Thanks for all the reviews! I couldn't keep Syd and Vaughn apart for too long. I'm too much of a S/V shipper to do that to them, hehe. Enjoy the chap!
PART II- Chapter 16.
Vaughn's POVI came bounding down the stairs quickly, taking a glance at my watch and realizing Syd and I needed to be at the airport in less than 30 minutes if we wanted to catch our flight back to San Francisco.
Forgetting to grab my electric shaver from the bathroom, I ran back upstairs, yelling out to my mom and Aunt that I'd be down in a second. I looked at my room one final time, paying specific attention to the dozens of trophies in the corner and my dad's picture sitting on my nightstand, before shutting it tightly.
"Do you have everything, Michael?" My mom asked, holding a couple of tissues in her hand already.
"I think so. If I forget something, I'll just give you guys a call and you can mail it to me."
Donovan came running over a minute later, sensing that I was leaving. After he saw my suitcase on my bed the night before, he knew I was going somewhere. From that moment on, he followed me everywhere I went and looked up at me with sad eyes. He had gotten used to me being home again and got comfortable sleeping on my bed. I felt bad for poor Donny. But, I knew my Aunt Trish would spoil him to death with leftovers.
Opening up my arms, I gave my Aunt a tight hug, thanking her for staying with my mom and taking care of her. My mom was reluctant to say goodbye when I turned to her. We had always been close growing up, but us going through her sickness together made our relationship even stronger.
"Thank you, Michael. Thank you for everything, for taking care of me when you didn't have to. You sacrificed yourself and I'm only here because you were so strong for me. You remember that, ok? When you are in your toughest times, think about what we went through. I couldn't have done it if it weren't for you." She sobbed into my chest.
"No Mom, it was you. I just stood on the sidelines." I joked, kissing her on her forehead. "I can't believe you're going to make me cry again. This is only my third time leaving. I thought you were getting used to this."
"Oh stop." She sighed. "You're my only son. I'll never get used to you leaving."
"Alright, I need to go get Sydney before we miss our flight. You and Aunt Trish don't have too much fun while I'm gone, ok?"
"Don't you worry." They both reassured me in unison.
"Don't forget to give Donovan a hug for me everyday." I instructed. "Alright… I'll call you guys when I get in."
It felt odd pulling into the apartment parking garage again. It seemed so long since I had last been here. The smile on Sydney's face couldn't have gotten any bigger as we hopped out of the car and grabbed our suitcases.
I could see a couple of new neighbors had moved in, noticing the different names on the directory. The walls had been painted a fresh shade of peach while they added new chairs in the lobby making the place look more respectable.
Finally lugging our way up the stairs and to the second floor, I quickly unlocked the door and threw my suitcase on to the floor. I wasted no time flopping onto the leather couch as the cushions immediately gave way to my body.
"Oh my god, I missed this couch. I have the best naps on this couch." I murmured, looking around for a second and taking in the surroundings.
"Weiss? Are you here?" Syd yelled out, receiving no answer after. "He's either with Francie, or getting cussed out by Emily."
"This is a first where we've been alone in this apartment. Weiss is usually always here. Either sleeping…"
"Or eating." Syd finished the sentence, taking a seat next to me and placing her head in my lap.
"As much as I'm happy being back here, I'm really not looking forward to going to classes. Ugh. Syd, do we have to go? Why don't we cut our classes tomorrow?"
"We can't. It's the first day back. Suck it up. We haven't even started yet and you already want to ditch. You're a bad boy."
"Mmm, will you punish me?" I joked, receiving a hard slap in the arm.
Just then, the door swung open and Weiss entered holding two grocery bags full of food. I immediately recognized the potato chips and gummy worms sticking out of the top. It was typical Weiss grocery bags. In one bag would have fruits and vegetables, and in the other a bunch of junk food.
It was almost like Weiss had to cancel out everything he ate. He couldn't have a healthy meal without eating chips or ice cream after. But it was Weiss and by now we realized we couldn't change him. It was part of his unique character.
"And the world is right again." He announces, smirking at Syd and I.
"What do you mean by that?"
"Just that you two are back together and I don't have to see Sydney moping around the apartment or you calling me to ask me to watch out for her. You two can finally be happy."
"I'm sorry we were such a chore to you Weiss." Syd shouted while getting up from the couch and swiping the chips out of Weiss' bag.
"Hey… not the barbeque! Those are my favorite. At least take the plain Lays."
I continued to sit back on the couch and watch Weiss and Syd's friendly banter. It was one of the things I missed most about being up here. Just being able to be around Syd, Weiss and Francie were some of the most fun times. I felt like I had missed so much being away for a few months.
Everything seemed to be looking up and for the first time in months, I felt at peace. My mom was beginning to recover, my head was free of worrying about her and worrying about if Syd was ok without me. The thing I was looking forward to the most was finally being able to officially live with Sydney.
I knew we were young and that maybe we were taking things too fast. But, Sydney is all I ever wanted and with my dad dying when I was only 8 and my mother being diagnosed with cancer, it opened up my eyes to the fact that who knows what's going to happen in my life. I didn't want to take the chance.
Syd's POVIn celebration of Vaughn's return, Weiss had cooked a delicious dinner consisting of Tacos, rice, and beans. It was no surprise to us that Weiss was an amazing cook being that he loved food. But, it was a surprise to Francie since she believed she was one of the best cooks out there. For awhile they argued at the kitchen counter with Fran telling Weiss that he was cutting the lettuce wrong.
While the kitchen fiasco was taking place, Vaughn and I subtly made our way to the bedroom, laying down brand new sheets and with much regret, stripping off my pink blanket. I no longer had the bed all to myself with a huge amount of space to roll from side to side.
Not that I was complaining or anything. Vaughn happened to be a quite courteous sleeping mate. He never kicked while he slept or mumbled anything in his sleep. Despite Vaughn rolling around a lot during the night or the fact that we happened to always cross each other's side of the bed, he never drooled on my pillow.
"You guys aren't doing anything in there, right?" Francie called through the door.
"No! We were just putting on some fresh sheets." I answered.
"Good because dinner's ready."
We ate in silence for a few minutes while each of us savored Weiss' Tacos. Even Francie admitted that she was enjoying the dinner after several smart comments about Weiss almost cutting his finger off with the chopping knife.
"So Francie, are you still living with Emily, or what? Does she even know what's going on?" Vaughn asked, scooping a spoonful of rice into his mouth.
"When I broke up with her, she just thought it was because I wasn't interested and didn't want to lead her on. But, eventually she found out it was because of Francie." Weiss explained.
"I'm moving my stuff out starting tomorrow afternoon. Emily and I civilly discussed me paying my part of the rent until the end of school or until she finds a new roommate. Knowing her and knowing how pissed she is right now, she's most likely still going to make me pay. Will you guys help me with the boxes tomorrow?"
"Yeah, sure Fran." I answered back. "Besides, you might need us before Emily kills you."
"Wow. I would've never guessed two girls would be fighting over Weiss. I didn't even have two girls fighting over me." Vaughn said sarcastically.
"Well, you would've had girls fighting over you if you weren't so into one girl. Man Mike, you could've had any girl you wanted before going out with Syd. You know how many girls asked me about you? I'm talking a few dozens my friend." Weiss shook his head and laughed before gobbling down another taco.
"Does that make you jealous Syd?" Fran joked.
"Nope. Why should I be? I'm the one that ended up with the guy, right?" I took a glance at Vaughn, winked at him, then leaned in for a short kiss.
"Oh god. I forgot we're with you two." Weiss murmured. "Now that you guys officially share a room together, why don't you use it?"
The next morning, the apartment seemed way too small and crowded. The four of us were rushing around the apartment, grabbing our bags, rummaging through the fridge for breakfast and attempting to make it to campus without being late to our first classes.
I was dreading my first class in the morning. I got the worse luck in my English lit class and ended up with one of the hardest professors in the university. I tried desperately to add another class, but all the other lit classes were full and I was unable to drop it for another.
I felt a little upbeat once I entered and saw there were only 25 other students in the class. I always enjoyed classes that were small and more intimate. Professor Roberts didn't look mean or intimidating. Instead, he was a short man in his late 60's, with thick black framed glasses and short gray hair. His blue tie sat perfectly under his crisp black suit while he watched every student that walked into his classroom.
For the next hour and fifteen minutes, he droned on about how we were never to miss class and that late assignments were inexcusable. Professors always gave the line about how they were never scared to fail anybody, and usually I tend to not believe in them, but for Professor Roberts, I knew he wasn't joking around.
The day seemed to be looking up after I exited the English building and realized the sun was slowly beginning to creep through the fog. I was ecstatic about the class I had next. Not because of what I was taking, but because Vaughn was enrolled in the same one.
As soon as I entered the big lecture hall, I immediately spotted Vaughn and smiled. The hall was nearly almost full and I could see Vaughn's backpack in the chair next to his, obviously saving the seat for me. His head was tilted down while he started determined at his cell phone. Tetris, I thought. No one stares at their phone with that much attentiveness.
"This seat taken?" I whispered, tapping him on the shoulder.
"Actually, I'm saving it for my girl-"
"Your girlfriend? I hope she's good to you if you went along and saved her a seat." I joked.
"Oh she's the best."
Bending down, I placed a kiss on his forehead before removing Vaughn's backpack and taking a seat in the most uncomfortable wooden chair ever made. I just knew my back would be hurting by the end of the lecture. I wasn't looking forward to two hours of History, but I knew Vaughn would make it entertaining.
"How was your first class?" I asked him, slipping my hand into his.
"Boring. How was yours?"
"The same." I answered back. "I have a feeling that class is going to give me trouble."
"You'll be fine, Syd. You're brilliant and the smartest person I know."
"Yeah? Well you're the sweetest, and cutest person I know."
"Do you think we're too sappy?" He joked.
"Never."
Just then, our professor began to talk and motioned the class to settle down. Closing his cell phone and putting it back in his pocket, Vaughn leaned over and planted a kiss on my cheek. How we were going to get through this class without completely distracting each other was beyond me.
Vaughn's POVThat afternoon, the four of us made our way to Francie's apartment to help her pack up her stuff and move it into ours. I prayed Emily would be out of the apartment so there wouldn't be any tension or trouble. I didn't need to hear any yelling or witness a catfight. At least not between Francie and Emily.
The apartment looked to be empty after we entered it with the kitchen and family room being dead silent. Sydney announced that she was going to the bathroom while Weiss and Francie made their way to Fran's room to bring out the boxes. I opted to sit at the kitchen counter and read the newspaper while Syd was gone.
Suddenly, Emily came walking out of her room with a tired look on her face. I had never seen or met her before, but she was exactly the way that Sydney described her. Spotting me in the kitchen, a surprised look spread over her face before she walked over to me and stuck out her hand.
"I'm Emily. Are you a friend of Francie's?" She asked curiously, taking the seat next to mine.
"Michael. Yeah, I'm helping her move her stuff out."
"Michael? As in Michael Vaughn, Sydney's boyfriend?"
"Yeah, that's me." I responded, interested as to why she sounded so disgusted.
"Ugh, never mind." And with that, she stomped back in my room.
Part of me thought she looked kind of interested at first, being that she looked me up and down causing me to want to bolt out of the apartment. After she heard who I was, she looked at me like I was the devil or something. I hardly ever make judgment without knowing a person, but Syd and Francie had it right. Emily didn't seem like the most pleasant person.
"Well that was rude." Syd said, emerging from the hallway.
"You saw that?"
"The whole thing. She was totally eyeing you up, Vaughn."
"Well, I don't think you have to worry about that anymore. As soon as she heard who I was, she ran away. Besides, she's not that cute." Bringing my hand up to Syd's face, I tucked a few stray hairs behind her ear.
Surprisingly, Weiss did most of the packing and volunteered to carry the boxes down the stairs. Either he was trying to impress Francie and be a good boyfriend, or he finally got out of his lazy streak. I never knew Weiss to do labor for free.
Once we got all of the boxes into our apartment, Weiss and I agreed to go pick up a pizza while Syd and Francie unpacked her stuff. I could tell something was bothering him on the way to the pizza place since he was silent most of the time. Weiss was never silent or at a loss for words.
"You ok, man?" I asked, nudging him in the elbow at a stoplight.
"Francie and I haven't done it yet." He stated flatly.
"Done what?"
Taking a glance sideways, he then looked down at his hands and I knew exactly what he was referring to.
"Oh, that. Well, it's still early in the relationship. You guys have plenty of time. Besides, she's still recovering from Will."
"I don't know… it's just… I don't want to disappoint her." He murmured.
"Disappoint her? C'mon Weiss. It's not like she's going to judge you."
"But I've never… you know… been with a girl before."
"Seriously?" I shouted, surprised as hell.
"Yes! I swear to god Mike if you ever tell anyone I will kick your ass."
"I won't, I promise. Don't worry about it. When the time comes, it will happen. Maybe she's not ready. Are you ready?"
"How do I know if I'm ready? I feel ready."
"When both of you are ready, it will just happen. And you'll both know when the right moment is." I explained, pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant.
"Yeah, you should know. It took you and Sydney forever to do it."
"We were taking our time. Besides, I don't regret it."
"Seems like waiting was worth it." Weiss commented, slapping me on the back.
"It was definitely worth it."
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