Odd Couples
Ch. 11: Dear Corrine

Thank you to everyone who has read and reviewed!! You guys are the reason I have kept writing. And a very special thanks to xXxXbittersweetxtearsXx and Josie thank you for forever reading and reviewing the chapters.

-------------------

"What," Josie asked.

"I said I'm sorry," he repeated looking up. "And you don't have to say sorry back,"

'Back?' Josie didn't feel she had anything to apologize for period, and wasn't even thinking of apologizing.

"Not that you did anything," he continued earning a smile and a nod from Josie. "But I'm sorry, and not just for that one day, I mean I'm sorry for everything," his apology was beginning to sound a little clichИ, like an overused movie line, but it was exactly what he wanted to say sorry for. He was tired of the ignoring and the silence, and he was almost sure she was too.

Josie smiled at him, setting down the photos on the floor. She searched her head for something decent to say, something that wouldn't ruin the mood. But it was already too late, Marshall ruined it first.

-------------------

Vaughn had declined Elizabeth's invitation into her apartment. He felt he had too much on his mind and had taken off, reminding her sweetly about their lunch date the next day with a kiss goodnight.

As he neared his own apartment he took notice of Greg's car, which was missing, removing any doubt to Vaughn's assumptions about Corrine and Greg. He looked up at the complex, and ran his hand through his hair. It wasn't too late to turn back and reconsider the invitation; it wasn't as if anyone was waiting for him to come home. After a moment of deliberation, he returned his keys into his pocket, and made his way back down the street, where Elizabeth's eyes danced in delight at the sight of his return and change of mind.

Back at his place, however, Corrine sat around a series of printed ads for apartments she and Greg found on the internet, waiting to consult Vaughn when he returned. But as the clock struck midnight, Corrine gave up waiting, and gathered the papers into a pile, and left for bed.

-------------------

There was silence again between Josie and Lucas, but this time it wasn't the same cold feeling silence. The two listened quietly for the sound of Marshall climbing the stairs, and when they finally heard the faint thud of his footsteps, excitement rose, until the footsteps went the other direction away from the attic.

"What▓s he doing?" whispered Josie, trying not to interrupt the quiet.

"I don't know," Lucas answered, still listening intently. "I don't think he knows we're in here,"

There was a short pause in which a crazy idea landed itself in Lucas's head.

"Wait," he said holding up a hand as if to stop time. "You didn't lock the door when my mom left?"

Josie looked at him questioningly. "Obviously, otherwise Marshall wouldn't have gotten up."

"No, I mean, how do we know that that's Marshall?" he started, "How do we know it's not some maniac?"

Josie rolled her eyes at his preposterous suggestion, "Really Lucas? A maniac?"

"Why not?" he asked.

"That's crazy," she reasoned.

"Exactly!" he practically spat out with excitement, then realized it wasn't the best situation to be yelling, and quieted down to a bare whisper, "They're maniacs of course it's crazy,"

Josie shook her head, and made her way to the little window parting the delicate lace curtains to peer below. "Okay Lucas, but what exactly would you call that," she smiled smugly down the glass.

He walked over and peered down into the street. There was a car parked in his driveway, and it wasn't just any car. "That's Marshall's car," he answered.

"Exactly."

-------------------

The next morning Vaughn stepped up to his apartment door to hear the muted sounds of a conversation drifting into the hallway. Dismissing it as a neighbor, he quietly slid his key into the door, and walked through gently shutting it behind him knowing Corrine and Greg were still sleeping. But as soon as the door shut, the conversation became more distinct.

He found Corrine and Greg sitting in their dining table, which they hardly ever used, talking and laughing over breakfast. The scene reminded him of the little encounter at the restaurant the night before. And wanting to desperately find out what she was laughing over he walked as quiet as possible, and had he not tripped over an invisible object he would have gone unnoticed.

Corrine was the first to notice his arrival, and looked up slightly smiling, and lacking any words to say. Vaughn smiled back, taking notice of the smallest hint of concern in her eyes, thinking they said everything she didn't. 'So she was worried,' he deducted stepping forward.

"Where have you been?" asked Greg teasingly, knowing exactly where he had been the night before.

Vaughn let the question hang in the air, as he felt it wasn't necessary to answer a question Greg already knew the answer to. But Corrine looked up expectantly waiting for his reply, and Vaughn fought the urge to answer. He didn't want to tell her he spent the night at Elizabeth's, though she knew well enough he went on a date with her last night. And not that it mattered if she knew anyway. But the look she was giving him, just made him want to answer. "What's to eat?" he asked quickly changing subjects.

"French toast," Corrine answered.

"She made them," added Greg proudly pointing to Corrine courtesy of his fork.

Vaughn turned to her, and without making a word stared into her brown eyes, which were shiny like two round polished marbles. Corrine felt naked under his scrutinizing eyes. But though she tried, she couldn't tear herself away from his gaze. "I didn't know you cook," he suddenly said, his gaze unwavering.

She quickly drew away, taking a sip from her glass. All the while Greg watched the two in bewilderment. "there's a lot you don't know about me," she said cheerfully, setting down her orange juice.

'I'd like to know them all,' he thought watching her.

"Help yourself, there's plenty," said Corrine and soon after excused herself, gathering her dishes. "I'll get that," Greg offered, getting up to take the plates from her hands.

Corrine smiled in response, and with a thank you walked off to Vaughn's room.

-------------------

Marshall spent most of the night at Lucas's helping him and Josie out with the cleaning he promised his mom he'd do. When he had arrived at the Randall's he had trouble finding them, and had even searched the entire second floor, until he finally remembered the attic. He found Lucas and Josie waiting for him expectantly as he opened the door with scattered piles of photos littering the floor behind them, piles which he had helped clean up before leaving. And he remembered being pushed up against the wall as the two of them ran wildly out like maniacs, and thanking God. After they had settled down it was both a surprise and a relief for Marshall to see Lucas and Josie speaking to each other. And when he finally got home he tore open the letter he had been dying to read, and spent the rest of the night thinking of his reply which he'd write in the morning.

He woke up to find himself still holding onto Corrine's letter, and still wearing last night's clothes. Cursing himself at his inability to stay awake long enough to at least change, he got up, carefully setting the paper on his dresser. He briefly glanced at his reflection and noticed immediately the dark bags under his eyes from lack of sleep. Then his eyes wandered to the picture frame sitting on the dresser. It was a picture of him and Corrine when they were still together. She looked so happy. He looked so happy. "Dear Corrine," he began planning out his letter aloud. "I miss you,"

-------------------

Okay, so the deal is, I think, next chapter will be all Corrine and Vaughn. I'm holding off with the Josie/Lucas/Marshall storyline at least for one chapter. So expect loads of Corrine and Vaughn interaction coming next.