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28dOOMDoom28 & Five Stories Fallen: Yes I swear there will be a sequel- that is if people want a sequel. I've already written about 20 chapters.
dandan2300: Of course I watched the finale! Oh my god! It was fantastic, and the cliffhanger! I think I'm still reeling from it. Anyway, in regards to the sequel and the title. Whenever I write anything, I don't worry about a title. I just write and wait for something to come to me. I do have a title for the sequel now (it hit me the other day) but (and I'm sorry about this)I think I'm going to hold off telling people until I actually post the story
Vaughn stifled a yawn as he pulled into his driveway late Monday afternoon. He'd had a full day of classes and was looking forward to doing absolutely nothing that evening, just curling up with Sydney on the couch.
Opening the front door, Vaughn dumped his book bag on the floor and then walked over to the couch where Sydney was stretched out, absorbed in a book.
"What are you reading?" Vaughn asked, leaning over and kissing the top of her head.
"A Good Man is Hard to Find," Sydney replied, looking up. "I've kinda let myself fall behind on my reading these past couple of weeks."
"Then I'll let you get back to it."
"Uh, uh." Sydney shook her head. "I've been reading short stories for hours. I need a distraction."
"Well, that I can provide." Vaughn grinned, throwing himself onto the couch.
Sydney placed her book on the coffee table and then turned to Vaughn. "I was thinking about what we could do Wednesday night."
Vaughn's smile grew wide at the thought of celebrating his and Sydney's six-month anniversary. "What exactly did you have in mind?"
"I was thinking that we should go all out." Sydney said, sounding excited. "Like to a reall fancy restaurant."
"How fancy?"
"Oh, you know. The type of place where the waiters are totally superior." Sydney grabbed Vaughn's hand. "I know it sounds like a bit much, but we've never done anything like this."
Vaughn squeezed her hand gently. "It sounds like a great idea."
"Really?" Sydney's eyes lit up. "Great, because I was talking to Francie today and she knows this great place called Rousseau. It's about half an hour away, but she said the food was awesome."
"Ok then. Rousseau, Wednesday night." Vaughn kissed her gently on the lips. "It's a date." He leant in and kissed her again. "Now, all this talk of food and restaurants is making me hungry."
"Hmm, me too." Sydney smiled as Vaughn got up and headed towards the kitchen.
"I'll see what we have here," he said, "but I have a feeling we may have to order in a pizza."
"Pizza is fine with me," Sydney called back, picking up her book. Before she could open it, Vaughn spoke again.
"Hey Syd, what's this?"
"What's what?" Sydney looked up. Vaughn was standing at the kitchen bench, pointing to a newspaper that was opened up on the real estate pages.
"This. Have you been looking for a new place?"
"Um, yeah. Sort of." Sydney replied. "Francie came around today and she was talking about starting a search and so we checked the paper."
"Oh." Vaughn's face was expressionless. "Did any catch your eye?"
"Nah, there wasn't a lot in there."
"Oh, ok." Vaughn smiled and walked to the fridge, feeling a little unnerved. Sydney had been staying with him since the fire and the thought of her finding a new place hadn't crossed his mind. He didn't want to think of her leaving, but if Sydney wanted to go, well then there wasn't anything he could do about it.
"Ok, girls. I need your help." Sydney declared Tuesday afternoon. She, Francie and Ainsley were at the local shopping centre with the mission to find Sydney something fabulous to wear on the big dinner the next night.
"I can't believe you and Michael have been together six months." Francie said as the three of them entered a small boutique.
"I know." Sydney grinned. "Some days it feels as if we've been together forever and others it feels as if the time has just flown by."
"Ooh!" Ainsley exclaimed, holding up a stunning halter neck dress in an emerald green. "Syd, you would look amazing in this."
Francie eyed the dress closely. "She's right. Go try it on."
"Ok, something is wrong." Weiss said, throwing down his Playstation 2 controller. He was at Vaughn's and the two of them had been playing for an hour or so. "Spill Mikey."
"Nothing is wrong." Vaughn replied. "And don't call me Mikey."
"Vaughn, in case you haven't noticed, I am kicking your butt. It's NBA Live. I never win at this game. Now tell me, what is up or I am calling your mother and telling her I think you are depressed."
Vaughn laughed. "It's to do with Sydney."
"Oh god. Don't tell me that you guys are fighting."
"No, it's not that." Vaughn paused. "She's looking for a new apartment."
"So? You gotta assume that she would, you know, given account that her old one burned down."
"Yes Weiss, I am aware of that fact. But the thing is, I don't want her to find a new place. I want her to stay here. I want us to live together."
Weiss let out a slow whistle. "I know you guys are serious, but Vaughn, that is a huge step."
"I know- a step that I am 100 per cent about."
"So then what is that problem?"
"I don't think Sydney is ready to take the step."
"Why?"
"To cut a long story short, let's just say that when I was looking for this place there was a slight confusion with one of the land lords and Sydney made it quite clear that she wasn't ready."
"Vaughn! That was three months ago."
"So?"
"So, were you ready to live together three months ago?"
"No, not really."
"Well, if your feelings have changed, then maybe Syd's have too." Weiss picked up his game controller. "I suggest you speak to her about it. But for now, I am going to take advantage of your confused state. Prepare for an ass whooping Mikey."
Vaughn sat on the couch Wednesday night, waiting for Sydney to make an appearance, absentmindedly flicking through the channels on the TV. His conversation with Weiss the day before was playing on his mind. He didn't want to freak out Sydney, or put any pressure on her, but he had to tell her what he thinking. The only question was when?
However, his mind went blank when Sydney stepped out of the hallway. She looked radiant, her skin glowing and the green colour of her dress made her eyes look like they were sparkling.
"Wow," he said, standing up. "You look incredible." Sydney smiled as he approached her and kissed her gently. The kiss quickly grew more heated until they both pulled apart, their lungs burning.
Sydney drew a hand up to Vaughn's face and ran a finger down his cheek. "I love you Vaughn."
Vaughn brought his own hand up to hers and clasped it, letting them both drop. "And I love you."
At Rousseau, they were seated at a table off the side and it gave the impression of being private and secluded.
"You know what?" Sydney said, gazing around their opulent suuroundings.
"What?"
"While I'm loving this fine dining experience, I have to say I think I'd prefer pizza, beer and a couch any day."
Vaughn grinned. "A woman of my own heart."
Sydney screwed up her nose. "Does that make us boring and uncultured?"
"No, that makes us us and I don't know about you, but I wouldn't want to change a thing."
Sydney's face broke into a wide smile and Vaughn couldn't help but marvel. When Sydney smiled, her entire face just lit up. To be honest, it was a little intoxicating and one of her most powerful attributes.
Picking up the menu, Vaughn returned the smile. "So what do you think looks good?"
"Final verdict?" Vaughn asked as Sydney took the last mouthful of chocolate souffle.
"Amazing..." Sydney trailed off.
"But?"
"I honestly have to say that Francie's is better."
"Ssh!" Vaughn hissed as he leaned in covertly. "Don't let anyone hear you say that- the chef would probably execute you!"
"Oh, you don't think he or she would appreciate me sending my best friend in to give them a few tips and pointers?"
"Hardly." Vaughn reached across the table and clasped Sydney's hand. "You ready to go home?"
"Definitely." Sydney replied. "I've had a great time, though."
"Me too."
"Oh, thank god." Sydney said with relief as she removed her high heels. "I've barely even walked in them and my feet are killing me." She picked them up and leaned back into the couch, examing the shoes in her hands.
"What are you doing with those?" Vaughn asked from where he was standing by the stereo.
"Naming them."
"What?"
"Vaughn, meet Grim," Sydney held up one shoe, "and Reaper," she held up the other.
"Very creative," he chuckled, slipping a CD into the stereo and then sitting next to Sydney. Promptly, she dropped the shoes and snuggled up to Vaughn.
"Oh, I love this song." Sydney commented, closing her eyes. Vaugh, however, did not respond. His mind was elsewhere.
I see it around me, I see it in everything
I could be so much more than this
I said my goodbye this is my sundown
I'm gonna be so much more than this
"With one hand high, you'l show them your progress. You'll take your time. But no one cares, no one cares." Sydney murmured quietly along with the music, but stopped when Vaughn spoke.
"Syd."
"Yeah."
"I want to ask you something."
"What?" Sydney sat up so she could look at him.
"Just keep in mind, this is just a suggestion, a thought I had."
"Ok." Sydney said slowly. She had never seen Vaughn look so serious.
"You know how you and Francie are looking for a new apartment." Vaughn started, his heart thumping.
"Yeah."
"Well, what if...why don't you..." Vaughn silently cursed himself for not having a better prepared speech. "You could...what if..."
"Vaughn," Sydney placed a hand on his. "Just say it."
"I want you to stay here!" Vaughn blurted out and then realized just how pushy he sounded. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out that way," he said, thinking that he may just have blown things.
Yet, when he looked up, all he saw was Sydney's beaming face. "Are you asking me to move in?" she asked.
A slow smile formed on Vaughn's face. "Yeah," he said. "I am."
"You really want me to stay?"
"Of course I do!"
Sydney let out a small excited shriek before grabbing Vaughn's shirt by the collar and pulling him in for a long, hard kiss. When they broke apart, she flung her arms around him and whispered into his ear.
"I would love to stay."
"Really?" Vaughn whispered back.
"There is not a doubt in my mind." Sydney pulled back. "I've been trying to think of a way of raising the subject of us living together for this past week."
"Why didn't you just say it?"
"Well, after my little freak out you said that you were content with the way things were. I was scared that if I asked if your feelings had changed, I would look like I had multiple personalalities or something. Freaking out one second, willing to make a huge commitment the next."
"Well then," Vaughn cleared his throat. "It was lucky that one of us had enough guts to bring the topic up."
Sydney laughed. "For once I'm going to agree with you."
"What?" Vaughn asked, visibly shocked.
"Just don't get used to it." Sydney shot back. "Now, how do we make this official? It's not like I can actually move in- everything I own is already here."
"Hmm," Vaughn pondered as he pulled Sydney into his arms. "How about we have a housewarming party on Saturday night. You can 'move in' that way."
"But you already had one." Sydney replied, playing with one of Vaughn's shirt buttons.
"Yes, but that was for me and Donovan. This one will be for me, Donovan and you."
"Ok then...hey, how come Donovan gets higher billing than me?"
"Well, he has been living here longer than you. It's only fair." Vaughn said, stroking her hair. Sydney laughed, not giving a damn about anything but the fact that she and Vaughn were going to be living together.
For a very, very long time indeed.
A/N: Well guys, only one more chapter to go...