"Dragonflies of the Summer."
Sydney looked up at her best friend and roommate in confusion.
"What, Francie? Did you just say Dragonflies of the Summer?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"I'm thinking about writing a book and that was an option for the title."
By this point Sydney was unable to hold in the giggles that had been threatening to spill over.
"What is so funny, Sydney Bristow?" Francie demanded.
"You're majoring in business. Yesterday you were talking about a restaurant- now it's a novel!"
Francie took a second to reflect on her new idea and soon was joining in with Sydney's laughter.
"Maybe I'll leave the novel to you, Little Miss 'I Love English'. I just thought it would be cool to see my name in print."
"Well, then I'll name one of the main characters after you."
The two of them were seated on their couch, with the Sunday newspaper spread across the cushions. They had been living together for nearly a year, after both their boyfriends had turned out to be cheating scum. As they were friends, it was thought that they were better off to mope in one apartment, instead of two. It halved the price of rent and doubled the amount of ice cream in the freezer.
"Oh, Will called this morning."
Sydney looked up from the paper. "What did he want?"
"Something about Amy and her cult meeting tonight. He asked if he could crash here."
"Since when does he ask? And since when is his sister in a cult?"
"It's her book club. Will is just being a drama queen." Francie said.
"He's going to make a great reporter one day, being able to spin a book club into a cult."
"Yeah, well I told him he could come, as long as he bought pizza and beer."
"Nice job Fran." Sydney looked down at her watch. "Shoot, I have to go to work. I hate working Sunday's."
"Yeah right. You love you job, anytime you have to work." Francie was right. Sydney had landed a job a great bookstore slash coffee shop. Books and coffee- two of Sydney's favourite things.
"Yeah, but Sunday is our busiest day. I don't get a second to browse."
"I swear you would marry a book if it were allowed."
"True, but how would I stay faithful to just one?" Sydney replied as she got up. "I'll see you when I get back. What time did Will say he'd be here?"
"Around seven."
"Alright. Bye."
"Bye Syd."
"Excuse me, but…oh hey…is it Sydney?" Sydney looked up to see a guy from her Shakespeare class. They had never really spoken, but he always kept everybody entertained with his running commentary on everything the lecturer said.
"Yeah…Eric?"
"Yeah, Eric Weiss."
"Like Houdini?" Sydney smiled.
"I can't believe you know Houdini's name."
I am a girl of many talents. Speaking of which, one is bookstore assistance. What do you need?"
"I don't know. It's my little sister's birthday today and she is a total bookworm."
"How old?"
"Ten."
"Alice in Wonderland. Do you know if she has read it?"
"I don't think so."
"Well I got Alice in Wonderland when I was young and I still love it."
"Well then I'll grab it. Anything sounds better than what I had in mind."
"Ok, follow me." Sydney led him towards the back shelves. "What did you have in mind?"
"A yo-yo."
"Yo-yo?" Sydney looked at him quizzically before she reached up to the shelf.
"I like yo-yo's, so I thought maybe Alexis would too."
Sydney handed him a copy of Alice in Wonderland, not really quite sure what to say.
"But then my mate suggested that perhaps a yo-yo wasn't a great present."
"Well you friend sounds…"
"Smart?" Weiss interjected
"Now how did you know what I was thinking, Houdini?" Sydney asked playfully as they walked up to the cash register.
"It doesn't take a genius to figure out what you were thinking," he said as she scanned the book. "You were trying to figure out a way to call him smart and imply that I was stupid for thinking a yo-yo was a good present."
"Well Houdini, aren't you a surprise."
"The comedian is all an act. Underneath is a certifiable genius." Weiss replied, handing over some cash.
"Genius?"
"Well maybe semi-intelligent." Sydney laughed as she handed over the book.
"Let me know if she likes it."
"Yeah I will. But I will hold you accountable if she doesn't-"
"Weiss!" Sydney looked over to the door to see a tall blonde guy. "How long does it take to buy a book?"
"As long as it damn well takes."
"Come on, the game starts in fifteen and we gotta get back to my place!" With that he walked outside.
"Sorry about that. My smart mate is kind of a hockey fanatic."
"Oh, ok. Well I'll see you in class."
"Bye Syd."
Sydney watched him walk outside and join the blonde guy. She couldn't help but be intrigued by this friend of Houdini's.
"Ummm, ok…am I a person?" Francie and Sydney nodded, trying to keep their smirks from Will. It was later that night and after a few too many beers they'd decided on a game of Celebrity Heads. Sydney looked over at Francie who had the name 'Johnny Depp' stuck on her forehead, and the two tried not to laugh at Will's name.
"Am I male?" Will asked. Francie went to answer yes, but Sydney stopped her.
"I don't know. That's a tough one!" The two couldn't help themselves and fell into a fit of giggles. Will looked confused and desperately wanted to look at his name. If he did he'd see that Sydney had given him 'Will Tippin'.
"Yeah, you're right Syd. Male or female?" A look of recognition crossed Will's face.
"Am I Cartman's mum?" Sydney snorted with laughter, causing the mouthful of beer she'd just taken to fizz up her nose. Francie was laughing so hard she'd literally fallen off the couch.
"I swear, if you two don't stop I'm going to look at my name!"
"Ok sorry, you are male."
"Thank you. Am I on television?"
"No." Francie answered." Syd, you're turn."
"Am I male?"
"No." Francie and Will chorused. The game went on for another twenty minutes before Sydney won, guessing that she was Dorothy from Oz. A pillow fight soon followed when Will saw what his name was.
Sydney collapsed on the couch after belting Will with one of the couch cushions and caught a glance at the clock above the TV.
"Guys, I'm going to turn in. It's 11.30."
"Come on Syd, it's early!" Will said, ducking a forceful blow form Francie.
"Yeah, early for you who has no classes tomorrow. I have an 8am Shakespeare lecture."
"Well you're stupid for wanting to study an old dead guy." Francie replied, sitting next to her on the couch.
"Maybe I am. Goodnight you guys." She got up and made her way to her bedroom, listening to Will and Francie's conversation as she went.
"Come on pussy boy. You up for another round?"
"For sure. But I'm warning you; I was only warming up before. Nobody stands a chance against Wi-" Will was abruptly cut off by what Sydney deduced to be a severe blow to the head.
The next day Sydney was sitting at a table in on of the outdoor courtyards at her college, thumbing through the notes sh'ed just taken on Macbeth. She had half an hour before her next class and was just enjoying the warm sun.
Feeling her mobile phone vibrate in herbag, she grabbed it and then flipped it open. It was text message from Francie.
'Hey Syd, free tonight? Have just bought new Johnny Depp DVD and am up for a perve session.'
Sydney smiled to herself, pulling her planner out of her bag and turning to October 1st. She had nothing written in there- Francie would be happy. she finished her reply and was putting her phone back in her bag when she heard someone call out.
"Sydney?" She looked up and saw Weiss heading towards her with his blonde friend.
"Hey," she replied as the two sat down oppsite her.
"I just wanted to say thanks. Alexis loved the book."
"Good. So you're glad you didn't go with the yo-yo."
"Yes. Speaking of which, Sydney this is Michael Vaughn."
"Hi, I've heard about you. You're Houdini's smart friend."
Michael looked slightly confused by this statement and only smiled in response.
"I told Sydney how you talked me out of getting Alexis a yo-yo." Weiss explained.
"Oh, ko. I don't know if I'd call me smart for that. Maybe just perceptive to the fact that your sister would hate a yo-yo for her birthday."
"Great, now I'm dumb and not aware of my surroundings. Looks like I'm going to have to survive on my wit."
"Well be careful, cause you ain't got much Houdini." Weiss replied by poking out his tongue. She looked over at Michael to see if he'd been listening, but he seemed distracted.
"Well I'd better go. I've got a tutorial in 10 minutes. I'll see you guys." Sydney started to get up. but was stopped by Michael.
"Wait...Sydney?"
"Yeah."
"Have you got the time? Brainiac here doesn't wear a watch and mine seems to have stopped." Sydney glanced at her watch.
"It's 10 to 10. See ya."
Vaughn watched her walk away, unsure of how he felt about this new friend of Weiss's.
"Has it really stopped?" Weiss broke into his thoughts.
"Yes."
"Wasn't that your dad's watch?
"Uh huh."
"The one he said you could-"
"Yeah, the same one."
"So am I sensing a little..."
"You are sensing absolutely nothing. Didn't we establish earlier that you are not perspective."
"I know, but I haven't seen that look in your eyes since-"
"Can you please just drop it Weiss!"
"Touchy touchy Mr Vaughn."
"Shut it Weiss. Come on, let's go."