You Found Me: A Story of Sky and Syd
Disclaimer: Yeah. Right.
Challenge: Smile
Timeframe: Can take place anywhere after Endings.
Bright lights glistened the raucous laughter of children rang out over the fairgrounds, giving Sky Tate an instant headache. Sydney Drew tugged him along determinedly.
"You are not going to be a stick in the mud tonight, Sky," she called back to him. "The carnival is only in town once a year."
"Are you forgetting you're eighteen, not eight?" Sky said under his breath.
Syd wheeled around, hands on her hips. "I am perfectly aware of my age, Sky. Now come on; we're taking a ride on the Ferris wheel."
Sky rolled his eyes, but followed Sydney obediently, hoping she might let him leave and get some sleep if he indulged her for a bit.
"You two make a cute couple," the girl taking tickets commented, smiling as she ripped their tickets. "Have a nice ride."
To Sydney's surprise, Sky didn't deny the assumption.
From the top of the Ferris wheel, all of New Tech was visible. Sydney was grinning from ear to ear, but Sky was sitting in stony silence, glowering.
"Oh come on, Sky," she pleaded, scooting closer to him. "I know you love Ferris wheels. We used to go on them all the time, remember?"
"As kids," Sky ground out, annoyed.
Syd folded her arms over her chest tightly. "The whole point of the carnival is being a little kid again," she huffed. "And I'm not giving up until I get you to smile."
Sky stared at her. "Why is it so important to you that I smile?"
"Because, silly, you're my best friend. I like it when you're happy." And with that, she found his hand, squeezed it, and put her head on his shoulder.
Sky and Syd Sky and Syd Sky and Syd
"You're impossible!" Syd proclaimed, glaring coldly at him. Sky didn't like the teacups, the dunk booth or the haunted house. Nor did he want to eat any of the horrible carnival corndogs and nachos, something they'd always treated themselves to as children. He wouldn't touch the fluffy cloud of cotton candy Syd had bought, and he was starting to drive her crazy. Then she smirked. "I enjoy a challenge."
Syd guided him through the fairgrounds, passing Z and Bridge, who was wearing a gigantic stuffed green puppy as a sort of hat. Z was trying very hard not to laugh, they could tell.
"Ooh! Perfect!" Syd cried joyously, spotting a miniscule structure on the edge of the other attractions. Her face lit up as she pulled Sky through the carnival, weaving their path expertly. Sky had to admit he like the way her eyes shone when she was happy.
It was a photo booth. Sydney's wallet was out of her purse in a flash as she snatched three dollar bills from it and fed them into the machine.
"Come on!"
Syd threw herself onto the seat and started practicing her poses. Sky merely sat next to her while the machine snapped the pictures, looking bored. Syd glanced at him, looking hurt. "Can't you take one picture with me?" she begged, throwing her arms around his neck. The timer began to tick again, counting the seconds until the camera took the last photo.
Syd scooted herself closer until there was no room between them. The clock announced there were ten seconds left. When it had reached one, she leaned in and kissed Sky on the cheek.
The photos were slowly expelled from the machine.
"Cool, black and white," Syd remarked casually. She slipped the pictures into her purse and handed the other row to Sky.
She left him sitting there, staring at them. Syd had accomplished her goal because in the last picture, the one where she had kissed him, he was smiling.