Sarah was oddly surprised that she hadn't yet heard from Chuck. What shocked her the most, however, was how disappointed she was by his silence. They'd had such a fun time. Even if it had started as just a cover, there really wasn't any reason why it couldn't be more.
With a sigh, she turned her attention back to the task at hand. Filming was over, which meant it was time for Sarah to start looking for work again. Sometimes she had her next job already lined up when her current one ended, but usually she ended up with at least a short unemployment break. Sometimes she went months between gigs. It was the biggest downside of the industry. You worked like a dog for months, then went unemployed until you worked like mad again. A strange life, but at least it wasn't a boring one. Overall, Sarah liked the pace, even if it was unpredictable.
This time, she was more relieved than usual to have it all be over. At least now she didn't have to ever see Daniel Shaw again.
Her eyes scanned the computer screen. This one looked promising and it was even filming in Vancouver. Bonus. She was half way through filling out the application, when Sarah had a thought. Hadn't the last one she'd filled out been a local set as well? Sarah double checked and she was right. There was always something being filmed in Vancouver, which is why she kept an apartment here, but even so, it seemed odd, so she went and checked the others she'd done tonight as well. It didn't take long for her to figure out that it hadn't just been the last two jobs, every job she'd applied for tonight was located in Vancouver.
It took Sarah a solid ten seconds to realize what she'd been doing.
"Get a grip girl!" Sarah scolded herself.
If he was gonna call, he'd have called by now. In fact, Chuck hadn't even called her before their cover date to tell her he'd be late! If he hadn't picked up the phone for that, he certainly had no reason to call now.
With a stubborn resolve, Sarah turned back to her computer and extended her job search. She had no ties to Vancouver. She could travel for work, no problem. If it was a long job, she'd just rent out her apartment like usual. Sarah was used to traveling around. Even as a kid, she'd rarely stayed in one place for long. Between her parents divorce and her mom's parade of new boyfriends, Sarah had never really learned to put down roots.
After another hour of applying for jobs, Sarah needed a break. Leaving her computer, she went to make herself a cup of coffee. As she was pouring the dark brown liquid into her favourite mug, Sarah thought she heard a noise. Walking back to her desk, she realized her phone was ringing. She didn't recognize the number.
It was probably that same person again. Sarah had blocked the number after she'd said hello and heard only the sound of heavy breathing. This spam caller must have found another number to call and hassle her with.
Picking up her phone, Sarah had been about to click the ignore button, when she froze.
What if it was Chuck?
And just like that, she changed her mind, her finger moving to the green button instead. If it was the creepy breathing again, she would simply hang up.
Click. The line connected.
"Hello?" Sarah asked.
"Ah, er, hi."
A genuine smile effortlessly spread over her face as she heard Chuck's voice.
"Chuck!" she exclaimed, probably with more enthusiasm than was safe.
"Yep, that's me," he said. "Sorry I didn't call you sooner. I actually didn't have your number."
"I left my card," Sarah reminded him.
"Which I failed to notice and then it was stolen by my stalker type coworkers," Chuck explained. "I just confiscated it from them last night."
Sarah rather liked this new information. Not only did this explain the creepy breathing call, but it also meant that technically Chuck hadn't been avoiding calling her all week. In fact, once he'd gotten her number, he'd waited less than a day before calling her. She liked that timeline much better.
"I remember you were telling me something about them at the party," Sarah said, conversationally.
"Yep, that's them," Chuck confirmed. "But don't worry, I have forbidden them from ever using your number."
"Happy to hear it," Sarah replied.
And then there was silence. They had reached the end of the explanation for the delayed call and now the next logical thing to discuss was the purpose of said phone call. Since Chuck had called her, Sarah felt like he should speak first.
"Um, so yeah, that's why I didn't call before," Chuck said, clearly trying to put off the change of topic.
"I understand," Sarah replied. After another pause she thought she'd give the guy a helping hand. "I'm glad you called."
"You are?" Chuck said quickly. He sounded surprised.
"Yes," she said. It was scary, but somehow Sarah couldn't help how she felt. It was so unlike her.
"I'm so happy to hear that," Chuck said, the relief obvious in his voice. "I wasn't sure if you'd want me to call."
"Yet you still did," she pointed out.
"Yes, I did," Chuck agreed. She wasn't sure, but she thought she could detect a slight hint of pride in his voice. Sarah was imagining Chuck spending hours working up the nerve to call her. It was sweet, though quite silly and quite possibly all in her head.
"And I'm glad you did," Sarah confirmed again. The guy seemed to need the confidence boost to get through what he wanted to say next, and Sarah very much wanted to hear the reason for his call.
"I was just calling to say, I mean calling to ask," Chuck began cutting himself off mid thought. There was a sharp intake of breath on the other line before Chuck spoke again.
"I was wondering if you wanted to hang out again," he asked very quickly as if anxious. "Maybe grab some dinner sometime or something?"
Sarah caught herself smiling again. She couldn't believe how nervous he was. She was surprised to find his anxiety flattering. She'd never been asked out by a guy who'd been nervous before. She'd turned down more overconfident assholes than she could count, but this was different. Chuck was different.
"Are you asking me out on a date?" Sarah inquired calmly, keeping her giddy feelings to herself.
"Yes," Chuck replied. "Unless you are completely against the idea, in which case no."
Sarah laughed lightly. This guy had like no game, and yet somehow she found him utterly charming.
"I think I'd like that," Sarah told him.
"Great!" Chuck said, the excitement obvious in his voice. "Does tonight work for you? Or tomorrow, or really anytime you want I will make work and-"
"Tonight is great," Sarah interrupted him. "Say fiveish?"
"I can pick you up, if that's okay," Chuck offered and Sarah remembered something about him saying he'd pick her up if their fake date had been real.
"Works for me," Sarah replied and gave him the name of her apartment complex. "Text me when you arrive and I'll come down."
"I can do that," Chuck agreed.
She could still hear the eagerness in his voice. It had her smiling again. Sarah realized she was going to have to watch her expression in person. This guy was altogether too good at making her smile. Usually, that would scare her, but there was something about Chuck that made her feel safe.
"Was there something else you wanted to talk about?" Sarah asked with a hinting of teasing to her voice.
"Oh, um, right, yeah I guess that's about it," Chuck replied. "Unless you want to talk about something."
"Aren't you at work?" Sarah asked him.
"Yes, but even if I don't get started till noon, I'll still get more done than anyone else around here," Chuck sighed.
"Sounds like a high pressure environment," Sarah laughed.
"More like boring," Chuck countered.
Sarah felt like Chuck didn't really fit into his job. It was like he was meant for better things. He really wasn't the type of person she'd expected to be interested in, and yet he somehow always made her smile. Sarah was rather excited about tonight.
"Oh, about tonight," Chuck said suddenly, as if remembering something. "Is there anything in particular you want to do? Or a restaurant you've been meaning to try, or something?"
"Not really," Sarah answered. "I usually spend half the year in Vancouver for work, but the hours are so long I tend to just order take out when I get home. I don't really know of many sit-down places to eat here."
"I know a good sushi place," Chuck offered. "Or there's one that does a great steak and potatoes. I don't eat out much either, unless my sister wants to."
"I get that," Sarah replied. "Dining alone is no fun."
Chuck agreed with her and then they both fell silent again.
"I'll see you tonight then," Sarah said.
"Right, yes," Chuck exclaimed. "Sorry, you are probably busy and I'm-"
"It's fine, Chuck," Sarah interrupted him. "I like talking to you."
"That bodes well, what, with the plan being us spending the evening together and all," Chuck babbled. "My sister says I never stop talking. I'm always filling those awkward silences, and even the not awkward ones too, and I sometimes- I mean I also-" After the second time he interrupted himself, Chuck stopped for long enough to take a breath, then he added, "I like talking to you, too."
"I'm glad," Sarah giggled.
"Anyway, I should really let you get back to whatever you were doing before I make more of a fool of myself," Chuck continued. "I'll see you tonight? Unless I've already turned you off the ide-"
This time, Sarah interrupted him. "I will see you tonight," she said firmly.
"Right, yes, good," Chuck said quickly, as if he couldn't quite pick a word that worked best, so he'd gone with all three.
"See you later, then," Sarah said.
"Yes, later," Chuck agreed, but he didn't hang up. Sarah decided to do the decisive thing and end the call first.
After all, there were things to do before the evening. Like finishing up her job hunting, and if she was going to a restaurant for dinner, a light lunch was in order. Then a shower and, most importantly, deciding what to wear for her date.
It all depended on whether she wanted Chuck to still be able to form sentences once he saw her. Sarah's casual orange tank top with that white skirt would probably be enough, but where was the fun in that? Her favourite black evening dress with those stunning two inch heels were definitely more wow, but it might also stop Chuck from talking at all during the evening, and there was nothing Sarah hated more than an hour passed in silence. She much preferred Chuck's adorable babbling. Yes, best to impress without shocking him. Maybe her dark purple top with the low neckline, paired with a casual denim would be a perfect compromise.
Sarah smiled to herself, and she looked deeper in her wardrobe. Not a good first date option for this particular guy, but she enjoyed the thought of what Chuck's eyes would do if she wore the red dress. It tied up the back like a bikini, then flowed down to her ankles with a slit down the side that almost reached her hip.
If tonight went well, maybe she'd get a chance to wear the red one next time. For now though, Sarah put on her purple halter top and her light wash jeans. It was almost five o'clock, and Sarah had a feeling Chuck wasn't the type to be late.
Sure enough a minute or so later, she got a text on her phone. It read: 'I'm here."
Tehe. I do have a cliffhanger problem, but at least the wait between updates was short, right? To finish this story off, it's deviating completely from the story I rewrote it from. The other ending just didn't make sense for Chuck and Sarah and needed a new flare.
Sorry if you are waiting for updates on my other Chuck story… that one is taking longer to write because it required plot planning. Don't worry though, updates are in the works! And I have plans to write a Chuck/Sarah High School AU once this one is finished.
Also, I might have a Christmas Chuck story in the works as well, but that won't come out unless I can get the entire thing done in time to upload in December.
And it seems I have started re-writing another of my older stories into a Chuck one… Now if my two adorable children would allow me enough time on my computer I could actually get them out to you in a timely manner.
Anything in particular you guys want to see on their first date? I have a couple references planned but still lots of room to add to it. The conflict in this story is basically over. It's just gonna be cute until it ends at this point.