A/N: Hey Everyone! I'm finally getting around to writing again! Remember all the review responses are on my livejournal. I assume you all know how to get there by now? Good! Oh, if only I had a dollar for everytime you guys said, 'Michael is such a gentleman!'... I hope you guys like this chapter! It's going to relieve you in the first part, and then bring on the angst. Enjoy!

I hope you understand Sydney. I never intended on leaving you.

I love you always.

Vaughn

The first letter from Vaughn.

Oh boy.

I must have read at least seventeen of the letters Vaughn had wrote me, before I finally went downstairs for breakfast.

After reading the first few, I realized how much time he must have put into writing them. When he moved, I didn't realize that he had gone to France. He had just left. Like that. No notice or anything. And I never got his letters.

Until now.

Sydney-

Today I went to a professional French soccer game with my new neighbor, John Luc. He's a pretty cool guy. He has a little sister too, who is somewhere around Lana's age. Now Lana won't have to be alone while we're here. The whole game, all I could think about was you. I wondered if you were playing soccer, or if you were hanging out with our friends. It really, really, really kills me to know that I left that all with no notice at all. How I could be so selfish and never even think about everyone back at home. How is everyone? I hope you tell them all that I'm doing fine. I would take the time to email everyone, but we don't have email here at the new house, and I don't want to go to one of the internet cafes. Nine bucks an hour (in US currency), that's more than I made working at my job at home. So I trust that you'll tell everyone that I'm doing fine and didn't fall off the face of the earth.

I thought that maybe by going to the soccer game, I would forget about all the guilt that I was feeling. But it just didn't work. I had made a parallel early in the first half. A parallel between you and soccer. You love soccer. How could I have forgotten that? I swear you love soccer more that life itself. Well that and your coffe ice cream. But that's it!

I really miss you Syd, and I have no idea what I'd give just to see your beautiful smile.

Amour vous,
Michael

That was my favorite letter by far. How could it not be? Hello? Soccer. Though, I had yet to read the rest of the letters. I had absolutely no idea he had written letters, so I had to be ready for anything. Ready for any news we was to tell me. I hoped there was at least one letter out of the bunch that said he would be coming back home to LA. Just one. But like I said, I had yet to read them all.

Sydney-

I've been waiting to hear from you. Have you fallen and can't get up? Just kidding. I'm just worried. I thought you wouldv'e written back by now.

Grandmere isn't getting much better, and she's starting to forget things. She forgot Maman and Lana's names, but she just somehow remembers me. Aunt Trish says it's because I'm cursed. Oh yes Aunt Trish, I'm cursed. With good looks of course.

Man, you have no idea how much I miss you. Not even the entire mural of you in my bedroom here is enough. I'm just kidding. I don't have a mural. Just my yearbook and a small photo album. Both with memories.

This letter is a short one, since I just wrote you yesterday.

Always thinking about you...

Amour vous,
Michael

The letters. I just couldn't stop reading the letters. It hurt too much to know that he really did write me every day for a month. And I didn't get a single one. And that was all because of Kevin. It seemed as if everytime I thought that Kevin couldn't have ruined my life just a little bit more, he did.

Quickly taking a shower, it hit me. Who had dressed me for bed the other night? I mean, I know that Vaughn took me home the night of Homecoming. Mom told me that, not that I couldn't have guessed that myself. But she didn't say anything about having to tuck me into bed. I just figured that when I woke up yesterday morning, I dressed myself for bed, not thinking anything of it. Until this odd moment in the shower. I certainly didn;t remember getting ready for bed. I would have remembered something like that. How could I not? I dismissed the thought, and finished washing the conditioner out of my plumeria-smelling hair.

I slid down the banister of the staircase and dashed into the kitchen for breakfast. I was already running late, and if I didn't hurry, then I would be late for school as well. All because I was reading the letters. But I can't say that it wasn't worth it. I found out a few interesting facts.

"Sydney, you're late," Mom said as I blew by her to get my blueberry muffin off the counter. "Eric picked Nadia up already." That explained why Nadia hadn't woken me up this morning. Hello, family support system?

"Oh, okay. Good, I guess," I said in between bites, standing in the middle of the kicthen. I realized how eager I must have looked to my mother as I ate the muffin. But who cared? I was starving. Mom put down her morning paper, and looked at me knowingly.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

"About what?" I asked, opening the refridgerator in search of apple juice. What is she talking about? There wasn't really something that I had to say or talk about with her. I mean my mom's great and everything, but I just didn't see what she was getting at.

"Sydney Anne." Oh, she did not just middle name me. I absolutely hate it when people middle name me. Well she is my mother...

"What Mom?" I smiled, finally finding my beloved apple juice. I never preferred orange juice. Just apple juice. But I did like oranges.

"You and Michael. There's something going on between you two. Care to talk about it Sweetie?" she asked intentively. So that's what she was talking about. I had an idea, but I guess I was just being naive. How would she know there was something going on between me and Vaughn? The last time she probably saw him was when he dropped me off at home Saturday night after Homecoming...So that's who dressed me for bed...I should have known. I mean if it was that obvious, even to my own mother. Oh man. What if Dad knew too? Well if Dad knew, then I think that Vaughn would have moved back to France or worse. He could have been buried in my backyard.

"But Mom, how did-"

"I'm your mother."

"Of course," I stated sarcastically. She gave me a quizzical look. "Just kidding. Jeez Mom. You over analyze things." I started to make my way out of the kitchen, hopefully getting my way.

She coughed firmly. "Sydney."

"What Mom? I'm already late," and at the rate she was taking to answer me, I was going to be even more late.

"I think you should reconsider your relationship status with Michael. He's a very nice boy."

I sighed. My mother was right. I did need to rethink my relationship with Vaughn.

"Alright Mom," I said, hopefully giving her the answer she wanted. Hopefully I was thinking the same kind of reconsideration she was thinking.

"Have a good day Honey!"

"I will," I muttered under my breath, closing the front door behind me.

Today was going to be eventful.

Especially if I took what my mother said into consideration.

"Michael, you honestly haven't played the Northface game?" Francie inquired.

"No, so shoot me," I said, throwing my hands up in mock defeat. I didn't know how to play the 'Northface' game. They must have made it up when I was gone.

"It's okay Mike. Syd and Francie made it up when they went up to Seattle for a weekend this one time," Weiss cut in. "Apparently everyone there was wearing Northface jackets."

I laughed.

We were sitting in the cafeteria during lunch. All of our friends were at our usual table, and Kevin was no where in sight. Things were looking up.

That was the most immature game I've ever heard of. Even though I used to play a similar game with Volkswagon Bugs.

"It's so simple. I'll teach you," Sydney smiled.

"Okay, so how do you play?" I asked, rubbing my hands together. If this game was challenging, then I'd be ready.

"Easy. All you do is, when you see someone wearing a Northface jacket, you punch the person you're playing with," she was so excited over explaining the rules to me. "Like there!" Syd punched me. And it hurt.

"Ow Syd. What the hell was that for?" I asked, rubbing my arm gingerly. That girl could punch hard.

"Vaughn! You have to have to be on your toes," she giggled. "You totally did not see Brenda Gunn wearing that pink Northface? It was offensive!"

"Sorry that I don't make up silly games," I countered. It was a silly game. I was probably only saying that because according to Sydney, I was 'losing'. I am not used to failure.

"Fine. I'll let you get the next one," Sydney pouted.

When the next person wearing a Northface passed by, I could see out of the corner of my eye Sydney trying to contain herself. She was a competitive person. So I didn't even flinch to punch her. She said she'd let me get the next one for practice, but she looked so cute when she was pissed. Even if those were the rules of the game. And besides. I didn't want to punch her. That was against my rules.

"What the hell was that for?" she hit me after the person passed our table. "I let you have them, and you waste your chance!"

"I'll get the next one, I promise," I winked. She blushed, and started up a conversation with Francie.

"You've got it bad for her, dude," Weiss coughed quietly. It was true. I was crazy about her. Just watching her smile made me light up like a Christmas tree.

"Shut up Eric," I muttered.

"Alright man."

A person wearing a dark blue Northface entered the cafeteria. I was almost positive that it was a Northface other than some Columbia jacket. The owner of the suspected Northface was none other than Kevin.

"Wait 'till he gets closer. It might be a knock off," Sydney warned me, placing her hand over my clenched fist. I wasn't going to punch her. I had other things in mind.

Kevin made his way towards our lunch table as everyone stood up.

It was a Northface that he was wearing.

"Kevin," Nadia snorted, quickly jumping to some sort of defense.

"Hey guys," the jackass said, sitting down comfortable at the end seat of the table. But no one else sat down, so he stood right back up again.

"What do you want Kevin?" Sydney asked, acrossing her arms over her chest.

We were still playing the game. I knew she was trying to resist punching me. I could see it in her eyes. Well if she wasn't going to be punching anyone...

"I'm moving to Sacramento tomorrow morning. I just wanted to say goodbye to everyon-"

Before he could finish, I punched my fist into his face. That has got to count for bonus points or something...

"How was that for my first time playing?" I turned to Sydney, as she watched Kevin fall back to the floor with amusement in her eyes. I had punched him hard, but him curling up in a ball on the floor was just pathetic.

"Vaughn, you're not supposed to punch the person wearing the Northface," she started. "But if you insist on playing that way, then I guess I can make just one exception..." she said. And with a swift kick of her right foot, she kicked Kevin's slumped form where it would hurt any man.

He let out a small gasp, but he didn't cry.

"I thought you said that we only punch the other player," I grinned as Kevin reached the side of the table to regain some kind of strength. But one thing was for sure. He wouldn't regain his ego. Not today at least.

"Yeah, well if you don't play by the rules, neither will I," she smiled, hugging my arm and stroking my punching hand.

Yeah.

Screw rules.

Syd and I only got an hour of detention. Not that bad I must say. Considering what we had done to Kevin. But it wasn't like he didn't deserve it.

Sitting in detention while the detention room supervisor 'worked' at her computer, the two of us just passed notes back and forth. Besides, if we were caught, what would they do? Give us more detention? We were there anyways. Along with a few other kids including Julian Sark, carving his name into the desk he occupied, Noah Hicks, who was texting on his cell phone, and Marshall Flinkman. God knows why that kid was here.

Sydney threw the piece of paper back at me, hoping the supervisor wouldn't notice.

My soccer skills coming handy outside the soccer field...

I smiled.

I think punching Kevin was more out of rage on my part, than playing the game.

I casually placed the crumpled paper on the floor, and flicked it to Sydney's desk with my foot. She snorted when she read my respose.

Yeah, I got that part.

What can I say?

That you're a loser?

A loser?

Yes, a loser. What do you want me to say? Oooo! Vaughn a loser! Dun dun duuuun? I think not.

I laughed.

Fine. A loser. Do you want to go to the movies Friday?, I scribbled on the paper and tossed it over to her. It took her a while to respond back to my bit of the note. She must have been writing something really long. I mean it was a simple yes or no question.

After moments of her writing on the paper, she finally threw it back at me, not looking once into my eyes as she did so.

Vaughn, I was reading some of the letters you sent me, this morning. I just don't know what's going on between us right now. A movie sounds a great, it really does. But I just have a lot of thinking to do right now.

I looked up at her, confused as to what she was saying. But she just looked straight ahead at the chalkboard. It was a simple yes or no question. Movie or no movie. Sure I wanted to be back together with her, but was it really that hard to say yes or no to go out with me Friday night? I don't think so. Well maybe for her it might have. It wasn't supposed to be this complicated. All I really wanted was to be with her again. Going back to the old times before I moved to France. The way that things used to be.

Normal.

I looked down at the note, seeing that there was more to her response.

I just don't think that I'm ready to jump back into a relationship with you.

A/N: Did you guys like that chapter? I hope you did! Now come on people! Review! You know the drill! Remember all the review responses are on my livejournal. Don't forget that! Please review. Your feedback means the world to me! I really want to know what you guys thought about this chapter! Hey, I'm sorry to say that I'm not able to post a new chapter for Apartment Seven until the next few days. I've been real busy! I'm sorry! But I didn't want to make it a crap chapter! You all deserve much better than that!