Sydney stepped out of the change room and in front of Francie and Carrie. The three of them were out dress shopping. Vaughn and Weiss had invited them all to their senior prom and the three girls were the most excited.
"Syd, oh, you look beautiful." Francie already had on a silky red dress that had a sparkling design down one side. Carrie had on a light blue floor-length dress that had a ribbon tied just below the bust.
Sydney had come out in a dark burgundy floor length dress. It was fashioned as a wrap style with no straps. Made out of a gauzy, silk, that shimmered as Syd moved, it was a embroidered vine design over the top and down one side.
"She's right." Breathed Carrie. You look beautiful."
"Really." Sydney blushed. "So do you guys. I can't believe it took three weeks to find the perfect dresses. And on such short notice."
"I know. The guys better be happy." Carrie went back to change.
"Sydney, things are still good with Vaughn, right?" Francie walked over to her friend.
"Yeah. Why?" Sydney tried her hair in different styles. She wanted everything to be perfect for Vaughn. He had been through so much this year.
"Well, just, I know things were a little edgy for a while."
"No, things are great. Actually they couldn't be better." Sydney grinned as her cell phone went off.
"Speaking of." Grinned Francie. "I'll give you some private time." She headed off to find Carrie.
Sydney sat down on a stool in a pool of burgundy. "Hello?"
"Hey Syd." The warm voice on the other end made Syd's heart melt. "Where are you?"
"I'm getting my dress with Francie and Carrie. You know the Prom being a week away, I thought I should at least look."
Vaughn laughed. "Good point. Look I was calling to see if you wanted to do something tonight?"
"Like what?"
"How about you some over to my house?" Vaughn's voice got low. "I could cook."
"You cook?" Asked Sydney in surprise.
"Yes." Vaughn's voice went back to normal. "I'm not 7, I can cook more than hot dogs."
"That I'd like to see." Laughed Sydney. "Tonight would be great."
"Good. See you then. And Syd?"
"Yah?"
"I love you." Sydney's face went red and her heart fluttered.
"I love you too."
That night Sydney walked up to Vaughn's house at seven. She knocked at the door but when no one answered, she pushed open the door and walked in.
"Vaughn?" She ventured through the house until she came to the kitchen. There was a trail of votive candles lit along the dark room out into the backyard. Sydney, curious, walked to the back door and stood in the doorway.
Suddenly there was a blast of noise.
"Surprise!"
The lights in the yard went on and Sydney was shocked to the bone at what she saw.
Will, Francie, Carrie, Marshall, Weiss, and a handful of her friends cheered and shouted to Sydney. They threw confetti in the air and yelled happy birthday.
Sydney watched through blurred eyes as a smiling Vaughn pushed his way through the crowd and up to her. AS she tried to hide her flushed face and tears, Vaughn pulled her hands down and kissed.
"Did you really think I'd let you hide your way through your birthday?" He grinned at her. "I love you."
"Thank you." Whispered Sydney. "I love you…Michael." Vaughn's grin got even better and he hugged her shoulders as he lead her down to her friends.
Sydney was greeted by even more hugs, kisses, and happy birthday's. AS everyone who loved her enveloped her, one thought went through Sydney's head.
I love Michael Vaughn.
TBC