Sydney to the Max Season 4: Episode 4 - Smells Like Teen Anxiety

Present Day Scenes Written by: "Fun But Shy Girl"

Flashback Scenes Written by: JoshFics and "Fun But Shy Girl"

Based on Characters Created by: Mark Reisman

Sydney Reynolds was sitting in the living room of her home with her friends Olive, Emmy, and Sophia doing homework together. As the four girls worked, Olive and Emmy kept making quick glances at each other smiling. Sophia noticed what the two were doing and began to look upset, while Sydney noticed and made a little smile as she said, "Okay, I know we said no personal displays of affection between you two as we all get used to this, but if you really have to: you can at least hold hands a bit. Just stop starring at each other though." Olive and Emmy instantly scooted towards one another and held hands as Olive said, "Okay, okay." Then suddenly there was a knock at the door. Max quickly ran out of the kitchen looking a bit excited as he said, "Don't get up girls. I got it." Then Max opened the door and saw Angela and happily said, "Hey Angela." Sophia looking confused said, "Mom, what are you doing here?" Then Angela said, "Oh well, me and Max have some paperwork to go over related to the new shop opening soon." Then Max said, "Come on. Lets discuss in the kitchen."

Then as Max and Angela walked into the kitchen Sophia said, "Okay Sydney. So we have all the data ready to report for our science project. Now we just have to get a big poster and art supplies to decorate it." Then Sydney said, "I actually have a bunch in my room. Come on, lets pick out the supplies we wanna work with." Then Sydney and Sophia headed up the stairs, while Olive looked at Emmy and said, "Okay. Well we're almost done with our research. How about I just verify our sources while you pick out the poster and start decorating it." Then a curious looking Emmy said, "You don't want help with finishing up the writing?" Then Olive said, "Nah. You already helped. Besides, when it comes to projects, researching and typing are my strengths. Your strengths are decorating, and looking so adorably cute when you present our work." Emmy looking a little uncertain said, "Thanks... I guess."

Meanwhile in the kitchen, Max and Angela were both sitting in chairs while kissing one another. Eventually Angela moved her head away as she said, "Oh my gosh. We can't keep doing this behind our kids' backs." Max with a grin on his face said, "Yeah but it is kind of fun isn't it?" Angela nodded and said, "It is, but... I don't want Sophia to ever lie to me, so I can't lie to her. Meaning I can't keep coming over pretending it's work related when it's not." Max sighed and said, "Yeah, you're probably right." Angela looking a bit uncertain now said, "Still... I'm not sure how Sophia will react to me dating someone new. I mean there's nobody else I've seen since me and her father split. I'm worried how she'll react." Max sighed and said, "I hear you. I remember how weird it was when my mom started dating again. But we'll find a way to tell our girls the right way. I promise." Angela looked into Max's eyes and nodded her head as she said, "Okay."

1994:

There was a new kid that had moved into the neighborhood and Max found him fascinating. What was fascinating was he seemed to be into everything. He was a skateboarder, he was a soccer player, he was a cyclist. Really Max had no idea what he would catch him doing next. He was also bleeding sometimes as he played these sports though, like any teenager. The thing is, Max never heard him scream. It was like he was afraid to be heard. Max wanted to befriend him and learn why he never stuck to one thing and why he never screamed. Sure they were both too old to be cry-babies, but seriously some of the times he fell had to have hurt. The new guy was Keith Jowitte and what made befriending difficult was how fast he moved and naturally his quietness. Max had called out to him several times on different days but Keith ignored him. Still Max was determined.

"Night owl, anything to report? Over" came Max's voice over the walkie talkie he had.

"That's a big no" Leo replied, then "over"

"Understood. My Lady? Over."

"Sadly no, over." Alisha's voice replied over the walkie talkie.

"Nothing on my end either, over." Max reported.

Leo was up in a tree feeling very stupid. He only agreed to this mission hoping that Keith will go to the arcade: the only place he never seemed to have gone to yet. Alisha was across the road hiding in some bushes. She was having a blast. After explaining to the neighbor whose lawn she was in why she was there, the lady of the house had treated her to some homemade cookies. Both had binoculars and peered through it from time to time. Max bribed Keith's neighbor (another kid from his school actually), and pretended to be doing some yard work in their backyard. Leo wondered how long his friend could fool them into believing that was so. Max had his trusty skateboard ready though, for what he believed to be an epic chase, once Keith left his home.

"Got an eye on Sparrow, repeat eye on Sparrow. Over." Leo reported.

"Where? Over." Alisha asked.

"Running down Ashton street, over."

"Ashton Street? He was never home. Over." Alisha said.

"Gaaah" Max said annoyed.

Ashton street was a side street from the one they were on. Max needed to go up five houses, and then go left or right.

"Maybe he's practicing for cross country. Over." Leo said hopefully.

PRESENT DAY:

Emmy was sitting in a classroom at school working on a large poster as Olive walked in with several pieces of paper in her hand. Olive then said, "Okay Emmy, here's all our research I want glued to the poster. Now I gotta go to the other lab with the color printer to show our charts and graphs. Be back in a bit." Olive then walked out of the room as Emmy continued to work on the poster. Then a girl at a desk near Emmy looked at her and said, "So I guess you're not the smart one in the group." Emmy looking confused said, "Excuse me?" The girl then said, "Yeah. Every duo on class projects has a smart person and not smart person. My partner is a straight A student, so they left me: the girl with autism to do the easy arts and crafts work. So what do you got?" Then Emmy looking a little caught off guard said, "ADHD, but... Olive didn't have me do this part of the project because of that. She's just better at researching and typing." The girl nodded her head and said, "Sure. And what skills beyond what a seven year old can do is your partner letting you take on?" Emmy suddenly looked lost for words as she began to feel upset.

1994:

Three days later, Leo and Max continued their pursuit for Keith. This time both were certain they get their answers for they had him trapped. He was in a building they both knew well. He was at the Laser Tag Arena, and decided they could corner him in there. Max and Leo then proceeded to join the upcoming Laser Tag game... or rather Leo paid as Max had no cash. The two received their gear and entered the game. The two instantly saw that Keith had noticed them, and he proceeded to hide. However Max and Leo knew every hiding place in this Laser Tag arena... or so they thought. Suddenly a very tall teenage male came from the shadows, and cornered Max and Leo shooting them with his own lasers.

"Enough, already we're dead!" cried Leo.

"Stop, stop" cried out Max.

The tall teenager then stepped closer towards them as Keith showed his face, revealing he had been hiding behind the tall male this whole time. The tall teenager then put his laser gun down as he he began to make a fist.

"You two have been stalking and messing with my friend Keith. Now I'm gonna mess with you."

PRESENT DAY:

Emmy was sitting in the park looking at her math textbook while trying to write out several equations on a piece of paper near her. Emmy then suddenly looked very frustrated as she crumpled up her piece of paper and threw it at the nearby trash can. However the crumpled up paper missed the trash can and hit Iggy the Pizza Delivery Guy who was walking by. Iggy picked up the piece of paper as he said, "Whoa. I didn't order a crumpled up piece of paper to be delivered. Unless pizza is coming in a whole new size now." Emmy then stood up as she said, "Sorry Iggy." Then Iggy looked at Emmy as he said, "Whoa. You're the Mendoza's little girl. I remember. You've always preferred extra bacon on your pizza since you were six." Emmy smiled as she said, "That's right." Then Iggy saw Emmy's math textbook as he said, "Whoa. That is some pretty gnarly looking geometry work you got there. Why you doing homeworking on a Saturday though?" Emmy sighed and said, "I was trying to jump ahead in my homework. Olive usually always helps me figure it out, but I was hoping if I could jump ahead this time around so she would finally think I'm smart and not just a dumb little girl anymore."

Then Iggy said, "Whoa. Calling yourself dumb is totally not cool. Plus, you're still young little dudette. You got your whole life ahead of you." Emmy sat down again looking sad as she said, "What life though? If I can't figure out this math homework, I won't be able to graduate high school and be able to provide for myself." Then Iggy sat down next to Emmy as he said, "Hey. This math stuff is always hard when you start to do it. But in no time, it'll become this easy." Then Iggy grabbed a pencil, and within seconds figured out over twenty answers to Emmy's math homework problems. Emmy's eyes widened as she said, "Iggy... how did you figure that all out so fast!?" Iggy remaining calm then said, "Oh. Math always came easily to me as a kid. I was like totally all over Calculus when I was nine." Emmy suddenly looked surprised as she said, "Oh my gosh. You mean you're like some super genius then! How does nobody know this!?" Then Iggy said, "Well I'm good at math, but... well I struggle at a bunch of other stuff. But like, as I see it... we all got stuff we're good at, and we all got stuff we struggle at. The trick is: to recognize what you're good at, and do more stuff that uses the stuff you're good at."

Then Emmy said, "But if you're so good at math, then why don't you work at like NASA or something?" Then Iggy said, "Oh, my dad totally wanted me to work at his big tech company that I'm gonna like inherit or something one day. But the thing is: as much as I like math, I also like making people happy. That's why I became a totally cool pizza delivery guy. I know some people think being a pizza delivery guy isn't glamorous or whatever. But people forget: when you're a pizza delivery guy, you're always the dude people are most happy to see." Emmy then had a profound look on her face as she said, "Wow. I guess you don't have to be the smartest looking person around to make a real difference in the world." Then Iggy said, "Totally. Now if you excuse me, I got some hot pizzas to deliver." Then Emmy said, "Wait Iggy. I thought you were off work?" Then Iggy stood up and said, "Actually I'm about to start work, but first I gotta find it. I should admit, I'm good at math but geography isn't a strength of mine." Emmy smiled as she said, "Well at least you helped me find myself today."

1994:

"Why do you want to beat up my friend?" the tall teenager said to Max and Leo in a threatening manner.

"Beat your friend up? We don't know you or your friend, nor are we bullies." Leo replied.

Keith then stepped closer to Max and Leo. The nameless teenager then signed as he spoke directly to Keith's face.

"Keith, are these your bullies that have been stalking you?"

"Yes, always trailing me where I go." Keith replied in sign language.

"Keith said yes." The stranger said.

"Sweet! You two have your very own secret code, you gotta teach me." Max said.

Keith's friend chuckled.

"Doofus, he's deaf" said Leo, "Keith is deaf right?" added Leo, now uncertain if he judged the situation right.

"Yes, but you should ask him, not ignore him. He's a kid just like you two. Plus, you could've still tried to talking to him. He can read lips."

Max then stepped towards Keith and began to speak.

"We didn't want to bully you man. I mean... we didn't even know you were even deaf."

Then Leo stepped towards Keith and spoke as well.

"Well... we could have just knocked on your door and introduced ourselves the normal way. We're sorry."

Keith then made some motions in sign language to his friend. Leo and Max looked at Keith's friend, who smiled as he spoke to the two boys.

"Keith wants to know... what do you two do for fun?"

PRESENT DAY:

Sydney, Emmy, and Sophia were working on their science projects in the living room of Sydney's home, when Max and Angela stepped out of the kitchen to see what they were doing. Max then leaned over Sydney's shoulder as he said, "Wow girls. Your projects are looking amazing." Sydney then smiled as he said, "Thanks dad." Then Angela said, "So... Sophia, Sydney... can you both come into the kitchen for a minute. There's something we want to talk to you both about." Sydney and Sophia then both stood up as Sophia said, "Okay." Then as Sydney and Sophia walked into the kitchen with their parents, Olive walked in through the front door and said, "Okay. I have that last quote from the university professor I contacted that I can use to the end of our research." Emmy smiled as she said, "Great." Then Olive walked over to the poster Emmy was working on as she said, "Wow Emmy. This poster looks fantastic. All of the artistic detail you put into this is amazing." Emmy smiled as she said, "Thanks. I know being smart isn't one of my strengths, but it's okay because I'm proud of what I am good at." Olive looked confused as she said, "What do you mean?"

Then Emmy said, "Well I know I'm not the best at any school work, and I know I come across as a little dumb at times. But that's okay, because I know I'm the best at art, and I'm happy to use my amazing art skills to complete your amazing work." Olive then sat down near Emmy with a sympathetic face as she said, "Emmy... you've never come across as dumb as me. Sure, my writing and math skills are more advanced than yours, but you're more than a girl who is just good at art. I mean I know it's hard for you with your ADHD at times, but for every bit of brain space that your mind doesn't use for math or keeping your room tidy, it more than makes up for it with how big a heart you have. Honestly, your ability to love, enjoy life, and understand emotions at times far exceeds my own. I wish I could be the amazing ball of happiness and joy you are. You may not be exactly like me Emmy, but I don't want you to be. You make my life better being exactly who you are." Tears appeared in her eyes as Emmy said, "Oh Olive." Then Olive and Emmy leaned their faces forward and kissed one another.

Meanwhile in the kitchen nearby Max and Angela sat facing Sydney and Sophia, as Max said, "Now look. There's something important we want to tell you two." Then Angela said, "Yes, and we just want you to know that while this may seem life changing, it's not as..." Sophia then with a straight face said, "You two are dating each other now, aren't you?" Max and Angela both looked completely caught off guard and surprised as Max said, "What!? How did you two know?" Then Sydney said, "Really dad? I mean considering all of the time you two have spent together, and the looks you gave each other; it was kind of obvious." Then Sophia said, "Yeah mom, and you started writing the word 'Max' all over your court folder the other day. Not your smoothest moment." Then Angela looking a little nervous said, "So... how do you girls feels about this?" Then Max said, "Yeah. I mean this is new territory for all of us." Then Sydney said, "Dad, what are you talking about? I've wanted you to be happy with someone for years now. Besides, we're in the middle of the 21st century now. Tons of kids have single parents who are starting to date other single parents." Then Angela looked at Sophia as she said, "And you're okay with this too?" Then Sophia said, "If you were dating a stranger, maybe I wouldn't be okay with this. But Sydney's dad is really cool. If you had to start dating someone that wasn't dad, I'm glad it's him." Then Sydney said, "Anyway, can we get back to our homework now?" Max nodded and said, "Of course." Sydney and Sophia then left the room as Max and Angela looked at each other with smiles on their faces.

1994:

Max was sitting down in a classroom as Alisha walked in and looked surprised as she sat next to Max.

"Hey Max. So, since when did you join the after school ASL class?"

"Well, since I wanted to learn how to better communicate with Keith. I mean he can understand what I'm saying, but I'd like to more easily understand what he is saying."

Alisha smiled as she looked at Max with awe.

"I'm glad you're starting to better understand the importance of good communication Max."

"I know. My mom actually couldn't believe I was choosing to join an after school class. She actually cried a bit... after she checked my temperature to make sure I wasn't sick."

"Well Max, I'm very glad that... Err."

Alisha suddenly put a hand on her stomach as she looked like she was in pain. Max scooted towards Alisha looking concerned.

"Alisha, are you okay?"

"It's just another stomach ache."

"Wait. That's the third one this week."

"Ugg. I feel like I'm gonna throw up again too. Tell the teacher I'll be in the bathroom."

Then Alisha ran out of the classroom as Max had a concerned look on his face.

PRESENT DAY:

Max was walking down the hallway of his home as he talked into his cell phone and said, "So I talked to Sydney some more again about us after dinner, and it was a good conversation. How about you?" Then Max heard Angela's voice said, "I had a good talk with Sophia too. It wasn't completely smooth but it was much better than I thought it be." Then Max said, "Well, I'd say we handled it all pretty well. Honestly, it finally feels like all of the awkward parts of being a parent are finally behind us. Anyway, I'm gonna say good night to Sydney. See ya tomorrow." Then Max turned off his phone and opened the door to Sydney's bedroom and said, "Good night Syd." Then Max suddenly saw Sydney naked on her bed with her right hand moving right between the top of her legs. Sydney then went wide eyed as she saw Max and yelled, "Dad! Close the door!" Max then immediately closed the door and said, "I'm sorry. I should've knocked." Then Max turned his head away and softly said to himself, "Okay, maybe all of the awkward parts of being a parent are not behind us."

TO BE CONTINUED...

Coming Soon:

*Episode 5 - Truly Madly Awkward - Both Sydney and young Max begin to learn more about their bodies, resulting in awkward conversations with their respective parents.

*Episode 6 - Sex and the Confusion - When two young characters begin to plan to have sex for the first time very soon, important conversations and surprising secrets are revealed.

*Episode 7 - My So Called Pregnancy - When the last person anyone expected to gets pregnant, everything changes.