A/N: And thanks to Shanette, the new phrase/motto of this fic is 'I love me some Vaughn!' Why? Because he's so darn cute! and if you haven't noticed that, where have you been for this entire fic? lol!
I mentally groaned as I flipped another page in the wedding album Jen had given me. I was bored. So freaking bored that the only thing to do was look through the wedding album. As much as I hate to admit it, I'm kinda glad that she gave it to me. Now I have something I can laugh my ass off at. I looked ridiculous and that's probably the best part. At least I can laugh at myself. I hear that's a plus. I wouldn't really know.
The doorbell rang, thankfully saving me from looking at the album any longer. I set it on the coffee table and stood up to go answer the door. I was still a little, try a lot, traumatized around anything in the living but thankfully, Mom and her 'friend' went at it on the chair, very far away from the couch.(A/N: I know in the last chapter it said couch but I decided that I didn't like that, so I changed it. Comprende?)
Vaughn seemed very excited when I opened the door. "Sydney!" He yelled, pulling me into a hug immediately. I was too stunned to react before he released me and stepped inside. "Oh, and this is for you," He added, tossing me Hershey's bar.
I actually responded to catch the chocolate, because come on, it's chocolate, but after that I was still very shocked at his behavior. "Are you on drugs?" I asked, thinking that would be the most likely explanation for his attitude.
"What? No. I'm not on drugs. Crack is whack, Sydney, crack is whack."
Okay, scratch that idea, but he was still acting very strangely. "Then why are you so happy?"
"I'm happy to see you, is that a problem?" He asked, pretending that he was innocent and we all know that Michael Vaughn is not innocent.
"No one's ever been that happy to see me before."
"Everyone should, you being so cute and all."
I made a face at him and pointed to the living room. "Go wait in there while I get some popcorn."
It was his turn to make face, "Isn't that the place where, you're...mom...ya know?"
I tried not to laugh but I did anyway. I guess he was just as traumatized as I was. "Yeah, um, just don't sit on the chair and you will be fine." He nodded and wandered into the living room while I went into the kitchen to make some popcorn.
"Ooh, what's this?" I heard him ask, all sing song like and everything. I just shrugged it off as he found one of the many baby pictures of me and my sisters littered around the living room. Thankfully, none of mine where embarrassing. There was one that was taken while I was yelling 'juice!' at the refrigerator but if you didn't know the story; you wouldn't get that from the picture.
Then it hit me like a ton of bricks. The photo album. And I left it open on the table right by him. How stupid am I? I heard him start laughing and immediately knew that he had found the picture of me in the pink, puffy dress. I mean, how could he not?
Hastily, I grabbed the bowl of popcorn and practically ran back into the living room to a hysterically laughing Vaughn and the damned photo album. "Oh my God, you found it."
"Yeah, I did and you, look like a piece of Bubble-Yum." Didn't I say that? Didn't I say that I looked like a piece of Bubble-Yum? I did say that. Coincidence that we both think the same thing? God, I hope so.
"I know." I mumbled, nervously tucking a piece of hair behind my ear. People say that I do that a lot. I wouldn't really know, it's not like I pay attention to my nervous habits.
I was hoping that he would just drop the subject but he didn't. "So much, in fact, that you're new nickname is Bubble-Yum." Just great. "Is that okay?"
"If I say no, will it matter?"
"Most likely not," He replied.
"Then, sure."
"Good," He answered, finally putting down the album. I handed him the popcorn so I could sit down without spilling any and then he handed it back to me after I had sat down. "So what are we watching?" He asked, as I picked up the DVD remote to start the movie.
"Never Been Kissed," I answered, like it wasn't any big deal because in my mind it wasn't.
In his, however, major deal. "Seriously?"
"Yeah, seriously. Why?"
"It's a chick flick." He was so close to sounding whiney but he stayed just behind that fine line.
"Dude, you're in a house with four women, all we have is chick flicks." I answered, pressing the 'play' button and tossing the remote onto the table.
"Alright, I can live with it." He pouted and I shook my head at his immaturity. "But how come you're sitting all the way over there?"
I turned my head from the screen to stare at him. I was only about two feet away from him. "I'm not that far."
"Yes, but what if I get scared and then need to clung to someone and there's no one there because you're so far away."
I rolled my eyes at him and gestured to the screen, "It's a chick flick, how the hell are you going to get scared?"
"Because it's a chick...flick" He answered, overstressing the two words.
"Are you serious?"
"Completely."
I sighed, and scooted over about six inches, hoping that would make him happy. It didn't. He gave me this look that said, 'keep going, keep going'. I sighed again and scooted even closer to him to there was about six inches between us.
He shook his head and pointed to the spot right next to him, "Come on Syd, I need someone right here."
This time, I half tossed, half placed the bowl of popcorn on the table and scooted right up next to him, close enough that our thighs were pressed together. Then I grabbed his arm and maneuvered it over my shoulders, so that I was forced to lean against him with my head on his chest. "Better?"
He laughed, "Yes, much, actually."
"Good," I laughed back. Oddly, it wasn't weird being so close to Vaughn. It was actually really enjoyable. I'm not even going to start with that topic.
Halfway through the movie I started laughing lightly and smiling. I mean, come on, the teacher guy is super hot! Vaughn didn't understand why I was laughing so he asked, "What's so funny?"
"Okay, you see the teacher guy?" I asked, just barely above a whisper.
He nodded, "What about him?"
"He is cute."
His chest rumbled with muted laughter, "Really?"
"Yeah, totally cuter than you."
He pulled me closer by tightening his arms around me. I assume that's a man's way of defending the girl he's claimed against other men even if that man is on the TV. Wait, did I say that I was the girl he claimed? Oh crap, I so don't want to think about that at the moment, especially since all my thoughts will be biased considering I'm lying up against the guy. "No one's cuter than me," He defended.
I tried to pull away, you know get some space so I could clear my head but he held strong, so I just settled into his chest, "Of course, they are. Plus, he can play hockey."
"I play hockey," Vaughn said.
"Uh huh, sure you do." I answered, completely not believing him. I just assumed that he was trying to be all macho and it wasn't working.
"I do," He insisted.
"You tell yourself that." I replied, turning my attention back to the movie.
"No, really, I do." He repeated, lightly pushing me off and standing up suddenly. I fell forward, momentarily confused by the lack of his chest to lean up against. "Come on," He said, making some kind of motion with his hand for me to take it and stand up.
"Where?" I asked, straightening up so I wasn't flopped over anymore.
"To prove to you that I play hockey, now come on." He impatiently waved his hand but I just stared at it.
"Vaughn, it's dark out." While that might seem like a totally stupid reason, going out for long distances, more than just across the street, was not a good idea in my neighborhood. It wasn't high crime or anything but you didn't want to take that chance.
"I know," He answered, "But you don't believe me and I can't stand it when people don't believe me. Now come on or I'll throw you over my shoulder and carry you there."
"You wouldn't." I challenged.
"I wouldn't?" He repeated, raising an eyebrow. "Now you're telling me what I do and don't do?"
I nodded, "Yeah."
He shrugged, "Okay then." In one stride, he was at the couch again and in a flash, he picked me up and threw me over his shoulder. He then proceeded to walk out of my house, with me still over his shoulder.
"Vaughn, put me down." I ordered, squirming around and trying to get down.
"No," He refused, closing the door behind us. Thank God my mom and Aimee were out doing wedding stuff and Kady was, well, being Kady and off doing her own thing. I do not want to have to explain to them why Vaughn was carrying me out of the house.
"Fine." I mumbled, relaxing and just letting him carry me to wherever he was taking us. Men and their stupid macho pride, it's enough to make you want to smack them.
We didn't say anything for about three blocks of him carrying me over his shoulder before he asked, "Getting sleepy up there, Bubble-Yum?"
"Shut up, Vaughn," I kind of snapped back, like it wasn't really harsh but I wasn't being super nice about it. I was just waiting for him to ask that. He laughed for about three blocks more before he stopped suddenly in front of an ice rink that I had no idea even existed, much less was in my own freaking neighborhood. What can I say? I haven't been ice skating since I was like five and then it was when we were visiting my Dad's parents in Canada. I don't remember any of them, kinda like I have no idea who my mom's family is.
He set me down promptly but slung an arm around my shoulder so I wouldn't be able to get away. He knows me too damn well, apparently. "Where are we?"
"It's an ice rink, Syd." He answered, slowly with a hint of smile.
I rolled my eyes, "I know that Vaughn. I mean, how did you know that this place existed when I had no idea?"
"Because, when my mom was still in the United States of America, we used to live down that street." He pointed to a side street, leading straight from the ice rink. And if I did my math right, which was no guarantee, that would mean that he used to live about three, maybe four blocks away from me.
"You did?" I questioned, "I never knew that."
"You never asked." He answered, simply, walking towards the still open ice rink.
"Vaughn, I can't skate, like at all." There, I said it. He didn't need to prove his point that badly. Yes, I believe you, you play hockey. Now can we go home? I mean to my house. It's not really his home. I can barely admit that it was my home.
"Then I'll teach you."
dolphingurl1- don't worry, i havent yelled at my backpack, at least not yet anyway. you never know. lol!
largemarge416- i'm planning on taking over the world and then making Michael Vartan my love slave. hmm, probably shouldn't have said that but it's true. he's so damn hot!! i'm just kidding, sorta.
morrisseylover- your english is better than mine, so dont worry. yeah, i like jen just cause she's funny and stupid and totally doesnt get anything. welcome for the long chapter. i'll try to do that evertime.
generva- i think you're like the only one to say that they could see the irina thing happening. cause i could see it happening but it's not really a pretty picture in my head. just think of s/v. ah, yes that is much better.
Scary-girly- thanks, i'm not really in a hyper mood at the moment. trying to settle down for bed and it aint working. lol. i dunno, i'm really weird.
SpyKid18- yes, jen reminds me of half the girls in my school. not so cool cause they're all blonde bimbos but good for a laugh, ya know.
angryappliepie- there will probably be more aunt trish in the future. i like her too. just think of s/v any time that irina and her special friend pop up, it tends to make it go away.
Charmed-angel4- nope, sorry about not being first. anyway, i love the quotey review that you did. it lets me know exactly what people like about the chapter and that makes me happy. oh and i love those parts too, especially the pregnant comment.
neptunestar- yeah, it's cute that she fell asleep on him, not so cute about daddy arvin. but it is a little bit funny. i'm really weird.