agent belle: Thank you for your feedback.
ILOVEALIAS4EVER: Thank you so much for those comments on chapter. For the record, I am having a lot of fun with the relationship between Summer and Mitch. It was change getting to develop one of my own. So again, thank you.
Disclaimer: The title of this chapter comes from the song 'The City Lights' by Umbrellas
I'm Thinking Ambitious, I've Got This Feeling Things Will Be Alright
"Well fine," Summer pouted. "I'll just take this present back inside."
"Hang on. Take a back step there, Summer- my most dearest, darling daughter in the world who makes the sun shine for me every day," Vaughn said with a grin. "Did I hear present?"
Summer laughed, handing over the wrapped package. "The proper one is coming tonight, but I found this in a shop and thought…"
Vaughn pulled off the wrapping paper, revealing the frame. In it Summer had placed a photo of her, Sydney and Liam. It had been taken almost six months ago, on Liam's birthday. A backyard barbeque had turned into a giant water fight, and in the photo the three of them were soaking wet and in hysterics.
"Oh, Sum…this is more than a proper present."
"I thought that maybe you could put it on your desk at work. It might brighten your workday if need be."
"I love it." Vaughn pulled Summer in close and placed a kiss on the top of her head. "And it will be going on my desk as soon as I get to work."
Summer forced herself to smile as he stomach rolled threateningly. "Happy Birthday, dad."
"Hey." Sydney perched herself on the edge of Vaughn's desk. "You recovered yet?"
Vaughn groaned. "Whose bright idea was it to go out for birthday drinks after dinner…on a work night?"
Sydney let out a laugh, running a hand down the side of his face. "I believe that it was the birthday boy."
"Oh right," Vaughn leaned back in his seat. "So what is going on?"
"We've got ourselves a hot tip," Sydney said, lowering her voice. "Of a location of an Allégeance facility."
"Whereabouts?"
"Krakow," Sydney replied. "Dixon and Weiss are on point. I think that dad wants you to run things from back here. Details should be arriving on your desk shortly."
"All fun and games, hey?"
Sydney nodded, glancing down at Vaughn's desk, her eyes falling on the new photo frame. "Where did that come from?"
"Summer," Vaughn said, his tone obviously softer. "She gave it to me yesterday morning."
Sydney smiled warmly at the photograph, remembering the exact moment that it had been taken. She could still hear the laughter echoing in her ears. "We had so much fun that day."
"Yeah, we did," Vaughn said. "And to think that it was only months ago. It doesn't feel like we're having all that much fun anymore."
Sydney leaned forward slightly, cupping Vaughn's face with her hands. "Sure, we are. It's only here, with this investigation, that you feel that way. At home, with Sum and Liam, you can leave all of this behind. All you have to do is look at that photo to realize that."
Vaughn sighed, moving forward so that he could press his lips onto Sydney's. "Putting that ring on your finger was the smartest thing I have ever done."
"Of course it was," Sydney said, standing up. "I should let you get back to work."
"Do you have to?"
"Uh huh," Sydney placed a kiss on his forehead. "Have fun."
Lauren stopped the recording. While the placement of the photo frame was turning out to be a goldmine, she wasn't going to put herself through listening to Sydney and Vaughn's conversation.
The two of them had ruined her life to create their own perfect little universe, while she had been forced to spend nineteen years in hiding. Living without an existence was not living at all.
But now Lauren had that reason to live. And it would not be long before she would be able to step out of the shadows.
"Mitchell!" he heard his mother yell. "Could you get the door please?"
In the middle of a monster study session, Mitch had tried to ignore the doorbell. His mother, however, had a different idea.
"Fine," he muttered, making his way down the hallway. "Never get anything done…test tomorrow…how many other people in the house…"
Thankfully he stopped the mutterings before flinging the door open, as it was Summer standing on the front step.
"Hey Sum. What's up?"
She appeared somewhat awkward, almost distracted as she shifted her weight from one foot to another. "Nothing…are you busy?"
"No," Mitchell replied without hesitation. Something was definitely up. His study could wait.
"Feel like a walk?"
"Sure." With that he stepped out, closing the door behind him. "So, are you going to just come out with it…or shall I begin forcing it out?"
"Forcing what out?"
"Summer, this is me you are talking to. Mitch. Mitchell- the guy who has known you your entire life. It took all of half second for me to see that something isn't right."
Summer groaned inwardly. She shouldn't have gone to see Mitch. He knew her too well. How was she supposed to tell him what was bothering her?
"Do you think that I could be a horrible person?" she finally asked.
"No." Mitch replied bluntly. "Not at all."
"What would you say if I said that I manipulated somebody in order to get something in return?"
"Um…" Mitch chewed his bottom lip. "I don't…hang on. I think I get this now. Who did you sell dodgy insurance to?"
"Nobody…"
"Sum, it is time to get out of that job. You've changed since you starting working there."
"Mitch, the insurance thing is not causing me any problems," Summer insisted, telling the absolute truth.
"Well, something is constantly stressing you out. I want my Summer back."
Summer stopped in her steps. "Your Summer?"
"Yes, my Summer. That amazing person who can find humour in almost anything. The Summer who surprises me in a different way every single day. The Summer whose smile lights up a room…I barely see that smile anymore—"
"Mitch, you—"
"The Summer who is my best friend." Mitch paused. "Lately, that Summer has been in hiding."
Summer was frowning. "I am still me."
"A completely different you."
"And why is that such a big deal?" Summer demanded, suddenly feeling angry. Who was Mitch to judge her this way? "In your world are people not allowed to change?"
"I never said that!" Mitch shot back, his own voice rising.
"You may as well be."
"Change can be a good thing- if the change is for the good."
"And obviously I haven't changed for the good," Summer snapped. "Well thanks, Mitch. It's been real nice, standing here, having you judge me."
"This is what I'm talking about! You are so angry at the moment, Summer. And stressed. And unhappy—"
"Why do you even care so much?"
"Because…because…"
"See. You can't even give me an answer."
"You want an answer?" Mitch demanded. "Fine!" With that he stepped forward, cupped Summer's face with his hands and pressed his lips into hers.
Shocked, Summer put her hands in Mitch's chest and pushed him away. "What are you doing?"
"That is why I care so much, Sum. You are not the girl that I love anymore."
"But…I…" Summer had to admit that this was what she had been wanting for a long time, but now…it was something that she could not deal with.
"Sum?" Mitch said softly, taking a step towards her.
"Don't." She held up her hands. "Just don't." Shaking her head, she turned around and started to walk away.
"Summer, don't go. We…" Mitch called out, but the only response he got was to see her break into a run and get away even faster.
Sydney has just settled down on the couch with a book when she heard the front door open. A few seconds later Vaughn appeared, his expression strained.
"Hey," Sydney sat up straighter. "What's the matter?"
"The mission," Vaughn replied wearily, squeezing the bridge of his nose. "Krakow…it was compromised."
"What?!" Sydney stood up. "Dixon, Weiss- are they—"
"They're fine," Vaughn reassured her. "But they knew we were coming. The facility was vacant and wired to blow."
Sydney clapped a hand over her mouth. "Oh my god."
"If Jack hadn't spotted it on the surveillance…" Vaughn trailed off. "How could this have happened?"
"Vaughn, this is going to end."
"I really hope so."
"It will. Information is being contained, which narrows their options of retrieving that information. And after Dixon and Weiss, it will be days, max, before we find them. They put our friend's lives in danger and I am going to make it my mission to make them pay. Those responsible will never see daylight again after I get my hands on them."
Vaughn had a small admiring smile on his face as he stepped forward and kissed Sydney softly. The kiss was long and when they separated he was still smiling.
"I am so glad that you are fighting on the same side as me."
Sydney grinned. "What can I say? I get a little intense when those I care about are involved."
Vaughn raised an eyebrow. "A little?"
As Summer stepped through the front door, she could hear voices coming from the living room. Not wanting to face anybody, she planned pn sneaking past. However, something made her stop.
"The facility was vacant and wired to blow," she heard her father say.
"Oh my god," came Sydney's shocked reply.
"If Jack hadn't spotted it on the surveillance…How could this have happened?"
"Vaughn, this is going to end."
"I really hope so."
"It will. Information is being contained, which narrows their options of retrieving that information. And after Dixon and Weiss, it will be days, max, before we find them. They put our friend's lives in danger and I am going to make it my mission to make them pay. Those responsible will never see daylight again after I get my hands on them."
As silence descended upon them, Summer backed towards the front door, both hands clamped over her mouth. Sydney had said they were close…they would find out that it had been her all along and then…
Taking a second to grab her car keys, Summer then sprinted out the front door. There was not a chance she was going to stay and wait to be discovered. There was only one option and that was to run.