Sydney to the Max Season 5: Episode 6 - Sisters Stick Together
Written By: DrDoom2006, Edited by: "Fun But Shy Girl", Based on Characters Created by: Mark Reisman
As she normally did now, Sydney was spending her Saturday afternoon helping in the local shelter house. It was mid-December and the people coming to seek a warm place to stay and a warm meal had increased.
-Here you go, chicken soup and two warm biscuits, enjoy.
Sydney loved helping other people. At first Sydney was feeling bummed out about her dad taking her cell phone, iPad, and laptop from her due to recent events in her life. However Sydney began to enjoy the greater freedom she had now, since she was using it to help the less fortunate at the shelter. She was now used to see all kinds of people every day: elders, adults, even some teenagers, yet, what she didn't expect was to see someone she knew very well needing help. And even though said person tried to hide behind a scarf and a hoodie, Sydney had very good eyesight...
-EMMY!?
Startled the teenager tried to run out of the building only for Sydney to catch up with her.
-Emmy?
Crying, Emmy fell to her knees.
-Emmy... what... why?
As they sat against the wall in the back-alley Emmy told her what had happened, all in the middle of crying and hiccuping.
-A month ago... I was on the phone... with Olive... mom heard me... and... and I... I thought... I could tell her... but... she... she went so mad... she kicked me out... and...
-Wait.. A MONTH AGO? You mean... you have been living at the shelter for over a month?
Emmy nodded, and it was then when it hit Sydney... now everything made sense... the way Emmy ate when they did homework together... her saying her mom was waiting for her a block away instead of picking her up in front of the house... always having an excuse for not having lunch... Sydney felt her heart drop to the ground...
Max walked out of the kitchen the minute he heard the front door open. What he didn't expect was to see a homeless girl with a scarf covering most of her face alongside his daughter.
-Hey Syd! I made mac and cheese and... oh, you brought work home?...
Emmy felt humiliated and made her way out but Sydney pulled her back by the arm.
-Dad, it's Emmy - she said pulling her scarf down.
Max was baffled as he heard the current situation of one of his daughter's best friends.
-I can go back to shelter... I don't want to cause any trouble Mr. Reynolds. - Emmy said.
-No, you can stay here for as long as you need while we fix this.
Emmy just started to cry as Sydney put a hand on her shoulder.
-Let's go upstairs so you can shower Emmy.
-You can stay in Sophia's room since she and her mom are visiting relatives this weekend. - Max added.
Sydney looked at Emmy with determination in her face.
-Emmy... we'll find a way to fix this... I promise you.
-Thank you... - she replied with a whisper for a voice.
The next day Emmy was holding Sydney's hands as they waited. It had been two hours since Max had left to go talk to her parents in an effort to have them allow her to go back home.
-It'll be okay... Dad will convince them and you'll be back home and...
At that moment the door opened and Max walked in. He didn't look happy.
-So... how did it go Dad? Can Emmy go back home?
Max sat on the couch and took a deep breath before answering.
-Well... not right now at least.
-WHAT? - Sydney said in shock
Emmy on the other hand felt her heart break into pieces.
-Look. They... they said that the only way Emmy can go back home is if she breaks up with Olive and moves in with her aunt in Chicago.
Closing her fists Emmy got up and walked to Sophia's room. Sydney walked right behind her, but was surprised as she saw Emmy immediately beginning to pack.
-Wait, what are you...
-I'm going back to the shelter.
-Emmy
-I'm not breaking up with Olive. I know you think I'm stupid and the weakest link of the Amigas but for once I'm not going to be pushed around. They don't want me, fine. And I don't want to keep being a burden to you and your Dad. At least in the shelter I have a bed and some food, and I can do my homework and study in the library.
-Emmy wait, you can...
-NO! My parents don't care about me. They haven't even called to see where I am. Thanks but no.
Meanwhile downstairs Sophia and Angela walked through the front door. Max stood surprised.
-Angela. What are two doing back here early?
-We had to after we heard what happened to Emmy.
Meanwhile Sydney was running back downstairs to her father, while at that same time Sophia was coming upstairs.
-Sophia, you're home early.
-What's going on with Emmy? - Sophia asked.
-Emmy wants to go back to the shelter, and her parents want her to break up with Olive. - Sydney answered.
-I'll go talk to her. - Sophia said running upstairs.
In Emmy's room Sophia instantly ran in and pulled the bag from Emmy's hands.
-HEY! GIVE IT BACK!
-You're not going anywhere Emmy.
Emmy sat on the bed, looking at nowhere.
-You don't get it do you? Sydney's dad, your step-dad, he has to take care of you, your mom and Sydney, I can't keep being another burden... it's not fair.
Sophia sat beside her.
-Stop saying that. You're not a burden. We all love you. We..
-NO! I was going to get a glass of water last night and I heard Mr. Reynolds talking to your mom... talking about how he needed to buy so much stuff for the new kid. What do you think that means?
Sophia smiled.
-It means you shouldn't be eavesdropping in the first place. Second, they were talking about my mom's new baby that's on the way. Trust me, babies cost way more than teenagers do. At least in this home. You can borrow me and Sydney's clothes if you stay. We can get you applied for free meals at school. You can use the girl cave in the basement as your room. Trust me Emmy. You are not a burden.
-I... Okay Sophia. I'll stay... for now.
A few days later, Sydney and Sophia were doing their homework in the living room when they were startled by someone banging the door. The teenagers glared at each other and when Sydney was about to call her dad, they heard Olive's voice screaming from the other side. Sophia went to open the door and a hurricane with blond hair burst in.
-Olive you're back! – Sydney said
-How's your grandma? – Sophia asked
-She's getting better, but that's not the problem. I went to Emmy's home and her mother yelled at me and said she's no longer living there and...
-SHE DID WHAT?
Olive screamed in fear as Emmy yelled from behind her. Then the two embraced before they spoke.
-You're OK!
-Yeah, Sydney found me at the shelter and...
-SHELTER?
-Olive, you have been away for a month – Sydney intervened
The blond held Emmy's hands.
-I want to know everything – she said
Emmy led her to the basement that now was her temporary room.
-Wow…
-Mister R and Sophia's mom have been great with me… unlike my family…
-What happened? – Olive asked
Olive saw the tears in the eyes of the latina as she spoke.
-One night... after I hanged up with you, my mom asked me who I was talking to… she thought I had a boyfriend and she seemed… happy… so I thought I could tell her… but… when I told her it was you… she totally lost it… called me horrible things… and then… she threw me out of the house…
The blond hugged her when she started to cry.
-I had nowhere to go… so I went to the city shelter… I was going to school in the mornings, then I did my homework in the library and hung out there till dinner every afternoon...
Olive felt the tears running down her cheeks.
-I never went for food on Saturday afternoon because I knew Sydney was there… but one day I was so hungry that I had to… I tried to keep Sydney from recognizing me but… I failed… she brought me here and Mr. Reynolds said I could stay here… Then he tried to talk to my mom and… and she told him that unless I ended my relationship with you I could never go back home…
Olive sat beside her and spoke.
-The trip to my grandma was no piece of pie either…
Emmy rose her head and looked at Olive with concern.
-What happened?
-While there, I kept talking about how I missed you and my mom… kept telling me that what I feel for you is some kind of a "phase" and that I need to get out of it…
Emmy was perplexed and terrified of what Olive could say next.
-…at some point… I wondered if she was right…
-Olive…
-Let me finish… it was then when I realized that… what I feel for you… it's too strong for that… You're the first and last thing I think about every day. You're my other half, the one who holds my heart, and my everything. I love you Emmy… and nobody can change that…
They teenagers then embraced one another starting to cry as thry held each other as tight as they could.
As she returned from school weeks later, Emmy went to the basement of the Reynolds house where she had been given a room due to the situation with her parents, yet, her eyes opened wide as she saw that the place was back as the girl's cave. With tears in her eyes, she made her way back up only to find Sophia and Sydney smiling at her.
-So, how do you like it? It's back as it was.
Upset she glared at them.
-Which means you're kicking me out, isn't it?
Sydney was shocked.
-W… wait what?
Upset the latina turned around.
-Fine, I just hope the shelter has an available bed, see you at school tomorrow.
While Sydney was frozen in place in disbelief, Sophia reacted and pulled her back with a hug.
-Don't jump into conclusions, come with us.
Dubious she allowed her friend to lead her upstairs, as the door opened, she was frozen in place, once more Sydney's room had been redone. It now had a bunk-bed, with the top bunk having Emmy's name on it. Plus there was a work table with three chairs. One chair had Sydney's name, another had Sophia's, and the last had Emmy's.
-W… what's going on? – Emmy asked in disbelief.
Sydney spoke
-Well, since it's been awhile since you came here and we need the girl cave to have fun we decided to adopt you in our room. Emmy walked to the bunk bed, sat and began to sob.
-OK… what's going on? – Sophia asked.
Sydney knelt in front of her friend.
-What's wrong?
-It's… it's too much…
Sydney smiled.
-Hey. As far as we're concerned Emmy, you're our sister. And sisters stick together. Also, we'll be sticking together a lot now because my dad just got you a job at the bike shop.
Emmy opened her eyes wide.
-REALLY!?
The brunette nod and she was embraced in a hug.
-Thank you so much! Both of you.
Sophia smiled as she spoke.
-Like Sydney said. We're sisters, and we'll always look out for each other.
THE END
Coming Soon:
*Episode 7 - A Mother's Love - Sydney remembers what a seemingly typical day with her mother long ago was like, while at the same time she has to deal with her new step-mother Angela.
*Episode 8 - Father Found - When Sophia decides to go on a quest to find her biological father, discoveries both terrible and good are made.
*Episode 9 - Just a Little More Time - Three stories set in three time periods that address the importance of family are told and become tied together in an extraordinary way.