A/N: Hey, I just wanted to say thanks to everybody who reviewed this story. It's my first fanfic and I was so scared about submitting it- your postive responses made my day!

Sydney could hear the phone ringing as shewalked up to her front door. Trying to rush, she fumbled the keys and only got inside in time to hear the end of the message.

"…Speak to you soon." Pressing the answering machine she leaned back on the kitchen counter, listening to the message.

"Sydney, it's your father. Just calling to check in. Speak to you soon." Sighing, Sydney headed to the fridge. She was glad she had missed the call. Conversations with her dad were stilted and awkward. She loved him and he loved her, but they simply had nothing to say to each other. Maybe if her mother was still around their relationship would be different, but a car accident when Sydney was 6 had taken care of that.

Taking a can of Pepsi out, Sydney closed the fridge glancing at the calendar posted on it. 5th October. Francie had a function that she had to wait at, so Sydney was home alone tonight. Not liking the idea of spending Friday night alone, Sydney picked up the phone.

"Hello."

"Hey Will. Are you busy tonight?"

"No. Please tell me you want to go out. I'm going out of my mind with boredom."

"Yeah, let's go out. I'll meet you at Gus and Frank's at about 8."

"Sounds great. See you then."

Later that night Sydney walked into Gus and Frank's, a bar/ pool hall that was a popular hang out for the university crowd. She spotted Will racking up a table and walked over.

"Alright Syd, you ready to get your butt kicked?"

"No, but you are."

"Ha-ha Bristow. You crack me up."

"Well I think that it is hilarious that you have so much confidence after the crushing blow you suffered last time we were here." Will looked like he was about to reply but was stopped by his mobile phone ringing.

"It's mum" he said, looking at the caller ID. "This could be awhile- she and Amy had another fight today...Hi mum" he answered as he headed outside. Sydney watched him smiling. Poor Will. His mother and sister had a somewhat explosive relationship and he was often stuck playing mediator.

"Hey Sydney." She turned and saw Weiss and Michael heading towards her.

"Hey Houdini...Michael."

"Mind if we crash your table? Every other one is taken."

"Sure, just as long as your fragile male ego can hack losing."

"Hey, I'm used to it, but I think Vaughn will give you a run for your money."

"Oh really?" Sydney asked, looking directly at Vaughn. He returned her gaze, a slight smile playing on his lips. It was only now that Sydney realized that his eyes were of this amazing green.

"Well Vaughn, you ready to take me on?"

Weiss glanced at the two of them staring each other down and decided it was safest for him to go and get some beers. He thought that Vaughn was the most competitive person he knew...but at this point he wasn't quite sure.

Fifteen minutes later they were neck and neck. Vaughn was surprised. He didn't expect her to be this good, but he was glad she was. It wasn't very often he came up against real competition on the pool table. Mostly he played against Weiss who wasn't really adept with a pool cue.

Tonight, however he was having a great time. It had been a long time since he'd been able to relax and forget everything that had been weighing down his mind. Somehow Sydney, a girl he barely knew, had the ability to make him feel as if he'd be this way forever. There was also the added factor that he found her incredibly attractive.

"So Bristow, is a pool table the only thing you know you're way around?" he asked playfully, trying to distract her as she lined up a shot.

"Wouldn't you like to know," she said, looking up at him the second before she hit the cue ball. Her shot was spot on. Giving him a slight smirk, she lined up her next shot.

"Well are you going to answer my question?"

"As I told Houdini the other day, I am a girl of many talents. Be patient Mr Vaughn and you just might learn them all."

Weiss laughed and let out a low whistle. Vaughn looked over at him in disbelief. This Sydney Bristow was amazing. Funny, good at pool and so totally sexy without even knowing or trying. He thanked god that he had told Weiss to buy Alexis a book for her birthday, and that Weiss had been smart enough to go to the shop where she worked.

"What about you, Vaughn? Will I get to see any more of your talents?" Sydney asked.

"OK guys," Weiss interrupted. "Can you just finish the game or your flirting or whatever, cos I would like to have a go tonight!"

"Sorry Weiss. Just a few more minutes before I beat her."

"As if. You'd need help from the real Houdini himself to win this game."

Sydney was right. Two minutes later she sunk the eight ball and Vaughn had to accept defeat.

"I believe the loser buys the next round" Sydney said, smiling at him.

Vaughn was happy to oblige. He'd buy every round from now on just to see that smile.

Sydney watched Vaughn and Weiss walk towards the bar and realized that her hands were shaking slightly. She hadn't felt this about a guy since...well ever. Well never this soon anyway. What she had with Noah was special, butthat was built up over time. She'd only really spoken to Vaughn tonight, but felt as if she'd known him forever. Her thoughts were interrupted by Will coming up behind her.

"Syd, I'm sorry. But I have to go."

"Is everything ok? They didn't cause each other bodily harm, did they?" she asked turning around and putting her hand on his arm.

"No. Mum is fine. She vented to me about Amy for about fifteen minutes and got over it. But as soon as she hung up Amy rang. She's cornered a spider in the bathroom and wants me to go kill it."

"You're going home to kill a spider? Well aren't you a nice brother."

"Not really. I made her promise never to have another cult meeting at our place again if I did this."

"Blackmailing you're sister in her time of need- bad brother!" Sydney admonished, hitting him lightly on the upper arm. "And a book club isn't a cult, Will. Francie and I are actually thinking of starting one." The look of pure horror on Will's face caused Sydney to laugh, and she leaned into his chest trying to contain her giggles.

"Not funny, Syd." He grabbed her by the upper arms and leaned down into her face. "If you do I will never ever buy you an emergency carton of coffee ice cream again."

"Ok, sorry. I will see you tomorrow." She reached up to give him a quick kiss goodbye, followed by a hug.

"Yeah, see ya." he said, returning the hug. When he walked out Sydney turned back to the pool table, in search of Vaughn and Weiss. However, she was only greeted by Weiss, who handed her a beer.

"Thanks. Where's your smart mate?"

"He had to go- some sort of family emergency."

"Spider sornered in a bathroom?" Weiss looked utterly confused by Sydney's comment. "Never mind. Come on, let's play.

Stupid, stupid, stupid. That was the only thought that was running through Vaughn's head as he walked back to his apartment. He was stupid to think that somebody like Sydney Bristow would be unattached. Stupid to even open himself up to the possibility of somebody new after the Lauren debacle.

Though it wasn't just his fault. Sydney had been flirting with him, giving him signals that she didn't need a new mate, that she wanted something else. Or had he created that situation in his mind? He didn't think so. But when he turned and saw her with that guy...He wasn't just anybody. There was this air of familiarity between them, and a feeling that they had history together. A long history.

He had no longer felt like socialising. Why should he waste his time on another Lauren? Pretending he'd gotten a text message from his maman, he'd left as fast as he could. The next time that he saw Sydney Bristow would be way too soon.