CHAPTER 10 - THE DATE (PART 1)
Sydney sped along the highway, pushing 80, determined to get there before Vaughn. Luckily since she had passed the LA city boundary, she had only encountered one tail, which had easily been shaken. She silently grumbled at how the journey seemed to be taking ages and her nerves weren't exactly lessening as time went on. Frustrated, Sydney pressed the search button on the radio again in the hopes of finding one decent station to listen to; however after listening to a random love song for about 30 seconds she decided that maybe the radio wasn't the best remedy for pre-date nerves.
Naturally, Syd's thoughts shifted to Vaughn. She wondered what he had decided to wear, if he was a bit nervous too, if he was finding his way alright..her thoughts quickly came to a halt and were replaced by an extreme excitement when she finally saw a sign saying: Morro Bay, ½ mile. "Oh thank god!" Sydney whispered to herself - she had begun to worry that she'd gone the wrong way.
Ten minutes later, Syd was making her way up the stone steps to the front door of the villa. She had looked around and couldn't see Vaughn's car, which at first, pleased her because she had wanted to be the first to arrive, but then, an ounce of fear made its way into her mind and she hoped that nothing had happened. Sydney shook her head as if to get rid of the thoughts and concentrated instead, on the beauty which was surrounding her.
The huge villa looked traditionally Spanish-style, with its white-washed stone walls and red-tiled roof. Hanging baskets of sweetly-scented flowers swayed in the gentle breeze and the smell of dinner was wafting through an open window, which Sydney assumed belonged to the kitchen. In the distance, she could hear the waves of the Pacific Ocean, crashing against the rugged California coastline.
"This is it," Sydney whispered as she knocked on the old wooden door. An old man, presumably the butler answered the door and welcomed her in, but not before asking her her name. Sydney had thought for a second about whether she should use an alias but decided that she wanted this night to be about Sydney and Michael, not some two made-up people who didn't actually exist. So she simply gave him her real name and stepped inside the marvellous building.
Sydney couldn't help but say "wow" when she took a look around the elaborate hallway she had stepped into. The walls were painted a sunny yellow and various paintings in gold picture frames hung around the room. The villa, although very large, felt homely which was nice. Just then the 'butler' spoke up and asked her, "Would you like to wait here for your friend or would you prefer to go out onto the terrace, miss?"
Sydney thought for a second, and decided that she would stay where she was, so that she could see Vaughn's reaction when he entered. "I'll stay here, thank you," she answered politely and the butler proceeded to leave, presumably to prepare the drinks. She had to give her mom credit, this was very well organised. Actually, when she thought about it, Syd realised it was actually this "Peter Wright" who had organised it all, Irina had only asked him. "He must have owed her a pretty big favour" she mused, "I must remember to contact and thank him when this is over."
Suddenly she sensed a presence behind her. "That's weird, I didn't hear the door," Sydney thought, puzzled, before she turned around. She almost gasped when two beautiful, emerald green eyes met her own. "Vaughn, hey, you made it," she said in a floaty voice. "Of course I made it," Vaughn replied with a smile that made her melt. 'God Syd, control yourself, the date has barely begun and you're already going weak at the knees' said a little, well known voice in her head. She looked back at Vaughn, who seemed just as impressed with the place as she had been.
"Wow, Sydney, this place is incredible! How did you manage to find it and sort all of this - he gestured around the room with his hand - out?" "I have my contacts," replied Sydney, wondering whether she should tell him that it was all her mother's idea but deciding that it might upset the wonderful atmosphere that had become a permanent fixture since he had entered the room.
"You know, you never cease to amaze me Sydney Bristow," Vaughn remarked, causing Sydney to blush furiously. For a minute they just gazed into each other's eyes, unspoken words and emotions being conveyed in single glances. However, their calm, content silence was broken by the butler who had chosen to walk into the room at that very minute, and who was oblivious to the fact that he had just ruined a perfect moment. Sydney and Vaughn both stared at the short, white-haired man, waiting for him to speak.
"Your meal is ready, please follow me to the terrace" he requested kindly. Sydney and Vaughn followed him through the house, stopping every once in a while to admire some beautiful architecture or a painting and glancing at each other with broad grins on both their faces. The 'terrace' was right at the back of the villa, which explained why Sydney couldn't see it when she first arrived. The butler stopped in front of a pair of dark oak doors and gestured with his had, asking them to enter.
Vaughn swiftly opened the door and was once again amazed at the sight. "After you" he said to Sydney, who proceeded to walk through the doors and out onto the terracotta-tiled terrace.
Sydney sped along the highway, pushing 80, determined to get there before Vaughn. Luckily since she had passed the LA city boundary, she had only encountered one tail, which had easily been shaken. She silently grumbled at how the journey seemed to be taking ages and her nerves weren't exactly lessening as time went on. Frustrated, Sydney pressed the search button on the radio again in the hopes of finding one decent station to listen to; however after listening to a random love song for about 30 seconds she decided that maybe the radio wasn't the best remedy for pre-date nerves.
Naturally, Syd's thoughts shifted to Vaughn. She wondered what he had decided to wear, if he was a bit nervous too, if he was finding his way alright..her thoughts quickly came to a halt and were replaced by an extreme excitement when she finally saw a sign saying: Morro Bay, ½ mile. "Oh thank god!" Sydney whispered to herself - she had begun to worry that she'd gone the wrong way.
Ten minutes later, Syd was making her way up the stone steps to the front door of the villa. She had looked around and couldn't see Vaughn's car, which at first, pleased her because she had wanted to be the first to arrive, but then, an ounce of fear made its way into her mind and she hoped that nothing had happened. Sydney shook her head as if to get rid of the thoughts and concentrated instead, on the beauty which was surrounding her.
The huge villa looked traditionally Spanish-style, with its white-washed stone walls and red-tiled roof. Hanging baskets of sweetly-scented flowers swayed in the gentle breeze and the smell of dinner was wafting through an open window, which Sydney assumed belonged to the kitchen. In the distance, she could hear the waves of the Pacific Ocean, crashing against the rugged California coastline.
"This is it," Sydney whispered as she knocked on the old wooden door. An old man, presumably the butler answered the door and welcomed her in, but not before asking her her name. Sydney had thought for a second about whether she should use an alias but decided that she wanted this night to be about Sydney and Michael, not some two made-up people who didn't actually exist. So she simply gave him her real name and stepped inside the marvellous building.
Sydney couldn't help but say "wow" when she took a look around the elaborate hallway she had stepped into. The walls were painted a sunny yellow and various paintings in gold picture frames hung around the room. The villa, although very large, felt homely which was nice. Just then the 'butler' spoke up and asked her, "Would you like to wait here for your friend or would you prefer to go out onto the terrace, miss?"
Sydney thought for a second, and decided that she would stay where she was, so that she could see Vaughn's reaction when he entered. "I'll stay here, thank you," she answered politely and the butler proceeded to leave, presumably to prepare the drinks. She had to give her mom credit, this was very well organised. Actually, when she thought about it, Syd realised it was actually this "Peter Wright" who had organised it all, Irina had only asked him. "He must have owed her a pretty big favour" she mused, "I must remember to contact and thank him when this is over."
Suddenly she sensed a presence behind her. "That's weird, I didn't hear the door," Sydney thought, puzzled, before she turned around. She almost gasped when two beautiful, emerald green eyes met her own. "Vaughn, hey, you made it," she said in a floaty voice. "Of course I made it," Vaughn replied with a smile that made her melt. 'God Syd, control yourself, the date has barely begun and you're already going weak at the knees' said a little, well known voice in her head. She looked back at Vaughn, who seemed just as impressed with the place as she had been.
"Wow, Sydney, this place is incredible! How did you manage to find it and sort all of this - he gestured around the room with his hand - out?" "I have my contacts," replied Sydney, wondering whether she should tell him that it was all her mother's idea but deciding that it might upset the wonderful atmosphere that had become a permanent fixture since he had entered the room.
"You know, you never cease to amaze me Sydney Bristow," Vaughn remarked, causing Sydney to blush furiously. For a minute they just gazed into each other's eyes, unspoken words and emotions being conveyed in single glances. However, their calm, content silence was broken by the butler who had chosen to walk into the room at that very minute, and who was oblivious to the fact that he had just ruined a perfect moment. Sydney and Vaughn both stared at the short, white-haired man, waiting for him to speak.
"Your meal is ready, please follow me to the terrace" he requested kindly. Sydney and Vaughn followed him through the house, stopping every once in a while to admire some beautiful architecture or a painting and glancing at each other with broad grins on both their faces. The 'terrace' was right at the back of the villa, which explained why Sydney couldn't see it when she first arrived. The butler stopped in front of a pair of dark oak doors and gestured with his had, asking them to enter.
Vaughn swiftly opened the door and was once again amazed at the sight. "After you" he said to Sydney, who proceeded to walk through the doors and out onto the terracotta-tiled terrace.