Dinner and then bed

"Would you like to join us for dinner, Mr. Robinson? Sarah is going to make some of her famous baked chicken." Sarah shoots a look at me, and I shrug. It would be a little silly if we didn't invite him to eat, since it's such a small apartment and it's not like he brought any food with him.

"That would be very appreciated, thank you." Sarah seems slightly mollified by his courteous response, and leaves to the kitchen to start cooking. While she cooks, you and Mr. Robinson sit down in the living room to discuss history. I've learned a lot since high school, and I'm as eager to share it with him as he is to talk with me. With the student/teacher barrier gone, our discussions are even more interesting, and the two of us talk about subjects that both of us have studied.

Mr. Robinson leans back after a point I made with a grin on his face. "I always knew you had potential, kid. I'm glad to see that you haven't been slacking on your studies since graduation."

I beam at his compliment. "Thanks. It's almost easier now than it was back then. I can study whatever I want without having to worry about tests or homework and I can really dive into the stuff that I find interesting and ignore the rest."

"I know what you mean. Standardized testing has stifled so many bright students such as yourself. It's really a shame. It's part of the reason that I don't teach full time anymore." He has a wistful look on his face that makes me think that him leaving his job may not have been entirely up to him. "How about your girl? Do you guys ever discuss history? She wasn't exactly my best student."

"Sarah doesn't care much for history," I admit. "I've tried to get het into it so we can talk about it, but it never really works."

"What can you really expect from a girl? I know, I know, I'm a misogynist and all that, but some stereotypes exist for a reason." Thinking about it, most of the people that I know that are interested in history are men. Still, there has to be some women who I've met who are. Before I can think of any, he speaks again. "It doesn't matter. I'm sure the two of you have plenty of other things to talk about. Or things you can do that don't require talking, eh?" He winks and elbows me gently.

"Oh, uh, we haven't done, uh, any of that... stuff. Yet." I add that last partt hastily, thinking about our plans for tonight. An odd look comes over his face, like a chess player seeing an opening his opponent has made. As quickly as it shows up, it dissapears.

"Really? You have a girl who looks like that and you haven't dont anything with her?"

"Well, it's not for lack of trying on my part," I say with a slight chuckle. "Just has never been the right time."

I'm saved from any further embarassment by Sarah. "Dinner is ready," she says cheerfully, at least some of her normal personality returning.

Quickly standing up to avoid any further questions about my sex life, or lack of it, I say, "I imagine you're pretty hungry. Let's eat and we can continue talking later, okay."

"You got one thing right. I am starving." He stands up and follows me to the table where three plates are set out for us. We sit down to eat, and Mr. Robinson tells Sarah, "Thanks again for including me in your meal. It means a lot to me." She finally cracks a smile, pleased at his apparent change in behavior in the last few years. After taking a few bites, he adds, "It is a bit dry though."

Sarah's eyes flash in anger once more, and she turns to you. "Liam. What do you think?" Overly worried about getting food poisoning, she did have a tendency to overcook things like chicken and fish, though you never mentioned it before.

Clearing your throat, you answer, "Well, you could cook it just a tad less." Her anger dissapears as her entire body seems to almost deflate, taking on the same body language that she used to back in school when she had to take an insult from someone. "But it still tastes really good!" I add quickly, and she gives me a small smile that doesn't quite reach her eyes. She stays quiet for the rest of dinner, though I barely notice given how lively the discussion is between me and Mr. Robinson.

When the meal comes to an end, he casually says, "Ginger, do you mind doing the dishes so Liam and I can keep talking." It's worded like a question, but spoken like a statement or a command, and I briefly worry that Sarah is going to get angry at being called one of her old knicknames, however she doesn't respond, and silently collects the dirty dishes to clean while Mr. Robinson and I continue to talk late into the night.

By the time I finally go to bed, Sarah is already there and changed into her pajamas. "I lost track of time, I'm sorry," I apologize to Sarah. "Did you still want to..."

"Not tonight Liam. I'm just... not tonight, okay?" She seems exhausted, more than just physically, but emotionally as well. Given what's happened tonight, I'm not surprised. I decide it's best to give her some space and kiss her on the cheek.

"I understand. I love you. Sweet dreams." She mumbles something back that sounds like a love you before I close my eyes. She's not the only one who is exhausted, and I'm asleep in seconds.