uthor's Note: Sorry, this is so short!
After methodically interrogating Sydney, and finding her relatively
secret-free, ("Why can't you have dark secrets like the rest of us?") a
disappointed Eric turns back to Michael and Will.
Will, who is digging into his sandwich with relish, notices the rather morose
expression on Eric's face, chortles and glances at Sydney.
"Ignore him," Will advises her. He leans in confidingly. "Eric is strangely
interested in other people's lives. " Will takes a hand and pushes his glasses
back up the bridge of his nose. "We're still trying to figure it out. Mike and
I think that it's probably stemming from the fact that he probably doesn't get
out enough, but we're not sure yet. So don't feel weird if you don't get him."
Sydney smiles back at Will. She's enjoying herself immensely with Michael's
friends, and for once, is actually wishing that the school day wouldn't end.
"Hey! I hpared datw!" Eric mumbles indignantly with a mouthful of his food
still dangling in his mouth. "I can't help it if I like getting to know
people!" Eric declares, after he swallows.
Michael looks up from his physics book, which he had been paging through
earnestly. "I don't think asking people how many times they've been kissed and
*where* they've been kissed qualifies as 'getting to know people,' man. Normal
people ask about movies, colors and stuff."
"What? It was an honest question!" Eric turns back to Sydney who's looking at
the three of them looking as if she doesn't know whether to be afraid of them
or to laugh at them. "You didn't mind, did you?"
Sydney bit her lip and tries not to laugh. "No…not really."
"See?" Eric looks at Mike and Will expectantly.
Will just laughs and concentrates harder on his sandwich. Michael, still
perusing through his physics book, doesn't bother to look up at Eric and
replies absent-mindedly, "Sure, whatever man. Next time a girl gets mad at you
for being nosey, don't look at me."
"Nah. Girls get mad at me? Never. I'm too adorable. I mean, how can you resist
the Weiss?" Eric puts down his fork, and gestures to himself. "This is
good-looking stuff right here!" Will and Michael, though obviously accustomed
to Eric's banter, both groan and roll their eyes.
Eric looks slightly off-put, but after a moment grins back at them. "Fine. I'll
just talk to Sydney here. She's nicer, hotter, and easier to look at than you
guys." Pulling a yo-yo out of his pocket, he turns to Sydney. "So Sydney, do
you have any plans tonight?"
Sydney shakes her head slightly. "Not that I know of, why?"
"Welll…my parents are out of town. I was thinking of having a little
get-together. You in?"
Hedging, Sydney glances down at her bagel. "I don't know…"
Will, who's finished eating, leans across the table. "Come on, it'll be fun."
Will's mouth quirks into a grin. "Don't worry, we'll make sure Eric doesn't-"
Just then, Will's cut off by the bell.
"Class time you guys!" Eric declares getting up and scrambling to get his
things organized. "Come on guys. Mrs. Clark and the physics dungeon await."
Michael groans loudly, and slams his physics book shut. "Of all days to give an
exam. I swear, I think that woman's cold-blooded."
Will, backpack and book in hands, pats Mike on the shoulder. "Cheer up, man.
Think about it. One more period, and we're out for two weeks."
"Right, and I can live with the knowledge I flunked my final final." Michael
groans again, and turns to Sydney. "Would you like me to walk you to class?"
His green eyes look at her hopefully.
Sydney, who had been cleaning up her own lunch, looks up at him and blushes.
"Sure, if it's not too out of your way. I have Kline."
"It's close." Michael picks up Sydney's bag, and slings it over his left
shoulder. "Come on." Michael starts walking towards the left.
Eric, who's walking in the opposite direction with Will, turns and calls, "Bye
Australia! See you tonight!"
"Just…stop, dude. Stop while you're ahead, Eric." Sydney smiles when she hears
Will's response to Eric's holler.
As Sydney catches up with Michael, he pauses and turns to look at her. "So are
you coming tonight?"
"I don't know. Am I going to be the only freshman there?"
"Probably not. Eric's sister is a freshman too. I'm sure she'll bring some
friends over." Michael shifts Sydney's bag to the other shoulder. "And if you'd
like, I could pick you up and take you back."
'I guess it'll be okay.' Sydney shrugs. "Sure, let me ask my dad, and I'll tell
you before tonight."
Michael grins at her, and fishes a pen and a piece of paper out of his
messenger bag. "Okay, let me give you my number again. And don't lose it this
time, okay?" He smiles at her teasingly.
"Don't worry, I won't."
