Sydney to the Max Season 5: Episode 12 - Emmy's Emergency
Written By: DrDoom2006, Edited by: "Fun But Shy Girl", Based on Characters Created by: Mark Reisman
Sophia was trembling inside the ambulance, the unmoving form of Emmy, still in her soccer uniform laid in the stretcher as the paramedics tried it all to bring her back to life
-Please… please don't leave…
Three Months Earlier:
Emmy was doing her homework in the library as she used to after she was kicked out of her home. Near her another girl, older than her, groaned.
-God why did I decided to get into this freaking major…
-Lucy are you OK? – the latina asked
-Yeah, it's just that sometimes things get hard…
Lucy Ross was a 22-year-old college girl that Emmy had befriended as they both were frequent users of the study rooms in the city library. She had become someone Emmy could trust and could confide on, unfortunately, she also had ways that, for a college student were somewhat acceptable but for a fifteen-year-old like Emmy… not so much. Unfortunately, she would have to learn that the hard way, as one of those days after a full afternoon of study…
-Amazing… it's 7pm and I just got half of my homework done… oh well… work all night it is…
Emmy was perplexed, she could barely stay awake after nine and there it was, this girl planned to stay up all night studying right in the middle of the week. She also saw that the first thing she did after buying a coffee was to take what seemed like a white pill. She made nothing of it and things went by, until one day after math class…
-Emmy, can you stay for a moment please – the teacher said
The latina nodded.
-Look, I know you have a condition and we have done everything possible to help you, but you can't keep having Bs and Cs in your grades… if you want to move ahead you need at least an A+ in the next test.
-I promise I'll do better Mr. Russo…
-I don't want you to do better, I want you to get your grades up.
Unfortunately for Emmy she had the same talk with her French and her Literature teachers. And she knew she couldn't bother Sydney and Sophia because they were also thriving to keep their own grades up; especially since it was their junior year of high school now, and they had to start making their grades start looking good for college applications. Emmy knew she needed to add more study time to her day, and it hit her: Lucy. After a hard time convincing the amigas that she had an errand to run she managed to get to the library alone, and there she was, like any other day, the 22-year-old was in her usual table.
-Lucy?
-Hey Emmy, wow, you look nice today.
-Thanks. Listen… I need to ask you something…
-No, I don't like threesomes and least of all with underage girls
-LUCY!- Emmy yelled, her face bright red
The older girl burst out laughing
-Ok ok, so, what is it?
-Remember… when you had a lot of studying to do and you said you had to work all night?
-Yeah…. It happens every two weeks, what about it?
-I saw… saw you taking something…
The expression on the face of the college girl turned serious
-Look, you shouldn't...
-I need whatever that thing is… I don't want to stay behind my friends next year…
-Emmy listen, it's not...
-You use it and nothing has happened to you… please I need your help…
-Look… if I give you the pills… do you promise to be careful?
Emmy nodded
-OK… here's this bottle… take one mid afternoon and you will be working until dawn next day, don't take more than that in a week, understand me?
-Sure…
At first Emmy did as told, and she found herself improving in her grades, but as things got harder after the midterms, she began to use them almost daily and changes began to appear. Sydney was the first to notice as, one night, in something very unusual she woke up at 3am feeling thirsty, the first thing she noticed was that Emmy's bed was still made, thinking that she might have fallen asleep in the living room she walked out of the room and there she was, not sleeping but actually studying, seeing that the latina had her earphones on she decided not to bother her. But if seeing her friend working at 3am surprised her, seeing how fresh she was the morning after baffled her.
-Wow… you… look…. Great.
-Aww thank you, you look great too – the latina retorted
Yet she was not the only one finding Emmy working in the middle of the night, this time it was Angela who one night after feeding baby Lauren around 4am saw Emmy studying.
-Wow Emmy... talk about being up early…
-Oh I'm not up, I haven't got to bed yet – she replied
Angela was shocked
-But. you have to "get up" and be ready for school in two hours.
-I'll be fine Mrs Reynolds – she replied
And to the amazement of Angela, she was indeed fine as she was as fresh as the other two girls the next morning: but what she didn't see was that Emmy bought two cokes on the way to school, this of course wasn't missed by Sydney.
-Whoa… what's with that Emmy?
-I'm thirsty – Emmy said while opening the first can and having a long drink
At lunch the other three girls were surprised to see that Emmy didn't had much on her plate
-OK, what is going on? You were accepted on the sponsored meals plan so you can eat what you want, and that definitely is not lunch – Sophia said
-Oh it's not that, I'm not hungry, that's it – the latina replied
Things didn't change much for the next weeks, but Sydney was worried because she kept hearing about Emmy working extremely late at night and seeing her eat little but always craving for coke or anything similar. Yet there was a moment when Sophia was close to finding out the reason for all that, as one day as they were doing homework she stood up and accidentally tripped on Emmy's backpack which resulted in several items to roll out of it, one of them a bottle with white pills on it. Curious the brunette picked it up.
-What is this?
-Uh... it's… something I got… prescribed for… uh… allergies when I was in the shelter… - Emmy replied while quickly taking the bottle from her best friend.
Yet the breaking point was looming over, it all took place in what seemed like any other day, or at least it seemed. Since the minute she woke up Emmy began to feel dizzy, yet she managed to shower, get ready and go to school with Sydney and Sophia, the latter noticing that the latina was sweating and somewhat breathing faster.
-Emmy are you OK?
For any answer the latina just nodded and tried to smile. As they arrived to school each went their own way. As she was getting her books for her first class Emmy wimped and closed her eyes as she felt a sharp pain on her chest. Taking a deep breath she held from her locker for a few moments until she could walk to class. Two hours later she was getting ready for soccer practice when Sophia showed up.
-Wow… were you warming up?
-Huh?
-You're all sweaty
-Oh… I…. I'm yeah…
Sophia was about to say another word when the coach called them to the field for practice. If Sophia hadn't been distracted by another girl who spoke to her she would have noticed that Emmy had her eyes barely open as she got up from the bench where she changed. And so it happened, her vision blurred, the latina was hearing her heart pumping like there was no tomorrow, she could see the grass, then the beating stopped, her eyes closed, she felt light as a feather as an infinite peace came onto her. As she hit the grass another girl that was coming behind her tripped on her unmoving form.
-Hey, careful! Emmy? Emmy are you OK? COACH! COACH!
Sophia who was on the other side of the field noticed the commotion but never thought it had something to do with one of her best friends until she saw her laying on the grass. The few meters she had to run felt like kilometers, and as she arrived she heard the coach on the phone.
-…she just collapsed… breathing?
-Coach she's not breathing – one girl said
Sophia was frozen in place as the coach began to perform CPR instructed by the paramedics, after that she only captured images, a stretcher, paramedics, she didn't even knew how she managed to get into the ambulance nor when did they arrived to the hospital. She found herself on a waiting room. She finally reacted when she saw Sydney in front of her.
-Sophia… Sophia what happened!?
-She… she… just passed out. I... wait. Where… where's Olive?
-She's with my Dad, he's trying to calm her down. – Sydney replied
In an adjacent room nearby Olive was hysterical in front of Max
-SHE HAS TO BE OK! SHE HAS TO BE OK!
-She will be Olive, she...
-Family of Emmy Mendoza? – a Doctor coming into the room said
Max stood up
-We are, sort of, how is she?
The Doctor measured his words before answering
-We have her stabilized… she suffered a massive heart attack… the paramedics lost her several times on the way here, she's in a coma and… to be honest… we don't know if and the extent of any brain damage she might have.
Max was about to talk when he saw the doctor go past him and tend to Olive who was shaking uncontrollably while Sydney held her.
-Nurse get me 5mg of valium and get her to a room
As they took her away Sydney just sat on a chair looking upset, Max knelt before her.
-I should have seen it…
-Sydney there was no way
But the brunette blew up
-I SHOULD'VE! Don't you get it? If she had a heart attack, I should have seen the signals…
-Sydney you're not a doctor – Sophia said
Tears ran down her face
-I saw my mom when she died… and now if I have to see Emmy die too...
Max hugged his daughter as the doctor returned
-Mr. Reynolds?
-Yes? – he said standing up
-There's something more that I need to discuss with you, in private
-They are Emmy's sisters, what you tell me, they can hear – he retorted
-OK… I was about to tell you that we discovered that the reason behind Emmy having a massive heart attack was that she was using methamphetamines… apparently… daily… I don't think you're aware of this, am I correct?
Max was baffled, he had known Emmy, Olive and Sophia for years and so had Sydney, so he knew that the last thing she could be was a drug addict.
-Look Doctor, this has to be a mistake, I have known Emmy for years and...
What he didn't expect was for Sophia to interrupt him
-Wait… those… meta things… are… are they pills? – she asked
Sydney who until then had her face sunk in her hands rose it up in shock
-Yes, they look like this one but white – he replied showing her a blue pill he had in his pocket
Trembling she opened Emmy's backpack and after searching for a few moments produced the bottle, the doctor took it and nodded.
-These are the highest dose you can find… and the most addictive…
Sydney felt every word hit her like a hammer, as it all made sense now, her constant craving for anything with caffeine on it, her little to no appetite, her abnormal happiness in the mornings. She reacted when she saw her dad shaking Sophia.
-DID YOU KNEW SHE WAS USING THAT?
Sophia shook her head
-I would have never let her… I knew… because they fell from her backpack the other day…
Max hugged the teenager.
-I'm sorry… it's just… why?
-Mr. Reynolds… do you know if Emmy was academically struggling? – The doctor intervened
-Excuse me?
-These are the drug of choice for students that need to add extra-hours to their schedule when things get hard, but this is usually seen on college students not high-school ones
-Oh my God… – Sydney said
-…Emmy's attention deficit… - Sophia added
-Do you girls know something? – Max asked
-She had to stay behind with our math teacher a couple of weeks back.
-Wait wasn't it with our French teacher? – Sydney asked
Then it hit them, she was having trouble again, but this time she never said a thing.
-It was our fault… - Sydney said
-She's going to be OK right? – Sophia asked
-It's too early to tell I'm afraid.
-Can we see her? – Max asked
-Yes, but just for a couple of minutes.
As they entered the room the teenagers went to Emmy's side
-You're going to be OK Emmy, you'll see – Sophia said holding her hand
Sydney on the other hand stood motionless for a couple of moments and then ran out, Max behind her, he was able to reach her at an inner garden. The brunette was hyperventilating.
-Syd, are you OK?
For any answer she hugged him and began to cry.
-I… I couldn't stay there Dad… it… it was… it was seeing mom all over again… I can't…
-Emmy will be fine, you'll see…
-Excuse Mr. Reynolds? – a nurse said
-Yes?
-There's a couple in the waiting room asking for you, they say they're Emmy Mendoza's parents.
Max stood up with a serious look on his face.
-Thank you. Syd, can you wait here?
Moments later he was standing before Emmy's parents
-How is she? – Emmy's mom asked
-So now you care. You kicked her out, didn't care if she had a roof to sleep under for the night or food on the table…
-Look, she made a bad choice and... – Emmy's dad retorted
Max glared at her.
-My daughter has made bad choices but I would never kick her out like a pest…
-Just tell us if she's OK – Emmy's mom asked
Max took a deep breath
-We don't know yet.
Max turned around to leave when Emmy's Dad pulled him by the arm
-And what was that about us not being recognized as her parents?
He was about to talk when Sydney came over and interrupted.
-My Dad asked his lawyer to be named her legal guardian… and maybe adopt her, which I'm more than happy about – the brunette was in the verge of tears once more
-Sydney let's go back inside. – Max said
The two were about to walk away when Sydney looked back at Emmy's parents.
-You know... Emmy made a mistake just recently... but she wasn't doing anything wrong when you kicked her out.
In Emmy's room Sophia was startled when the door opened, it was Olive.
-Olive…
The blond girl went to Emmy's side, climbed into the bed and hugged her as she fell asleep. A nurse came in after her.
-Oh thank goodness she's here, we just gave her a bit more sedative. I'll take her to her room and...
-NO!... please let her stay here… - Sophia pleaded
The nurse gave it a thought
-OK, I'll come check on her in a few minutes.
As Max returned to the room (Sydney decided to go to the garden as she still couldn't bare seeing Emmy in such condition) he was startled to see Olive under the sheets sleeping beside her friend.
-What just happened? – asked Max
-Olive wanted to be with her. – Sophia replied
Four days later things hadn't changed much on Emmy's condition; the only difference was a second bed now in the room, a bed that was occupied mostly by Olive who only left to go change clothes and use the bathroom, but otherwise laid by Emmy's side holding her hand all day long. Sophia and Sydney meanwhile made sure she got the homework sent by her teachers everyday. But one day Olive was asleep on her bed when she heard Emmy groaning
-Emmy? – an startled Olive said
-Why… why am I here…
Olive felt the tears running down her cheeks.
-You're okay...
-I… who are you?
Olive's eyes opened wide. Since her initial panic attack when it all began she was taking therapy and learned how to control herself, but the fact that Emmy didn't remember her was too scary.
-I… I'm Olive… we're… we're together… and
Emmy was about to reply when Sydney and Sophia entered the room. Emmy smiled at them
-Hi, are you, my sisters? – the latina asked
Sydney was the first to pick up the situation as she had been reading a lot about what could happen to people who fell in a coma, thus she rushed to her side.
-Well... in a way... yes, me and Sophia, we are your sisters.
Emmy smiled
-And where are our parents? - she asked
-Oh… they will come later… how do you feel?
-Better I guess… a little hungry but they said they'll bring me lunch in a bit
-I'm glad… Sophia, Olive, can I talk to you guys?
The three went to the hall outside of the room, Olive began to sob
-Olive don't cry… I read that people that go through what Emmy went… can lose their memory…
Sophia opened her eyes as much as she could
-She'll never remember anything?
-She might… - Sydney replied trying to hold back her tears
As just as Sydney had said the Doctor explained to Max and Angela that due to the minutes Emmy's brain was deprived of oxygen, she had lost her memory, yet they couldn't tell if that would be temporary or permanent.
-What I suggest now is that you take her home, start showing her the things she loved, and we'll keep a look at her development in a couple of weeks. – the doctor in charge recommended
Two days after Sydney and Sophia led Emmy to the room she was sharing with Sydney.
-I love our room, it's beautiful – Emmy said
-Dad is making mac cheese and burgers for dinner – Sydney said
As the brunette left Sophia sat beside Emmy
-Are you feeling better?
-Guess so, my chest burns a bit at times, but the doctor said it'll be like that for a while… what I can't remember is what happened to me… or anything else before that…
Yet as they returned to school it was noticeable that she remembered a lot of things, but also that every time she got into the soccer field, she seemed anxious and couldn't concentrate on anything, Sydney sat beside her at lunch while Olive and Sophia were still on the line getting theirs.
-Syd…
-Yeah?
-Did… did something bad happened to me on the soccer field?
-Huh?
-Every… every time… I get there… I feel like… like something inside of me… was screaming that something really bad happened…
The brunette looked at her, she, along with the others, were told not tell her about the heart attack and all that ordeal not to scare her.
-I… I dunno…
But that was just the beginning, as a week later as she approached Olive's locker the blonde was taking out her books and as she moved, she got a glimpse of a photo that was glued to the door, it was her and Olive in a heart, and suddenly she yelped in pain and got to her knees as she felt a sharp pain on her head, like a migraine, and torrent of images appearing on her head, a beach, a kiss, a relationship, she was trying to cope with everything and to breath at the same time.
-EMMY! – Olive screamed as she ran to her
-I'm fine…
But Max wasn't so convinced as he was told what happened at the bike shop after school
-I'm going to take you to the doctor, better be safe than sorry
-It's fine Mr. Reynolds, really
-Nope, no excuses, let's go.
As they left Sydney almost dropped a smoothie on a customer
-What was that? – Sophia asked
-uh… nothing…
Later that afternoon Max and Emmy returned, with the doctors saying there was no reason to worry. Later that night, the three girls were asleep. It was past 2am when Sydney woke up startled thinking she had forgot part of her homework. She ran to her work table and after checking her laptop realized she was wrong. She turned it off and headed back to her bed but not after hitting her bare foot with the chair. Making sure her scream didn't wake up the others she moved forward only to realize a brightness on Emmy's bed. As she got closer she noticed that it was a small screen… belonging to Emmy's digital diary, a sort of tablet that mostly allowed the user to read and keep notes and that both her and Sophia knew was Emmy's sancta Santorum, only her knowing where to press her finger to open the lid and the password to unlock it. As she went to close it, she noticed that the screen read: "ENTRY SAVED. CREATE ANOTHER? (y/n)" Carefully she closed it and went back to bed. The following morning she couldn't help but to glare at Emmy, something that the latina was quick to notice.
-What? Did I do my makeup wrong?
-Huh? No no, it's OK… - Sydney nervously replied
At school later that day Emmy was startled when she heard Sydney yell in frustration
-What's wrong?
-I forgot the combination for my locker…
Emmy chuckled
-It's each of the Amigas birthday, see? We all have the same in our lockers, which we decided when we were having smoothies at the bi…
Sydney realized Emmy's eyes were opened wide and her hands were trembling
-You… you got… you got your memory back… I was right…
-No… no no… I haven't… didn't…
Emmy then ran away. Sydney ran after her until they reached the soccer field where an exhausted Emmy fell to her knees crying, the brunette knelt in front of her.
-Emmy, what's wrong?
-OK yes… I remembered everything two weeks ago…
-That's why you started calling dad Mr. Reynolds again… and using your diary…
Emmy rose her head
-How do you know…
-You fell asleep the other day and left it on… but why didn't you tell us?
-I don… I don't want to go back to that life… where I made so many mistakes… when I didn't remember anything… it was a lot easier… like starting from scratch… then… it all came back… the pain… the rejection…
-The love we all have for you… especially Olive…
-I love her… just… that I don't know if I can keep going forward with that relationship considering all the problems that followed it...
-You're not alone Emmy… we're all with you.
-I lost my family also…
-And you got a new one, you and everything will be fine, I promise…
Emmy smiled
-Thank you Sydney…
-Now let's go give the good news to the others.
They got up as the sun shined over them with new hope and new strength.
THE END