2.

She sat in the dark room, watching her keys dangle back and forth, hanging from her finger. Her face was slack and she hadn't washed her hair in days. It felt like years. Her face was dry and had a weird texture from the gallons of dried tears on her face.

She looked at the phone on the dresser but forced her gaze away. In a sudden burst of anger, she tore the phone line out of the wall. *No. No, I'm not going to call him. I don't need him. I don't need to hear his voice.*

And then the tears fell again. Her whole body shook, hollow from sadness and needing Vaughn with every inch of her body. "Vaughn. . . " She wrapped her arms around her knees and rocked slowly back and forth. She couldn't handle it anymore.

She quickly pulled her hair back in a ponytail and looked in the mirror. *Why did I do that? Why do I have to constantly remind myself of how crappy I look?* She grabbed her bag and walked out the door.

She pushed the button and waited, tapping her foot. She felt like some addict or junkie. She couldn't quit. Her willpower was gone.

~:~

"Can I use your phone please?"

The concierge lifted his eyebrows at the woman standing in front of him. She had deteriorated in the last two months, never going out or doing anything. "Is there something wrong with your room phone?"

"Umm. . . yes."

Puzzled, he gave her the phone.

She hesitated and then gave in.

~:~

"Vaughn."

Her breath caught at the sound of his voice. "Vaughn? It's me."

"SYDNEY?? Where are you?"

"I'm sorry I didn't call before. I wanted to."

She heard his pause, scared of his silence. "You can't just leave whenever something bad happens you know."

Sydney sighed and wiped her eyes. "I know."

"What did you do with your phone? I've been calling and calling you."

"I dropped it in the ocean after I called you."

"What ocean? Please Sydney, you have to come back. We can't do this without you."

She hung her head, chiding herself. How could she think that Vaughn would miss her for herself? He didn't miss her. He just wanted her abilities. Her function and job as a double agent. "Even if I came back now, everything would be different. I've been gone for two months. I'm pretty sure that Sloane noticed. I don't want to come back. Ever."

"Sydney, are you aware that what you are doing is dangerous? You could be killed."

"I'm on a hotel phone. You might want to watch what you say."

"Are you out of your mind? You're calling me from a hotel phone? This might not be a secure line-"

"VAUGHN! Shut up. I never want to go back again. And I never planned on making contact with you again. But I need you."

Vaugh  stopped breathing. Sydney, wonder woman, needed him.

"I tried to keep myself from calling you these past two months. You're the only tie that I couldn't stay away from."

"Sydney, why did you run away?"

"I can't tell you now. But I have to see you. Please."

Despite his mental protestations, Vaughn nodded. "All right."

"Thank you. I'll tell you everything."

"Wait. . . where am I meeting you?"

"I'll call you later."

"Okay."

She hung up and gave the phone back. She felt like a burden had been lifted off her shoulders. Vaughn was coming. He was coming to save her.

TBC…

I have to say that it is so much easier to write shorter chapters…obviously.

Thanks for all your wonderful feedback… keep it up!!! Lol… I really do appreciate it.

And also; for putting up with these insanely short chapters, I have to tell you that the next chapter of An Undefinable Sweetness is ready and it's double the length it usually is so be patient and review~

-Jenn