Title: Different [5/10]

Author's Notes: Here's a much longer chapter then the last one--the adventures of normal, everyday life continue.

5

So the next day we were going to met and then eat lunch together. I'm driving to the house that doesn't seem familiar but should be—I wasn't conscious when I was here last, at least the trip over—and I hesitantly go to the front door. Before I left last night, he grabbed a piece of paper and wrote down his address and quick instructions to get here. He also said that the restaurant we were going to eat at was just minutes away from his house. Standing on the door step, memories of high school flash in my mind, and it's then that he opens the door and ushers me inside. I suddenly get nervous as I walked inside. This time, I remind myself, I'm doing this on my own. There is this feeling, of something, that just won't go away. Maybe it's just me being nervous, this isn't something I do everyday. I was able to get an extended lunch so I am wearing my usual business attire. I'm not exactly sure how I was able to convince anyone of that feat, but I was able to all the same. My time will be much better spent with him then at the cafeteria downstairs.

We sit in his living room and Casey comes over and greets me. We talk for a few minutes but conversation is almost awkward for a moment or two, what do you say? Eventually, the minutes go by and an alarm clock goes off. The rest, they say, is history. In actuality, he admits to me that he hadn't been able to sleep last night and had set an alarm for today, in case he took a nap, so that he wouldn't mess up our lunch.

He takes me to a little place on the beach—nothing elaborate or elegant, a hole in the wall local treasure. I feel horribly overdressed; everyone else is in bathing suits and jeans. He fits in, as if he'd been here a hundred thousand times. Me, on the other hand, I stand out like a sore thumb. I tell him this and he only laughs and ushers me toward an empty table.

We talk for hours, sitting at that little table. I thought we'd covered almost everything there was to say the day before, but somehow, that was barely the tip of the iceberg. Conversation ranges from care free to serious, once again—but I make sure to avoid anything that might draw suspicion and reveal my missing two years. I've shared so much with him, but I'm still afraid to reveal that to him. He'd think I'm crazy. He'd ask more questions then I could ask. He would be ashamed of me, of all that I had done. I had barely been able to overcome the fact of the matter that I had lost so much—there was no way he could.

"So you've been sky diving?!" he asks excitedly. "I've always wanted to do that!" he cries.

I laugh at his eagerness, but inwardly cringe remembering the instances that I had to sky dive. I look over to my left, at the white peaks on the waves. Letting the sound sooth me, and letting the moment settle, I look back over at him. "Yeah, I have. I can't say I really wanted to though. I've only done it a few times, but it's really unnerving."

"Well, I can't believe that," he tells me, earnestly. "It must be liberating, to be so unrestricted, so free—to fly!"

"It's not what it's cracked up to be, sorry," I inform him.

Folding his arms, he says with a mock pout, "Well, I just don't believe you."

He's acting like a five year old, but I'm loving it. "Fine, don't then," I instruct him, folding my arms too.

We both erupt in laughter and I think I saw a few heads turn in our direction. I try to compose myself, but I'm failing miserably—apparently he is too. "How old are we, 10?" he tries to get out between laughs.

I shake my head no. "I was thinking more like 5."

"Oh, of course, that's more realistic, isn't it?"

"Yes, because I'm always right," I proclaim.

He has this look, as if he wants to respond with a witty come back, but something more important comes to mind. It turns serious, at least his eyes do. "Do you—"

Like yesterday, Casey comes and barges in, barking like a lunatic. A young girl, probably in her late teens or early 20's is being dragged by Casey on his leash, towards us. She doesn't try to stop him, as if she knows there's no point. She only shakes her and laughs. Once they reach us, she deposits the leash on Colin's lap and half leans against his chair, half sits on his lap. Just who is this girl?

She starts to say something to Colin, but I can't hear what she says. I'm trying not to get too curious or too carried away, so when Casey comes over and plants his head in my lap I don't mind the distraction. "Sydney," Colin starts, grabbing my attention. One hand still petting Casey's head, I turn to look over at him. "This," he tells me while motioning to the girl, "is my little sister, Viv." She gives me a warm smile and leans over to shake my hand. "Viv, this is Syd," he tells his sister with a brotherly look while we're shaking hands.

Viv moves a spare chair between us, obstructing my view of Colin and the water, and sits down. Seeing my slightly ticked off look, Colin tries to tell me what Viv and Casey were doing there. "I didn't want Casey to miss out on his lunch date with you, but I wanted to make sure I got some time with you before he came." I give him another look and he just shrugs his shoulders, chuckles lightly and leans into Viv—the two of them giving fake sighs. "Fine, I didn't want to leave Casey alone and bored in the house while we were eating lunch. He tends to chew furniture or leave me little presents around the house if I leave him alone too long," he says with a laugh. "Viv was kind enough to offer to take him for a while. Plus, I was being a good big brother," he says, with a mockingly stern tone, "and give her a break from doing her school work." He smiles at Viv and then at me. "I didn't think you'd be able to take a long lunch so I told her to meet me with the big guy around 3." Glancing at his watch, he flashes me a devastatingly handsome smile, and shrugs, "The little brat took her time, seems it's actually 3:15."

Truth list: 11. always be careful of 'the other woman'—she's not always a threat.

I'm giddy with the whole situation. As soon as his words sink in I let out a few expletives. I was given a long lunch, not the rest of the day off. I needed to be back a few hours ago. "Oh god, I'm so sorry! I need to head back. I can't believe we were out here so long! I'd love to stay longer," I tell him, hoping the sincerity leaks through. "I really wish I could, but I'm going to get in so much trouble as it is. You may not see me for weeks now!" I try for humor, but I'm not sure if it worked, I'm nervous on so many levels.

I get out of my chair and start fishing for my wallet in my purse. Colin stops me, pulling my hand out of my purse. "Don't, it's my pleasure. Just ... call me and let me know you're still alive once work's over for the day, okay?" How could ever I say no to that? "Here's my phone number, just call me," he instructs me while handing me a card, "at this number, right here."

Looking over at the card I smile. "No problem, but I may get in late. I'll call you tomorrow then, okay?"

"Okay, call me when you can—and don't worry about waking me up," he lets me know.

Really getting up to leave for good, I turn to the three of them. I pat Casey's head and hug Colin good bye. Waving to Viv as I leave, I let her knew, "It was nice meeting you, Viv." Just before I was through to the parking lot, I turn around and yell to Colin, "I'll call you!"

I walk away with a smile on my face, once again. But as I walk through the rows in the parking lot, I begin to panic. My car isn't here. Someone has stolen my car! I walk briskly up and down the rows, looking under cars as if I was searching for a lost cat. No car in sight, my heart is racing and my mind is running through all my options. I'm standing in the middle of the second row, lost in my frantic thoughts, when someone lightly touches my back. I'm trying not to react and I try not to turn around and drop kick this guy when there is suddenly a voice with the hand.

"You didn't drive, I did." Colin. Thank god, I thought I was loosing my mind and I was most definitely loosing my control.

Truth list: 12. always remember how you got to your destination. If you drove, your car will be there. If you didn't drive, your car will not be there.

"I totally forgot," I say, blushing as I turn around to face him. "I thought someone had stolen my car. I was trying to think who to call and what to do," I explain, feebly, as my face grows redder by the second.

"I was talking to Viv when she happened to notice that my very lovely friend, you, was slightly freaking out in the parking lot. I joked that you just couldn't find your car and then it clicked and I ran right over." He looks at me, begging for forgiveness.

"I was sure I had gone crazy," I admit. Deciding that he deserves a little teasing, I say, "And then some punk was going to try something on me—my day was just getting worse by the second."

Not taking any of the bait, he grins and asks me, "Why, what happened today?"

I go on to describe how I went to lunch with this creep and he was dumb enough to have another woman show up while we were eating lunch. He laughs, guides me to his car, and pretends to listen earnestly as I tell him of my day's adventures.

Sitting in the passenger side of his car, I am beaming. Not even the threat of my father's wrath, or Dixon's scolding could make me upset right now. I have to get back to Colin's house to pick up my car so I can head back to work. I just hope I don't have to go on a mission tonight. If I do, guess who's getting an international call tonight?

tbc