Today Weiss and I are going to find what we'll wear to the party. He's a close friend, after all the past events. He's a really good guy, I don't know what I would have become if he hadn't been there for me. And I have to thank him for saving Vaughn too, because if he hadn't been there for him, I'm pretty sure Vaughn wouldn't be here anymore. He's always been there for both of us, and today he's still here. We both have our day off, so we have plenty of time for doing our errands. He should be here in a minute or so, but I'm late, I'm still under a hot shower, trying to erase the signs of the past sleepless night. There is a knock at the door.

"Come in, I'm not ready yet!" I yell from the bathroom. I quickly dry my hair with a towel and make my way to my bedroom. I put jeans and a shirt on and rush toward the living room.

"Just give me a minute to put on some make-up, and I'll be rea-"

Oh my gosh! What is he doing here? Where's Weiss?

"Hi."

"Hi. I thought Weiss was picking me up."

"Uh, yeah, but he has a last minute thing to do, so as I have a day off he told me to pick you up and we'll meet him there."

"Oh, okay. Just couple more minutes and I'll-"

"You don't have to put on make up, you're beautiful like that."

Oh no I'm blushing like a five year old girl. Say something, anything, don't stay quiet! You're a literature student remember!

"Sorry I didn't mean to embarass you..."

"It's okay. Where's my jacket? I'm sure I put it somewhere..." Great change of subject. Are you stupid or what?

"Here! Turn."

I turn so he could help me put my jacket on. As he ajusted one of the shoulders his hand accidentaly brushed again my skin. It's soft, it's warm, it's so good. And suddenly a flow of memories came back to me. Everytime he used to brush against my skin like that, it sends goosebumps all over my body. I can't believe he can still do that to me.

"Ready?"

"Yeah, thanks."

"You're welcome."

The driving was relatively quiet, some music filling the car. Some people were already outside, jogging, driking a cup of coffee, walking with their dogs. Everything seemed so normal, I couldn't help but hope that someday I'll be one of those women walking with my child into the park.

Vaughn pulls into a car park near the mall.We just have to walk a little and we'll be there.

"Thanks for the ride."

"You don't have to thank me everytime, Syd. We're friends, it's not a problem to do you a service."

Friends? Is that all we are for him now?

" If you say so..."

"So just behave like you use-"

"But it's not that simple! It's not like it used to be anymore. I don't want us to be friends,

Vaughn!"

"I know, I'm sorry."

"No,it's me, I shouldn't have said that."

"If I hadn't left you alone that night, you-"

"Vaughn, don't, don't do this to yourself. It's not your fault, and you know it, so stop it."

"Hey guys! How ya doin'?"

Eric, right on time!

"Hi Weiss."

"Hi Eric."

"Sorry abuot this morning I had a..."

"Last minute thing to do, I know. It's okay".

"So, since Mike's coming with us to the party, he has to buy a tux too."

"Didn't you say that you had one?" I asked.

"Uh, not anymore."

"What, you didn't tell her?"

"Tell me what?" Are they hiding something from me?

"Mike's appartment burnt two days ago. Everything's lost."

"Oh, sorry I didn't know."

"No, I should have told you."

"How did this happen?"

"We're not sure, but we're suspecting it was a criminal fire. We're investigating for now.

"Do you have any leads?"

"The cops said that it could have been out of revenge."

Who? Lauren ? Could she fire her own house? She is really insane!

"Oh....I hope you find out."

"Yeah."

Weiss finally said something, breaking the silence again,"So guys, ready to go?"

"Yeah, let's spend some money!"

We went to the tux alley first, Eric wanted to go grab something to eat for breakfast.

"Mike, look at this! What do you think?" Eric asked.

"You know, a tux's a tux, so don't ask me."

"Syd?"

"Uhm, yeah, why not? But you should pick up several and try them."

"Okay."

"So, Vaughn, you haven't picked up anything yet?"

"No, you can choose for me if you want.

"Hey, what's wrong?"

"What? Nothing."

"Vaughn, I can still know when you're not truthfull."

"It's just, I don't know. I fell like I'm starting a new life, with nothing left behind me and everything to build up again."

"Yeah I know how you feel. You're not alone in all this, we're here, never forget that."

"I haven't been here for you since you came back, I'm sorry."

"It's okay Vaughn, it's the past, and Eric and my dad were here and helped me, so don't worry."

"But I should've been there for you."

"You were married, and your job took you a lot of time, I understand."

"That's not a reason for me not coming to see you."

"Let's talk about something else, ok? I've moved on, so try to do the same and everything will be fine."

I know I'm avoiding a subject and that we'll have to deal with someday, but the truth is I don't want to think about it right now. Today we're gonna prepare for Christmas, so I don't wanna think about the past, only the future. After all nothing can be worse than the past two years, so let's enjoy the present.

After almost one hour and a lot of tries, Weiss finally choose one tux, and Vaughn almost took the first one he found. Now it is my turn to find something to wear, but Weiss couldn't wait any longer and offered us a breakfast. We sat on the outside of a little coffee bar, and I excused myself to go to the restroom. When I came back our breakfasts were already there.

"We though we could order for you while you weren't here," explained Weiss.

"Thank you. What did you choose?"

"Muffins and coffee with cream and cinnamon."

I can't believe he remembers that, even after two years he still knows what's my favorite breakfast.

"You still like that, right?"

"Of course." My eyes were glassy, tears threatening to fall. And I couldn't help but stare in those green eyes that were locked with mine.

"Syd, you know, you can use a seat."

"Umh? Oh, yeah."

"So, what kind of dress do you wanna wear?"

"I don't know, you guys tell me what you like."

We spent the next 45 minutes talking about nothing in particular, just enjoying the sunny morning. It's been a while since life's been so normal. We just looked like some friends meeting for an early breakfast downtown. And I like it.