A/N: Woot! You guys kick ass! (and Aryn's back! yay:D) Since there was more than enough reviews...Here is the chapter! The responses will be up on the LJ, like usual now! And, if you need to see the dress, it's also up on there. :)
Another update will either come Sunday or Monday...Enjoy your weekend:)
The seniors in homeroom sat anxiously as announcements were played through the speakers.
"Alright, now what everyone has been waiting for, the Homecoming Court!"
Everyone quieted in the room as they listened intently.
"Starting off first with our freshmen couple..."
The seniors groaned, wanting to get to their class and not have to wait. At least a minute went by to where the freshmen couple was announced, the two sophomore couples, and the three junior couples, which included Alice.
"And now for the senior couples...Sydney Bristow and Will Tippin,"
Sydney looked up from some writing she was doing, momentarily stunned from her name being called. And with Will? Oh, was she going to have a blast.
"Syd?"
"Michael?"
"Congrats."
She grinned, listening on to the announcements as they announced the last couple.
"And the last couple of the seniors are...Lauren Reed and Michael Vaughn! Congratulations to all of the couples, Homecoming King and Queen voting will take place tomorrow."
"Michael?"
"Yeah?"
"Congrats."
He could only laugh this time, shaking his head as the bell rang to signify first period.
xxxxxxx
"So how happy are you to be on the Homecoming Court?"
"Um, hello, Will, I'm fricking ecstatic. Trust me; since I found out yesterday, people would think I've been on speed. Now please tell me you voted for me for Queen?"
He laughed, and couldn't help but to grin. "Of course, like I would vote for anyone else besides one of my best friends? But let me ask you, Bristow, did you vote for me?"
"That's one secret I'm keeping to myself," Sydney replied with a sly grin.
The two stood along the line of the Homecoming Court in the middle of the football game: the Carrington Royals vs. the Phoenix Eagles.
"You suck," He joked, earning an arm to the side, effectively making him go 'oof!' "But are you ready, they're about to announce us!" He said like a little giddy school girl, which had her laughing.
"Oh hell yes I am, my queen," She said, looping her arm through his as they walked across the fifty yard line as their names were announced. Many cheers followed, along with catcalls and whistles.
"You know," He whispered as they made their way to where the other couples stood, as another senior couple was announced. "I could hit you with this stick if I wanted to."
She showed a great, beaming, fake smile for him. "You know, you try and I will break you into two."
"Yes Miss Bristow," He choked out and laughed afterwards.
Sydney looked towards the field as the last couple was being called, Michael and Lauren. She stood there, ignoring all the whistles and cheering coming from the crowd and gazed at him.
"You know, for once I didn't vote for myself to be Homecoming King," Will said discreetly, snapping Sydney out of her gaze.
"What does that mean?"
"I think you know what it means," He said with a smile, leading Sydney to just lean her head over to the side in confusion, before the announcer announced once again the Homecoming Court.
xxxxxxx
"You know, I'd rather be between two pipes with a net attached," Weiss complained as he stood uncomfortable waiting for the last two people to arrive for pictures, Michael and Lauren.
"True, but I'd be skating," Will added in, earning a smack from Francie.
"If you guys even think about ditching us at Homecoming, I will personally kill you two myself," Francie threatened, making Nadia, Sydney, and Danny laugh.
"Hey now, Danny, wouldn't you agree? Hockey over the dance?" Will asked.
"Well," Danny began, looking at Sydney who shot him one of the famous death glares. "She'd kill me, plus hockey isn't really my sport."
"Ah, yes, runner boy," Eric joked around, and then looked to the parents and the family of them all. "You know, I think they're getting a kick out of us."
"Good, because when Vaughn comes around, if he even does, I am going to kick his ass," Sydney said, and just after her words came out of her mouth, both Michael and Lauren emerged from the house.
"Sorry we're late," Michael announced as he and Lauren walked over to the group. "I didn't know she'd take so long."
"Don't even," Lauren said with a laugh.
"Lauren!" The three girls shrieked at once, hugging Lauren and sharing compliments over the dresses.
"Okay, can we please start this paparazzi fest so I can eat in the next day or two?" Eric pleaded as everyone nodded.
The first pictures that were taken were the couples, girls in front, guys behind. The second and third were for the girls alone, then the boys alone.
"Gosh, you guys can't look mean to save your lives," Francie said as the guys posed for their picture. All the girls busted out laughing in reaction to her comment.
"How about we get the Homecoming Court together?" Irina asked as she snapped away with her camera.
"Of course, 'cause I'm in it!" Will said proudly, gaining an arm into his stomach, from Sydney. She could only grin as she and Will posed for the camera, along with Michael and Lauren.
The hour and a half came quickly, and the Homecoming dance was underway. The girls had to drag their dates onto the floor when the first song they heard come on, the Electric Slide. Even though by the end of the song, the whole gym was in tune, all of the students and teachers involved in the dance. Weiss definitely got into it, doing ridiculous moves between the steps to have everyone laughing at him.
The mood changed when a slow song came on, and the couples paired up. Sydney danced with Danny, letting her head rest on his shoulder comfortably.
Michael danced with Lauren, not being able to look at the girl in his arms, but instead the girl that had his heart. He watched silently, thinking of what it would be like to have Sydney in his arms. He was mesmerized by her, and didn't even notice that the song changed to a rap song, having Weiss break out into another ridiculous dance.
An hour went by, and they all had taken their official pictures for Homecoming, now waiting as the DJ was on the microphone.
"Are you all ready!" The DJ asked the crowd as the students yelled their response. "First off, hats off to the Royals football team for kicking the Eagles asses last night!" Cheers followed. "Now enjoy the Cha Cha Slide..."
Francie laughed when she heard the selection. "Come on guys, this has to be one of the best songs! Get out there!" She yelled, shoving Weiss and Will onto the floor while everyone else followed. Soon, the whole dance floor was in rhythm to the dance steps, listening to what was coming next. The guys seemed to enjoy the view every time the 'cha cha' was done, whistling their approval.
"That was great, you guys can actually dance!" Nadia said happily as the whole group stood around, drinking their beverages.
"You know it," Eric said, straightening his suit, and then spun on his heel, brushing off his shoulder afterwards.
"You have to encourage him?" Will groaned, laughing at his friend's dancing. He checked the time on one of the walls and froze, then to the stage where a couple stood, waiting for the music to end. "Syd, I think we have to go!"
"Oh shit," She laughed out, grabbing Will and Lauren's arms as she began to walk quickly to the entrance of the gym. Lauren had grabbed onto Michael's hand right before they parted away from the group.
"Finally, we thought we would be missing two of the senior couples. Now that wouldn't look good, will it?" A senior asked with a grin as he tapped his stick impatiently.
"Shut it, Steve," Will replied with a smile on his face.
"I still can't believe it," Steve's date, Aryn, also the second half of the third senior couple, blurted out. "They let the juniors in on the voting for the King and Queen. I swear if one of the girls wins I will rip off their heads."
"I'll do it first," Sydney said with an evil glint in her eye, her face lighting up. "The tradition needs to continue here, I tell you."
"Eh em, if we could have your attention," The senior guy who was standing on the stage announced when the music finished. All the attention was diverted to him. "We would like to announce the Homecoming Court of Carrington High."
Cheers erupted as they announced the first and only freshmen couple, mostly from the freshmen themselves. The two sophomore couples were announced next. Following them were the three junior couples, as Sydney and Will anxiously waited for their named to be called first.
"And introducing the first senior couple, Sydney Bristow and Will Tippin."
Sydney and Will walked down the line to the stage, her arm linked through his. She couldn't have had a bigger smile on her face as she saw Eric, Danny, Nadia, and Francie waiting, Nadia and Francie armed with cameras.
"Go Syd!" Weiss yelled out among the clapping and whistled loudly. Nadia smacked him playfully on the arm, and then continued to take pictures. Will and Sydney made it to the stage, standing on one side of the platform as they waited for the rest of the seniors.
"And the last senior couple for the Court, Lauren Reed and Michael Vaughn."
Sydney watched as Michael began his walk down the aisle, Lauren at his arm. She couldn't help but to wonder what it would be like to have herself walking next to him down the aisle, to have him as her date and to dance the night away like there was no tomorrow. She sighed, looking down for a moment.
Will heard her sigh, despite all the clapping that filled the air. "Syd, you okay?"
"Guess I'm good, just a little nervous," She said, hoping to avoid the topic.
"You know, you should just be his date for the rest of the night."
Sydney's face whipped around to look at him, not believing what he just said. "And what about Danny?"
"The guy's nice, and plus, he told me he could tell the attraction you and Mike had."
"Make sure I let Danny win the next time we run together," She said with a smile, turning back to the crowd, and could hear Will laughing.
"Like that would ever happen," Will laughed out as Michael and Lauren made their way on stage.
"Now, what you've all been waiting for, who will be Homecoming King and Queen?"
Several students shouted out junior and senior names as the rest waited as patiently as they could.
"Alright then, lets begin with your Homecoming King of 2005," The guy said, opening an envelope to pull out the sheet. "Michael Vaughn!"
Several female screams could be heard from the audience as Michael nearly fainted on the spot when he heard his name. Once he could move his legs, he stepped off of the platform and to a waiting senior announcer, who gave Michael the King's stick.
"So, who will be his Queen?" The girl asked into the microphone as the students began to shout out names. She heard a large 'Alice!' coming from the juniors and shot them a look, before opening the envelope and pulling out the paper. "Sydney Bristow!"
"What!" Sydney shockingly said.
Will gave her a squeeze on the hand before letting go. "Have fun!"
She laughed at Will, before looking straight in front of her to see the students cheering their approval. Walking as steady as she could to the girl, she received the tiara and stepped over to Michael. She smiled nervously, not believing this could even happen. Once she reached Michael, he held out his arm, which she graciously accepted, as the Court pictures were taken.
"Now, the Homecoming King and Queen dance."
Michael led her down the stairs as they reached the dance floor, a large circle allowed as the aisle still remained so the students at the front of the gym could see.
'Delicate' by Damien Rice began to flow through the speakers. Sydney sighed happily, wrapping her arms around his neck as he placed his hands gently at her hips. They swayed to the soft words before Michael began to whisper into her ear.
"Ironic, isn't it?"
"Definitely," She said in the equally quiet tone, leaning into him to inhale his scent. She closed her eyes and couldn't help at the smile that crept onto her face.
"Syd, I'm sorry about that whole thing Wednesday."
She opened her eyes to look up into his, showing a true smile. "Not your fault, I said yes to Danny," She could notice his body tense up at his name, but relax immediately. "Plus, Eric was just trying to be a good friend."
"That likes to torture me," He added in with a smirk playing on his lips. "But I am sorry. I saw how hurt you were when you left. I just didn't want to do that to you."
She couldn't believe it; he was apologizing for doing the logical thing. She felt tears form in her eyes when he expressed her emotions that were felt that day, but quickly blinked them away. "I'm going to kill Will."
This sudden confession caused him to laugh as he continued the slow motions with her. He then saw Noah in the distance, pissed off as ever, and smiled in his own little victory. "Why would you do that?"
"Because the smartass is always right," She mumbled into his jacket, trying to hold in her giggles which escaped anyway. He couldn't help but to laugh along quietly with her outburst.
They fell into a comfortable silence, no words needing to be spoken in the moment.