A/N: Hey Everyone! I'm so sorry that I'm just updating now. I've been SUPER busy! And I apologize that I made you guys wait so long! Today is my birthday, and the more pathetic thing is, I'm excited, but not because of the fact that its my birthday, but because Alias is on tonight! I told you I was pathetic! Remember, my responses to all the reviews I get, are on my livejournal account. To get there, click on homepage on my author profile. I'm really sorry that I wasn't able to update any sooner! Okay. Before I start rambling, here's the next chapter! Enjoy!
Don't speak
I know what you're thinking
I don't need your reasons
Don't tell me 'cause it hurts
And as our lips touched for the first time in two years...
Our souls touched too...
Again.
After our kiss, the rest of the night was downhill. No more awkward, no more waiting. Just being able to be together was all I needed with her.
Watching her dance and laugh in the middle of the gym, along with the rest of our peers, Sydney was without a doubt enjoying herself.
Her smile radiated through the crowd of our over-zealous classmates, who might as well have been horizontal if that was going to be their dense excuse of 'dancing'.
But there was something about Sydney.
The way her glow of a personality made everyone go weak at the knees. And how the sweet melody of her laugh could serenade even the most disconsolate person.
Her presence was something that I had been longing for the past two years. And here we were. On Homecoming night. Together at last.
I had waited forever to tell her my true feelings after I left for France. I couldn't live without her. Everyday was hell. I was really in love with her. All I thought about was her, and her beautiful dimpled smile. A smile that I was forced to enjoy in secrecy.
Until tonight.
With all the events leading up to this evening, it looked as if I wouldn't be able to tell her how I felt about us.
No. Definitely not tonight.
I couldn't tell her. I wouldn't know what to say. I wouldn't be able to put my emotions into words.
Besides. It looked as if she was finally happy. Happiness that she hadn't experienced in a long time.
Telling her my feelings tonight, wouldn't be right. I didn't want to ruin this for her, especially if she didn't feel the same way about me.
Eventually I would have to tell her. But just not now.
When we said good bye to our friends, promising to talk to them at school Monday, Syd and I walked back to my car. The others had wanted to go bowling, but Sydney and I both agreed that we weren't up for it. We were beat. Maybe another time.
"I really had a great time tonight, Michael," Sydney said as I pulled the vehicle out of the school parking lot. She called me Michael. She only called me Michael when she was being serious. "Thanks for taking me."
"Anytime."
"I owe you."
"Nah, don't worry about it Syd," I said, stopping at an intersection. "If anything, I owe you."
"Michael, we need to talk," there she goes with the first name thing again. No kidding we had to talk.
"Uh yeah. Sydney, about tha-HEY! Jackass!" a car pulled out in front of me as I was turning a street corner. I felt my face redden at my sudden ourburst. Sydney giggled quietly to herself as she looked out the window. "Sorry about that."
"It's alright," she giggled again.
Then nothing.
It was silent the rest of the way to her house.
The silence wasn't discomfited or agonizing, it was actually blissful.
When I pulled into her driveway, I glanced over at Sydney. Her graceful figure was slouched over awkardly in the passenger's seat. She was asleep.
Not wanting to wake her up, I hurried around to the passenger side of my car and opened the door. After picking around in her purse for her house keys, something a man should never do unless he wants to find an emergency supply of feminine products, I carefully picked up Sydney's sleeping form, and carried her up the steps to her house.
Opening the front door was tricky. I had to lean Syd's body up against mine, still holding her with one of my arms, and unlock the front door with the other. An awkward situation, I assure you.
Setting the keys down on the small table in the foyer, I continued to make my way to the stairs, Sydney still in my arms.
"Ahem," I heard a cough from the family room. I turned my body to see the owner of the oh-too familiar cough. It was none other than Jack Bristow. He was sitting with his wife, excuse me, ex-wife, obviously reminiscing about something or another. He looked different from the last time I saw him two years ago. Somewhat less distressed-looking. However, I was still scared shitless of the man. "I take it Homecoming is over?"
I nodded my response, and gestured to the stairs, silently saying I was taking Sydney to her bedroom.
"Go ahead Michael," Irina peered from the other side of Jack's straight figure.
I nodded again, and tread my way up the stairs to Sydney's bedroom.
I thought that Irina and Jack were divorced. They certainly didn't look divorced.
It was then when I realized that Sydney was at least 120 pounds. Walking up the stairs would be difficult, especially since she was wearing a dress.
"Oh Syd," I sighed when I finally reached the top. What a work out.
I followed my sense of memory to her bedroom. Another familiar part of the house.
Gently dropping her on the big bed of her bedroom, I flipped on the light. I walked over to her dress to search for pajama bottoms and a tee shirt for her to sleep in. The first and second drawers were hopeless. But when I got to the third drawer. Well, it was hopeless too, but in a more comforting way. It was my old drawer. I remember putting all my hockey gear in there, because I'd come over to Syd's house then leave straigh to practice. The fact that she never packed the drawer again, left me confused. Even after two years, it looked as if the drawer was just the way I had left it. I loved my drawer.
Finding a tee shirt and a pair of pajama bottoms, I walked over to the bed where Sydney was fast asleep.
I stopped.
I couldn't dress her for bed. That'd be wrong. Besides, it was uncharted territory for me, and hopefully to other guys too. She'd wake up in the morning, wondering who the hell dressed her for bed when she knew it wasn't herself. But I didn't want her to sleep uncomfortably. Then it hit me. I had an idea.
I sat her up and slipped the tee shirt over her arms, over her dress. Next, I pulled her pajama pants onto her legs, underneath her dress, and pulled the bottom part of the dress back over the pants. After slipping her arms through the straps of her dress, I walked around to the edge of the bed, and pulled the dress from out underneath her tee shirt. I did it. I had undressed and dressed Sydney without seeing her naked. If that doesn't earn me twenty cool points, then I don't know what does. But it's probably not an accomplishment I would be able to share with anyone but myself. I was still proud. Now she could sleep comfortably. Thanks to me.
She'd freak out if she knew it was me who dressed her for bed. It wasn't my place anyway.
Oh well.
Pulling the covers over her body, I sat on the side of her bed. Watching her sleep. It was a different experience, but it felt so natural. She looked like an angel, somewhere in la la land. I wondered what she was dreaming of. Were they good dreams? Were they bad dreams? Was I in them?
After what seemed like an eternity, I thought of what Jack and Irina were thinking downstairs. I had been up in Syd's room for a good half hour, and it would give both her parents the wrong impression if I stayed any longer.
I brushed the stray strands of hair away from her face, and gently placed a kiss on her forehead.
Before leaving her room, I spotted the picture frame I had gotten her for Christmas one year, on her nightstand. Inside, it was a picture of her, me, Eric, and Nadia. The picture was taken after I threw the pan of cookies that were on fire, on the kitchen counter. I've never baked since. And she still had that picture.
I walked out of her bedroom, and glided down the stairs to the front door.
Jack watched me intently from the landing, never flinching, never looking away. Irina joined him when I had reached the bottom.
This seems like odd behavior for a divorced couple.
Even for Jack.
The ghost of a smile, or maybe it was a smile, appeared on his face.
"You're a good man," he said, sticking his hand out for me to shake. I politely took it with a firm grip.
"Thank you sir," I said. I was still scared shitless of the man, regardless of what he had just said.
"Our daughter is very fortunate to have someone like you Michael," Irina chimed, smiling knowingly at me.
I instantly felt self-conscious. I was half expecting them to yell out, 'Just kidding!'
"Thank you, that means a lot to me," I replied softly.
"If you need anything Michael," Jack added. "You can just call." Whoa. Wait. Jack Bristow actually offering support. Support that I didn't actually need. This is one sign of apocalypse. This wasn't the intimidating Jack that I had once knew. This Jack was, well, nice.
"Thank you again," I said for what seemed like the millionth time. "It's getting late, so I'm just uh, going to uh, leave," I said gesturing towards the door.
"You take care now Michael!" Irina called out to me as I got into my car. "Oh and tell your mother I say hello!"
"Sure thing!" I said before pulling out of the drive way.
Did I just enter the Bristow family's Circle of Trust?
I woke up to the sound of my alarm. Though I didn't know why it was set for a Sunday morning. Sitting up, I took in my surroundings.
Glancing at my body, I realized that I was dressed. In my night clothes. Not in my Homecoming dress.
I didn't remember dressing myself. I actually didn't remember coming home at all. I know I wasn't drunk, or having a hang over for that matter. That is totally unlike me. But then it hit me. Vaughn had taken me home. Was he the one who dressed me for bed? A tingle went down my spine at the thought. What if he saw me naked? Wow, now I feel more self-conscious.
I dismissed the thought with the flick of my wrist, figuring my mother was the one who tucked me into bed. A wooden box on the table dropped me back into reality.
Wait. I certainly didn't remember there being a wooden box on my nightstand either.
I don't think it was even there before I left for Homecoming.
How odd.
I opened the box slowly, as if I opened it too fast, it might explode like a bomb.
There was an envelope addressed to me inside. And another envelope. And another. And another.
All addressed to me.
They were all opened.
I knew what they were.
I opened the first envelope, and began to read.
Dear Sydney,
We just arrived in France this morning. It breaks my heart to know that I left home without so much as a good-bye. Ma'man's job relocated her back here. I'm so sorry I didn't tell you where I was going. I hope that you can forgive me. I never wanted it to turn out like this either. You're special to me Sydney, and I just left. I know. If you can begin to forgive me, then I'm sure I can begin to forgive myself. But I want you to understand, I just couldn't let my mother and Lana come here without me. It was already tough on them without Dad. They need me. I know you need me too, but this is just how it turned out. It's killing me to know that I didn't even tell you. I can't get over that Syd. I need you here with me.
From the airport, we went straight to Grandmere's house. She's fallen ill. It wasn't long ago, either. She didn't look so swell, and her age has started to get the best of her. There's fear in her eyes. And if that's true, then there's fear in her heart too. The same fear that was left to me when my father died. And now I realize why I had to come. I had to be here. Be strong. Be strong for Lana. Be strong for Ma'man. Be strong for Grandmere.
I hope you understand Sydney. I never intended on leaving you.
I love you always.
Vaughn
The first letter from Vaughn.
Oh boy.
A/N: Did you guys like that chapter? It was tough to write. I hope you guys liked this chapter! We finally get back into Syd's POV! Yay! Please review! Please please please! I'm sorry it was a little bit short! Remember, my responses to all the reviews I get, are on my livejournal account. To get there, click on homepage on my author profile. Go ahead, review. You know you want to...