Author's Note: Well, I enjoyed writing as Vaughn, but Sydney is my main character, so I'm back to her again.
The car has stopped moving, waking me up. I hadn't even realised that I'd fallen asleep. I sit up straighter, my headache considerably better after my nap. Weiss has already left the car. Good. I mean, I don't mind him as a person, but I needed to talk to Vaughn alone. I look over to him- it seems he's been waiting for me to wake up. His tie is still done up, but decidedly more lopsided than before. I smiled at him, nodding towards it. He grinned sheepishly.
"I wasn't sure how to undo it, so I thought I'd just wait," he explained, looking a bit embarrassed. I reached out and pulled on one of the ends. The knot fell up apart, leaving Vaughn looking at it sheepishly. I kept my fingers there for a bit longer than strictly necessary, then pulled them away and clasped them in my lap.
"Hard to do up, easy to undo," I said. He nodded. Silence fell. We sat there for a minute, just looking at each other. Finally I dragged my eyes away from his. It took a lot of effort; I love the colour of his eyes. I looked down at my hands. The silence was becoming uncomfortable. It seemed he felt it too, because he sighed deeply.
"Syd?" he asked just as I started to open my mouth. I clamped it shut and looked at him. He seemed to be psyching him up, so I waited patiently.
"You know what I said before?" he asked earnestly. I nodded. He took a deep breath.
"Umm…you realise I was just acting, right?" he asked imploringly. My heart sank. You should have know that Syd. At least you don't have to worry about protocol anymore.
"Um, yeah. Of course. And you know I didn't mean anything, it was my concussion talking," I said quickly. His face changed instantly- earnest to contrite.
"Oh, I'm so sorry! How's your head? You feeling okay?" he asked, his face concerned. It was like a traffic light: earnest-contrite-concern-earnest-contrite-etc…
"Well, the first thing I'm going to do is lie down…as soon as the door comes around again I'm getting out," I cracked, gesturing how the car was swirling with my hands. He jumped out the car, ran around the back and opened the door for me. I started to get out, with his help. Even if it only means something to me, I can still enjoy it.
With considerable help on Vaughn's part we made it up to my room. I bent down to get my pyjamas. Vaughn just stood there, watching me. I looked at him. He didn't seem to get the hint, so I had to come right out and say it.
"Would you mind turning around please?" I asked, holding up the pyjamas. He coloured slightly (it looked good on him) and turned around. I got changed quickly and told him it was safe. He turned back around and helped me get settled in bed. I sank into the pillows. Pillows- the single best invention on earth. Right now anyway, ask me in a couple of days and I'll say something totally different. Brilliance is not eternal.
"I'll check on you in a couple of hours. If you feel any worse, let me know immediately," he said. I nodded drowsily and he left. I rolled over onto my side. The lyrics from another Roxette song ran through my head that summed up my feelings entirely. "Every time I seem to fall in love, Crash Boom Bang. I find the heart and then I hit the wall, Crash Boom Bang. That's the call, that's the game and the pain feels the same."
Danny was killed almost before it even began. Vaughn and I have been denied a chance. Every time I fall in love, it always seems to fail. And the pain is the same. Unbearable.
A single tear rolled down my cheek and pooled on the pillow.
Author's Note: Don't worry; I have a happy ending planned. By now, you've probably figured out that I like Roxette. And that I listen to it while I type. The lyrics just seem so suitable!! Oh yeah, the reason why this chapter is so short is because my holidays are finished and I'm back at school. It's a choice between fanfiction and passing.
Anyway, I'd say there are about 2 more chapters to go. Then I'm finished!!