"Hey Sydney, can I talk to you?" Anna stepped inside Sydney's room cautiously, almost as if Sydney might pull a gun on her at any moment. Sydney looked up from the book she was reading and sighed. "About what? This is just starting to get good," she complained. Anna walked farther into the room, and stopped when she reached the edge of the bed. "I don't know. I was just sort of hoping we could talk... like we used to." Sydney picked her book mark up and slipped it inside the book, then sat up and looked at Anna. "What do you mean?" she questioned, her brown eyes curious.
Anna sat next to her older sister and bit her lip. "Well, I didn't really know. I just wanted to talk." Sydney flopped back down and rolled onto her stomach. "If you wanted to talk to me, you must have wanted to talk about something," Sydney persisted. Anna hesitated. "Well... I was wondering... how come we never talk anymore?" Sydney pushed some hair off of her face and gave Anna a weird look. "We're talking now, aren't we?" she asked lightly. Anna rolled her eyes in frustration. "No, Syd! We aren't! We may be talking, but it's not meaning anything! It's like..." Anna trailed off, searching for the proper wording. "It's like we aren't sisters, but we're merely acquaintances."
Anna's words stung Sydney. "What are you talking about?" she exclaimed with rage. Anna flipped her long hair over her shoulder and stood up. "Ever since we moved to Ohio you've acted like the Queen of the World, and I'm just your faithful follower. We used to be so close, but then you just forgot about me!" Sydney stood up, towering over Anna. "I did not! You just built some secluded shell over yourself, not letting anyone in and not letting yourself out! You pushed me away, Anna!" Anna stared at Sydney, her blue eyes filling with tears. "If I pushed you away, then you gave me up, Syd. Neglected me, left me in the dust. I didn't even think you cared anymore!" The room fell silent, and the two sisters stared each other down. "You know what?" Anna continued, her tears glistening. "I still don't think you do."
Sydney watched as Anna ran from the room, and up the stairs. Somewhere in the distance, she heard a door slam. Standing there, she crumbled onto her bed in tears, not knowing why. "I didn't give her up," she whispered, trying to convince herself. "We grew apart, and neither of us noticed. We just kept pushing each other away, and now it's like we're total strangers," she concluded. Then she sobbed into her pillow, wishing things could go back to how they were before. When she and Anna were close; when they told each other everything. But in the end, it was all the same. They weren't close, and they may never be again.
That night, at the Hanson home, Zac was sitting on Tay's bed, staring at the bottom of Ike's bunk. Isaac wondered into the room, surprised to find him there. "Hey Prozac, where's your energy?" he asked, grabbing a notebook. Zac didn't answer, he just sat there, thinking to himself. "Zac? You ok?" Ike asked, sitting next to him. Zac looked at his older brother and sat up, shaking his head. "You and Tay have been hanging around Syd more than I have," he stated. Isaac nodded. "Well, have you noticed a change in her?" he asked. Isaac was thoughtful. "Do you mean in her personality?" he inquired. Zac nodded, awaiting an answer.
"Well... I suppose. Maybe. She's definitely more out-going," Isaac told him. Zac stood up and wandered across the room to where a table of LEGOs was. "Remember how she and Anna used to be close?" he asked Ike. Isaac shrugged. "Yeah, I guess. Aren't they still?" Zac faced Isaac, his face serious. "No. Not according to Anna, anyway. She said all Sydney cares about now is popularity and looks." Isaac stood up from the bed, smiling. "Sounds like Anna may be a little jealous of her sister, that's all," he explained. Zac shook his head.
"She's nowhere near being jealous, Ike," he tried to say. But Isaac wouldn't listen. "Come on Zac, be realistic. Sydney grew up while they were gone, and, while Anna may have matured, she's still a long ways away from being as mature as Sydney is. And Anna's jealous. She resents Sydney for leaving her behind, and in her POV she thinks Sydney just decided to neglect her for some apparent reason." Zac thought this over. It made sense, but he knew that wasn't the problem. "Maybe, Ike. Thanks," he said. Not wanting to pursue it anymore, he left.
Around ten-thirty the next morning, the phone rang at the Terrence house. Anna was walking past the kitchen when it rang, so she picked it up. "Hello," she said. "Hey Anna! It's Zac," the voice said. Anna sat at the table and looked outside at the sunny day. "Hey Zac," she said, her voice sounding dull and lifeless. Zac instantly knew something was wrong. "Uh oh. What happened?" he asked. Anna sighed. "I don't want to talk about it on the phone," she told him. Zac was quiet for a moment. "Be right back," he promised, then the other end became silent.
Minutes later, he returned. "Anna, Ike and Tay are coming over to pick Sydney up. They're going to the mall. We can go, too, and talk there. Is that ok?" he suggested. Anna didn't respond for a moment, but then said, "That's fine. How soon will you be here?" she asked. Zac covered the receiver with his hand, and Anna heard him repeat the question. "In about twenty minutes," he informed her. "Ok, I'll see ya then," Anna replied. "Bye Anna," Zac said, then Anna hung up the phone.
Anna walked back to her room and pulled open her closet door, trying to decide what to wear. She had already taken a shower, but had put on a pair of old shorts and a ratty tee shirt, not planning on doing anything. So she quickly changed into jean shorts and a sleeveless shirt, then pulled on socks and a pair of running shoes. She quickly brushed her hair and grabbed some money, then slipped on a pair of sunglasses to hide her still puffy eyes.
Walking back towards the front door, she ran into Rachel. "Hey Mom, I'm going to the mall with Zac," she said, avoiding Mrs. Terrence's stare. "Ok honey. Just be careful," she said. Anna nodded and walked outside. She sat on the front steps, letting the sun beat down on her bronzed legs. About five minutes later, she heard the door open. Sydney stepped out and sat next to her, acting oblivious to Anna's presence. Anna just stared straight ahead, giving Sydney the same treatment.
"Why are you out here?" Sydney finally spoke, but her voice was cold. Anna turned, glad her sunglasses hid her eyes, and calmly replied, "I am waiting for my ride. If you have a problem with it, then leave. You won't be missed."
Sydney gave Anna a look of surprise, which quickly turned to a pissed-off look, and then they looked away from each other. Sydney couldn't believe Anna had just said that to her, and Anna couldn't believe Sydney hadn't retorted back. Normally, she would have been quick to think of a snide reply, but coming from Anna, the insult must have shocked her. Anna watched Sydney out of the corner of her eye. She was shifting uncomfortably, as if she wanted to talk to Anna but couldn't get up enough nerve. Anna smiled at her sister's uneasiness. It had been ages since she had seen it.
Just then, Isaac's car pulled up in front of the house. Anna and Sydney stood up at the same time. Glancing up at her sister, Anna just shook her head and walked down the front walk, leaving Sydney standing on the front stoop. "Is Sydney coming?" Taylor asked her. Anna shrugged and slid into the back seat next to Zac. "Hey," he said with a smile. She just looked at him and gave him a small smile back, indicating that she did not want to say anything at the moment.
Taylor sat next to Anna, and Sydney took the passenger seat. "Hey Syd, how's it goin'? Isaac asked as they drove down the street. Sydney looked down at her hands and nodded. "It's ok. How 'bout you guys?" she responded. "We're fine," Taylor answered. He leaned forward so he could be heard easier. Anna turned and made a face at Zac, and they both laughed, ceasing the conversation. "What's so funny?" Sydney asked, turned to look at Anna. Anna stared back, her smile fading. "Nothing," Zac replied for her. They exchanged a glance, and smiled, surprising their older siblings.
Sydney turned back around and stared out the car window, her head leaning against the cool pane of glass. "Syd, are you ok?" Taylor was whispering through the crack between the seat and the door. Sydney sighed. "I'm fine, Taylor," she lied. "Perfectly fine."
Mail Starr at starr_dust@mailexcite.com .
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