"Come on Vaughn! Score at least one for Sydney!" Francie yelled earning her a laugh from Eric and a smack on the arm from me.

The three of us were at Vaughn's last hockey game of the season and his first at being on center. I'm not entirely sure what you do when you're on center but whatever. He looked really cute in that uniform of his.

Too bad the poor boy wasn't playing his best today.

"Be nice Fran," I chastised.

"I am," Francie protested. "You didn't hear me call him any names did you?"

I rolled my eyes and leaned forward, resting my elbows on my thighs. Ever since she had to go and tell me that Vaughn was practically my stalker for my entire high school career, I can't look at him the same. I realize that I'm being cynical but honestly, if a guy you were dating had stalked you (nevermind his looks) you would be freaked too.

Maybe I should talk to him.

Yeah, right after he's done peeling his face off the ice.

I swear half the stadium winced when he and another player collided, myself included in that statistic. So, he wasn't playing so well tonight. I wonder why that is…

The tension in the stadium almost exploded twenty minutes later. There was less than a minute left on the clock and Vaughn had the puck. Yes, they're called pucks. I learned that since the last time I've been in a rink. The yells (mine included) pounded in my ears. I really thought he was going to score. It looked definite that he would score the goal and tie the game and give his team a chance to win it.

But he missed.

No, really, he missed.

Oh my god, he missed.

How the hell did he miss that shot? It wasn't the goalie stopping it, no, it was more shameful. He overshot by about two feet.

Seriously, he was better than this. What happened to hockey god Vaughn?

Actually, what happened to the nice Vaughn that didn't stalk me?

Ignorance is bliss.

"Sucks to be Vaughn," Francie observed as we waited to get out of the stands.

I threw her a look. "So he had a bad night, so what?" Happens to everyone… I think.

"I've never seen him have a bad night," Eric put in.

I threw him a look as well. "So it was one bad night. Stop picking on him."

"We're not picking on him," Francie defended.

They weren't? Huh… where'd that come from? "I know that," I replied indignantly.

"What's up with you tonight?"

"Nothing," I snapped. Truthfully, the Vaughn equaled stalker thing was bugging the crap out of me. I really need to get him alone and talk to him about that. But no, for the past three days, we've been busy and missing each other constantly.

So I'm on my last nerve. Worrying doesn't do me wonders.

"Watch the tone," Francie scolded.

What am I? Four? "You're not that boss of me."

"Oh that was mature," She shot back.

"Don't treat me like Allison," I hissed.

"Then stop acting like her."

I was suddenly hit by the overpowering urge to punch her. But I didn't because A) she's my best friend and B) Eric would've gotten on my case instead of just standing to the side quietly and I did not want to deal with him just yet.

"I'm going to find Vaughn," I replied avoiding the issue. I don't want to talk about it, so we're not going to.

"Syd, we're not done here," She protested.

"I'll talk to you later," I said slowly keeping my temper in check. "Because I'm going to find Vaughn now." Can't get any simpler than that. I didn't even wait for her to protest again before turning on my heel and stalking off.

Though I was sure I heard her saw loudly, "What has gotten in her?"

You told me that my boyfriend used to stalk me, that's what.

What's more, is that he hasn't even admitted it to me yet. You would think that he would have the courtesy to inform me that I was the object of his stalking for three effing years. Maybe I wouldn't be so ticked at him if he had said that.

After searching for a solid ten minutes, I found him in front of the locker room talking with his aunt. I didn't want to see his aunt ever again but this was important. "Vaughn!" I waved to him before going over to him. "You played good."

"No I didn't," Vaughn replied immediately. Wow, so he looked depressed about losing the game.

My smile faltered a little, "Well… you played better than me. That's gotta mean something."

He smiled slightly. "You suck. That's not much of a consolation."

"Oh, I'll beat you one of these days." I replied. His aunt cleared her throat, reminding me all too unfortunately that she was still standing there. "Hello, again."

"Hello Sydney," Trish said warmly. She didn't seem too awkward around me at all. Lovely. "How have you been?"

"Fine," I answered nicely. "Vaughn… can I talk to you?" The phrase now or never definitely worked in this case.

Vaughn avoided my eyes. "I have to get home," He replied, causing me to narrow my eyes. "Homework."

I nodded slowly. "But I really need to talk to you."

"Tomorrow," He answered. "Meet me by the flag pole tomorrow morning before school and we can talk then."

I wanted to talk now, not in the morning. But I wasn't going to get into a fight with him in front of his aunt. "Alright," I relented, giving him a pointed look before giving him a quick kiss. "I'll see you tomorrow."

I walked away before he could respond.

-break-

Yeah, I was in a bad mood the night before. Why? I haven't the slightest clue. Maybe it was because Vaughn basically blew me off. Or maybe it was that I didn't get to talk to him. Or maybe it was one of those nights where you're just in a bad mood for no reason. Yeah, I like that idea.

He late too. To his own arranged meeting with his girlfriend by the flag pole. Technically, he said before school but school starts in ten minutes and that is not enough time for me to talk to him about everything I want to.

"Morning."

Seven minutes til the bell rang. Now it's really not enough time for us to have a conversation. "You couldn't get here any earlier?" I asked.

Vaughn raised an eyebrow. "Not the welcome I was expecting…"

I gave him a tired look. "I told you that I wanted to talk to you."

"I know."

"I meant for longer than six and half minutes."

"I know."

What the hell? "Then why did you show up six and a half minutes before school started?"

"Because we're not going to school today."

Wait-huh? Ditch? When was this decided? I've never ditched before. No seriously, in almost three years of being in high school, I have never ditched. Nor have I had the overpowering desire to do so. Besides, I had to work today. Marcia would kill me if I didn't show.

"Maybe you're not, but I am." I replied.

"Do you want to talk or not?" He asked impatiently.

"Well yes," I relented. "But we can talk during lunch or something." I wasn't going to ditch. No way.

"We need to be alone to talk," He stated.

I raised an eyebrow at him. What did that mean?

He caught the look and added hastily, "I mean… if we yell or throw things, we should spare other people."

"What makes you think there will be yelling?" I demanded.

He realized his mistake and winced. "Nothing… that's not what I meant."

"Then what did you mean?"

"I meant, that I'd like to be alone to talk to you," He explained. He said that already. "And… come on, Syd, let's just go somewhere."

"No," I refused. "I'm not ditching."

"Just for today," He pleaded giving me a mild version of the puppy dog face. I'm not falling for that one.

"No." I repeated.

He sighed and bit his lip. "Come on… we can talk, we can fight, we can do other things…" He gave him what I think was supposed to be a charming smile.

I wasn't amused. "Vaughn, I'm not going to ditch."

"Please…"

"No."

"Man, you're cruel."

My jaw dropped. "Excuse me?" Did he just…? I'll kill him. "I'm cruel because I won't ditch with you. Well, sorry." I snapped sarcastically.

"That's not what I meant," He protested.

"What did you mean then?"

He hesitated. Why the hell was he hesitating? Damn him. "Nothing, forget it."

"Tell me."

"No."

"Vaughn…"

"Sydney…"

I narrowed my eyes at him. "You can ditch all you want. I'm not going to."

"Fine."

"Fine."

There didn't seem to be much else to say so I did what I thought best: I went to class.

-break-

"Why does he have to be such an idiot sometimes?" I ranted.

Francie shrugged slightly. "You tell me."

"I wouldn't have asked you, had I known," I replied.

Francie gave me a small smile and shrugged again. "Then I can't help you," She answered. She was definitely in a better mood than I was. I hadn't spoken to Vaughn since this morning even though he was in all of his classes and stayed at school for lunch. I refused to speak to him until he apologized for trying to make me ditch when I didn't want to.

He didn't and that made me cranky. And with me cranky, Marcia got mad at me and sent me home early (minus the pay for the hours I was supposed to work too) and I had to call Francie for a ride because I refused to call Vaughn. She'd been listening to me rant for about twenty minutes now.

God does she have a lot of patience. Of course, she does have a daughter and that does call for patience.

I sighed and sat down on the couch where Allison was napping, picking her up onto my lap, and contenting myself with braiding her hair.

"Syd?"

"Yeah?" I looked up at her.

"You don't have to do that," Francie told me gently nodding towards my hands.

I had braided almost all of Allison's hair into little itty bitty braids. Wow… I hadn't even realized that much time had passed. "Oh." I let go of Allison's hair and handed her to her mother.

Francie took her daughter, rocking her slightly. "So, new topic. Kady called, huh?"

I laughed softly and nodded. "Yeah… like a week ago."

"And you have yet to tell me all the details," She pointed out.

"There's not much to tell," I answered. "She called… refused to tell me where she was… said she missed me and that was it."

"Sounds exciting," She muttered sarcastically.

"Oh but it was," I answered feigning seriousness.

"I'm sure."

Laughing, I rolled my eyes at her. "I hate him sometimes." There I go again. Ranting about my anger with Vaughn. Silly Sydney.

"Okay, we need a new topic," She announced. "One that has no relation to Vaughn."

I agreed with her, I just couldn't think of one. How hard is it? Just think of a topic that has nothing to do with Vaughn. Easier said than done apparently.

"So… how's Allison?" I asked finally.

She laughed and gestured to the now sleepy baby. "You tell me."

Okay, dumb question. I know. I've been around Allison every day of her life, of course I know how she is. Okay… new question. "How's… Eric?"

"That's related to Vaughn," She pointed out.

"Only if you make it," I shot back.

She sighed. "It's great. Okay? Nothing worth mentioning. Just great."

Well, hell. I'm stuck. Now she has to think of something. Although… that didn't sound very convincing of her and… my phone's ringing. Okay then. Good distraction.

Or maybe not. It was Vaughn calling. Damnit.

"Who is it?" Francie asked, raising an eyebrow at me.

"Vaughn," I groaned, debating whether I should turn off the phone or not.

"Answer it."

Excuse me? "What?"

"You heard me, answer it."

"Why?" I believe we were on ring six now. It goes to my voicemail after ten.

"Because." She answered. "You just should talk to him instead of whining."

I gave her a half smile before glancing at the phone in my hand. Ring eight… ring nine… oh hell. I cave. I'll talk to him. "Hello?"

"Syd?" Vaughn answered immediately. "Don't hang up."

"I wasn't going to."

"Good," He admonished. "We need to talk."

"That we do," I agreed.

"Over dinner maybe?" He suggested. "Tomorrow perhaps? As fancy or as casual as you want."

I can't even say no to his whiny voice. I have serious issues, I'm telling you. I sighed and glanced up at Francie. "I s'pose."

"Really?" He seemed surprised. Good. Francie on the other hand… not so much.

"Yes, really," I answered. "I'll see you tomorrow. Make it semi-formal while you're at it."

"Seven?"

"Sounds good."

"Syd?"

"Hm?"

"Thanks for not being mad at me." He hung up before I could correct him. Annoyed would be a better word than mad but still.

"What'd he say?" She asked, after I lowered the phone.

I bit my lip and looked back up at her. "We're having dinner tomorrow."

"You got over that quick." She commented.

"I'm not over it," I corrected.

"Then why'd you agree to have dinner with him?" She asked.

"Because he asked." Well… that wasn't all true but you get the idea.

"So you just decided to agree because he asked?" She concluded. "That's not like you. At all."

If I didn't know any better, she sounded angry. "I'm sorry, what are you going on about?"

She sighed and shook her head, "Forget about it."

"No tell me," I insisted.

She sighed again. "You're different lately."

I'm sorry… that made no sense, please repeat it. "What? How?"

"You just are," She answered. "First it was just small things where you were hanging out with Vaughn a lot but then after I told you about the whole he stalked you thing, you've been acting weird."

"Weird as in…how?" I asked. I haven't been acting weird… have I? Weird question to be asking myself.

"You just are," She answered. "You're like his little lap dog or something?"

Now wait a minute. Stop, rewind and freeze. Are you effing me with that? Me? His little lap dog? I don't think so. Sydney Bristow does not lap dog for anybody. "No I'm not."

"Okay, that came out wrong," She corrected. "You're just different since he's been around."

"Like how?"

"Like you're always hanging out with and when he's not around you're always talking about him," She answered.

Huh, that sounds a lot like her and Charlie. Imagine that. "At least I'm not going to end up with a baby."

She looked at me sharply. "Excuse me?"

"You did the exact same thing with Charlie and look where it's gotten you."

"That was uncalled for," She replied in an icy tone. "And you know it."

I shrugged showing my indifference while inside, I knew she definitely had a point. "Maybe."

"He's changed you," Francie hissed startling me. Umm… okay then. "You used to be a good friend about Allison and now look at you."

I looked down and looked up at her just because I'm a smart ass. "I don't see any change."

She snorted. "You've changed and I'm inclined to believe it's about him."

"Stop blaming him for your jealousy!" I shot at her.

"Jealousy? You're kidding me."

"You're just jealous because my boyfriend doesn't have to work around your child's schedule." I have no idea where that came from and it made very little since in my head. However, once it came out, it made so much more sense. It made perfect sense. She was jealous of my freedom.

Her eyes narrowed. "You can get out of my house if you're going to be like that."

"Fine," I answered getting off the couch.

"I'll see you later?" She called after me.

I was still in a bad mood so I called back, "Don't count on it!" And then I slammed the door behind me.

Way to go Sydney.

God, I don't even know how we started fighting. It started with me agreeing to dinner with Vaughn so we could talk things out and then it just exploded. Well hell. Oh forget it. I don't care. She brought this upon herself and I'm not apologizing until she does.

I have problems with being stubborn.

-break-

"Ugh! Mom! I can't push back the wedding!" and those were the first words I heard after going inside my house. Must be Aimee and Mom fighting again. Though I didn't hear Mom's response before Aimee started talking again, so that means… she's on the phone fighting with Mom. Joy.

"What's with the wedding this time?" I asked heading into the kitchen after I heard her slam the phone down. It was relatively safe after that.

Aimee looked up at me, her eyes narrowed. "Were you listening?"

"No," I answered indignantly. "You were yelling and I heard the word 'wedding' once or twice or all the time."

She sighed and shrugged. "Mom wants me to postpone the wedding."

Way to go Mom. Maybe… she'll even cancel it. Oh that would make my jolly day. No more talk of the wedding. No more of Aimee throwing a fit every other day. No more of Jeremy.

I forced myself to look sympathetic. I don't think she would have appreciated it if I had laughed and blessed Mom's name. In fact, she would have smacked me. I can guarantee it. "Why?"

"Well, she said it's because she doesn't have the money to pay for it," Aimee explained. "But I'm pretty sure it has to do with the fact that Kady's never coming back."

Maybe this is the time where I tell her that Kady called me. I told Mom last week and Dad two days ago but not Aimee. Nah, I don't wanna.

"She's making you postpone your wedding because of Kady?" This is also the part where I congratulate Mom.

"I think," Aimee answered.

"Then what makes you think she's lying about the money thing?" I pointed out.

"Well for one thing, Dad sends her a check once a month for child support or something like that," She answered. Good point. "And for another, she's a college professor. She makes more than she lets on." Another good point. Maybe Mom really does want her to wait for Kady.

Interesting. I like where Mom's coming from on this. The longer we wait for Kady, the longer I get to put off bridesmaid dress shopping with Aimee.

I am an incredibly selfish person.

Oh well… I have a date tomorrow where I have to sort out problems with my boyfriend. Lovely.

SSB's note: Heezaah! School is out for three whole wonderful beautiful months! -does happy dance- And such, that means that I'll be writing more and who knows, maybe I'll bump it up to two updates a week. :) Oh yeah and the next chapter's the last one.

Review responses are on my livejournal.

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