Project That Needs…"Tweaking"

That night Vaughn logged onto his computer and found that he had new mail. The first one was from Weiss.

To: HockeyFan23

From: YoYo Master2000

Subject: Your online lover AKA Sydney Bristow

Hey, man what's goin on? I know you were expecting to hear from your girlfriend, but I'm all in the dark here! How did it go over that Sydney's today? Call me when you get this and let me know how my awesome plan worked out! I'll wait to hear from you!

Eric

Vaughn leaned back and smiled. Weiss' plan had worked out perfectly. He went onto the next one. His breath caught in his chest as he saw who it was from: Sydney.

To: HockeyFan23

From: AliceinWonderland

Subject: Meeting

I've been thinking about this, and I think we should meet.

That was it. He stared at the screen and re-read it. No, no he couldn't meet her yet, there was still work to be done.

To: AliceinWonderland

From: HockeyFan23

Subject: Meeting

We should meet, and we will meet. But I'm in the middle of a project that needs tweaking.

Perfect. He pressed send and sat back in his chair. This was all working out just as he planned.

Sydney was sitting at her favorite coffee shop reading a new book she had just bought when she heard a tap on the window in front of her. She looked up to see Vaughn standing there waving at her. He walked in and sat down next to her.

"Hey! Fancy seeing you here," he said happily. "How are you feeling?"

"Oh much better thank you," she answered.

"That's great I'm glad to hear it," Vaughn said, "so, what are you reading?"

"Pride and Prejudice," Sydney answered.

"Nice choice," Vaughn answered. "Hey I was thinking, whatever happened with your internet friend?"

"Well, I wrote him the other day and asked him if he wanted to try and meet again, since he was unable to make it last time, but he said he couldn't because he was in the middle of a project that needed 'tweaking'"

"'Tweaking'?" Vaughn asked using air quotes. "Wow that sounds like, like…he's married." Oh she is going to love that.

"What? He could not possibly be married!" Sydney exclaimed laughing.

"How do you know? Have you asked him? Have you said, 'Are you married?'" Vaughn questioned. Sydney sat there staring at him for a second before answering.

"Well, no," she said quietly. Vaughn smiled at her and shrugged before changing the subject.

Sydney walked into her apartment and threw he stuff onto the counter as she crashed down on the couch. She couldn't believe that she just spend the past three hours talking to Michael Vaughn. He was so fun to talk and hang out with, not to mention he was hilarious. They planned to meet up for lunch on Wednesday at CPK (California Pizza Kitchen), and she was actually looking forward to it. As she sat there thinking about her afternoon, she thought about what Vaughn had said about HockeyFan23 being married. He couldn't possibly be married. Could he? She sprang off the couch and walked to her room and immediately logged onto the internet and began writing the most awkward email of her life.

Vaughn walked into this apartment feeling proud of himself. His plan was working out perfectly and not mention he had just had an awesome afternoon with Sydney. He never imagined that she could even more perfect in person, but she was. She was smart, funny, and obviously gorgeous. He laughed as he thought about the look on her face when he suggested her "friend" might be married. She almost fell off her chair. This is going to be great! His thoughts were interrupted by his phone ringing.

"Hello?" Vaughn answered.

"WHERE HAVE YOU BEEN? I'VE BEEN IN THE DARK FOR LIKE 3 DAYS HERE!" Weiss yelled in the phone. "Come on Mike, what have you been up to?" Vaughn laughed at his best friend. "Is this funny to you?"

"Uhh, yeah," Vaughn said through his laughter. Weiss waited for his friend to get a hold of himself and tell him exactly what had been going on with him and Sydney. He thought for sure he's told her that it's him.

"Well, today I ran into her at the coffee shop and we talked for like 3 hours, and it was amazing. I never could have dreamed that she could be this perfect," Vaughn said dreamily.

"So you told her?" Weiss asked.

"Oh no! Of course not!"

"What do you mean 'Of course not'? Why not?" Weiss inquired.

"Because, I need to work out some stuff first," Vaughn said vaguely.

"What the heck is that supposed to mean?"

"You'll see, when it all plays out, you will understand. Well hey I gotta go, I'll talk to you later," Vaughn said as he hung up on a very confused Weiss. He got up and went into the study and sat down at his computer to check his mail. He was surprised to see that he had an email from Sydney, so he opened it and began to read:

To: HockeyFan23

From: AliceinWonderland

Subject: Awkward

Ok, I know this is a little late to be asking, but, are you married?

Vaughn almost fell out of his chair from laughter. I can't believe she just asked me that! He didn't realize his statement at coffee really had that much of an impact on her. He started to type out a response, but then erased it and started again. This needs a little creativity…

To: AliceinWonderland

From: HockeyFan23

Subject: Re: Awkward

Am I married? What kind of question is that? How can you ask me that? Don't you know me at all? Oh wait, I get it. You're friends are telling you that the reason that we haven't met is because I'm married. Am I right?