What happens in Vegans Definitely didn't stay there

Chapter 3: Couch Surfing

Summary:

Sylvie takes a Zumba class, packs up her apartment, and has the aftermath of Jason Lullo's death weigh on her. Bets are placed by the Firehouse, and Gabby makes a decision.

Sylvie's head hurt as she opened her eyes. Dawson and Casey's couch was comfortable, and she was well wrapped up in the thick blanket. She could smell bacon cooking and coffee brewing, so she stretched and announced herself awake to whoever was here.

"Morning, Brett. Gabby's still in bed and I don't think she's getting up any time soon. How're you doing?" Matt was cooking for the four, with pancake batter in a bowl beside him.

"If you have some Advil I won't say no, but I'm better than I thought I'd be. Bless our decision to get pizza on the way home, I really needed that."

Matt pulled a bottle of water out of the fridge and handed it to her with the bottle of Advil. Sylvie took two and drank deeply, imagining she could feel the hydration going through her body. Matt continued cooking and they sat in silence until Sylvie's nerves couldn't stand it anymore.

"Thanks for everything, Matt. I know it's not easy to keep a secret like ours, and from everyone. It means a lot. Plus doing the locks, I know when I go over later to pack I'll feel safe, which isn't exactly something I've always felt. You barely know me, and you're still there to help out." She finished by drinking more of her water, trying to ignore his eyes on her.

"Kelly's been my best friend since we were kids, of course I'd do that. Plus, you've become close to him now. I know you're not right romantically for each other, but you're the only woman except Shay who he's been able to be friends with, so I'm glad he's got you. You've been here for a few months, we're family. Our job is hard enough, we've got to work together to make sure that everyone gets home. So when someone's important to one of us, you're important to all of us. Coffee?" He held a mug out to her, which she gratefully took and drank from.

The smell of the food woke the sleeping residents of the apartment, and the foursome ate together before Sylvie ducked into Kelly's bathroom to change and pack her gym bag.

"I'm heading out, I've got a Zumba class I was looking forward to later, and then I want to do some packing and work out what I can even take from the apartment. I'll text when I'm on the way back." She squeezed Gabby's shoulder, gave Kelly a full hug and waved at Matt while she left.

The Zumba class was the highest rated on Yelp she could find, and apparently the instructor wasn't bad to look at either. She paid for a course of ten classes, and was glad to see she wouldn't need to miss any because of her shifts. She changed into her leotard, and went into the class.

They were dancing along, mimicking the instructor's actions. He was facing away from them and Sylvie enjoyed watching his butt move in time to the 80s music. He turned around, calling instructions out and Sylvie's stomach dropped. The cute, best rated Zumba instructor in Chicago was Joe Cruz. Oh god.

She ignored the feeling in her stomach, just looking forward to her workout, but Cruz spotted her. He subbed out an instructor and called her to the side.

"Who sent you?"

"Nobody sent me."

"Then why are you doing a Zumba class in Pilsen of all places?"

"Because I live here, Cruz. It was highly rated on Yelp, and I just wanted somewhere to work out, that's all. I don't care who the instructor is." She just wanted to get back to the class, she didn't care who the instructor was if he didn't care.

"What do you want to keep you quiet? I don't want anyone knowing my second job."

"Everyone in the house has a second job, it seems like. I'm not going to tell anyone, I just want to get to work and do my job. I'll keep my mouth shut, Joe."