A/N: For those of you who don't think comments or reviews matter, I took a decent idea that I got from a chat came up with this story. I got a message on this story, and a whole new set of ideas emerged, plus the new title. For those of you that missed it, this fic is no long Back to School, it is now Buy More High School. That's right, the Buymorons are running a high school. If you want something serious, just leave, because this is going to be pure and total nonsense…There will be Charah, because it's kinda them against the Buy More. For the love of God, NEVER send your children to this school. Ch 2, Under New Management
Disclaimer: I don't own Chuck, I don't own the Buy More, but I once bought a Chuck DVD at a Best Buy…
Chuck double checked everything, two coffees, lids tightly sealed, multiple types of sweeteners and creamers, and the coffees securely nestled in the drink container. He took a deep breath and knocked on the door in front of him. The door opened and there was Sarah Walker with a surprised look on her face that was quickly turning into a frown.
"I bring a peace offering," Chuck said with a smile. "I have one here for you, but whether you drink it, or pour it on me, it's your choice." She gave a slight smirk at that and Chuck winced thinking he might be about to get coffee poured on him. He offered her the carrier. She stood aside and gave him a head nod for him to come in. He entered her home and carried the coffees over to the bar to avoid any mishaps. He stepped away to let her pick which one she wanted and doctor it however she chose. She was still smirking, and studying him.
"It's really important to you for me to like you, isn't it?" she asked. Chuck nodded.
"I feel like I've done something, other than ruining your blouse that is, and I don't know what," he said.
"Full honesty?" she asked.
"Please," Chuck said.
"My mentor lost her job because of you," Sarah said.
"Mrs. Vandenbeak?" Chuck asked. Sarah turned toward him and nodded. "Sarah…she told me to apply for this job." Sarah stared at him. "You're the one she kept talking about." Sarah wasn't sure how to take that. "She kept telling me about how they had a perfect replacement for her to take over her after-school programs and now she could finally spend the time with her grandkids and at the beach like she wanted." Sarah looked away, a small bit of red creeping up her neck. "You know I'd be really mad at anyone who I thought had replaced an amazing teacher like her." Sarah put two and two together and got a sheepish look on her face.
"Oh, crap, you're Curls," she said. Chuck laughed.
"No one's called me that but her in forever," Chuck said. Sarah sighed.
"So, guess I owe you an apology," Sarah said. Chuck shook his head.
"I wish I had someone in my life that would stand up for me the way you did her," Chuck said. Sarah nodded. "She also told me you had some men in your life that weren't the best."
"She did like to talk a lot," Sarah said, rolling her eyes and grinning.
"So I get the whole you think I lived on my Mom's coattails, and frankly, I've got to prove I didn't, because now I'm wondering did I get hired because of who I am," Chuck said. Sarah stared at him for a minute.
"As long as you do the job right, I really don't care how you got it," Sarah said. Chuck nodded.
"So, since we live right next door to each other, and feel free to say no to this, because everyone needs space, I was thinking we could carpool," Chuck said. Sarah thought for a second.
"We take my car and you pay the gas," she said. Chuck looked at her.
"Do I ever get to drive your car?"
"No," she replied.
"Deal," he said grinning and shrugging.
"I'm sorry, Chuck," she said. "Now, let's get to work."
}o{
As they pulled into the parking lot the two looked at each other, slightly confused. Gone was the sign that said Echo Valley High. In it's place, in big, bright green letters read Buy More High School.
"Uh, did we take a wrong turn?" Chuck asked.
"This is the school," Sarah said, getting out of the car.
"Guys! This is great!" Morgan yelled. "The state let us sale out advertising space as long as the curriculum doesn't go downhill."
"What if it already was downhill?" Chuck whispered to Sarah. She gave him a look and winked.
"Do you know what this means?" he asked, excitedly. They both shook their head no. "That means I can get Grape Nehi to sponsor me!"
"Uh, Buddy, I think the idea is for you to get money for the school," Chuck tried to explain. Morgan waved off the common sense.
"That means I will get Grape Nehi whenever I want it!" Morgan continued, eyes glazing over.
"We should run," Chuck whispered to Sarah. "When he gets that look in his eyes over Grape Nehi…." Chuck shuddered. Sarah grabbed his arm and pulled him into the school laughing. They saw Principal Beckman.
"Just the two I was looking for," she said. "Why don't you come to my office?" Chuck and Sarah followed her. When they got there, there was a man already sitting there. He was balding, with glasses. "This is Mr. Millbarge," Beckman said, looking disgusted. "He is here representing the Buy More, and will also be the new guidance counselor."
"Mr. Walker, Mrs. Bartowski," Emmett said.
"Uh, actually, she's Miss Walker, and I'm Mr. Bartowski," Chuck replied.
"I don't really care," Emmett replied with the fake smile he had perfected over the years. "I wanted you to know that we will be doing away with all of your after-school activities relating to the arts."
"No!" Sarah said. Emmett jumped back a little. "Those programs have been here for years!"
"And have accomplished nothing," Emmett replied. "Except wasting money."
"Principal Beckman," Sarah said, turning to her. "Isn't there something we can do." Beckman shook her head.
"I'm afraid my hands are tied," Beckman said. "The budget is in worse shape than any of us realized." Sarah looked at Chuck.
"Remember, you owe me," she said softly, her eyebrow raised. He nodded. She turned to Emmett. "What do you want?"
"Whatever do you mean?" Emmett asked, his wheels turning.
"You want something, otherwise there wouldn't be a meeting," Sarah replied. "You're too spineless to meet someone face to face unless you thought you could get something out of us." Emmett smiled, and Chuck gulped.
"Wellll…" Emmett began.
"She's not wearing the Nerd Herd uniform," Chuck jumped in. Everyone turned to look at him. "Look, I know what you're thinking, but we are trying to teach teenage children, and to have Miss Walker in that outfit, actually to have any women in that outfit, is inappropriate, and there is a dress code, and what you have them wear…it's just wrong." He looked over at Sarah for some help. She was smiling, and felt he was trying to help her, so she jumped in.
"Chuck is absolutely right, Mr. Millbarge. This is a school at the end of the day, and there is a dress code, but not only that, I've seen what you have the ladies wear, it is inappropriate, and it is different from what the men wear." Sarah said.
"Uh, Buy More polo shirt and slacks?" Millbarge asked, not wanting a lawsuit. "I just thought if you two were wearing the Buy More clothes it would be more advertising for us. The regular Buy More outfit is fine with me." Sarah looked at Chuck. He shrugged as if to say, "Your call."
"Okay," she relented.
"He wears the Nerd Herd outfit," Millbarge added.
"You keep all the programs the entire time you sponsor the school," Sarah said.
"No, you have a year to prove to us the programs are worth saving," Emmett retorted. Sarah looked at Chuck.
"Don't look at me, I'm just watching everyone decide my fate over here," Chuck said, pouting slightly. Sarah smiled at him.
"Chuck, it would mean a lot to me if you'd do this," Sarah said.
"I'm not buttoning the top button, and the tie stays loose," Chuck grumbled. Sarah placed a hand on his knee. He looked at her and she smiled. "Okay," he nodded.
"Great!" Emmett said. "Remember one year." He stood, smiling. Sarah stood, and looked him right in the eye.
"Mr. Millbarge, you better remember your promise," she said, sounding a little teasing and taking the bottom of his tie and playing with it. He got a stupid smile on his face. That's when she jerked the tie down, tightening it. He sounded like he was choking just a little. "Because if you don't I know where to find you," she said, and there was no teasing sound in her voice at all. The only thing there was seriousness. Sarah let go, and he scampered away as scared as he could be. She turned to Beckman. "File." Beckman handed it to her and she scanned over it.
"Teacher's meeting?" she asked. Sarah nodded. "He's gone for the day. He'll be back Monday, for the first day of students being here. This is a nightmare." Beckman hit the intercom button and announced there would be a teacher's meeting in the library. "Okay you two, it's up to you."
"Me?" Chuck said. "I just got here," he replied. Sarah looked at him, and took his hand. Chuck looked down at it, and back at her. She had a soft smile on her face.
"Chuck, if you don't help me, these kids are going to lose these programs, and what that idiot doesn't realize is these programs help students do well in other subjects, the studies are there but because it's not directly correlated, Mr. "efficiency expert" will think these programs are a waste of time."
"Sarah…I don't know what to do," Chuck said, being as honest as he could.
"Just jump in when you think of anything," Sarah said. "I need someone thinking outside the box. You are really good at that." She squeezed his hand, Chuck nodded, and went with her to the library. Once there, Beckman had Sarah take over the meeting. She explained what was going on, and how they were about to lose programs. All of the teachers were in agreement of helping, but the how was a big question, and no one really had a good answer. Chuck was looking over at the awards case, and he walked over to it while Sarah was talking. He was studying a trophy, when he realized it was absolutely silent. He turned around and saw everyone standing there, staring at him.
"Uh, did I do something?" he asked.
"No," Sarah said, and he quickly saw that was the problem.
"Soooo, apparently Echo Valley high used to do well in musical competitions and in forensics," Chuck said. No one really knew that or how he knew it. Chuck pointed at the trophy case. He then turned and looked at Roan. "One of the forensics disciplines is Extemporaneous Speaking." Everyone looked at Chuck like he grew a second head. "Basically a student is given x amount of time to study a problem, usually a political event and make a point using facts that must be cited." Roan nodded. "I do believe that's right in your wheelhouse, Mr. Montgomery."
"I'd be glad to assist," Roan said, nodding.
"I used to be a choir boy, so I can help as well with the music," Casey said from in the corner. Everyone turned and looked at him. "What? I wasn't hatched."
"That's something we can use as well," Sarah said.
"Yeah, but what about the rest of us?" Jill asked.
"Support," Chuck said simply. Sarah looked at him and nodded. "These are the types of things that teenagers will find, 'uncool.'"
"I'll admit not every student is going to be the best at these events or subjects, but if just a few are…" Sarah said, trailing off.
"We could give bonus points for trying out," Daniel offered.
"Or, for performing a part, it could count as part of a grade," Morgan added. Cole looked at him.
"I could help with accents," Cole threw in, not wanting to be one upped by the bearded one.
"Look, the thing is, we know there are cuts, we know that there are things we've got to watch, so anyway you can think up of us making money, encouraging students, and showing the results, will help tremendously," Sarah said. The meeting adjourned and Sarah walked up to Chuck. "Thank you," she said simply.
"No problem," Chuck replied.
"No, thank you," Sarah said, sighing. "Yesterday, I…I took a lot out on you that wasn't your fault."
"I did spill another drink on you," Chuck said, grinning. Sarah smiled at him.
"Come on, we've got classes to prepare for," Sarah said. The two worked together the rest of the day, laying out curriculum and lesson plans. Sarah realized that even though Chuck had a lot of ideas, he really didn't dominate things. He gave out ideas but deferred to her most of the time. Sarah found when she tried to work with him without the attitude that he was used to getting what he wanted, things went very smoothly. He cracked stupid jokes that she laughed at, and he laughed at her subtle sense of humor. A few times she had him going on, only to look over and realize she had him all riled up. His laughter made her proud of herself. So few laughed at her jokes. The day flew by, and when she made looked up at the clock she saw it was time to go. "How about you buy me a drink and don't spill it on me," she said with a grin. Chuck returned the grin with one of his own. They headed down to a local Mexican restaurant and found a corner booth.
"Not to be forward, but can I buy you dinner for all the things I've done to make your life miserable the past few days?" Chuck asked.
"No, but you can buy me dinner," Sarah replied. Chuck nearly choked on his water, making Sarah laugh. "What's wrong, Chuck?" she asked, a wicked grin on her face.
"Well yesterday you seemed awful mad at me," he began.
"I was, didn't mean I don't like you," she said. "Look, cards on the table, this year, it's going to be rough, so I need a friend to get through this. A very close friend."
"A friend?" Chuck asked. Sarah smiled. "A close friend?"
"A close friend," Sarah repeated.
"I can do that," Chuck replied. Sarah nodded. "What do close friends do, just so I'm clear?" Sarah shrugged.
"Go to dinner, watch movies, stay home with takeout, rent DVDs or watch old movies, sometimes snuggling on the couch, sometimes not," Sarah said. Chuck nodded.
"And as close friends, are we allowed to be friends with other people?" Chuck asked. Sarah studied him for a minute, a smirk growing. "To be clear, not close friends, just friends?"
"Are you saying you don't want to be exclusive friends, Chuck?" she asked, popping the "k".
"I mean if Casey wanted me to watch a movie with him, would that be okay?" Chuck asked, grinning. Sarah returned the grin.
"I have no problem with you and Casey watching a movie," she said smiling. She studied him for a minute. "Something I should know, Chuck?" Sarah asked, trying to hold in the laughter.
"I'm just saying, if I was needing warmth while watching a movie, snuggling with Casey would provide maximum warmth," Chuck replied, barely containing his laughter. Sarah laughed so loud she got looks from everyone in the restaurant. When she stopped, Chuck looked at her, seriously. "I would never snuggle with Casey, I'm afraid he'd try to kill me."
"I wouldn't if you tried," she said, just as Chuck was trying to eat a chip with salsa on it. He nearly choked. He got a drink, and managed to not spit anything up. Sarah's eyes were red from crying she was laughing so hard. He looked her right in the eye and raised a glass.
"Here's to the start of a beautiful close friendship," Chuck said.
"You know what they call friends in Australia, Chuck?" Sarah asked. Chuck shook his head. "Mates."
"It has other various meanings in the United States I'm told," Chuck said grinning. Sarah got a huge grin on her face and leaned forward. "It can be used as a verb or a noun. Of course, you being a linguist know all of this, don't you?"
"I do, Mate," Sarah said, grinning. "I think we should get out of here and do some other stuff mates would do."
"Dancing?" Chuck asked. Sarah shook her head.
"Snuggling up and watching a movie?" Chuck asked. Sarah nodded.
"After today, I need it," she said.
"We can do this, Sarah, we can beat Emmett Millbarge," Chuck said. Sarah took his hand.
"As long as you've got my back," Sarah said.
"I gotcha, Mate," Chuck said. Sarah winked at him, he paid the bill, and they left.
A/N: Next time, how to save the programs, and Emmett becomes a nice guy….I'm lying…he's a jerk…til next time…hope you enjoyed it!
DC