Demons (An AU Nathan Gardner Story)

Chapter 12 - Art Class

"Honey, you okay?" Sydney's head was on Arlen's shoulder and she hadn't uttered a word in over a half and hour. They were watching a bad movie, very much on purpose, and they usually couldn't stop commenting on whatever was happening on screen.

"Yeah," she said, sounding exhausted. "Just, you know, tired."

"Of?"

She chuckled. "Pretty much everything, really. The snow, David...David, the snow."

"Everything cold then, huh?" Arlen laughed.

"Sounds about right." She sat up straight and looked at her friend. "You've really surprised me with this whole thing, Arlen. I'm proud of you."

"He's not worth my drama any more, Syd. Never should have thought I could fix him." He stroked her cheek with his finger, letting it linger there a moment.

"Uh oh." Sydney laughed fully now. "What's going through that head of yours?"

He forced an innocent tone. "I've no idea what you're talking about."

"Lies. I see that glint in those eyes, mister."

He bit back a guilty smile. "Nathan."

"Not again."

"Honey, he lights you up like..."

"The Fourth of July, right?"

"Well, I was gonna say a horny firework, but sure." He pulled his legs underneath him, his smile growing. "He's perfect for you."

"He's an alcoholic." Her answer was quick and unmistakably sad.

"So what?"

"So David, that's what!" She covered her mouth. "I'm sorry, didn't mean to just...explode. Arlen, Nathan and I have an understanding."

"Right, friends with sexy time. Or is it just colleagues with sexy time? Oh, wait, mentor and..."

"Friends," Sydney interrupted, blushing. "We do more than..."

"Work and screw like rabbits?"

"I don't know, I've never seen a rabbit work, have you?"

Arlen rolled his eyes at her. "Those big brown puppy dog eyes seem to adore you."

"Friends, Arlen. We both have too much baggage for anything else."

"So, you're free to date other people?"

"I'm not dating anyone now," she whined.

"So you're free to sleep with other people?"

"Am I a whore now?" Luckily for Arlen, Sydney was laughing as she asked the question.

"Of course not, but if you and Nathan have nothing serious going on, will you let me set you up?"

"Oh, Arlen, really?"

He was on the verge of begging. "One date, Syd. Pretty please? There's this great publicist that..." Sydney started pouting. "I'll shut up about Nathan for a week."

"Two!"

"So you'll go?"

"Fine," she huffed. "Two nag free weeks and...chocolate covered pretzels."

Arlen extended his hand. "Deal."

Days passed and the snow continued to fall. School ran on track until Friday, when a two-hour delay was called. Delay schedules never made any sense to Sydney; the class periods were shuffled around into a strange order depending on which day of the week it was and consistency, well, it didn't exist. The weather had been snowy, but mild, as far as winter goes, until today and Sydney barely made it to school in one piece. She was late, but so were several busses. When she finally made it to her classroom, Nathan was there waiting for her.