That night, as Zac lay in his warm bed, he thought about the day. The afternoon had passed quickly as the five kids had talked about the past year and a half. Zac's suspicions about them acting different were confirmed true. Sydney, who used to be known as "sweet, shy, and good-natured," had become, in Zac's opinion, "snobby, stuck-up, and spoiled." Most of the afternoon's conversation had been spoken by her or about her. Since moving, she had become a "Little Miss Popular" type, nominated for Homecoming Court at her old school, head cheerleader, all the such. Now, instead of being the person Zac had grown up to know, she was totally different.
Anna was different, too. Zac used to define her as "fun, out-going, care-free, and loud," but from the afternoon past, he would assume none of that was true. She had sat back and listened quietly to her sister drone on and on, along with Ike, Tay, and Zac, and hadn't even tried to put a word in edge-wise. The smile she had flashed occasionally seemed different, hauntingly lonely if nothing else. From looking at her, you would think she was the same old Anna, but trying to get her to talk, a task easily manageable before, was like trying to drive through a brick wall.
Zac had been under the impression Anna was used to acting quiet and withdrawn due to her older sister's new, outgoing personality. Some of his friends had complained before that it was sometimes hard to live up to their older siblings' accomplishments, and he assumed that to be the reason for her reverse personality. He had tried several times to get her to speak, and to bring her into the conversation, but his attempts had been shunned with a one or two word answer. Isaac and Taylor hadn't been much help, they had devoted their attention to Sydney, who didn't seem to mind. Zac rolled over and faced the wall, sighing. He heard Taylor shift slightly on his bed, and soon Zac had drifted into a deep sleep, his questions temporarily pushed to the back of his head.
Anna shifted uncomfortably on the hotel bed. On the other bed, Sydney's breathing was steady and even, indicating she was fast asleep. Staring up at the ceiling, she drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out. That afternoon had been a living nightmare. Sydney had been her usual self, going on and on about senseless things, but what had bothered Anna most was that her old friends, who used to be so down-to-earth, had actually listened attentively! Well, Isaac and Taylor had. Zac had seemed to notice she wasn't talking much and had tried to draw her into the conversation, but Anna knew better and had done her best to keep her responses to one or two words.
Ever since they moved to Ohio, Sydney had wanted to change her personality. Anna hadn't seen anything wrong with it, but she wasn't going to say so. Sydney was always strong-minded. Over the first few months, her personality had gradually become different. Her new friends were all cheerleaders, so Sydney had tried out and made it, to her glee. The new social position had made her one of the more popular girls in her grade. She had added highlights to her hair, gotten contacts, her braces had come off... Anna was beginning not to recognize her own sister.
In late October, Sydney had been nominated onto the Homecoming Court, and as a ninth grader, was eligible for the position of Homecoming Queen. But to her dismay, her best fried Heather had received the title instead. The phone started ringing off the hook, all calls for Sydney. It became so bad that she had received her own phone line.
During this period Anna had made her own friends, but she wasn't nearly as popular as her sister was considered to be. Anna was more of a crowd follower, instead of a crowd leader, like Sydney. Sydney's off the wall changes had affected their relationship tremendously. Anna had used to go to Sydney with all her problems, and they had always been so close. But since Syd's new found friendships had come along, Anna was sort of put in a second to them. Sydney always promised to save time for Anna, but she also always seemed to forget and make other, more important plans. So Anna had begun to draw herself away from the rest of the world, making a secluded invisible wall around her. Sydney's neglect of Anna had caused them both to grow apart, and had made Anna feel unimportant and unloved. Their parents were there, of course, but Anna couldn't go to them with her boy problems or such. So she had learned to keep her emotions locked away, until they faded into a dim light that finally turned off after several months.
Anna began to think about how much fun she and Sydney had when they used to hang out. And how they used to be so close. And for the first time in a year and a half, she cried for the memory of her sister's love.
Taylor stepped out of the car, observing the house in front of him. It was fairly large, brick with cream trim, a two car garage and huge backyard. It was about two and a half blocks from the Hanson's house, to everyone's delight. Sydney came up behind him, causing him to jump as she tapped his shoulder. He smiled at her. "Hey Syd." Sydney smiled back, showing off her perfect teeth. "Hey Tay. Like the house?" she asked. Taylor nodded. "From out here it seems ok. Haven't been inside yet, though." Sydney started walking towards the front door. "Where are our parents?" she called back over her shoulder. "Inside," Taylor answered, catching up. "Ike and Zac are with Anna, they went out back I think." Sydney twirled a piece of hair around her index finger. "What about your little brother and sisters?"
They entered the house at that moment, dodging a moving man. "Mom left them at the house with a sitter. She thought it might be a little easier to work without them underfoot. Jessie and Avie may come over later, though," Taylor explained. He followed Sydney into the kitchen, where Mrs. Hanson and Mrs. Terrence were sitting at the table. "Taking a break already?" Taylor joked. They both laughed. "We wanted to see if this was a good place for the table," Mrs. Terrence answered. "Looks like it is." She stood and walked around the kitchen, observing it. "I guess everything in here is fine. Now I'll go check the living room. Movers never put things were you want them." Mrs. Hanson stood up. "I'll come, too." Before leaving, though, Mrs. Terrence turned to Sydney. "Find Anna, and tell her to unpack her stuff. That goes for you, too," she instructed. Sydney nodded, and the two mothers left. Taylor glanced out the back window, looking at his brothers and Anna. Then he headed towards the backdoor. "I'll get them. Be right back," he offered. Sydney smiled, then sat at the table.
"Hey guys, Anna's mom said she and Syd need to unpack," Taylor told them as he stepped into the fresh summer air. Anna reluctantly stood and started walking towards the house, Ike and Zac taking her lead. The four silently re-entered the kitchen, finding Sydney sitting comfortably at the table. "Come on Syd," Anna said. Sydney got up and pushed the chair under the table, then led the way out of the room. "Where are your bedrooms?" Isaac asked. Anna turned, but before she could answer Sydney beat her to it. "Mine is downstairs, and Anna's is up here, along with the master and guest room."
Zac glanced at Anna, who was staring at her feet. "I'll help Anna, and I assume you two are planning on helping Syd," he said, looking directly at his brothers. They both gave him dirty looks, but agreed. Sydney stopped at the top of the stairs, glancing at Taylor and Isaac. "Ok, well just follow me. Anna, you can show Zac where your room is, right?" Anna nodded. "Of course. I know where my room is!" she exclaimed with exasperation. Sydney just rolled her eyes and started down the staircase.
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