Thanks again!!!!
You're all too smart! of course they'll gonna run into each other.....
Chapter 5
No one speaks after Vaughn says, “ We’ve met before.” Sydney is usually a very fast thinker and knows what to do when she’s on missions playing other roles, but her brain is momentarily frozen.
Trying to ease the awkward tension, Alice turns to Vaughn in a sweet voice and asks “ You two have met before?”
“ What a small world,” Danny pipes in. But still no reaction from Sydney. Vaughn’s eyes remain fixed on Sydney’s slightly tilted downward head. She can sense his gaze willing (challenging) her to say something. However, they both stay still and silent; neither one willing to step down to ease the strain in the air. Alice and Danny have faces of bewilderment. They are clueless to what is going on between the two in front of them.
Finally Vaughn breaks the silence. He admits that he wanted to make her just a little bit uncomfortable to get back at her after the way she spoke to him the first time they met. But he soon realized that he was taking it too far. “ Yes. Ms.Bristow works at the bank that I was just hired at. We met casually, though never . . . properly introduced,” He emphasizes the word “properly” just to see her reaction.
“ Oh. I can’t believe I didn’t ask earlier. How is the new job going?” Alice asks. Sydney watches as Alice slips her arm possessively into Vaughn’s. Sydney suddenly realizes that they must be a couple. She wonders why she didn’t see it before. It’s not that she couldn’t see them as a couple; there is just something off. Maybe it’s because Alice is too short. At the mention of the “bank,” a second realization hits Sydney. He must go through the same thing with Alice as she does with Danny. In the back of her mind, she wonders if it is as difficult for him to lie about what he does as it is for her.
“ It’s fine. I haven’t really started working yet. I went in and met a few people,” he replies.
“ Are they nice there at the bank?”
“ Some people were very nice. Others . . .well . . .were not AS friendly . . .” he raises his eyebrow and quickly dismisses his words with a chuckle. Sydney could feel her cheeks warming up. She has been feeling badly for the way she acted that day and to be reminded only makes her more ashamed. Let it go, she tells herself.
“ Well, I think some people might have been used to working a certain way . . .” Sydney says in a soft voice. Vaughn is caught off guard by her timidity. She was so bold the last time; to see a gentle side almost brings a smile to his face. “ And they don’t know what to expect with a new person,” as she finishes her sentence, she finally lifts her head to look him in the eye.
“ Yeah. I wouldn’t take it personally,” Danny adds on.
“ Whoever it is, I’m sure they’ll come around,” Alice says reassuringly as she snuggles closer by Vaughn’s side. He, on the other hand, doesn’t notice because he is still intrigued by what Sydney will say next.
“ I hope so . . .” he says firmly while looking straight into her brown eyes. At the same instant, she notices how green his eyes are. Maybe it is the light in the restaurant, but it is a color she hasn’t seen before.
“ At least you know Syd. I’m sure she’ll help you around at the bank.” Danny follows Alice’s lead and smoothly puts his arm around Sydney’s waist. The awkwardness of the introductions has subsided; but a funny tension is still in the air.
The two couples then sit down to order their dinner. All during the dinner, there seemed to be an imaginary glass barrier cutting the table in half. On one side, there are two old friends reminiscing about all the hilarious memories of the past and laughing loudly every few minutes. On the other side, two people, still strangers, sit quietly and awkwardly staring at their food. A familiar song is being played by the band, and Alice startles everyone with her gasp.
“ Oh my gosh!” and as if on cue, Danny’s eyes brighten and shows his understanding. “ Do you guys want to?” he tilts his head to the dance floor.
“ Yes. I would love to,” Alice gives Vaughn raised pleading eyebrows.
“ Um . . .you know I can’t dance.” He says in a slightly embarrassed way.
“ Yes you can. You just won’t.”
“ Exactly. You don’t want me out there . . . trust me.”
“ Fine. You’re no fun. Sydney, do you mind if I take Daniel out there. Last I remember he was still a great dancer.” Sydney has to think this through. If she doesn’t agree, she would be subjected to more horrifying hospital stories that Alice and Danny had been sharing earlier. If she does agree, she would be left alone at the table with Mr.Vaughn, and she’s still a little unsure of what to say to him. Maybe they wouldn’t have to talk and she could just enjoy a little silent time.
“ Go ahead. Try to keep up with him,” Sydney says and smiles for the first time of the night. Vaughn couldn’t help but notice little indentations on the sides of her cheeks when she smiled. As Danny and Alice walk off to the dancing corner, they notice how quiet it is without them. Most of the meal is finish and neither is hungry anymore. There is nothing to do expect sit there. Sydney starts to get jittery. She keeps tracing the edge of the wine glass with her index finger. Vaughn quits staring at his plate and directs his gaze towards the dance floor. She examines him staring at her fiancee dancing with his girlfriend.
“ It’s difficult. Isn’t it?”
He quickly turns to head to show his surprise at her question. “ What is?”
“ Not being able to tell the truth.”
He lets out a sigh. “I see it as having two separate lives.”
“Do you wish you could tell her?” he looks at her and sees the sadness in her eyes. He wonders what brings on her question. Does she want to tell her fiancee about what she does? She can’t. She doesn’t know what Sloane would do. He has to keep reminding himself that she doesn’t know of SD-6’s true nature.
“ Sometimes. But other times I like that my life outside work is completely separated. It keeps me sane that way,” he lets out a bitter smirk.
“ I know what you mean.”
“ It’s nice to know that someone else does.” All of a sudden, she feels a sense of relief and her whole body relaxes.
“ Look. about last time we met . . .I’m sorry about the way I acted.” Sydney doesn’t like apologizing, but would never forgive herself if she didn’t.
“ No . . .it’s completely understandable. You don’t have to explain,” he gives her a reassuring nod.
“ Can we start over?” she asks shyly.
“ Yeah. I’d like that. Michael Vaughn.” He holds out his hand.
“ Sydney Bristow.” She lets her hand fall into his for a handshake, and her cold fingertips are quickly heated by his warm hand.
