Author's Note: Nothing, really! :)

As they walk companionably towards the cafeteria doors, Michael turns to Sydney.

"So, Syd. How have you been?"

Sydney blushes slightly as she hears her nickname. "I've been good…kind of busy."

Michael cocks an eyebrow at her. "With schoolwork? Classes?"

"Yeah, a little of both. I'm also on yearbook this year, so I've been busy with that, too."

"Oh, okay. I was kind of wondering why you haven't called, but I guess you were too busy to call." Michael looks at her again, before turning forward and continuing his stride towards the cafeteria doors.

"Oh. Yeah. Um. Truthfully? I kind of lost your number." Sydney blushes again at the obvious fib, but is relieved that Michael doesn't seem to have noticed.

"Why didn't you just ask me for it again?" Michael pauses in his steps, and turns to look at her quizzically. "I would've just given it to you again. I've really wanted to ask you if you wanted to hang out these past couple of weeks."

"Oh." Sydney's embarrassed now. "I'm sorry. It's just that…just…"

"Just what?" Michael raises his eyebrows, and cocks his head.

"Well, it's just that, you're always surrounded by people at school. I just felt kind of weird about going up to a group of seniors…and…" Sydney trails off, but Michael's nodding understandingly.

"Syd, that's silly. We may be seniors, but you shouldn't be scared of us." Michael smiles at her and continues to walk. Sydney follows, but at a slower pace.

~*~

"So, do you like ice skating?"

Sydney's head snaps to the right. Michael and Sydney had been walking in silence for a few seconds, so the sudden sound is a bit disquieting.

"Ice skating?" Sydney looks at Michael curiously.

"Yeah, ice skating." Michael looks up at Sydney quickly, then back down to his navy messenger bag, fumbling through its contents. "I'm kind of a hockey fanatic, so I've been looking for good rinks around here. I found one recently, and I was thinking, that maybe we can get together during winter break and go skating."

Michael stops for a minute, and then pulls out a wrinkled piece of blue paper out of the mess in his bag. He hands the paper to Sydney, who takes it and smoothes out the wrinkles.

At the top of the paper, the words "Kendall's Ice Rink" are emblazoned in curly font. Below the words, a picture of the ice rink, with some general descriptions of classes, skating sessions, and location information are situated jauntily.

"I think it'd be fun. Y'know…if you want to go, that is." Michael's turned to look at Sydney again, who's still looking at the paper.

'Okay. Here's your second chance.' Sydney looks up at him. 'Breathe.'

"Sure, I'd like that. I'd just have to figure out my winter break schedule first." Sydney smiles at Michael, whose face has just broken out into an enthusiastic grin.


"I have to warn you though, I haven't skated in awhile. I'm probably really rusty. The last time I skated was when I was five." Sydney admits to Michael with slightly sheepish grin.

They've reached the cafeteria tables by now. Sydney tilts her head towards the cafeteria line, but Michael shakes his head and pulls out a brown paper bag from his messenger bag. Sydney smiles in response and does the same.

"Don't worry about the skating. I can probably teach you if you need pointers. If you want, I can teach you how to play some hockey too." Michael smiles, as he grabs Sydney by the elbow and starts pulling her towards a table in the far corner of the cafeteria.