Note: The following story is an AU. No vampires, no alchemists, etc.

Chapter One

Sydney rolled over from her side onto her back. She yawned and tried to stretch, but something was thwarting her attempt. Sydney cracked open an eyelid and spotted a mess of dark brown hair.

Suddenly the events of the previous night started to flood through her mind. Her friend Jill invited her to a party at her apartment. Normally Sydney stayed away from that scene, but the stress of finals was getting to her and the thought of going home for a month was enough to make even the most straight laced of persons edgy. Jill assured her blowing off some steam was just what she needed.

The second Sydney walked into Jill's apartment she knew she had made a mistake. The place was wall to wall students, the music was so loud Sydney could feel herself vibrating, and there was a smell in the air that she couldn't quite identify. She was also pretty sure she didn't want to.

Before she could make it to the door to escape Jill spotted her. She grabbed Sydney by the arm and introduced her to various people at the party. Sydney felt slightly less uncomfortable with Jill by her side. That was until Jill got called to handle some kind of situation (also something Sydney was pretty sure she didn't want to know about) and she was left alone with Jill's friend, Adrian.

Adrian was everything Sydney wasn't. He wasn't the slightest bit awkward at this party. He had a friendly smile and an easy manner with everyone he talked to. He even listened (or pretended to listen) when Sydney started to wax on about her displeasure of having to go home soon. She wasn't sure if it was because he was easy to talk to or the amount of alcohol in her system, but Sydney ended up spilling her woes to him.

All Sydney ever wanted to do was study architecture. Well, that and history. That was quickly shot down by her father. She was going to become a lawyer, take over the family practice, and that would be her life. No ifs, ands, or buts. Rather than stand up for herself Sydney backed down and now found herself in her second year of pre-law at the state university.

Adrian nodded at all the right places, said oh when appropriate, and made a lot of sympathetic faces. Sydney had never felt so connected to anyone as she did during their conversation, which was probably why she did something she'd never normally do. She hooked up with him.

Adrian was all fire and passion. He didn't waste any time getting Sydney back to his apartment and into his bed. And Sydney was all too eager to forget all the troubles on her mind.

That was how Sydney found herself here right now (feeling very awkward). The only other person she had slept with was her high school boyfriend, Brayden. That was why she had no idea how to gracefully exit his apartment. Was she supposed to wake him up? Have breakfast? Shower?

"What time is it?" Adrian asked, breaking into Sydney's spastic thoughts.

"Huh? Oh, ummm it's after nine," Sydney replied.

"Oh, wow…it's early," Adrian said. He rolled over and cuddled himself against Sydney.

"What exactly are you doing?" Sydney asked.

"Cuddling you," Adrian replied."

"You don't have to," Sydney responded.

"I know I look very tough and manly, but I like cuddling," Adrian said. He smiled up at her.

Sydney couldn't help but laugh a little. "I never would have guessed that," she said. She shifted a little bit.

"Do you have somewhere to be?" he asked her, not seeming fazed by her at all.

"Well, no. I don't have any finals left," she replied.

"Good," Adrian said in reply.

"Why is that go…oh we're kissing," Sydney said as his lips touched hers.

"Very good, Sage," Adrian said with a laugh.

"We shouldn't be kissing," Sydney said to him.

"And why is that?" he replied. He nuzzled his nose along her cheek.

"Because we were drunk last night…" Sydney said. "We don't even like each other."

"Hey, now. I like you," Adrian replied.

"Correction. We don't know each other," Sydney said.

"Oh, I think we know plenty. Well, the important things anyway," he said. His nose was now between the valley of her breasts.

Before Sydney could respond with words a soft sigh escaped from her throat.

"Yeah, I knew it," Adrian said with a chuckle as he bit gently on her skin.

"I really should go," Sydney said, twisting a little bit.

"Sage, don't you know the proper protocol regarding the morning after?" he asked, looking up at her.

"Leave quietly?" she offered a guess.

"Nope," Adrian replied. "A little morning something before breakfast."

Sydney blushed.

"Oh, now you're embarrassed," Adrian teased her. "You certainly weren't last night."

"I was drunk last night," Sydney pointed out.

"Nevertheless you should still follow through," Adrian replied.

"Does this usually work?" Sydney asked him.

"Define this," Adrian replied.

"Your charms," Sydney said.

Adrian grinned. "So you admit I'm charming," he replied.

Sydney sighed and finally got up into a sitting position. "I really do need to go," she said.

"Pleading the fifth is the same as admitting," Adrian said. He leaned over the edge of the bed and grabbed their clothes off the floor.

"Thanks," she said as she took her dress from his hands. "Could you turn around?"

"Because I haven't seen you naked," Adrian said with a snort. He politely averted his gaze while she pulled her clothes back on.

"Thank you," she said.

"Do you want breakfast?" he offered. "I make a mean omelet."

"What part of I need to go confused you?" Sydney asked him.

"You only said that because you don't want to have sex again," Adrian said. "I'm not asking for sex. I'm talking about breakfast."

"Why do you want me to stay so badly?" she asked him.

"I thought you said you were done with finals," Adrian replied, ignoring her question. They left his bedroom and headed into the kitchen.

Sydney headed straight for the coffee pot and started prepping. "I am done. I wouldn't have gone to a party like that if I wasn't done," she replied.

"Then what's the big hurry?" Adrian asked.

"Besides the fact this is incredibly weird, I have to pack my stuff up for the break," she explained.

"Oh, yeah. You're going home and you're not happy about it," Adrian recalled from last night's pre-hookup conversation.

"Ah, so you were listening," Sydney said. Once the coffee was set she sat down at the table.

"I'm not a complete ass," Adrian replied. He busied himself with taking things out of the fridge and cabinets.

"Are you sure you know what you're doing?" Sydney asked him.

"Of course I do," Adrian replied. "You can go shower if you want."

"Yeah, I think I just might," she agreed.

"Just be careful with the knobs…they're wonky," Adrian explained.

"Wonky," Sydney repeated. "Got it." She quickly made her escape back to Adrian's bedroom to retrieve her cell phone. She punched in Jill's number.