Chapter 4
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Lunchtime came around considerably quick, considering that Sydney was experimenting with different wallpapers on her computer screen. She was slightly startled when a male voice rang through her cubicle, "Hey. Ready to go?" Michael Vaughn asked, smiling at her. Smiling back, she nodded and they left.
"So where are we going?" she asked curiously as they left the office building. "Just down the street here to Rick's," he told her as they walked side-by-side towards the restaurant. Arriving at a basically deserted diner, they sat down and Vaughn spoke first. "I'm still surprised we haven't seen each other before. It's weird because you looked so familiar."
Smiling at him, she spoke, "You look a lot like you did in high school. It seems like yesterday." Yeah, no kidding. "Yeah. So if you don't mind me asking, is everything OK? You seemed a bit disoriented this morning?" he asked with a good amount of concern plaguing his voice. "Um..yeah. I still am, actually. You're probably not going to believe me, but I'm going to say it anyway."
"The last thing I remember was going to sleep when I was 15. I woke up this morning in a completely different house and a completely different bed. Only God knows why, but I'm living with my boyfriend, who I happen to have not a clue about! Frankly, I'm afraid of him! I have no idea what I do for a living and not the slightest clue about who I am now," she finished, slightly out of breath.
Vaughn stared at her for what seemed like hours before finally speaking, "Wow. Um, I'm trying to figure this out. Help me here. You went to sleep and woke up like 10 years later?" Nodding her head, she approved, "Yes, that's it."
"As crazy at it sounds, based on what happened this morning and how you seem to be completely confused right now, I believe you," he stared into her eyes with a look that affirmed his truthful words. "You do?" she asked innocently. Placing his hand over hers, he didn't realize the effect he had on her. Chills ran down her spine as he concreted his words, "Yeah, I do."
"You're the only one who knows. And I don't know why, but I feel as if I can trust you. I really don't know who else to tell. You're really the only person, other than my friend Francie, that I remember."
"I assure you, you can trust me. And by the way, you're still friends with Francie? I remember you two from high school. You were inseparable!" he chuckled. Laughing at his comment, she said, "Yep, I guess. Who knows. And I really meant that you look a lot like you did in high school."
"Is that a good thing?" he flashed her a smile. "That's a very good thing," she blushed. Smiling at her embarrassed look, he added, "Well, since we're being all out in the open with everything, I guess it's my turn to admit something. I'm willing to bet you never knew that I had a huge crush on you through high school."
Looking into his eyes, she was clearly shocked. "You did?" Nodding his head, she was assured of his admission. Laughing at how naive they both were, she admitted, "And I'm willing to double your bet that you never knew about the crush I had on you."
An equally shocked look crossed Vaughn's face and he spoke up, "You're kidding me right?" He started laughing at the prospect of never realizing she liked him. Laughing along with him, she added, "Nope. Are things different now? I mean...OK, I don't know how to ask this question, but I'll try. Are you with anyone?"
Smiling at her curiosity, he informed her, "No, actually, I'm not. But as I understand it, you are?" Her face paled as she remembered Danny from earlier that morning. "Um, yep. Danny. I don't even know his last name. Scary, isn't it? He tried to kiss me this morning and I brushed him off. I'm sure that shocked him. I mean if he's living with me, it must be kinda serious right?"
"I believe that's what it means. Maybe you should tell him what happened to you?" he suggested calmly. "NO! I don't even know him!" her yelling attracted the attention of the few diners in the place and she lowered her voice, "I don't remember a thing about him! Gosh, I don't even remember how we met or how long we've been together! I've never even kissed anyone before! I feel so stupid!"
"You're not stupid, Syd. You didn't make this happen to yourself. Now, as for Danny, you'll have to find all of those things out in time. If you don't want to tell him what happened, then that's your decision. He's going to get curious as to why you push off his advances and you're going to have to say something."
"But I won't know what to say. Oh God. Bad thought. He's going to want to sleep with me, isn't he? Michael, I have to end this now! I can't stay with him without looking like a total idiot in the process!"
"You can do whatever you want, Syd. Whatever your decision is, you've got my support on it 100%. I guess you could consider me your first new friend in your new world," he chuckled.
"I guess so. Thanks for this. And you know, it seems we haven't eaten. I guess I got sidetracked. You ready to order?" He nodded his head and they called the waitress over to order.
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They walked out of the restaurant laughing as Sydney told stories of high school and her hidden crush on Vaughn. "I still can't believe that one of us didn't pick up on the other's crush," Vaughn chuckled as they pulled into the garage. As he stopped the car, Sydney turned to him, "Before we go up again, I wanted to thank you for lunch. It means a lot to me to know that I can trust you."
"Don't mention it, Syd. I had a lot of fun today. And remember, I'll always be here to help you if you need anything. Especially work-wise. I'd love to see how you pull this one off," he laughed, which brought a big smile to her face. Without realizing what he was doing, he leaned in a pressed a soft kiss on her lips, which she returned immediately.
As he pulled away, he was quick to apologize, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to --" but he was cut off by Sydney's words. "Don't apologize for that, please. I always wanted my first kiss to be with you anyway. I guess one good thing came out of this." She winked at him as they both got out of the car and headed back up to work.
A/N: Please R/R!!
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Lunchtime came around considerably quick, considering that Sydney was experimenting with different wallpapers on her computer screen. She was slightly startled when a male voice rang through her cubicle, "Hey. Ready to go?" Michael Vaughn asked, smiling at her. Smiling back, she nodded and they left.
"So where are we going?" she asked curiously as they left the office building. "Just down the street here to Rick's," he told her as they walked side-by-side towards the restaurant. Arriving at a basically deserted diner, they sat down and Vaughn spoke first. "I'm still surprised we haven't seen each other before. It's weird because you looked so familiar."
Smiling at him, she spoke, "You look a lot like you did in high school. It seems like yesterday." Yeah, no kidding. "Yeah. So if you don't mind me asking, is everything OK? You seemed a bit disoriented this morning?" he asked with a good amount of concern plaguing his voice. "Um..yeah. I still am, actually. You're probably not going to believe me, but I'm going to say it anyway."
"The last thing I remember was going to sleep when I was 15. I woke up this morning in a completely different house and a completely different bed. Only God knows why, but I'm living with my boyfriend, who I happen to have not a clue about! Frankly, I'm afraid of him! I have no idea what I do for a living and not the slightest clue about who I am now," she finished, slightly out of breath.
Vaughn stared at her for what seemed like hours before finally speaking, "Wow. Um, I'm trying to figure this out. Help me here. You went to sleep and woke up like 10 years later?" Nodding her head, she approved, "Yes, that's it."
"As crazy at it sounds, based on what happened this morning and how you seem to be completely confused right now, I believe you," he stared into her eyes with a look that affirmed his truthful words. "You do?" she asked innocently. Placing his hand over hers, he didn't realize the effect he had on her. Chills ran down her spine as he concreted his words, "Yeah, I do."
"You're the only one who knows. And I don't know why, but I feel as if I can trust you. I really don't know who else to tell. You're really the only person, other than my friend Francie, that I remember."
"I assure you, you can trust me. And by the way, you're still friends with Francie? I remember you two from high school. You were inseparable!" he chuckled. Laughing at his comment, she said, "Yep, I guess. Who knows. And I really meant that you look a lot like you did in high school."
"Is that a good thing?" he flashed her a smile. "That's a very good thing," she blushed. Smiling at her embarrassed look, he added, "Well, since we're being all out in the open with everything, I guess it's my turn to admit something. I'm willing to bet you never knew that I had a huge crush on you through high school."
Looking into his eyes, she was clearly shocked. "You did?" Nodding his head, she was assured of his admission. Laughing at how naive they both were, she admitted, "And I'm willing to double your bet that you never knew about the crush I had on you."
An equally shocked look crossed Vaughn's face and he spoke up, "You're kidding me right?" He started laughing at the prospect of never realizing she liked him. Laughing along with him, she added, "Nope. Are things different now? I mean...OK, I don't know how to ask this question, but I'll try. Are you with anyone?"
Smiling at her curiosity, he informed her, "No, actually, I'm not. But as I understand it, you are?" Her face paled as she remembered Danny from earlier that morning. "Um, yep. Danny. I don't even know his last name. Scary, isn't it? He tried to kiss me this morning and I brushed him off. I'm sure that shocked him. I mean if he's living with me, it must be kinda serious right?"
"I believe that's what it means. Maybe you should tell him what happened to you?" he suggested calmly. "NO! I don't even know him!" her yelling attracted the attention of the few diners in the place and she lowered her voice, "I don't remember a thing about him! Gosh, I don't even remember how we met or how long we've been together! I've never even kissed anyone before! I feel so stupid!"
"You're not stupid, Syd. You didn't make this happen to yourself. Now, as for Danny, you'll have to find all of those things out in time. If you don't want to tell him what happened, then that's your decision. He's going to get curious as to why you push off his advances and you're going to have to say something."
"But I won't know what to say. Oh God. Bad thought. He's going to want to sleep with me, isn't he? Michael, I have to end this now! I can't stay with him without looking like a total idiot in the process!"
"You can do whatever you want, Syd. Whatever your decision is, you've got my support on it 100%. I guess you could consider me your first new friend in your new world," he chuckled.
"I guess so. Thanks for this. And you know, it seems we haven't eaten. I guess I got sidetracked. You ready to order?" He nodded his head and they called the waitress over to order.
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They walked out of the restaurant laughing as Sydney told stories of high school and her hidden crush on Vaughn. "I still can't believe that one of us didn't pick up on the other's crush," Vaughn chuckled as they pulled into the garage. As he stopped the car, Sydney turned to him, "Before we go up again, I wanted to thank you for lunch. It means a lot to me to know that I can trust you."
"Don't mention it, Syd. I had a lot of fun today. And remember, I'll always be here to help you if you need anything. Especially work-wise. I'd love to see how you pull this one off," he laughed, which brought a big smile to her face. Without realizing what he was doing, he leaned in a pressed a soft kiss on her lips, which she returned immediately.
As he pulled away, he was quick to apologize, "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to --" but he was cut off by Sydney's words. "Don't apologize for that, please. I always wanted my first kiss to be with you anyway. I guess one good thing came out of this." She winked at him as they both got out of the car and headed back up to work.
A/N: Please R/R!!