Thanks for the reviews guys.
LittleAussieAliasChick: I absolutely loved Syd's English thing as well- it was inspired by my own year 11 English teacher. I however did not have the guts to stand up to the pig.
Sydney stood, tapping her foot at the end of a long queue at the supermarket. What she had hoped to be a quick shop had turned into the experience from hell. It appeared that everybody in a ten kilometre radius had decided to do their shopping at the exact same time as she.
"Ouch!" she yelped as she felt a trolley hit the back of her ankle.
"I am so sorry!" the perpertrator gasped. Sydney turned around and couldn't believe it when she saw Noah standing behind her. "Sydney, hey. How are you?"
"Fine. And you?"
"I was until I had the brilliant idea to go and do the shopping." Noah replied, looking around at the bustling supermarket.
"I know, it's a madhouse here." To Sydney's surprise she and Noah fell into an easy chit chat as the line slowly made its way forward. It felt weird to be talking as friends. The last thing Sydney wanted was to be friends with Noah.
"Look, do you wanna go grab a coffee?" Noah asked when they had finally gotten out of the supermarket.
"I don't think so."
"Why not? I know I'm your least favourite person in the world, but it's just one coffee."
"Ok fine." Sydney hated herself for agreeing to this.Why would she be agreeing to socialise with Noah after what he did to her. God, Francie would have a fit if she heard about this.
"What do you want?" Noah asked as they walked into a small coffee shop that was situated just down from the supermarket..
"Just a latte. A small one." The smaller the coffee, the less time it would taketo drink. As Noah went to place their order Sydney heard her mobile ring. Looking at the caller id she saw it was Vaughn.
"Hey."
"Hey Syd, are you busy at the moment?" Vaughn asked. "Because I was just about to head to the ice rink and thought it was the perfect time for your first hockey lesson."
"Umm, I can't right now."
"Oh, come on. What is more important than hockey?"
"I'm studying at the library.I have so much work due and I really need to get it done." Sydney felt sick as these words came out of her mouth. But she didn't want to upset Vaughn by telling him she was with Noah. And besides she didn't want anybody to know exactly how stupid she could be by agreeing to this coffee in the first place. "I promise we'll do the hockey thing another day."
"Ok then. I love you Syd."
"I love you too. Bye."
"Bye." As she went to close her phone she noticed that she had about 5 missed calls.
"Who was that?" Noah asked, sitting down with their coffees. She flipped her phone shut. She'd call whoever back later.
"Vaughn."
"That guy I saw you with before Halloween."
"Yeah."
"He seems like a great guy."
"Great is an understatement." Sydney replied, wishing more than anything that she was with Vaughn at the hockey rink, rather than here with Noah. She took a huge gulp of her coffee, ignoring the fact that it burned her mouth. She wanted to get out of here as soon as possible.
Vaughn was just about to back out of his driveway when his mobile rang.
"Hello."
"Michael, it's Francie. Is Syd with you?"
"No,she's-" Vaughn tried to explain to Francie that Sydney was at the library, but was cut off.
"Damn! She leftto do the groceryshopping ages ago and hasn't come back. I tried calling her about five times, butshe's notanswering. I thought there was a good chance she was with you."
"No, she's not with me."
"Ok, well if you speak to her or see her please tell her that if she wants dinner tonight she'd better bring the shopping home quick smart."
"Ok, bye Francie." Vaughn hung up, his stomach turning. Why had Sydney told him she was at the library, when she had gone shopping. She had lied to him. She had done the one thing that Vaughn had never expected her to do. Sydney was honest and trustworthy- she didn't lie.
So then what was with the library story? What was she covering up?
"It's been good catching up." Noah said as he and Sydney got up to leave.
"Not really."
"Pardon?"
"I said not really. Noah, no offence but even after today I still think you're a jerk."
"Oh, no offence?"
"Ok, maybe I was trying to offend you a little."
"Well it's not like I don't understand why."
"Noah, I have no interest in being your friend. Let's just say that this coffee was a little cleansing ritual and say goodbye- forever."
"Well, if that's what you want."
"It is. And next time one of us runs into each other with a trolley, let's just apologise and keep walking."
"Um,ok then."
"Great. Goodbye Noah." With that Sydney strode off. As she walked her phone beeped, indicating a message. It was from Vaughn.
When you're finished at the library come to my place. Very important.
Slightly puzzled at the vague nature of Vaughn's text message, Sydney got into her car and headed towards his apartment.
Getting out of her car Sydney saw Vaughn sitting on the chair on his porch. She smiled and waved hello, but Vaughn didn't even acknowledge her. He just sat there, stony faced, his expression scarily reminding Sydney of her father.
"Hey, what's up? You're message didn't give too much away."
"Where were you?"
Sydney's stomach jolted. "I told you, I was at the library."
"DON'T lie to me!" Sydney jumped at the forcefulness of Vaughn's voice.
"Vaughn-"
"Francie called not long after I spoke to you. She was worried because you hadn't returned with the shopping."
"If you could just let me-"
"Why couldn't you just tell me that you were shopping? Why lie?"
"Because I wasn't shopping when you called."
"So what were you doing? And don't even think about lying now."
"I was having coffee with Noah."
Vaughn looked at her hard, taking in what she said. "Noah? As in Hicks, your ex-boyfriend. The guy you call the cheating pig scum."
"Yes." Sydney sighed.
"So why didn't you just tell me that? Why fabricate some stupid story?"
"I didn't want to upset you."
"Sydney, I don't give a damn if you want to get a coffee with an ex-boyfriend. Personally I think you're stupid to want to after what Noah did to you- but hey, you are your own person and you do what you want." Vaughn stopped for a second, taking a breath. "What I don't appreciate is you lying to me. It makes me believe that you're hiding something."
"I'm not hiding anything."
"Then why lie? Was it really just coffee?"
Sydney looked at his angry face, her own eyes narrowing. "What exactly are you implying here, Vaughn?"
"I'm not implying anything. It's just from my past expeiences it seems that people only lie to protect themselves."
"Vaughn! I ran into Noah at the supermarket, he invited me for a coffee. I didn't want to admit that to anyone that I was actually speaking with Noah. I felt stupid enough as it was."
"I'm sorry Sydney. But I'm not exactly inclined to believe anything that comes out of your mouth at this point in time."
"You are totally overreacting."
"No, you are playing downwhat you've done."
"Vaughn it was one stupid little lie."
"A lie is a lie Sydney. And one leads to another and another and so forth. I can't handle being with somebody who lies."
"Vaughn, I am not Lauren!" Sydney yelled. "You need to understand that."
"And you need to understand that I cannot deal with secrets and lies again." Vaughn's voice was equally as loud.
"You know what? I've had enough of your insecurities."
"What?"
"You heard me."
"I think you should leave."
"I think that sounds like a mighty fine idea." Sydney stormed down to her car and drove off, without even a backwards glance.