Sydney to the Max Season 5: Episode 20 - Graduation Day

Written By: "Fun But Shy Girl", Based on Characters Created by: Mark Reisman

2025:

Sydney and Olive were both getting their belongings out of their high school lockers as Sydney said, "Well, here we go. Last day of school." Olive smirked as she said, "Yeah. I'm glad we spent it showing the incoming freshmen around. Remember when we were them?" Sydney smirked too as she said, "Yeah. The first time we walked into this building we were so young. I wasn't dating Harry yet, I only referred to Angela as 'Sophia's mom', and you and Emmy weren't even a couple yet." Then Olive said, "Actually we were. We just didn't tell you or Sophia yet." Then as the two teenage girls headed towards the door to the school, Sydney said, "So what time is the wedding rehearsal tomorrow?" The Olive said, "Oh. 6pm. Since we graduate at noon, me and Emmy thought that be enough time to party before then." Sydney then said, "Okay."

Then Sydney suddenly froze as she reached the front door to the high school. Olive stopped to look at Sydney as she said, "What? What is it?" Then Sydney standing like she was in a daze said, "It's just... once I step outside these doors... my childhood is over, isn't it? Sure, there's the graduation ceremony tomorrow, but that's at another location. But this... this place... this is the last remnant of my journey as a child." As Olive looked around she said, "I get it. Tomorrow, our childhood gets wrapped up. But today... today is the last page." Then Sydney held Olive's hand and said, "Well... thank you for being with me through this entire journey Olive. I may have Sophia and Lauren now, but you... you were my first sister." Then Olive looked at Sydney as she smiled and said, "And you will always be mine. Now... how about... no turning back. We only look forward as we leave." Sydney nodded her head and said, "Deal." Then Sydney and Olive held hands as they kept their faces forward and walked out of the school together.

Emmy was in the Reynolds home packing several things into a bag as Olive walked into the room. Olive gave Emmy a quick kiss on the lips and then said, "Hey babe. How you doing?" Emmy made a little smile as she said, "Okay. Just packing everything I have. You know aside from my clothes, I only now just realized that I don't have much to pack, since... well... I didn't move in here owning much to begin with." Emmy suddenly took a deep breath as she sat down, while Olive sat near her. As Emmy opened up a backpack she had, she said, "When... my parents kicked me out... I was only able to grab a few things while heading out of the house. My wallet, my phone, my diary, and... these two pictures." Then Emmy held out a photo of herself and her two siblings, and another photo of herself with her parents. A few tears then appeared in Emmy's eyes as she said, "I sent them an invitation to our wedding. They... they never responded. I didn't expect them to... just like I never expect them to respond to me ever again... which probrably won't happen considering I might not have much time left at all. Excuse me." Then Emmy stood up and walked out of the room starting to crying.

Olive sat alone for a moment, as Sophia stepped into the room and said, "Okay Olive. I double checked for you. Your flight is still leaving on time in two days, and I already got you a ride to the airport, and..." Then Sophia noticed Olive seemed upset. Sophia then sat down and said, "Olive, what is it?" Olive sighed and said, "It's Emmy. Life is never fair for her, huh? First she gets kicked out of her home... then my mother mistreats her... now she also has to deal with recovering from luekemia." Then Sophia said, "Emmy is a strong young woman Olive. She'll be fine. She has you for a start." Olive then looked down as she said, "I know Emmy is strong. I only wish I could say something to help her realize it... or maybe I could do something to help her realize it..."

Max was counting money in the cash register at the bike shop, while Sydney was cleaning the tables. Max smirked as he looked at Sydney while saying, "Look at you. Last day of school, and instead of partying with your friends, you decided to spend it with your old man. Either I'm a pretty cool dad, or all your friends had plans tonight." Sydney smiled as she looked at her dad and said, "Actually they did all have plans. But... I figured one more night hanging out with you would be a great way to cap things off before graduation." Then as Sydney and Max sat down at a table together, Max said, "I hear that. It's amazing how much has happened since you began high school. Four years ago it was just the three of us: me, you, and your grandma. Now in just four days it's gonna be just the three of us, but this time the three of us is now me, Angela, and my second born child... something I never thought I'd get to say." Then Sydney said, "Well sorry that me and Sophia are bailing on your guys so soon after graduation. Getting a chance to be part of a foreign exchange summer camp counselor program was something neither of us could give up on."

Then Max said, "Well me and Angela are going to miss you two a lot... especially since you saved us both a fortune on paying for babysitters." Sydney laughed a bit and then said, "Yeah. Free labor is pretty sweet." Then Max said, "Well... you definitely made the first two years of raising Lauren much easier for me. Honestly... it's gonna be hard once you're gone." Then Sydney gently held her father's hand and said, "You're gonna be just fine. You have Angela. Besides, even on your own, you were always not just a good dad... you were the best." Then the two heard on a nearby radio some slow dance music playing. Then Max with a little smile said, "So... one more father/daughter dance before you're all grown up?" Sydney smiled as she said, "Well... since the store is closed and nobody is watching..." Then Sydney and Max both stood up, held hands, and began to dance slowly with one another.

Olive and Emmy both sat in a doctor's office in front of Emmy's doctor: Dr. Hamilton who was smiling as she said, "Well the good news just doesn't stop with you Emmy. Your luekemia is still in remission, and I see no warning signals that it'll return. Just don't miss any appointments with your new doctor starting next month, and I'm sure everything will be okay." Then a curious Emmy with a look of embaressment on her face said, "And... about the other things we both came in to check up on... There isn't anything stopping us from doing... you know... on our wedding night?" Dr. Hamilton gave a warm smile as she said, "Not at all. You are both two healthy woman that are in ideal physical and mental condition to express your love however you see fit. Just consult your next doctor if you're considering having children via artificial insemination at some point in your future... or if it's through some type of threesome." Then a curious Emmy said, "Wait. That's an option?" Then Olive quickly stood up and grabbed Emmy's hand as she said, "Thank for all your help Dr. Hamilton."

Then as Olive led Emmy out into a hospital hallway, a curious Emmy said, "Olive, why do you look like you're in a rush? And you've been checking your phone several times since we got here. Is everything okay?" Then Olive looked right at Emmy as she said, "Well actually... I did something without telling you, and I'm not sure if it was the right thing, but... I guess we're about to find out." A confused looking Emmy then said, "What are you talking about?" Then Olive and Emmy turned the corner of a hallway and saw sitting in two chairs nearby were Emmy's parents. Emmy stood in shock as she said, "Mom!? Dad!?" Emmy's parents stood up as as Emmy's mother looking nervous and cautious said, "Hello Emmy."

Sydney was in the living room of her home laying on the couch as she watched television. Suddenly Lauren crawled into the room, and climbed onto the couch as a smiling Sydney said, "Hey Lauren. Whatcha up to?" Then Lauren with a big smile said, "Huggy time Sissey!" Then Lauren fell onto Sydney giving her a big hug. Sydney smiled as she hugged Lauren. The two sisters then lay on the couch together for some time remaining in a long hug. As they remained still, Sydney said, "You know Lauren... I always wanted a little sister. However what didn't dawn on me was how being a big sister means that I have to eventually leave you, and... that's hard for me. I know I'm supposed to go off and start my own life, but... I wish I could hold onto this part of my life for just a little longer. I... I wish I could hold you like this this just a little longer." Then Lauren began to close her eyes as she said, "Love you Sissey." Sydney smiled as she closed her eyes and said, "Love you too Lauren."

Inside of the hospital lobby, Emmy and Olive sat in a set of chairs facing Emmy's parents who were sitting in their own set of chairs. Emmy's father looked at Emmy as he slowly said, "We... we recently heard from Olive here about your recent luekemia diagnosis. How are you feeling?" Emmy looked down slightly as she said, "I'm okay. It's in remission right now, and it might never come back." The four all sat silent for several moments. Emmy's mother then spoke up and said, "Have you heard from your brother and sister recently?" Emmy looked up as she said, "We talk every week. Why?" Emmy's mother sighed and then said, "Because they won't talk to us anymore. They're upset at us with how we treated them, and... with how we treated you. We were just trying to get one of our children to turn back into who she once was. But in doing so... we lost all our children."

Emmy's mother tilted her head down as everyone remained silent for a moment. Emmy then finally spoke up and said, "I know you two wanted the best for me. But... maybe if you had taken the time to talk to me... to really know me in the last few years... you'd know who I really was, and then maybe would've known what was best for me. I mean I've been a teenager for over five years now, and teenagers change a lot, and... if a teenager can't talk to their parents about what they're going through, then who can they... Ugh." Emmy began to look frustrated, as Emmy's father then said, "We should've listened to you more Emmy. We may not be completely pleased with how you turned out, but we're ashamed of how we both turned out. This... choice you made in who to love... is not what we planned for. But... we did want to continue being part of your life when you found love." Then Emmy's mother said, "So... if you give us a chance... we'd like to have our daughter back... no matter what she's like now."

A few tears went down Emmy's face, as she nodded her head, took a deep breath, and then said, "I'd like that. But please know there's a lot of painful memories I feel and still see in my mind whenever I think of you two. It's going to take a long time before those painful memories are not at the forefront of my mind when I look at you. But... I would like to have you in my life again... and I would like for you to attend my wedding this Satuday." Then Emmy's father handed Emmy an envelope as he said, "Then, here." A confused Emmy then said, "What's this?" Emmy's father then said, "A check which should more than enough cover the expenses for a nice wedding ceremony. A father is supposed to cover the cost of his daughter's wedding, correct?" Emmy smiled as she said, "Thank you dad."

Sydney lay asleep on the couch holding a sleeping Lauren in her arms. Then Sydney felt a hand shake her shoulder, along with a familiar male voice saying, "Wakey, wakey." Sydney opened her eyes and saw Harry sitting on the floor near her. Sydney with a smile said, "Hey Harry. How'd you get in?" Harry smiled as he said, "Sophia let me in. Just wanted to see you one more time before graduation day... and I wanted to see Lauren one more time before I head off this weekend." Then as Sydney lifted Lauren up, Lauren opened her eyes. Upon seeing Harry, Lauren's face became excited as she said, "Hey Hawey!" Then Lauren instantly jumped into Harry's arms and hugged him. As Harry held and hugged Lauren he said, "Hey little bitty pretty one. Ready to ride the horse up to bed!?" Lauren excitedly yelled, "Horsey ride! Horsey ride!" Then Harry carried Lauren to her room, and put her in her small bed. Then as Harry tucked Lauren into bed he said, "Okay. Now remember, big girls know there's nothing scary about the dark. Because when you wake up, you'll see the only thing that was hiding in the dark was all your fun toys and the people who love you." Then Lauren hugged Harry and said, "Love you Hawey!" Harry smiled as he said, "Love you too Lauren."

Then Sydney and Harry stepped out into the hallway as a smiling Sydney said, "Harry... you are so amazing with her." Harry smiled back as he said, "Thanks. And like I once told you... whenever you're absolutely ready for it... I'll be ready to help take care of our own kids when we one day start a new life together." Then Sydney looked a little hesistant as she said, "Yeah.. a... new life... Um... Harry?" Harry with a smile still on his face said, "Yes Sydney?" Sydney then said, "I... I want us to start a new life together one day. But until then... I don't want to give up all of my old life yet. So... if it's okay... once we start college, since it's not that far away, I wanna come home every weekend and help take care of Lauren, because I still just want to be a big sister and not be anything else new... for now." Then Harry smiled as he held Sydney's hands and said, "That's fine with me. And when you're finally ready to become anything else new... I'll be ready for that day." Sydney smiled as she looked into Harry's eyes and said, "Some day."

In a large auditorium, many high school teenagers were being given their high school diploma. As Emmy walked the stage, she waved to Max and Angela who were the audience, then waved to her sister, brother, and aunt, and then gave a short wave to her parents that were sitting in another area of the audience. As Sophia walked across the stage, she waved to her mother and grandmother and gave a bigger wave to her older brother she spotted. As Sydney walked across the stage, she waved to her grandmother Judy, her dad, Angela, her grandfather Doug, her other grandmother Maya, and she made sure to give a special wave to Lauren. As Olive walked across the stage, she waved to her four cheering brothers alongside her mother. Then eventually an adult teacher said, "And now to close out our ceremony, we welcome our class valedictorian: Olive Rozalski." The other Amigas cheered as Olive walked up the podium.

Olive then spoke into the microphone as she said, "You know it's funny how life can change so much before you graduate from high school. You see, I talked to many of my fellow graduates freshmen year about what they wanted to do when they grew up, and when I talked to them over the years, their answers kept changing. And... that's okay. New developments are always going to happen, new challenges are always going to happen, and... new setbacks are always going to happen. But that's okay. We just have to change our plans accordingly. Because life is always going to change us, and that means we have to keep adapting, and more importantly: keep learning. As I was actually getting this graduation cap and gown the other day, I looked at it and realized... this cap and gown doesn't signify that I've learned everything I need to know yet. It just means I've learned enough to finally not hear Mr. Haney's super long morning announcements every morning. But I've got a lot more to learn. Not just about science and genetics, but about people, about love, about family, and about being a better person. Years from now, I want to look back at the person who is standing before you now and say... that girl was an idiot... because I plan to keep learning and growing as a human being so much in the years to come. But as for today... I stand before you proud to have reached this milestone, and I stand proud to say on behalf of my fellow graduating students... class of '25, we outta here y'all!" All of the graduating teenagers then cheered as they tossed their caps into the air, while everyone else clapped for them.

THE END