Chapter 11
A/N: here's a new chapter!
"Hi" I smiled weakly and entwined my hands behind my back. His grin grew wider and he gestured towards me.
"So you're Francie's roommate! Look at you, you look amazing!" I looked down at the floor smiling and dared to meet his eye again.
"Thanks, you too" So he hadn't lost his charm. I continued smiling at him, feeling like a giddy teenager. I tucked another strand of hair behind my ear and we continued to study each other. He seemed tall and muscular, now casually leaning against the kitchen counter.
"So, how have you been doing lately?" I laughed, trying to regain my steadiness. It was just like it was in the past, a single dazzling smile and I was melting in his hands.
"Busy, you know, with work and all my classes and everything" His eyebrow rose curiously as he took a sip of beer. "You?" He put down the bottle and stood up straight, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, I've been pretty busy too, but spending some time with Fran too. She's great, isn't she?" Before I could respond Francie came sauntering into the room.
"Hey Syd!" She put an arm around him and nodded her head towards me. "I see you and Tom have met" I smiled, but something inside me was churning uneasily.
"Yeah" He said, giving me a knowing look and Francie caught it and grew curious.
"Do you two know each other?" Tom had a tentative look on his face and met my gaze silently. I hesitated.
"Yeah, we were...uh, friends...in high school" He nodded.
"Good friends" He shot me a quick, intense look... or was it just my imagination? Whatever it was, he was back at smiling at Francie before I could notice much.
"Cool" She didn't seem to notice the thick tension hanging in the air as she glowed at us both. I could tell she was happy with Tom, and she deserved to be. I ignored the strange feeling in my gut and sighed.
"Well, it was nice seeing you again Tom, and you Francie" I winked at her and we all laughed. "I've got to go take a shower and I want to get some rest so I guess I'll be seeing you guys"
"Great to see you again, Syd" He extended his hand and I shook it, a fleeting feeling of bliss passing through me as we made contact.
"Bye then," I gave them one last smile and left the room quickly, heading straight for my bedroom. I turned the cold doorknob and entered my room, closing the door and locking it behind me. Then, I collapsed on the bed.
I hadn't expected to see Tom again, even if he was going out with Francie, and most certainly didn't expect to find him in my kitchen. Running into him had been a complete shock, and it was quite uncomfortable, but I know that deep inside I don't regret it. He was still the same, athletic, smart, charming Tom that he had been back in high school; the same Tom I had fallen for long ago. The shrill ring of the phone snapped me back to reality and I yawned sleepily as I reached over the bed for it.
"Hello?" I stifled another yawn as I waited for a reply.
"Joey's Pizza?" A smile grew on my face as I heard the voice on the other end of the phone.
"Sorry, wrong number" I hung up carefully, my fingers lingering on the phone as I thought of the caller. Sighing contently I lifted myself up off the bed and strode towards my closet. I changed into my running clothes, deciding I would jog to the warehouse and take a light run afterwards. In the bathroom I slicked my hair back into a high ponytail and secured it tightly. I washed my face and applied very little makeup, only what was necessary. I approached my bedroom door and stood there a second, listening to the sound of Francie's laughing. I heard them talking joyfully and stayed in my room until I was sure they had left, which didn't take very long. I felt I had needed to stay hidden; I didn't want to go out there again.
Now that the house was empty I left my room freely and wandered back into the kitchen. Serving myself a glass of water, I remembered how stunned I had been when I found out Tom and Francie where dating. It was weird that they were, but I could deal with it.
I placed the empty glass in the sink and turned back around to leave the room, but something caught my eye. I picked up a small note off the counter and unfolded it.
'Syd,
Tom and I are going out, see you later
- Francie'
I turned it around and found another message. It looked like it had been scribbled down quickly, as if in a hurry.
'Happy Birthday, I believe it passed recently?
- T'
I smiled as I tucked the note into the pocket of my windbreaker. I passed through the living room and out the door into the cool breeze outside. I closed my eyes for a second and smiled. It would be nice to see Vaughn again, and maybe it wouldn't be so bad having Tom back in my life.
A/N: a bit short, sorry! Hope you liked it!
A/N: here's a new chapter!
"Hi" I smiled weakly and entwined my hands behind my back. His grin grew wider and he gestured towards me.
"So you're Francie's roommate! Look at you, you look amazing!" I looked down at the floor smiling and dared to meet his eye again.
"Thanks, you too" So he hadn't lost his charm. I continued smiling at him, feeling like a giddy teenager. I tucked another strand of hair behind my ear and we continued to study each other. He seemed tall and muscular, now casually leaning against the kitchen counter.
"So, how have you been doing lately?" I laughed, trying to regain my steadiness. It was just like it was in the past, a single dazzling smile and I was melting in his hands.
"Busy, you know, with work and all my classes and everything" His eyebrow rose curiously as he took a sip of beer. "You?" He put down the bottle and stood up straight, crossing his arms.
"Yeah, I've been pretty busy too, but spending some time with Fran too. She's great, isn't she?" Before I could respond Francie came sauntering into the room.
"Hey Syd!" She put an arm around him and nodded her head towards me. "I see you and Tom have met" I smiled, but something inside me was churning uneasily.
"Yeah" He said, giving me a knowing look and Francie caught it and grew curious.
"Do you two know each other?" Tom had a tentative look on his face and met my gaze silently. I hesitated.
"Yeah, we were...uh, friends...in high school" He nodded.
"Good friends" He shot me a quick, intense look... or was it just my imagination? Whatever it was, he was back at smiling at Francie before I could notice much.
"Cool" She didn't seem to notice the thick tension hanging in the air as she glowed at us both. I could tell she was happy with Tom, and she deserved to be. I ignored the strange feeling in my gut and sighed.
"Well, it was nice seeing you again Tom, and you Francie" I winked at her and we all laughed. "I've got to go take a shower and I want to get some rest so I guess I'll be seeing you guys"
"Great to see you again, Syd" He extended his hand and I shook it, a fleeting feeling of bliss passing through me as we made contact.
"Bye then," I gave them one last smile and left the room quickly, heading straight for my bedroom. I turned the cold doorknob and entered my room, closing the door and locking it behind me. Then, I collapsed on the bed.
I hadn't expected to see Tom again, even if he was going out with Francie, and most certainly didn't expect to find him in my kitchen. Running into him had been a complete shock, and it was quite uncomfortable, but I know that deep inside I don't regret it. He was still the same, athletic, smart, charming Tom that he had been back in high school; the same Tom I had fallen for long ago. The shrill ring of the phone snapped me back to reality and I yawned sleepily as I reached over the bed for it.
"Hello?" I stifled another yawn as I waited for a reply.
"Joey's Pizza?" A smile grew on my face as I heard the voice on the other end of the phone.
"Sorry, wrong number" I hung up carefully, my fingers lingering on the phone as I thought of the caller. Sighing contently I lifted myself up off the bed and strode towards my closet. I changed into my running clothes, deciding I would jog to the warehouse and take a light run afterwards. In the bathroom I slicked my hair back into a high ponytail and secured it tightly. I washed my face and applied very little makeup, only what was necessary. I approached my bedroom door and stood there a second, listening to the sound of Francie's laughing. I heard them talking joyfully and stayed in my room until I was sure they had left, which didn't take very long. I felt I had needed to stay hidden; I didn't want to go out there again.
Now that the house was empty I left my room freely and wandered back into the kitchen. Serving myself a glass of water, I remembered how stunned I had been when I found out Tom and Francie where dating. It was weird that they were, but I could deal with it.
I placed the empty glass in the sink and turned back around to leave the room, but something caught my eye. I picked up a small note off the counter and unfolded it.
'Syd,
Tom and I are going out, see you later
- Francie'
I turned it around and found another message. It looked like it had been scribbled down quickly, as if in a hurry.
'Happy Birthday, I believe it passed recently?
- T'
I smiled as I tucked the note into the pocket of my windbreaker. I passed through the living room and out the door into the cool breeze outside. I closed my eyes for a second and smiled. It would be nice to see Vaughn again, and maybe it wouldn't be so bad having Tom back in my life.
A/N: a bit short, sorry! Hope you liked it!