A/N: Ahhhhh! Since school started weeks ago, I haven't been able to update anything, so bear with me here. It sucks. Updates could be slower, unfortunately. Here's the next chapter though. And REMEMBER! Review responses are at my livejournal. Get there through the homepage link on my author profile. Enjoy.
"I missed you Dad," she said. A tear was pulling at her eye, but she dared to not let it fall. Had her father finally come to an understanding? She felt him grip her tighter in his embrace. I guess he has...
"I missed you too, Sydney." There were also tears in Jack's eyes, but unlike his daughter, he let them escape. Not caring with whether or not he appeared 'weak' to her, he decided that their new ability to be civil with each other was more important.
Now this is the home I remember.
She woke to sound of the finches outside her window. The sunlight threatening to rip through the curtains and shine in her room.
Stretching her arms above her head, she finally forced herself to get out of bed.
Okay, I'm definitely not a morning person...
Sydney brushed her teeth, put on her robe, slide her feet into her slippers and went downstairs for breakfast. She was greeted by the aroma of eggs on the stove and laughter from her mother and sister.
"Where's Dad?" Sydney asked, pouring herself a cup of coffee.
"Oh Sweetie you just missed him," her mother frowned apologetically. "He should be home from work around five." Her father worked for a company that sold airplane parts.
"Oh," Sydney sighed, then smiled as she turned to her sister. "So Nads, how are things with Eric?"
Nadia blushed.
"That serious then, eh?" Sydney said, then gave her sister a pat on the back. "And to think nobody told me..."
"Well its not like you told me about Andrew Woods either," Nadia snapped. "I had to find out on Entertainment Tonight! And when was that, about a month ago? But from what I understand, you've been going out for about four months."
Sydney was silent. She could have at least called her family every week for an update on her life. "You started dating Weiss ever since I was gone, and I saw you last Thanksgiving! I was gone a year Nadia. And you go a year without telling me what the hell was going on with you. So excuse me if I seem a little reserved."
Her sister sat next to her in astonishment.
Irina turned around and observed her two daughters.
"Who wants bacon?"
When she was finished with breakfast, Sydney walked back upstairs to her room and listened to the few messages she had gotten since the day before.
"Sydney? Sydney! Hellooooo? Are you there?" the recorded voice said, practically yelling into the phone. "Remember me? Your agent, your manager, your guide? It's me, Michelle! Where have you been? Don't you check your voicemail anymore? I thought I told you to call me once you arrived at LAX. Or did I?" Sydney laughed at her agent's forgetfulness. "Anyways, that's obviously over with and we can't do anything about it now. So, once you get this, CALL me on my cell phone because we have an important meeting this afternoon. It's about your guest appearance on Oprah." She blushed. "And I just know how much you love that woman. You're lucky she just adores you...so call me Miss Yes-Yes-Leave-me-messages-to-listen-to-six-years-later! Bye Syd."
The next message was from Eric, 'apologizing' for Vaughn's behavior the day before. "He's really changed. I hope you know why he does those things Syd," he had said. Does what things? she asked herself. You can't honestly get me to believe that he still cares. Besides I already moved on... The third message, ironically, was from Andrew.
"Hey babe, just wanted to see how your flight was. Hopefully not too boring. So call me back when you get a chance. I was gonna make reservations for dinner tonight, and wanted to see if you were up for it. Talk to you later. Love you. Bye."
Sydney smiled and looked out her window at the city and the ocean just beyond it. The sparkling water and the shine of the buildings gave her the reassurance that she was going to make it through the summer. And it was all the reassurance she needed. After all, she had come to common ground with her father for the time being though there were things they needed to talk about. And she had a terrific and supportive boyfriend. She finally had her friends back. But the only thing missing, was her sister. The one she could talk to about anything.
"He sounds like a good enough guy," Nadia said from Sydney's doorway. Her sister threw her a quizzical look. "I could hear his message when I came up here." Sydney nodded and sat on her couch by the window and gestured for Nadia to sit down in the chair across from her.
"You know, he's really changed Sydney," her sister began. "I get that it was really hard for you after it happened, but since you left Syd, he has seriously changed."
"That's hard to believe," Sydney snorted.
"It's true. And when we found out that you were going with Andrew Wood, he went crazy."
Sydney was puzzled. "Then how come he was so surprised that I was going out with him yesterday when Fran told him?"
"He's been in denial, and now he actually knows the truth. He thought that it was just a rumor," Nadia admitted. "When we saw the segment about you and Andrew on Entertainment Tonight he refused to take it in."
"I just don't get him," Sydney just shook her head in disbelief as she got up to search for a pair of jeans. "He cheated on me and then he gets jealous when I find someone who is actually treating me fair."
"He didn't exactly cheat on you."
"What do you call making out with Lauren Reed after junior year Spring Fling? And he was my date!"
"Yeah, that was harsh. And he did start going out with all these other girls afterwards," Nadia finally saw her sister's point. "But since we found out about Andrew Wood, he'd been with other girls and it was clear that he didn't care about them like he did you."
Sydney found a pair of destroyed jeans and slipped over her arms an old soccer tee shirt from seventh grade.
"Well then, I just don't know what the hell is problem is."
"I think you do."
She looked up at Nadia. "Then why?"
"He still cares."
"Hey stranger!"
Sydney smiled as she walked into her manager's office and took the nearest chair to the desk stacked with portfolios.
"How was your flight?" Michelle asked.
"It was alright. Kinda boring. Nothing special," the teenager shrugged. She was sure to leave out the part of the perve who hit on her so she had him removed.
Michelle nodded. "Are you sure? It was a commercial flight and you've had bad experiences before..."
"It was fine," she lied again. "Don't worry about it," she threw in a smile. She knew that Michelle wanted to make sure that everything was fine with her biggest client. In a way, Michelle was kind of like her big sister. Always looking out for her and picking her out of tabloid messes. But also being Sydney's agent, she had to crack down on some of the things Sydney did in public.
"Good. I just got a message from Lionhead Productions informing me that The Laws of a Family is set to air its pilot episode September seventh," Michelle said. "So I thought I'd let you know."
"That's it?" Sydney asked.
"Oh no, certainly not," Michelle laughed. "We have press conferences, you have an interview with Oprah on Friday, and you've been nominated for Hottest Rising Star for the Teen Choice Awards." Sydney smiled at her the note of her nomination. She would have normally jumped up and down on Michelle's desk, but she knew that there was a lot that needed to be done in preperation for the press conferences. And she was still excited for the interview with Oprah. "So, what do you say? Anything before we run through some press scenarios?"
"I'm really excited for Oprah," Sydney admitted.
"Atta girl."
It was already 3:30 and Sydney still hadn't called Andrew. She was lounging in her room before she finally got up to go and get the phone. Before actually dialing his number she spotted something glassy that was catching the glare of the sun in her closet. Walking towards the shiney object, she realized it was a picture frame. It was the one of her and Vaughn at her family's cabin up in Lake Chelan. She guessed it was taken during Spring Break of their junior year.
She set the frame down on her nightstand and walked over to her still-unpacked suitcase. Rummaging around through the clothes, she came across a few developed picture envelopes. After looking through for the one that she wanted, she took the frame from her nightstand and replaced the photo of her and Michael at the lake with one of her and Andrew skiing in Canada.
Now what do I do with this one? she asked herself of the picture of her and Vaughn. Unable to decide for the moment exactly what to do with it, she slipped it in the back of one of the envelopes and threw it back in her suitcase. Then she finally picked up the phone to call Andrew.
After a few rings, he picked up.
"Hello?"
"Hey," Sydney smiled.
"Hey you," he said from the other end. She could tell in his voice he was smiling. "How was your flight?"
"It was long and really boring."
"Oh, I'm sorry. I was hoping that it wouldn't be that bad. Did you get my message?"
"Yeah. Sorry I didn't call last night, I was burnt out. And I had to wait for my parents."
"How did that go with your father?" Andrew asked. Sydney had naturally told him everything about her life at home as he had her.
"Surprisingly, we have finally reached an understanding."
"That's great Syd," Andrew said and he really meant it.
"Yeah."
"So do you want to have dinner later?"
"Sounds fun. What time?"
"Around seven maybe. Where did you want to go?"
"I don't care. I picked last time, its your turn. I was thinking maybe that new Italian restaurant down on Rodeo Drive..."
Andrew laughed. "Is that where you wanted to go?" Sydney coughed. "Ah, I guess Italian food sounds good then, eh?"
Sydney giggled as she pressed the phone up against her shoulder to her ear.
"What?"
"I think the Canadians are really starting to rub off on you."
"How so?"
"You said 'eh'."
"But you say it all the time. I'd say you're the Canadian."
"Actually, I am," Sydney said. Along with my other ethnicities...
"Ha, so now she admits it," Andrew laughed.
Sydney laughed as well. "So seven sounds good? You'll pick me up like a gentleman should, I assume," she said.
"Nah, I'll meet you there," he said airly.
"What?" she asked, taken back.
"Of course I'm picking you up. Still gotta meet your parents," he laughed again.
"How exciting," she replied flatly. Sydney was never excited about any guy she brought home meeting her parents. Not that it was horrible or anything. It was worse. Her mother would be gracious to the guy while Jack would hound him with personal questions. "Where do you plan on taking my daughter tonight? The movies? And where after? For ice cream? How do you know the ice cream vendor won't pull a knife out on my daughter? Do you own a gun? No? Pepper spray? That's not good enough. What the hell is wrong with adolescent boys these days?" Sydney remembered her father scaring her first boyfriend, Daniel Hecht. Let's just say that that was the last time that Sydney dated for three months.
"I'm sure they're not that bad. Your mom sounds like a wonderful person."
"Unfortunately hun, that's the only part you could look forward to." She heard a nervous laugh from the other end. "So I'll see you later then?"
"Yeah. Bye. I love you."
"Love you too."
The doorbell rang at 6:30.
Andrew wasn't supposed to be here until seven, Sydney thought. Shrugging, she took another look at herself in the mirror before heading downstairs. She was wearing a pair of fitting navy blue trousers and a stain top. I'll grab my peacoat on the way out.
The doorbell rang again when she was walking through the kitchen to the foyer.
"I'm coming!" she shouted.
When she opened the door, she was surprised to see someone who wasn't Andrew.
It was Michael Vaughn.
"Hey Princess," he smiled.
"Hi," she greeted him awkwardly. "What are you doing here?" she asked after he invited himself in.
"Irina asked me to stop by," Vaughn smirked. Michael walked into the family room with a bewildered Sydney in tow. He plopped on the couch and flipped on the television. "She needed help with something," he added nonchalantly while channel surfing. How dare he make himself comfortable in my house!
What was her mother thinking? She knew that things were awkward enough between her daughter and Michael. Why would she invite him over to the house to 'help with something'? That's what Sydney was there for. To help her mother. And instead she invites over the neighbor boy.
"Vaughn, this is my house."
"I know," he grinned from his spot on the couch. Sydney groaned and jumped on the couch next to him.
"She needed help with what?" she asked lazily. He finally stopped on a channel. And she knew the only reason he picked Entertainment Tonight to piss her off.
"Something about a surprise birthday party for Nadia," he mumbled clearly pretending to be enthralled in Mary Hart's interview with Matt Damon.
"What? She'd tell you, over me?" Sydney snapped. "And I'm her daughter."
"That's what I said."
Sydney just glared at him until the television interupted them.
"Sydney Bristow a diva?" Mary Hart asked TV Land. Sydney's head instantly glued to the screen to the mention of her name. "As many of her fans know, she finally arrived home last night after a year's project in Vancouver BC."
"Of course they knew, they always know," Sydney muttered.
"Shhhhh," Vaughn hushed her as Mary Hart continued.
"But is the young actress really a diva? This morning, Bruce Contesse-"
"Uncle Bruce? That's my uncle!" Vaughn said with more interest. Wait. The guy who was hitting on me is Michael's uncle
"Who was on the same flight with Sydney, told ET that Miss Bristow allegedly had him removed from first class to coach," said Mary Hart.
"What?" Sydney exclaimed. "Oh, that guy," she said to herself, scratching the back of her head.
"Hopefully this mishap won't affect her reunion with boyfriend of three months, Andrew Woods-"
"Four months," Sydney whispered in disbelief.
"Next time Sydney, get a private jet," the woman on the television finished.
"That's what I said!" Sydney shouted, grabbing the remote and turning off the TV.
Vaughn turned to Sydney. "So what did my uncle do to be so harshly removed from your presence?"
He hit on me...
She hesitated. "Ah, actually, I think I forgot," Sydney finally said. She decided that telling her ex-boyfriend that his uncle hit on her wasn't the best way to start a conversation.
"Uh huh," Michael nodded sarcastically. "So how are things with Woody?" He means Andrew. Woody? I won't even ask...
"Well, actually he's doin-" Sydney stopped. "Nah, you don't want to hear it."
The doorbell rang.
"Ah, that's for me," Sydney said, getting up from her seat on the couch. What took Andrew so long?
"Nope, it's for me," Michael debated getting up with her. "I ordered pizza."
"What? You ordered pizza to be delivered to my house?" Sydney asked as the two walked to the front door.
Michael Vaughn nodded as he opened the door.
It was Andrew Woods.
"Okay, that's definitely not delivery," Michael coughed obviously.
"Oh, hey, I'm Andrew," Andrew introduced himself clearly surprised, sticking his hand out for Vaughn to shake.
"I'm Michael Vaughn," he accepted Andrew's hand. "I'm Sydney's ex-"
"My cousin," Sydney said, pushing her way in front of Vaughn so she could stop him from saying anything that she would regret letting her boyfriend know. Vaughn cocked a brow at Sydney. She was about to have a heartattack.
"Oh, nice you meet to Michael."
"Call me Mike," Vaughn added for good measure.
"Syd, I thought you said your cousins lived in West Virginia," Andrew asked confused.
"Oh I do," Vaughn said before Sydney could screw up their cover. "I just moved here not a month ago for college in the fall. I'm staying next door," he lied.
Thank you, thank you, thank you, Sydney silently thanked Vaughn.
"That's cool. My grandparents used to live in Charleston," Andrew said, trying to make conversation.
"Really? That's where I was bor-"
"Andrew, I think that we'll be late if we don't leave now. Sorry honey," Sydney cut Vaughn off before he got deeper into the lie. She hated lying to Andrew as it was.
"It was nice to meet you Michael. I have yet to meet Sydney's parents, but if they're anything like her cousin, I'm sure I'll be just fine."
"Oh you can meet them later," Vaughn smiled. "Come by later after dinner maybe."
"That'd be awesome man, thanks," Andrew said appreciatively as his girlfriend started pushing him.
"Bye Michael," called over her shoulder shoving Andrew out the door before her.
"You kids have fun," he called after them sarcastically.
What the hell was she thinking?
A/N: How did you guys like that chapter? Good? Bad? REVIEWS PLEASE! I'm sorry I haven't updated in a while. School is really busy. Hopefully I'll have some time to write some more this weekend because of Thanksgiving. Go ahead, click the purple 'Go' button. You know you want to...HOW COULD YOU NOT! (Review responses are on my lj. They're not all up there. I haven't been around to it. But most of them are up there. I'll try to get the rest up by Wednesday!)