Thank you all so much for your feedback.

vaughnfan: I have finished writing this fic and there is 42 chapters in all.

irionelissa: No, the party will not be where Lauren works...as she no longer works there. She is actually looking for a new job (see chapter below :D)

Wednesday afternoon Vaughn was walking down the hallway near the front office at Abrams, after doing some photocopying in the staffroom.

"Michael," one of the Phys Ed teachers called out.

"Yeah," Vaughn slowed his steps and turned around.

"Just letting you know you won't be able to train the basketball team indoors next week. They're polishing the courts."

"Ok. We'll be right to use the outdoors ones, though?"

"Yeah, I'll put you down."

"Ok, see you." Vaughn turned and continued walking. Waving to another teacher, he was approaching the door to the vice-principal's office when he saw somebody who made him stop in his tracks.

Lauren, too, froze for a second as their eyes connected. Neither of them spoke as Daniel Volstead, the vice-principal, ushered her into his office.

Quickly, Vaughn made his way to the main office. If anybody could tell him why Lauren was at Abrams College, it was the school's head secretary.

"Clara," he said when he got to the front desk. "What's going on in Daniel's office?"

"Interviews for a secretarial position," Clara replied, leaning forward furtively. "Did you see that blonde thing that just walked in?"

"Uh, yeah. Why?"

"That's Oscar Barrett's girlfriend."

"What?" Vaughn exclaimed. Oscar Barrett was one of Abrams's music teachers and over fifty years old. "Oscar? I thought he was married."

Clara's eyes widened. "Didn't you hear what happened?"

Vaughn shook his head. "No."

"Oscar left his wife for that floozy in Daniel's office and now he's put in the word to get her a job here."

"When did all this happen?"

"Right before school started back. I cannot believe you didn't hear about it."

"Yeah, well, I kind of had other stuff going on then." Vaughn shook his head. "I can't believe Oscar left his wife."

"I know, and for somebody young enough to be his daughter, but apparently they are in love." Clara rolled her eyes. "It's gross that's what it is. Could you imagine the two of them—"

"Ok." Vaughn held up a hand. "Stop right there."

Clara laughed. "I'm sorry."

Vaughn looked back towards the office. "Do you think Lauren will get the job?"

"Oh god I hope not…" Clara trailed off. "Hey, how do you know her name?"

"Ah," Vaughn cleared his throat. "We used to be friends."

Clara gave him a knowing look. "Just a friend?"

Vaughn grinned. "Yup," he said, knowing full well that Clara would have the school community well informed that an ex-girlfriend of his was now dating Oscar Barrett, and he thought it best to get out as soon as possible. "I'll see you tomorrow, Clara."

Sydney stared at Vaughn. "No way."

He nodded, sitting beside her on the couch. "Lauren is dating one of my colleague's and I could and up working with her."

Sydney's brow furrowed. "The whole home wrecking thing I can understand, but the job? She's gone from running events at a huge function centre to applying for a job as a secretary. Is it just me or does that not make sense?"

"Syd, it's Lauren we're talking about," Vaughn laughed.

"Right." Sydney grinned. "So do you think she'll get the job?"

Vaughn shrugged. "Who knows? But what I do know is that when I get into my office tomorrow, Keely will have already spoken to Clara and will want to know the whole sordid history."

Sydney suddenly burst out laughing, startling Vaughn a little. "Oh, don't you wish that you'd been able to read her thoughts when she saw you!"

"Kinda," Vaughn chortled. "Though the look on her face gave a bit away. It was a stunned shock, like a deer caught in headlights."

"Well, here's hoping the sight of you affected her interviewing skills in a bad way and that she won't get the job."

"Here, here." Vaughn agreed. "Lauren is not a person that I want to have to look at every day. Though…"

"What?"

"Is she is still with Oscar in a couple of weeks time, it means that she's going to be at the 50th party."

Sydney raised her eyebrows. "Oh goody. Another night socializing with an ex. Seems to be happening a bit lately."

Vaughn just laughed as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her in close. "Bright side, Syd. It keeps our life interesting."

Early Saturday evening Will had headed off for a walk along the beach. He'd been stuck indoors all day, working on an article about a subject that bored him to tears. Needing to clear his head, he knew the only thing that could do that was the salty ocean air.

It was almost deserted, with only the occasional person or persons scattered along the shoreline, and Will was enjoying the peace.

That was until he got smacked on the face with a football.

It came out of nowhere, smashing him straight in the nose and Will dropped to his knees, seeing stars.

"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god!" A tall woman came running over, with a golden retriever following close behind. "Are you ok? I am so sorry!"

Will looked up. She spoke with an accent that he couldn't quite place in his moment of stunned pain. "Uh, I don't know…I hope so."

"Oh god. You're bleeding!" she exclaimed. "I made you bleed. I am so sorry. I was throwing the ball for my dog and…well, you know the rest."

Will let out a small laugh. "All I can say is that you've got a pretty good arm. You ever think about playing professionally?"

The woman smiled. "Nah, footy isn't really my game." She reached out a hand to help Will up. "I'm Nat Freedman."

"Will Tippin." His eyes were able to focus again, and they were able to take in her short blonde hair and hazel eyes. Gingerly her touched his nose. "Ow."

Nat winced. "Is it broken?"

Will shook his head. "I don't think so."

"You need to get some ice on it." Nat said, looking over his shoulder. "There's a café over the street, they should have some and I'll buy you a drink while we're at it."

"You don't have to do that."

"Yes I do. I need to relieve my guilt somehow." Nat said, clipping a leash to her dog's collar. "Come on, Godzilla."

Will looked at her as they started to walk. "Your dog's name is Godzilla?"

"Yeah." Nat smiled. "What's wrong with that?"

"Nothing." Will said. "It's just…different."

"Here you go." Nat handed Will a bag of ice and placed two coffees down on the table in front of them.

"Thanks." Will said, finally clicking on her accent. "So, are you from Australia?"

"Crikeys mayte." Nat said, exaggerating her Aussie twang. "What on Earth gave it away?"

Will grinned. "There was something about your eyes."

"Oh, is that so?" Nat laughed. "But to give you a straight answer, yes."

"Whereabouts are you from?"

"Melbourne." Nat replied. "But I've been living here for over five years now."

"So what was it that brought you to this part of the world?"

Nat paused, taking a mouthful of coffee. "Let's save that story for another day." She placed her mug back on the table. "How is the nose feeling?"

"Like it's stuffed with cotton wool." Will replied.

Nat gave him a guilty smile. "I feel so awful. I can't believe I did that. Nat Freedman- nose breaker."

Will laughed. "It's not broken. How about Nat Freedman- near nose breaker?"

Nat nodded. "It's got a nice ring to it."

"So Nat, what's it short for? Natalie? Natasha?" Will queried. "That is, if you don't mind me asking."

"That's fine. It's short for Natasha," she replied. "Though nobody ever calls me that. Only my mum when I'm in trouble. You wouldn't believe the shiver the name Natasha sends down my spine."

"Oh yes I can," Will said. "William has the exact same effect on me."

"Ah," Nat smiled. "We must be kindred spirits."

"Yeah, it was fate that you just smashed my face with a football," Will joked.

"Oh, please don't." Nat buried her face in her hands. "Or I am going to be feeling guilty for the rest of my life."

Will raised his eyebrows. "For the rest of your life?"

Nat bit her bottom lip. "Ok, maybe for the rest of tonight…and possibly tomorrow."

"Well, we wouldn't want that." Will said in a mock-serious tone. "Maybe I should just forgive you now."

"You would do that?"

"On one condition."

"What?"

"That you have dinner with me."

"And she said yes?" Sydney asked Will. The two of them, along with Francie were seated at a table in Deep Inside, a couple of hours before the dinner crowd would start showing up.

"Yup." Will replied. "We're having dinner tomorrow night."

"Oh," Francie sighed. "It's just like Grease."

Sydney and Will glanced at each other, before looking back at Francie.

"How do you mean Fran?" Sydney asked.

"Well, Nat is Australian like Sandy was and Will is American like Danny was and the two of you met on a beach and Sandy and Danny met on a beach. Just like Grease."

"No it isn't," Will laughed.

"I'm with Will on this one." Sydney smiled.

Francie just shrugged. "Well, I'm sticking to my analogy," she said stubbornly. "So about tomorrow night. Where are you taking her?"

"I don't know." Will replied.

"Come here then." Francie suggested.

"No way." Will said.

"Why not?" Francie asked, looking slightly hurt.

"Because there is no way that you would be able to leave the two of us alone." Will said bluntly. "Fran, I love you to bits, but that doesn't mean I want you there tomorrow night."

Francie laughed, no longer offended. "Ok you may be right about me not being able to leave you alone, but I'm not going to be working tomorrow night."

"Oh." Will looked appeased. "Well, in that case can you get us a good table?"