This is a Sydrian human AU. Set in high school. This is my first fic so please comment and tell me what you think. I do not own these characters, only the plot. All credit goes to the brilliant Richelle Mead.

"Oh come one, Adrian, you're being ridiculous." I rolled my eyes at his ridiculous proposition to further emphasize how impossible he was being.

"Come on, Sage. It's one dance. I'm only asking you to go because you have such a wildly pathetic social life. I'm doing you a favor! Besides, we haven't hung out in forever. It's one night." He looked up at me pleadingly, his bright green puppy dog eyes flashing. He was right. I hadn't hung out with him in forever, which made my heart hurt a bit. He was my best friend and had been for years. We were an unlikely pair but it worked. I kept him on the straight and narrow (more or less) and he helped me get out of my head and enjoy what was around me. If it wasn't for him I'd probably live the life of a hermit.

"It's not my fault I haven't been social! It's senior year, Adrian. I have five AP classes and two part time jobs. I'm just trying to make sure I can go to college next year. I don't have time to go to the dance. I have this major biology exam to study for and I have to keep my grade up in that class or else my dad will kill me. I'm sorry. Besides, I don't even have anything to wear to the dance. Nor do I have the funds to remedy that situation even if I wanted to." I looked down at my feet as we walked to his car, hoping he'd drop the subject. He had this gorgeous yellow Mustang that made my heart flutter a bit. I loved cars but didn't actually have one of my own because I couldn't afford one yet. I saved every penny I earned and either put it in my college fund or my car fund. Both funds were kind of pitiful, but my car fund held more promise.

I had my eye on a 1959 Volkswagen Beetle. I found one in amazing condition for a steal. I actually planned on getting it by the end of the month. I felt bad for getting rides from Adrian all the time, but he swears he doesn't mind. He snapped his finger in my face. "Earth to Sage? Dude, it is freaky scary how zoned out you get sometimes. I worry you'll walk into oncoming traffic and not notice until you lose that deadly game of Frogger."

I cut my eyes at him. "I'd hope the car that hits me is something gorgeous and vintage so I go out in style. Actually scratch that. I'd hate to know I messed up such a nice thing with something as trivial as my death."

He scoffed. "Sage, you are morbid as hell. And nothing about you is trivial," he said with a soft smile. "So you need me to drop you off at Spencer's?"

I nodded. I worked at a coffee shop from about four to eight on most day of the week and from damn near open to close on the weekends. The owner, a self-professed coffee addict, Ms. Terwilliger had a soft spot for me and knew my work ethic, so she made sure to give me as many hours as she could. She was a bit on the eccentric side, but I respected her more than I respected most people. When I wasn't working at the coffee shop I was tutoring on the side for a little extra cash or studying.

We got in his car and as soon as he turned his key in the ignition, I was blasted with Pink Floyd, which meant that Adrian was or had recently been in his "existential crisis" musical mood. I quickly reached to reduce the deafening volume and then popped out the CD. I rifled through my purse and popped in The Upsides by The Wonder Years.

"One: I didn't give you permission to remove the deep and meaningful messages of Roger Waters from the player and two: you have the most peculiar music taste. It doesn't fit you at all." I smiled at him and changed the song to Melrose Diner and sang along.

When we got to Spencer's, Adrian walked in with me. I shot him a confused look. He usually drops me off and heads to wherever he deemed it important to go. He shrugged and dismissed my confusion by saying, "What? I'm entitled to a caffeine fix, Sage." I walked behind the counter and put on my apron and pulled my hair back. I began fixing his coffee without even asking him what he wanted, already knowing the answer. Adrian drank this horrible sugary concoction that barely resembled coffee. I put several shots of chocolate syrup into it and topped it with a copious amount of whipped cream. He smiled gratefully and tried to pay though I just waved away his money, telling him there was no need for him to pay. I could cover it. I turned and realized we were almost out of cups somehow and went into the back to get more.

When I came back I saw Adrian saying goodbye to Ms. Terwilliger and saw that the tip jar on the counter now had an extra five dollars in it. I put the cups under the counter and greeted my boss with a smile.

"Hey Ms. T. We should probably order more cups soon."

"Okay, Sydney! Oh! I wanted to say that your boyfriend there is such a sweetie pie! And you shouldn't have been afraid to ask for Saturday off! Of course you can go to that dance. I can't let your good work ethic stand in the way of having a good time with that boy of yours." She winked at me and stepped back into her office, not noticing my shocked face that quickly turned to rage. I was going to kick that boy's ass.