CHAPTER 8 - PREPARATIONS
Sydney walked through the door, beaming with her 100 watt smile that had become a permanent fixture on her face ever since she left the warehouse.
"Hey Francie! How are ya?" she asked cheerfully. Francie looked at her in disbelief and answered, "Ok, who are you and what have you done with Sydney?" Syd chuckled, "Can't I be happy once in a while?" "Sure!" replied Francie, who, after receiving no further enlightenment from her friend, couldn't resist enquiring, "Ok, spill. Why are you so happy?" with a sly grin. She was so pleased that Syd finally looked content - ok, content was an understatement, this girl looked ecstatic!
"Well..." Sydney began, "I have a date tonight!" The second part was said much quicker in a giddy sort of way. Francie smiled again and came over to hug her best friend, at the same time replying, "That's great hon! It's about time! Anyone I know?"
Just as Sydney was about to answer, Francie added, "Is it the picture-frame -guy? (As Vaughn had come to be known around their house.) "Actually, yes," Sydney answered, still fashioning her goofy smile.
"Oh my gosh? Is he hot?" Sydney giggled, they were talking like school girls, but it was fun so what the heck! "Unbelievably," she answered simply, with a dreamy look in her eyes as she thought about Vaughn.
"Ahhh!" Francie squealed. She was beginning to look more excited than Syd! Once they had both calmed down, Francie asked, in a serious tone, "What are you going to wear?"
"Oh god! I don't know." Sydney said, as if she had forgotten about that minor detail. Francie started, "It has to be something that's sure to drive him crazy! Something sexy, but not seeming to eager, classy and feminine, but not old fashioned and..." "Since when did you become such a fashion expert, Fran?" Syd interrupted, giggling at how her best friend was really getting into this.
"Come on," Francie said as she dragged Sydney to her bedroom, "I'll help you choose something out, because I know if it's left up to you, you'll still be here at midnight and we don't have that much time."
Sydney just rolled her eyes and complied.
One and a half hours and 50 tries later, Sydney was washed and had finally decided on her outfit for the evening - a simple black halter dress made out of silky material. It had a completely open back (except for two criss- crossing straps) and some diamond studs where the material tied round her neck. The dress fit her like a glove and hung loosely just past her knees. After making Syd twirl for her, Francie remarked, "Honey, you look beautiful. Picture-frame guy is one lucky s.o.b!" Sydney giggled at the way Francie expressed herself and slightly blushed. "Thanks Fran, for everything." "Your welcome, I'm just glad that you're finally back in the game after." Francie paused, unsure if she should say the name. "After Danny," Sydney finished for her. "Its ok Fran, you can say his name. I'll never stop loving Danny, but I think he of all people would want me to continue my life and be happy and finally, I'm starting to accept that," she added, her eyes glistening with a few unshed tears. Francie walked over to her and they hugged for a minute.
The two friends were rudely interrupted by the doorbell ringing. "Will that be him?" Francie asked. "No, we agreed we were going separately," Sydney replied, suddenly getting worried that Vaughn might have done something stupid (but romantic) like coming to pick her up. "Ok, I'll go get it; you just carry on putting on your makeup" Francie decided.
Sydney did so, but listened to see who it was. She was slightly surprised to hear Will's voice floating into her room. "Great," Sydney muttered under her breath in an annoyed way as she made her way into the lounge to greet him. She really didn't have time to answer all the irritating questions she was sure he would ask when she told him her plans for the night. "Hey Will," Syd greeted, trying to sound pleased to see him. "What brings you here?" She asked pointedly, hoping that he would take the hint that now was not the time and leave.
"Erm.nothing really, just wanted to see how you were and." Will paused, suddenly noticing how Sydney was dressed. His mouth was threatening to drop open - she looked amazing he thought to himself, but decided to go with, "Where are you off to?" trying to sound as casual about it as possible. "Sydney has a date, "Francie said, knowingly teasing Will. "Oh really," Will squeaked out, his voice betraying the calm façade he had somehow managed to put up. "Who with?" Again, Francie answered for Sydney in a smug voice, "the picture-frame- guy." "Thanks, Fran. I can speak for myself you know," Syd added, not really irritated but wanting to talk to Will herself. She knew Francie meant well, even if she was teasing him a bit, but Syd also knew that Will was in love with her and probably not too pleased about this latest development.
Sensing how tense it had suddenly become in the room, Francie made a lame excuse and left to "do some ironing", apparently in her bedroom.
"So you're going out with Vaughn?" Will asked, although Sydney knew it was more of a comment then a question so she just nodded. "Are you sure that's safe, I mean, aren't you always being watched? And I thought you said that protocol didn't allow for that kind of stuff?"
Sydney sighed. She had anticipated these questions from him but didn't really want to answer them - what was the point, he would still be jealous anyway.
"Will, everything will be fine" Syd replied, more as a reassurance to herself than for his benefit.
Will just nodded, understanding that she didn't need the third degree from him. He was just glad to see her happy... Wait, who was he kidding!? He was jealous as hell of Vaughn right now! Not that he could do anything about it. He had seen the way she was whenever Vaughn's name was mentioned, and how her eyes lit up every time there was a "Joey's Pizza" call.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence Syd spoke up saying, "I have to finish doing my makeup now," and turned to leave.
"Of course you do, "Will replied and as an afterthought added, "Be careful." He then proceeded to leave quickly, not wanting to stay any longer.
Francie, hearing the door close, came out of hiding and walked into the bathroom where Sydney was busy adding finishing touches to her makeup.
"How did he take it?" Fran asked hopefully. "Not too well but I'm sure he'll deal," Syd replied with a hint of sadness in her voice. She loved Will too, but only as a friend and she hated seeing him miserable, especially when she knew it was because of her. Francie agreed and then left Syd alone.
Ten minutes later, Syd emerged from the bathroom and earned a "wow" from Francie. She smiled and gathered her things.
"Ok Fran, this is it," she cried excitedly. "I have to set off now cause the place we are meeting at is at least an hour's drive away."
"Alright, have fun!" Francie yelled as Syd walked out of the house and to her car, after having checked her appearance for the 100th time in the hallway mirror.
"I will," Sydney yelled back, before driving off to her dream date which, thanks to her mother was only an hour away. Which reminded her, she had to make one important stop on the way.
Sydney walked through the door, beaming with her 100 watt smile that had become a permanent fixture on her face ever since she left the warehouse.
"Hey Francie! How are ya?" she asked cheerfully. Francie looked at her in disbelief and answered, "Ok, who are you and what have you done with Sydney?" Syd chuckled, "Can't I be happy once in a while?" "Sure!" replied Francie, who, after receiving no further enlightenment from her friend, couldn't resist enquiring, "Ok, spill. Why are you so happy?" with a sly grin. She was so pleased that Syd finally looked content - ok, content was an understatement, this girl looked ecstatic!
"Well..." Sydney began, "I have a date tonight!" The second part was said much quicker in a giddy sort of way. Francie smiled again and came over to hug her best friend, at the same time replying, "That's great hon! It's about time! Anyone I know?"
Just as Sydney was about to answer, Francie added, "Is it the picture-frame -guy? (As Vaughn had come to be known around their house.) "Actually, yes," Sydney answered, still fashioning her goofy smile.
"Oh my gosh? Is he hot?" Sydney giggled, they were talking like school girls, but it was fun so what the heck! "Unbelievably," she answered simply, with a dreamy look in her eyes as she thought about Vaughn.
"Ahhh!" Francie squealed. She was beginning to look more excited than Syd! Once they had both calmed down, Francie asked, in a serious tone, "What are you going to wear?"
"Oh god! I don't know." Sydney said, as if she had forgotten about that minor detail. Francie started, "It has to be something that's sure to drive him crazy! Something sexy, but not seeming to eager, classy and feminine, but not old fashioned and..." "Since when did you become such a fashion expert, Fran?" Syd interrupted, giggling at how her best friend was really getting into this.
"Come on," Francie said as she dragged Sydney to her bedroom, "I'll help you choose something out, because I know if it's left up to you, you'll still be here at midnight and we don't have that much time."
Sydney just rolled her eyes and complied.
One and a half hours and 50 tries later, Sydney was washed and had finally decided on her outfit for the evening - a simple black halter dress made out of silky material. It had a completely open back (except for two criss- crossing straps) and some diamond studs where the material tied round her neck. The dress fit her like a glove and hung loosely just past her knees. After making Syd twirl for her, Francie remarked, "Honey, you look beautiful. Picture-frame guy is one lucky s.o.b!" Sydney giggled at the way Francie expressed herself and slightly blushed. "Thanks Fran, for everything." "Your welcome, I'm just glad that you're finally back in the game after." Francie paused, unsure if she should say the name. "After Danny," Sydney finished for her. "Its ok Fran, you can say his name. I'll never stop loving Danny, but I think he of all people would want me to continue my life and be happy and finally, I'm starting to accept that," she added, her eyes glistening with a few unshed tears. Francie walked over to her and they hugged for a minute.
The two friends were rudely interrupted by the doorbell ringing. "Will that be him?" Francie asked. "No, we agreed we were going separately," Sydney replied, suddenly getting worried that Vaughn might have done something stupid (but romantic) like coming to pick her up. "Ok, I'll go get it; you just carry on putting on your makeup" Francie decided.
Sydney did so, but listened to see who it was. She was slightly surprised to hear Will's voice floating into her room. "Great," Sydney muttered under her breath in an annoyed way as she made her way into the lounge to greet him. She really didn't have time to answer all the irritating questions she was sure he would ask when she told him her plans for the night. "Hey Will," Syd greeted, trying to sound pleased to see him. "What brings you here?" She asked pointedly, hoping that he would take the hint that now was not the time and leave.
"Erm.nothing really, just wanted to see how you were and." Will paused, suddenly noticing how Sydney was dressed. His mouth was threatening to drop open - she looked amazing he thought to himself, but decided to go with, "Where are you off to?" trying to sound as casual about it as possible. "Sydney has a date, "Francie said, knowingly teasing Will. "Oh really," Will squeaked out, his voice betraying the calm façade he had somehow managed to put up. "Who with?" Again, Francie answered for Sydney in a smug voice, "the picture-frame- guy." "Thanks, Fran. I can speak for myself you know," Syd added, not really irritated but wanting to talk to Will herself. She knew Francie meant well, even if she was teasing him a bit, but Syd also knew that Will was in love with her and probably not too pleased about this latest development.
Sensing how tense it had suddenly become in the room, Francie made a lame excuse and left to "do some ironing", apparently in her bedroom.
"So you're going out with Vaughn?" Will asked, although Sydney knew it was more of a comment then a question so she just nodded. "Are you sure that's safe, I mean, aren't you always being watched? And I thought you said that protocol didn't allow for that kind of stuff?"
Sydney sighed. She had anticipated these questions from him but didn't really want to answer them - what was the point, he would still be jealous anyway.
"Will, everything will be fine" Syd replied, more as a reassurance to herself than for his benefit.
Will just nodded, understanding that she didn't need the third degree from him. He was just glad to see her happy... Wait, who was he kidding!? He was jealous as hell of Vaughn right now! Not that he could do anything about it. He had seen the way she was whenever Vaughn's name was mentioned, and how her eyes lit up every time there was a "Joey's Pizza" call.
After a few minutes of uncomfortable silence Syd spoke up saying, "I have to finish doing my makeup now," and turned to leave.
"Of course you do, "Will replied and as an afterthought added, "Be careful." He then proceeded to leave quickly, not wanting to stay any longer.
Francie, hearing the door close, came out of hiding and walked into the bathroom where Sydney was busy adding finishing touches to her makeup.
"How did he take it?" Fran asked hopefully. "Not too well but I'm sure he'll deal," Syd replied with a hint of sadness in her voice. She loved Will too, but only as a friend and she hated seeing him miserable, especially when she knew it was because of her. Francie agreed and then left Syd alone.
Ten minutes later, Syd emerged from the bathroom and earned a "wow" from Francie. She smiled and gathered her things.
"Ok Fran, this is it," she cried excitedly. "I have to set off now cause the place we are meeting at is at least an hour's drive away."
"Alright, have fun!" Francie yelled as Syd walked out of the house and to her car, after having checked her appearance for the 100th time in the hallway mirror.
"I will," Sydney yelled back, before driving off to her dream date which, thanks to her mother was only an hour away. Which reminded her, she had to make one important stop on the way.