NaSkeWriMo Entry #1

From the W11 Universe!



“Oh, hell.” It was only a flash of light in the corner of her eye, but it was enough. Sarah reacted like any proper con artist would in an unknown situation, she dropped the still-wrapped Panini on the shelf and abandoned the scene of the crime, post-haste.

When Chuck came in, she was sitting at the table in the middle, fiddling with a bit of string that was beginning to unravel at the edge of her lunchbox. She looked up, feigning pleased surprise at Chuck as he entered. “Hey,” she said. “I thought you weren’t going to get a break today.”

“I bribed Skip. He’s the only one still—what?” Chuck narrowed his eyes at her.

Sarah kept her innocent look in place. “What?”

“I know that look. That’s the look that says…you were going to eat my sandwich!”

“I was going to do no such thing,” Sarah said, giving him a scandalized look and hoping that she somehow didn’t have any traces of the Panini wrapper on her hands.

Chuck shook his head at her. “I know that look,” he said again, pointing to her as he crossed the fridge to the Buy More break room. “Thief.”

Since it was said with affection, Sarah let that one slide. “Your Panini is still there,” she said, deciding that logic was on her side with this one.

“Only because I caught you in the act. You should’ve saved half of yours if you wanted to have it for lunch today.” Chuck brought his Panini and a grape soda—Morgan’s main use of his wealth thus far had been to ensure that the fridge remained completely stocked with his favorite brand—over to the table.

It smelled delicious. Evilly delicious, Sarah thought, eyeing the sandwich as Chuck unwrapped it. It wasn’t fair. Her own packed lunch had been completely unappetizing, and Chuck knew what a weakness she had for Hardigan’s mozzarella and tomato Paninis. It was half the reason he ordered them.

Sarah let out a sigh. So close, she thought, and stared at her tuna salad wrap. Ah, well.

She picked up the wrap and took a bite. “How’s your day going?”

“Oh, same old, same old. Somebody tried to dry out her iPod after the cat dumped it in the toilet by sticking it in the microwave.” Chuck rolled his eyes.

“Do warranties cover that sort of thing?”

“I fixed it.” When Sarah gave him a surprised look, Chuck made a show of taking offense. “Always with the shock. Sorry to break it to you, sweetheart, but you’re dating a genius.”

“Sweetheart?” Sarah asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Honey? Baby? Pookie?”

Sarah gave him an unimpressed look. Half of the Panini appeared on her half of the table. When she looked up, Chuck was idly munching on the sandwich—now noticeably smaller. After a second, he winked.

Sarah felt her own grin light up her face. “Thanks, Pookie,” she said, and Chuck groaned.