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.
