A/N: Okay, I'm so sorry it's been….a little over a month since I've updated this, and I'm hoping all the fans of this one are still out there. Anyway, the reviews on this one are amazing. I know it's a bit of an angst situation, and everyone hates Shaw, but if you really can't stand it, maybe this isn't the story for you, because no miracle will occur immediately. Anyways, I just wanted to say a huge thank you to all who read and reviewed, and even PM'd me about this one, it's a great feeling.
Chapter Three:
"Oh my god….I can't believe we're doing this…" Sarah grinned, sitting beside Chuck at a table in the lobby, his laptop connected to the wall beside them.
"I just can't believe the school was high tech enough to actually scan and upload the class pictures up on their new site…" Chuck smiled cheekily.
"Well, they must be hell-bent on getting us all together for a reunion, then." Sarah replied, watching as his hands typed so deftly and skillfully, as if they were simply hovering over the keyboard.
Chuck glanced up at her, and caught her staring at him typing. Smirking, he decided to jog her memory. "Well…" he sighed, never stopping his hands. "Looks like someone didn't learn anything from Mr. Garret's typing class…."
"It was lame!" Sarah protested. "Who picks typing as an elective?"
"Um…..we did?" Chuck supplied happily.
"I only went because I wanted to be with you." She pointed out, suddenly realizing what she was saying. That familiar fluttering feeling hit her stomach again.
"How else could I have introduced you to Zork?" Chuck immediately changed the subject, Sarah sighing gratefully.
"Right….that made me a hell of a lot cooler…" Sarah rolled her eyes playfully.
"It did." Chuck quipped, locating their graduation pictures. "Take a look, Walker."
Sarah's eyes fell upon her past self. She looked younger, with her brown hair. She did look dorkier, but she still held the beautiful quality she had today. Chuck was simply staring at her picture.
"Wow….." Chuck breathed a small smile on his face.
"Can we please see yours now?" Sarah asked like her past, slightly impatient self. She hated being mocked.
"Sarah…" Chuck rolled his eyes. "Would you shut up? What does a guy have to do around here to let a girl know she is and was drop dead gorgeous…..."
Sarah's heart raced, and she felt as if she were on cloud nine, yet again.
"Buy her a mirror?" Came a deeper, smooth voice. The two wheeled around, seeing Shaw up and clean, wearing a business suit. His hair was slicked back and he had the manly scent of cologne radiating from him.
"Good morning, Daniel…" Sarah offered a smile, as he kissed her.
Chuck fought the urge to throw his laptop to the floor.
"I'm going to be out all day, over at the conference. It's not too far from here." Daniel explained. "Are you coming?"
"Actually, Chuck and I were just going to reminisce and hang around here…" Sarah explained.
Before Shaw could respond, another voice sounded. "Chuck, Daniel's going to take me and show me the ropes, so that maybe we can finally get a business going, alright?" Jill appeared beside them, cleaned and ready as well.
Chuck always knew Jill had an interest in the whole entrepreneur/ investing scene, but to actually go and sit through some conference with somewhat of a stranger? It struck him as a little odd. However, seeing an unfamiliar spark in Jill's eye, he wanted her to have fun on the vacation too.
"Alright babe, see you in a little while then." Chuck replied, as the two shared a kiss for a moment.
"Let's go, or we'll be late." Shaw told her, slipping on his shades before stepping out to the car.
Chuck sat back down with Sarah, watching them leave. "Well, at least we can safely say they're over the awkward ex stage." He grinned.
Sarah laughed, leaning against him. "Doesn't mean you're off the hook, Bartowski. Yearbook picture…..now."
"Yes ma'am." He chuckled, bringing up his.
-0-
Daniel Shaw was alone for the time being, safely away from anyone's ears. It was the perfect time to return his co worker's call.
"Larkin." A voice on the other end answered, as if he'd been expecting the call the whole time.
"It's Shaw." Daniel replied, knowing what was coming next.
"I know, I have caller ID, dumbass." Bryce retorted, seeming quite impatient.
"Did I catch you in the middle of something?" Shaw snorted, clearly irritated.
Bryce glanced at the girl on his bed. "Yeah, so make it quick."
"Look, we may have a slight problem with grabbing Walker's account and cash…"
"What?" Bryce sounded as if he'd been slapped. "What is it?"
"Not it, per se, but he."
"You mean Walker's got another guy?" Bryce asked, clearly frustrated. "You two are engaged for the love of god!"
"Well…. It's an old friend of hers….she's got feelings for him….more than me anyway."
"Oh, boo hoo. Suck it up, Shaw. I don't give a rat's ass about your feelings!"
Shaw smirked. "You and I both know I don't care about that. It's just…..what do you want me to do? Get rid of him?"
Bryce bit his lip, and then decided. "Okay, first, you try not to make a huge mess of this. Make him look like a jackass for her…Make her wonder what she ever saw in the poor bastard." He ordered. "And if that doesn't work…..hit me up, Shaw. I'll take care of it." He smirked and hung up.
Shaw raised a brow, and then smiled a little. This would be fun. He stowed his phone back in his pocket. He had a hot date.
-0-
Shaw had proposed that the entire gang meet and go out for dinner at one of the hotel's many restaurants, his treat.
Chuck and Sarah split to get ready in formal attire, as it was supposedly a very classy place.
Jill observed as Chuck got dressed in his suit. He looked very nervous. Maybe he was beginning to get suspicious? No. She shook the thought from her head, putting on her lipstick.
"Ready babe?" She called, doing the finishing touches.
"Honestly…..no." Chuck replied with a semi humorous tone. "But we'll be late if we don't leave now."
Jill watched in awe as Chuck turned. He looked slick in his suit, with his hair somehow arranged nicely. He looked like a million bucks.
"Wow Chuck." She smirked. "Looks like someone's trying to impress."
"Is it working?" He teased. Laughing, they left their room.
Chuck and Jill barely made it into the restaurant before Chuck literally froze on the spot, eyes widening as he caught sight of the gorgeous blonde before him.
"Oh. My. Sarah." He breathed, watching her smile shyly over at him.
Jill greeted her normally then brushed past her to sit at the table, where Shaw was waiting.
Sarah approached, a blush already on her cheeks, heart hammering. 'I hope he likes it…'she thought to herself, stopping.
Chuck managed a goofy smile, like he used to do. He watched as she approached in a beautiful red dress, makeup set to match her outfit perfectly.
"Hey….Woah….You look….Woah." Chuck tried to speak, apparently failing. Sarah laughed, a blush rising on her cheeks.
"Is woah a good thing?" she teased.
"Oh…..god, yes." Chuck saved himself, as the two exchanged a semi awkward hug.
Sarah took a step back afterwards, then chuckled.
Chuck immediately began to freak out. "What? What happened?" he thought of all the possibilities that could've gone wrong in that split second.
Sarah smiled and waved his worries away with a graceful hand motion. Taking a step toward him, she reached out to fix his tie, like she always did for him in high school.
Chuck immediately, out of habit, reached for Sarah's arm that was on it's way back to her side after fixing his tie.
Her breath hitching at his touch, the shock emanating from his mere gesture. Chuck immediately felt the same spark too, dropping her hand at once.
The two stared into each other's eyes for what seemed like hours, but was only, in reality, about a few seconds.
At the exact same time, the two spoke. "Uh….let's go." And they quickly retreated to the side of their "significant others".
This was going to be an awkward dinner.
A/N: So, tension and heat begins to rise. Please, let me know how you liked it! I am currently working on Taking Risks, and the next chapter of this should be posted as well, with my new beta, UKChuckster! Thanks a million for reading and reviewing, and as always….Have a great one, guys.
-LLC