"Sara, I hate to do this, but can I ask a really huge favour of you?" Greg mumbled, as fast as he could. He couldn't believe he was actually doing this. He must be crazy. Sara would never agree to do this for him.
Sara Sidle looked up from her magazine. Huh? Had Greg just said something to her? She'd heard something, but maybe he was just mumbling to himself. But she thought she'd heard her name in there somewhere.
"Sorry? Did you say something Greg?" She asked.
Greg glared at her. "I said, can I ask a favour of you" he repeated, irritated. This was hard enough already. She could at least listen when he was trying to talk to her. Although, it was possible she hadn't heard him the first time. She had been pretty engrossed in her magazine.
"Yeah, sure," Sara agreed. "What is it?"
Greg was a little taken aback. He hadn't expected her to agree so easily. He had been fully prepared to grovel. But if that wasn't necessary, he wasn't going to complain. Although, what her reaction would be when he actually asked her, he didn't know.
"Okay" he began, "My parents were nagging me about spending so much time in the lab, right? Saying I had no social life and such."
Sara nodded. "Yeah, my parents get like that sometimes. But they've more or less figured that I'm happy how I am."
"Yeah, well, mine haven't taken that hint" Greg grumbled. "Anyway, I was getting sick of it, so I told them I had a girlfriend, just to get them off my back."
Sara burst out laughing. "Bad move Sanders, never invent someone that you're going out with. It's just asking for disaster."
Greg couldn't keep the embarrassment off his face. "Yeah, well no-one told me that before hand" he said. "And anyway, how do you know?"
Sara blushed. "Never mind that, it's ancient history. Anyway, you're supposed to be asking me a favour here, aren't you?" She had a sneaking suspicion that she knew what it was, but she wanted to check, in case she was wrong. She'd look like a right fool if she agreed to something different to what he was trying to ask.
"Well, the thing is, my parents kinda decided that they wanted to meet her, so they're coming to visit," Greg was flushing, and knew it. He couldn't help it. As he drew closer and closer to his question, he wasn't sure if he could get the courage to ask. Maybe he should just forget it. She was probably going to say no anyway.
Sara decided to cut Greg a break. She was almost certain that he was going to ask what she thought he was. If he ever managed to get around to asking. It was obvious that even thinking of asking her cost him a great deal.
"So, you want me to pretend to be your girlfriend while they're here?" she asked, hoping that she was right.
To her relief Greg nodded. "I wouldn't ask, but they're so happy about it." He was sure that she was now going to refuse, and probably laugh in his face.
It occurred to Sara at that moment just how sweet Greg could be. Her answer could completely humiliate him, if it was a negative response. That he was willing to risk that to keep his parents happy was almost amazing. She didn't know if any other guy she knew would be willing to do the same.
"Sure, I'll help you out" Sara said, then couldn't help giggling at the look of utter relief on his face.
Greg sent her an offended look. "Hey, if you're going to laugh at me for suggesting it, forget about the whole thing" he told her. She had laughed at him, just as he had known she would. On the other hand, she had said yes first. Perhaps it wasn't a lost cause.
"Greg, I was laughing at the look on your face, not at what you want me to do" Sara explained. "Just... when I agreed, you looked so relieved. What, did you think I was going to turn you down?"
Greg smiled at her sheepishly. "Well, yeah, I did. I didn't think anyone as pretty as you are would even want to pretend to be going out with a guy like me."
"Greg, you're my friend. I always help my friends out" Sara told him.
A huge grin came over Greg's face. "Really? You mean you'll do it?" he demanded. He couldn't believe this. She had actually said yes.
He threw his arms around her. "Thank you! Thank you so much. It will only be for a couple of days, I swear!"
Sara blushed. He was so happy over one little favour. "Greg, it's no biggie. Like I said, I'm always happy to help a friend out."
Greg stood back, the sheepish look back on his face. "Um... sorry about the whole hug thing. It's just... I can't believe you actually agreed, I was sure you were going to turn me down."
"It's okay Greg" Sara told him, trying not to laugh again. Now he was acting like an embarrassed teenager in the presence of a crush. It was quite funny to watch. Of course, he didn't have a crush on her, surely?
Greg walked back to his lab, trying to keep the grin off his face. Sara Sidle had agreed to go out with him. Or, technically, to pretend to go out with him. But still. She hadn't rejected him, and his parents weren't going to find out that he'd only been pretending to have a girlfriend.
It was also a good thing that Sara had been the first name he had thought of when his parent s asked what her name was. Otherwise, he'd be in a mess, since he wasn't sure if Sara would agree to use a false name, on top of pretending to be his girlfriend.
Greg suddenly remembered that he had completely forgotten to give Sara the details to when his parents were coming. Not that it mattered. It gave him a reason to talk to her again. And that was something he didn't mind doing at all.