard from in ages. I don't have anyone, so we have each other" Jason volunteered.
"What about you Dr. Grissom? We can't have someone with a family messing up our tradition." Sara was trying to shift the conversation away from her.
"Well, I do have a mother, but we don't visit much," Grissom began, "I was actually thinking about driving to visit her next week."
"Where does she live?" Sara was the one asking the questions now.
"Marina Del Rey."
"That would be nice. What is it like down there?"
"Coastal, breezy, warm."
"Don't mind Sara, she's only been to Harvard, Tamales Bay, and here. She doesn't take much time for traveling." Jason nudged Sara who began to redden.
"I just don't have time. I don't have a reason," Sara began defensively.
"Well maybe you should go with me to Marina Del Rey, that way you can say you've been four places instead of three." Grissom wouldn't mind someone going with him to visit his mother. She always worried that he didn't have anyone to spend time with. "You went to Harvard?"
"Yeah."
"What are you studying now?"
"Physics."
"You enjoy it," Grissom asked.
"I guess. It's not what I expected it to be, I am working on my thesis now." Neither of them noticed that Jason had left, nor that dinner was over. The talked for a long time about her thesis, what she enjoyed doing, what he did, and when they were leaving for the trip to Marina Del Rey. After about two hours of talking they both realized the time.
"Guess its getting kinda late, huh? Nearly 11." Grissom said.
"Yeah, I have to get home."
"I'll walk you." They arrived at Sara's and he dropped her off at the door. It hadn't been a date, and they weren't in any way together, but she still felt the urge to kiss him. When he turned to leave before she had even thought twice, she assumed it was best that she hadn't.
