Chapter Seven: Friends
The halls of SPD were crowded once again as the D-squad and C-squad cadets returned from their holiday vacations. Syd was rarely seen any more without Bridge and Sky by her side. People continued to scoff at her, and began to whisper about why their senior cadets would be spending so much time with the blonde. Syd tried not to think about the rumors flying around the base. She had over heard them as had Bridge, but the two of them decided it wasn't important. Sky on the other hand was oblivious. He was too caught up in helping Syd improve and focusing on his impending promotion to worry about hear say and gossip. Sky was having a hard time creating lessons for Syd these days. She was nearly caught up with the curriculum at this point.
"So what's on the schedule for tomorrow morning?" Bridge asked as he and Sky prepared to shut off the lights and get some sleep.
Sky sighed, "Nothing. There is really nothing left to catch her up on. I mean she had a rocky start, but now…she's pretty much got everything under control. It's amazing when you think about it actually."
The marvel in Sky's tone made Bridge grin. He chuckled at his older friend.
"What?" Sky asked curiously.
"You made a friend," Bridge smirked. "You actually made a new friend."
"Friend? I wouldn't exactly call Syd a friend," he said grumpily.
"Then what would you call her?" Bridge asked in disappointment. He knew Sky considered her a friend, but he also knew Sky would never admit that. Bridge shook away a twinge of annoyance at that thought.
"Charity work," Sky grunted.
"You don't mean that," Bridge said as he rolled his eyes.
"What else should I call her? She's been nothing but a hassle since she arrived. She still doesn't know all the regulations as well as she should, and she's taken up any free time that I might have for my own training. It's going to take me even longer to be promoted to B-squad than I initially planned which means I'm that much further away from being red ranger."
Bridge stared at his friend sadly, "One of these days, Sky. You'll have to drop that wall and let someone in."
"When I meet some body worth dropping the wall for then I will," he told him as he headed for the door.
"Where are you going?" Bridge asked.
"I'm gonna go get some water," Sky sighed as he opened the door to the hall. His eyes widened and he froze when he recognized Syd standing on the other side of it. He could tell she had overheard the conversation, but he was surprised at her reaction. He had expected weepy and dramatic, but what he was seeing was anger. Lots of anger.
"A hassle, huh?" she asked as she cocked her hip to one side and placed her hand on the other side. "Well congratulations. I believe you've filled your community service quota for the year."
"Syd-"
"No, just forget Sky. If I annoy you so much then we'll just go back to the way things were," she said with a glare. "I'll call you Cadet Tate and you can call me Cadet Drew and we'll just go our separate ways."
He stood in speechless shock as she turned on her heels and headed toward her own quarters. Truth be told he did not want to go back to the way things were. He wanted to be friends with her, but he couldn't bring himself to admit it out loud. Bridge whistled from inside the room.
"You've done it now, buddy," he said.
Sky turned around and glared at his roommate, "Shut up."
The next day Syd didn't say one word to him. It was driving him insane. He hadn't realized how used to her meaningless ramblings he'd become. The cold shoulder she was giving him was annoying. Every time there was a silence or a pause during a weapons lecture he expected her to lean toward him and remark on the instructor's appearance, but she said nothing. In fact she had made sure that Bridge sat in between them where ever they went. Right now Bridge and Syd were sitting across from him at a table in the mess hall. Syd hadn't even glanced in his direction once.
"Bridge, could you pass the salt," Syd asked him. Bridge gave her a strange look and then looked between her and the salt shaker that was situated mere inches away from Sky's hand. Bridge would have to reach over Sky's food just to get it. Sky glared at her and growled in frustration.
"Um, Syd, maybe you should ask Sky," Bridge said almost pleadingly.
"Oh no, I wouldn't want to hassle Cadet Tate for something so simple as the salt," she told him. Sky picked it up and slammed it down in front of Sydney. It smacked against the table so loud that heads from all over the mess hall swiveled in their direction. Sky took a deep breath and left the cafeteria before he said anything he would regret. When he stepped into the hallway outside of the mess hall he could very clearly hear voices.
"No, she is not sleeping with him!" A voice he recognized as Gert's exclaimed in a shocked whisper.
"Not just him but Sky Tate too. Why else do you think they're both hanging around her? And spending their free time training her? It certainly isn't because they think she has a future here," the other voice sneered. He vaguely recognized that voice as the thin twin that was one of Sydney's roommates.
"It figures. Sydney's never been the most modest of females," a male voice spoke up in agreement.
Sky's jaw tightened when he recognized that voice. Bradley. His fists clenched and he fought his instinct to hit him. His plan was to suck it up and ignore it before he heard a sniffle from behind him. He turned slowly to see Syd standing there, and the look on her face pushed him over the edge. He could tell she wasn't surprised by what was said. She was surprised by who was saying it. Bridge was right behind Syd and glaring at the group that still hadn't realized any one was around. Sky cleared his throat. It was an intimidating and threatening sound. Three heads snapped in their direction.
"So, the only reason any one would hang around Cadet Drew is to use her? Is that what you're saying?" Sky asked with a cool glare. "That no one would dare be interested in even attempting to get to know her?"
They said nothing, but stared straight ahead in fear.
"If that's really what all of you think then I feel sorry for you. I truly do," Sky sneered as he focused his glare on Bradley. "You're the ones missing out. Not her."
Bradley stuttered for a while before finally getting out an apology. Gert and Tilly mumbled their own version of an apology. Sky rolled his eyes at their sorry attempts. He was really beginning to wonder why Syd ever dated Bradley. Sky had never seen him as anything but a cocky, prideful jerk. Syd sniffled and accepted his apology, but said nothing to Gert and Tilly. She was obviously willing to give Bradley another chance. Sky glanced at Bridge and noticed he was directing the same look of annoyance at Bradley. Even Bridge didn't understand Syd's attachment to the guy.
"By the way, each of you will be receiving one demerit for slander," Sky informed them as Gert, Tilly, and Bradley entered the mess hall. Once the three of them were alone Syd rushed him with a hug. Sky had no idea how to react. He stood there in shock for a few minutes before Bridge motioned for him to hug her in return. Sky circled his arms around her and patted her back awkwardly. Bridge chuckled. Syd pulled away from him and cleared her throat.
"Thanks," she told him shyly.
He gave her a tiny piece of a smile, "No problem."
Bridge sighed and shook his head. That translated into an apology from both of them. He could tell that without having to take off his gloves, but neither of them would ever just come out and say it. Sky had accidentally solved the conflict by allowing himself to nearly fly off the handle. He'd nearly blown up at Gert, Tilly, and Bradley. If he had over heard them saying anything else about Syd then Sky probably would have really lost it. Against his will Sky had become protective of Sydney, and had even become begrudgingly fond of her.
"Oh my god, did you see that?" Syd asked as a B-squad cadet passed them.
"What?" Sky asked cluelessly.
"Cadet Thomas had lipstick on her teeth," Syd said with a shake of her head. "Poor girl."
As they entered the mess hall again Bridge could have sworn he actually saw Sky completely smile. He quickly shook it off as a trick of the light.
