Sydney to the Max Season 4: Episode 10 - You've Got Resent

Present Day and Flash-Forward Scenes Written by: JoshFics

Flashback Scenes Written by: DrDoom2006

Edited by: "Fun But Shy Girl"

Based on Characters Created by: Mark Reisman

Sophia was feeling unusually happy. Her brother was coming home for a visit for Spring Break. Ever since he went back to college in Texas after Winter Break, Sophia had been missing him terribly. After they had grown closer during his last break, Sophia did her utmost best to video chat with him daily. She felt a little bad that she might be interrupting his college love life, but he waved her concerns away when she brought it up. For Sophia though, it felt like this school year was out to get her. Sydney was happily dating, and her two other friends: Olive and Emmy were now dating, and for Sophia... it felt like she had no one to turn to about her problems anymore. Being Spring Break now and with her friends busy, Sophia decided to spend most of her days with Dylan. Dylan seemed happy enough to have his sister tagging along. However, sometimes Sophia would see that Dylan would want to hang out with some of his male and female friends in town.

Sophia never really paid attention to who Dylan's school friends were before; but now she did, and wondered just how long Dylan knew them for. Did he knew any of them from primary school? It caused Sophia to wonder if the Amigas would still stop being friends when they went to college. As Sophia was thinking through these thoughts, she was in Dylan's room playing games. It felt more like a guest room nowadays with most of Dylan's personal stuff being in his dorm room. Still, there were things in the room that made it his; most particular it smelt like him all year round. Sophia then noticed that Dylan was grooming himself. Sophia figured he was planning to go out on a date, as everything screamed date from the grooming, to him fidgeting, to him glancing at his watch. As Sophia played Dylan's favorite game, Dylan sat near his sister and began to talk with her.

"Well Sophia, do you and those friends of yours have plans tonight?"

"Nope. Syd will be working on a new song while Harry is working late at Reynolds Rides, and Emmy and Olive are being aloft with their plans. I think they have a date tonight."

"Why wouldn't Emmy or Olive tell you about their plans?

"Because it's still been really weird for me to get used to them dating. It still just... doesn't feel right. Also... they didn't tell me when they first started dating. They should've trusted me."

"I'm sure they do Sophia; but you can't expect anyone to rush with coming out to anyone."

"It's different though with us Dylan. The Four Amigas share everything, and now two of us are dating each other. I mean it's not like I expected them to come out to the entire school, but they should at least have told me and Sydney how they felt from the start."

Dylan sighed as he leaned his head back and looked up at the ceiling.

"It's not really that different though, is it? When you're in love with anyone, it's new, scary and somehow… special I guess. Fleeting glances, the briefest of touches. The increase of your heart rate just being around that special someone. Yet it gets really difficult to deal with these feelings though when a part of you keeps saying that what you're feeling is wrong."

Sophia thought on this as Dylan continued to speak.

"Trust me on this Sophia. They were probably planning to tell you. And I'm sure the fact that they didn't was hurting them, just as deeply as finding out hurt you. Now anyway, you better not beat my high score in that game of mine while I'm out, or you will pay."

"Going out?" Sophia asked.

"Yep. Date. See ya later."

Dylan then headed out of his room.

SEVEN MONTHS AGO:

Olive Rozalski slowly opened her eyes in the middle of the night. At first she saw nothing, but as her eyes adjusted to the darkness, Olive then smiled as she saw the sight of Emmy Mendoza sleeping beside her with arms wrapped Olive's body. Olive smiled as she looked at the peaceful Emmy sleeping beside her. For anyone outside that room, this was nothing but a homework sleepover between two high school girls. But for Emmy and Olive, it was something more; something that began during the vacation they took together. As Olive felt Emmy's warm body through her pajamas the blond girl couldn't do anything but remember how it all started recently. The two were walking alongside the beach near Emmy's grandmother's house, holding hands and talking with one another.

-Finally a day off to the beach! - Olive said

Emmy smiled. Suddenly Olive began to look a little nervous as she continued to speak.

-I mean… it's not that I'm not enjoying all that we are doing but a pause is always awesome.

-I know, and I love spending time with you. - Emmy said

Later that afternoon at a store called "Drinks by the Beach", Emmy began to stare longingly at Olive as she sipped a piña colada… which she mistakenly forgot to ask to be made alcohol-free and the woman in charge of making drinks, thinking it was for adults and not teenagers, didn't even ask, and that small mistake would be the trigger for what was to come, as Emmy, feeling uninhibited by the alcohol of two more piña coladas, took Olive's hand.

-What is it? - the blond girl said

-I… I have to tell you something…

-Sure - Olive said innocently

-Olive, I… I love you…

Olive smiled as she sipped her alcoholic drink, and also feeling very uninhibited responded back

-Yeah, and I love you

Emmy took another sip of what she still didn't realize was an intoxicating drink and said,

-No Olive. I mean... I really love you, love you...

As she spoke she leaned in and her lips touched Olive's. The blond girl opened her eyes as big as she could as she gently pushed her back.

-Emmy…

The Latina glared in shock at her friend, realizing what she had just done.

-I… I…

But before she could even move, Olive held her hands and spoke.

-Are you sure Emmy? I mean… I was always jealous of you and Sophia because I thought you…

Now it was Emmy's that was a bit in shock.

-No… Sophia is… too traditional… there was this time when… I thought I liked her but… when I heard her talk to her mom about how she felt about going to school with people that are… you know… Sophia said how she wasn't enthusiastic about it and... it scared me…

Olive then took a deep breath as she began to speak softly to Emmy.

-Emmy… if we go ahead with this… it's not going to be easy…

-Olive I love you… if… if you want to… I'll take my chances…

Now it was Olive who leaned in and both teenagers kissed one another again, this timer much longer. Once their kiss finally ended, the two remained still smiling and now hugging each other…

PRESENT DAY:

Dylan stood on the doorstep of his date. There was no sweaty palms, no racing heart. He was certain she felt the same. Still, he never ended a date without a kiss. Never since he was 15 anyway. The kiss was on the lips of course but chaste. Neither of them tried to make it more. He smiled and returned to the car. Perhaps they will go out one or two more times, but he doubted it be any more. He had dated girls that made him nervous of screwing up on their dates. Dylan believed he was into girls. He had never dated a guy. However... Dylan was thinking about wanting to date a guy; his high school friend Nathan in particular. But Nathan and he were never close and he had no idea on how to reach him now that they weren't in school together. What made it worse was even if he had Nathan's number he didn't know if he and Nathan would work. Was he just fixated on the idea of them together, or was it an actual craving? There were other boys he had felt an attraction to, but none plagued his thoughts as often as Nathan.

Dylan understood why Sophia's friends Emmy and Olive wanted to keep their relationship a secret. One might be more invested than the other, one might even be simply confused and has mistaken friendship for an actual crush. Dylan sighed as he realized how much humiliation he would've faced if he had dated a guy as just an experiment, only to realize he actually didn't like guys after that. His life would be ruined due to simple curiosity. If only he and Nathan could have secretly dated. But by the time Nathan caught his eye, he had come out and Dylan didn't want school rumor to speculate that he too was gay by associating himself with a known gay boy. Dylan sighed as he started his car and returned home.

SIX MONTHS AGO:

Olive and Emmy were both walking down the sidewalk together towards Sophia's house. As they did, Emmy looked at Olive and asked her:

-You ready to tell our friends about... us.

Olive lowered her head.

-No. But... we have to tell someone. And since Sydney and her dad are working right now, I guess Sophia's family would be the best to start with. I mean Sophia's mom is a smart lawyer, so maybe she could help us find some "smart way" to explain how we feel to Sophia.

The two girls then held hands as the reached the doorway of Sophia's home. Olive pressed the doorbell, and Sophia's mother Angela opened the door and invited the two girls in as she spoke to them.

-Hello girls. I'm sorry, Sophia is not home. She's out shopping.- she said.

-We know, but... well, since you're here, we were hoping we could talk to you - Olive said.

Startled, Angela motioned them to sit.

-Is it about Sophia?

-No... it's... it's about us - Emmy said.

It was then when Angela realized that the two girls were holding hands.

-M'am... Emmy and I... we... we like each other... like... we like, like each other. We realized it during our vacation...

Angela glared at them intently as she spoke.

-Well girls, I understand you. Times have changed, but please know this... as Sophia's friends, I will always be here for you, but... I don't know about Sophia... you see, I might have changed the way I think about these types of matters but when Sophia was young, her father took her often to his more traditional Catholic church, and made her get a more... traditional education... So I'm just letting you know that I can't assure you that Sophia will be okay with this...

Olive and Emmy closed their eyes as tears ran down their cheeks. They knew exactly what Angela meant. They knew the the minute that Sophia knew about their relationship... it would be chaos...

PRESENT DAY:

Dylan expected Sophia to be in his room when he opened the door. She was not. Shrugging it off he turned on his radio and collapsed on his bed, picking up his favorite video game and checking the scoreboard. He smiled, as he saw Sophia beat his score. Chuckling, he let the device fall beside him and starred at his ceiling. He regretted never befriending Nathan, regretted never exploring his feelings towards boys. He needed to find out just how far he was willing to go with a boy. Perhaps he was more interested in boys which was why he never had a lasting relationship with woman. He then rolled onto his side and picked up his iPad, opening up the App Store he made a general search for an dating app that was open to what he was currently interested in. He opened the app and started out creating his profile. Then needing the toilet and a bite to eat, Dylan left his room leaving the iPad on his bed. Three minutes later Sophia knocked on the door.

"Dylan, you decent?"

Opening the door Sophia peered in.

"So, you upset, I... oh, you're not here."

However Sophia knew Dylan was home, as she heard his car and the radio was on. She decided to wait for him then saw his iPad. Picking it up she saw the makings of his online profile. Decided to play around on it as a harmless joke she started reading it. She saw it was a dating app, but then suddenly her eyes widened she saw the words:

"Male Seeking Male."

Sophia's face then became one of complete shock as she dropped the iPad.

SIX MONTHS AGO:

As they lay in bed together, Emmy and Olive held each other close. This was one of those rare times when the Emmy had the house for her own, even though the one and only thing her mother would expect to see of Olive there was that they were studying together. As Olive kissed Emmy one more time, the blonde spoke.

-You okay? - asked Emmy.

-I... I'm going to...

-To what?

Olive took a breath before talking.

-I'm going to Sydney's... and I'm telling her about us...

To say that Emmy's face went white as cotton could be an understatement. The Latina got up from the bed literally hyperventilating.

-No Olive! I... you... What if Sydney doesn't understand? And then what if she immediately tells Sophia before we can tell her? You heard what Sophia's mother told us!

-Yeah, and she also said that she would be there for us, so she'll help Sophia come around.

-But Olive, Sydney goes to a more traditional church, and her views might be much more "traditional", too and... no... no, no...

Olive got up as well and held Emmy's hands.

-It's going to be okay Emmy, I promise. Sydney is my best friend, and it be wrong to hide who I am from her. She'll understand...

PRESENT DAY:

Sophia stood in shock for several moments as she starred at the iPad screen with her brother's online dating profile on it. Then Sophia took a deep breath, and picked up the iPad again as she saw a paragraph written beneath the last words she had read. As Sophia read it, she saw her brother Dylan's words typed out:

"For years I been afraid to explore my attraction towards males. There is an attraction however and I feel ready towards exploring it and seeing where it goes. I have been on numerous dates with females and sadly while there have been sparks, none of them really lasted all that long. If you are a boy and hit me up, please be patient as I am not out yet and this is all new to me. Hell, just writing this is making me feel like I'm on a date, all nervous that I say the wrong thing or don't explain myself clearly enough. I want to date boys, I might still want to date girls, and I want… a sandwich. Be right back."

Suddenly tears appeared in Sophia's eyes. Sophia then broke down crying as she fell down to the floor with the iPad in her hand.

"Oh Dylan..." Sophia spoke. Sophia continued to cry, as so many feelings and realizations hit her mind. Her brother was different than her. He was living a life that she might not have expected he would live... but she still loved him. And all this time, he was feeling confused and misunderstood without her love and support... just like Olive and Emmy were as well.

Suddenly Dylan returned to his bedroom, but he immediately found himself experiencing a bear hug as soon as he walked in.

"Ummm, what is that for sis?"

Sophia had tears in her eyes as she continued to hug her brother tightly.

"I read your profile and everything you wrote under it."

Dylan noticed his iPad sitting on his bed, and he immediately put the pieces together and realized Sophia had figured out his secret.

"Well... you're taking this awfully well" he said in response.

Sophia finally let go of Dylan and took a step back.

"So…" Sophia said, "Your profile... I think it needs a lot of work. Go make me a sandwich and I'll help you start to work on it."

SIX MONTHS AGO:

Emmy walked into the high school cafeteria and sat down with Olive who was at a table by herself.

-Where are Sophia and Sydney? - Emmy asked looking around.

-They had to work on something together in the library today, remember? Besides... I wanted to talk you - Olive said.

Emmy glared at her with fear in her eyes.

-It's about them isn't it?... Olive... I'm scared of what will happen if we tell them...

-Emmy, we can't keep lying to to them.

-Well... we can't tell Sophia at least...

Olive's eyes opened wide.

-Why not?

-Because you heard what her mom said. Sophia's dad is very strict and conservative... and she is too. I mean... remember when that one gay couple walked into Mr. Reynold's one day? Remember how Sophia looked at them? What she said?

Olive closed her eyes, she remembered that particular scene as if it was happening that very moment...

-Can you believe the nerve? Having those displays of affection in public? - Sophia said in Olive's brief flashback.

Under the table Emmy tightened her hold on Olive's hand. Olive then opened her eyes and took a deep breath.

-I'm going to talk to Sydney after school today. I'm sure she'll understand... I hope...

-But she's your best friend Olive... What if... what if she doesn't? And what if she tells Sophia immediately, and they both hate us?

Olive felt a tear run down her cheek.

-It might take them both some time... Sophia, maybe more... but Emmy... they're our best friends. I have hope that our friendship with them will survive this. Deep down, I know it will. But no matter what happens though, I'll stand by you. I love you Emmy.

-I love you too. - Emmy replied holding her hand.

PRESENT DAY:

Sophia didn't need to check her phone again to see the text. She read it over and over again that she could practically envision it in her mind's eye. She knew why Sydney wanted her to meet her at the the bike shop. She knew it was more or less an intervention to keep the Amigas alive. As Sophia walked down the sidewalk, she took a deep breath and walked knowing if the girls looked outside they could see her now as she walked towards the doors leading into the shop. As Sophia stepped in, she smiled and gave a small wave at the table her friends sat at, hoping they were still her friends. She knew it was wrong but she ignored them for a moment to order a smoothie, needing an extra minute to find the words. Still nothing came to her that was good enough to express how terrible she felt.

"Hey guys" she said as she sat down at their table.

"Hey"

"Hello"

"Sup?"

"Hey" Sophia said again. She played with her hands, before exhaling largely. "I want to apologize for the way I acted. It was wrong. Everything seems to be changing and it all seems to be happening too soon. Sydney, Olive, Emmy, all of us, the Four Amigas means the world to me. You three mean the world to me."

Tears were forming in the other girls' eyes. All four of them felt the same way.

"I was scared" Sophia continued. "Scared of these changes, scared what will happen to the four of us if Olive and Emmy broke up and I was scared at how I felt. It was… intense. I won't say I was feeling homophobic but... well, maybe I was. I don't know. It feels really confusing and messed up. But no matter what happens, and no matter who any of you like.. all of you are my sisters and I really, really hope you can forgive me."

Sophia could now see Olive and Emmy openly crying, while Sydney was fighting back tears.

"Get over here" sniffed Emmy her arms opened for a hug.

Sydney patted Sophia on her shoulder as Sophia threw herself into Emmy's arms. Olive smiled too as she hugged both Emmy and Sophia. Nothing more needed to be said on this matter, and soon the four girls found themselves discussing their plans for tomorrow.

EIGHT YEARS LATER:

Sophia was so excited as she sped the entire way to her brothers' house. She rung the door-bell, and answering it was a tall man was some facial hair who smiled at the sight of Sophia.

"Well if it isn't my favorite sister-in-law."

"Hey Nathan."

Sophia gave Nathan a quick hug, and then stepped inside.

"So Nathan, where's Dylan?"

"He just wanted to make sure he changed the twins' diapers before you got here."

Sophia smiled. She had arranged to have two weeks off to spend time with her brother and his husband's newly adopted twins. They were so adorably cute to her, and soon it would be their very first birthday party since the adoption. Sophia then noticed Nathan looked tired.

"You look real tired," she replied. He did as exhaustion was practically radiating off of him.

"So anyway, where are your darling little twins? This Aunty wants to play with them before you put them down for the night."

"You do know their birthday is next weekend, not tomorrow right?" He informed her concerned she had the date wrong.

"Yeah, arranged time off work to spend with you guys."

"Thanks" he kissed her on the cheek. "It's always nice having you here. Now hold on. I'll see how Dylan is doing with the twins, and then we'll show you to your guest room, and maybe to the kids if they're still awake."

Nathan then walked away as Sophia, as she often did upon arriving in her brothers' home: wandered over to the area that displayed the wedding picture of her brother Dylan and his husband Nathan.

"Two years of marriage and nine months of parenthood for you two." She marveled. Dylan then stepped into the room and smiled as he saw Sophia.

"Hey sis."

"Hey Dylan!" Sophia said as she hugged Dylan with a big smile.

Dylan then noticed Sophia was looking at his wedding photo.

"You know that day wouldn't have happened if it wasn't for you."

"Oh, I wouldn't say that."

"But I do Sophia. You knew Nathan was my first crush when I was young, and you tracked him down and convinced him to come back to Portland so we could meet up.

"Well, you two were meant for each other," Sophia smiled.

Dylan smiled back at Sophia, as she had said those exact same words in her toast at his wedding two years ago. The brother and sister then hugged again, feeling closer than ever.

THE END

Coming Soon:

*Episode 11 - What Dance Come May - Three school dances in three time periods result in many turning points for our favorite characters.

*Episode 12 - Chasing Emmy - Olive and Emmy experience a major turning point in their relationship.

*Episode 13 - Parents in Love - Sydney and Sophia decide to take it upon themselves to push their parents to make an important decision.