Summer 2020:

-Sydney Reynolds was competing in a swim team match and was in the middle of the final round of a major competition. Among other people, her best friend Olive sat in the stands watching her swim. Olive competed earlier (and lost) and was still in her swim team outfit but didn't change because she didn't want to miss a second of Sydney competing. Olive watched with so much eagerness to see her best friend win. And then she saw it. Sydney won. Many people jumped up and cheered for Sydney but none louder than Olive. Sydney then got out of the water and caught her breath. Olive ran up to Sydney.

Olive: SYDNEY! YOU WON! YOU WON!

Sydney: I know! Thank you for cheering me on every step of the way Olive.

Olive: Anything for you Sydney.

-And then suddenly the two moved their faces towards each other quickly and kissed the other on the lips. Suddenly the two moved their faces away from each other and looked at each other with expressions of shock. Their arms were stuck in the formation they were in when they kissed. The two both turned their bodies around and walked away from the other person as quick as possible. The two both walked away from each other as they spoke softly to themselves.

Sydney: Why did I just do that? What was I thinking? Why did I kiss her? Why did I kiss my best friend of all things!?

Olive: Why did just do that? She's my best friend in the whole world. Why would I do something so insane like that!?

Summer 1995:

-Max and his science lab partner Alicia were standing near a science project of theirs as they saw several judges at the front of the auditorium they were in, getting ready to speak.

Alicia: I'm feeling nervous Max. We've come so far. It would stink to get only second place in the county science fair.

Max: Relax Alicia. We've been lab partners in science class every semester for three years. When have I ever let you down?

Alicia: Well there was that one time...

Max: Anyway, baking soda volcano are always a crowd pleaser. But they way you made the lava come out in multiple colors is what nailed our win. You'll see.

-The two then became silent as one of the judges held out a microphone and spoke.

Judge: And the winner of the county science fair is... Max Reynolds and Alicia Fuentes with their outstanding Rainbow Volcano.

-People began to clap and cheer as Alicia jumped up for a moment.

Alicia: Oh my gosh! We won! We won!

Max: I can't believe it. We really did.

-Then suddenly the two moved their faces towards each other quickly and kissed the other on the lips. Suddenly the two moved their faces away from each other and looked at each other with expressions of shock. Their arms were stuck in the formation they were in when they kissed. The two both turned their bodies around and turned away from the other person as quick as possible. Both of their faces had now turned red.

Alicia: Umm. We better go up and get our award.

Max: Yeah. Um... we should.

Summer 2020:

-Sydney was laying on her bed still and silent with a look of confusion and uncertainty on her face. Suddenly the door opened and Sydney's father: Max stepped in.

Max: Hey sweety. Dinner is ready. Are you... Sydney? What's wrong?

-Sydney then covered her face with a pillow and then began to mumble speak through it.

Sydney: Everything!

Max: Okay Syd. It can't be that bad.

-Sydney then took the pillow off her face and sat up as Max sat next to her.

Sydney: It's just... you think you know how the world works. But then in a flash... you realize it was all wrong. My image of what I thought reality is has just crumbled and been destroyed.

Max: That does sound pretty serious. Is it all-right if I ask what happened?

Sydney: I don't know dad. This might be more of a grandma kind of conversation.

Max: Hey. That's fine. You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to...

-Sydney then with a look of desperate need to share what was on her mind, then cut Max of and yelled...

Sydney: I kissed somebody yesterday!

-Max's eyes suddenly widened but he remained calm.

Max: Oh? Well... you are a teenager now so... I guess this was gonna happen sooner or later. But hey. I'm sure I can help.

Sydney: I... I wish you could dad. But... I think this is strictly a girl thing.

Max: Are you sure? Because if you kissed a guy, it's okay to...

Sydney: I didn't kiss a guy. I kissed Olive.

-Max's eyes then widened more.

Max: Oh. Well... I guess this sure explains a lot.

Sydney: What do you mean?

-Max then composed himself a bit and put an arm around Sydney.

Max: I totally get how you feel. The pain only increases the closer you are to somebody. And aside from me and grandma, there's no one you're closer to Olive. So I'm sure this is confusing for you.

Sydney: I... it's just... I don't know why it happened. We did it at the same time. We were both excited after I won my swim match and... oh my gosh. I don't know why we both did that. I am so messed up in the head right now.

Max: You're just confused Sydney. It's okay. You're still growing up, and still trying to figure out your identity and what you really want in life. But how does Olive feel? Is she feeling as confused right now?

Sydney: I... I don't know. I haven't talked to her since it happened.

Max: Well you're never gonna figure out the next step you're supposed to take with her unless you talk with her. Whenever you consider anything, you need as much information as you possibly can on the subject. And not talking to the main subject involved in this situation isn't gonna help anything.

-Sydney then leaned her head on her dad's shoulder as she began to talk again.

Sydney: Dad. I don't understand anything I'm feeling right now. I don't know if I'm supposed to feel happy, or feel upset with Olive, or feel upset about me, or feel angry about...

Max: Hey. It's gonna be okay. You can talk to Olive tomorrow and take the next step in your life then. But tonight... can you just stay right here and be my baby girl for a little bit longer?

-Sydney hugged Max as tears began to appear in both of their years.

Sydney: Dad... you know I love you, right?

Max: Yeah. I do. And just remember. No matter what happens, you can always come back to me or your grandma at any time no matter what happens.

Summer 1995:

-Max laid on his bed throwing a small basketball up and down in the air. Suddenly Max's mom Judy walked into the room carrying a small tray of food.

Judy: Hey Max. Still sick? I brought you up a nice lunch anyway.

-Max turned his head away from his mother as he spoke.

Max: I don't want anything mom.

-Judy then put the tray of food down and sat on the bed next to Max.

Judy: You wanna talk about it?

Max: You wouldn't understand.

Judy: Well you're my son. So I think I'm smart enough to know you don't have a stomach bug, and instead are dealing with your first real romance issues.

-Max then sat up with a stunned look on his face and looked at his mother.

Max: How did you know?

Judy: I can read emotions pretty well in people's faces. Plus, Alicia's mother told me she saw you two kiss and I haven't seen you two hang out together since.

-Max sighed as Judy began to look more concerned.

Judy: You wanna talk about it?

Max: It's just... me and Alicia. I.. I'm just mad because it looks like our friendship is over.

Judy: What are you talking about? Aside from Leo, you hang out with Alicia more than anybody else. Why would you say your friendship is over?

Max: Because kissing and romance only leads to heart break in our family. Grandma was friends with Grandpa but as soon as they got married, they got divorced. You and dad were friends but as soon as you let romance enter the picture, you two ended up breaking up. And that's how it's gonna be with me and Alicia. It's all destined to crumble apart now.

Judy: Max, listen. Your grandma and I made mistakes. But I have to admit something. We weren't very close with the men we married.

Max: Huh?

Judy: Yeah. I mean... I thought I was in love with your father when I married him but... we just liked the idea of being liked. We just wanted to feel touched, pleasured, and be given attention by the other. Your father wasn't my best friend. I just liked having him by my side. When we broke up, your grandma told me it was the same mistake she made with your grandfather. And me and your dad weren't friends for a long time. We were together for less than three years before he left. It wasn't romance that was the unstable element in our relationships. It was the foundation of our friendship from the very beginning that was unstable.

Max: So what are you trying to tell...

Judy: I'm trying to tell you that me and your father didn't know each other well when we jumped into our romance. But you and Alicia... you've been classmates for over five years and have been science lab partners for over three. You trust each other, support each other, and are completely loyal to one another.

Max: So, are you saying that I should...

Judy: I'm not saying you should do anything Max. But don't assume a kiss means the end of one of your best friendships in your life.

-Max sighed for a moment but then had a more certain look on his face.

Max: Mom... is it all-right if I give Alicia a call?

Summer 2020:

-Sydney sat in her room alone on her bed. Then she heard a knock on the door.

Sydney: Come in.

-The door opened and Olive walked in. The two girls were completely silent as Olive slowly sat next to Sydney. Eventually Olive spoke.

Olive: Sydney... we need to talk.

Sydney: Yeah. Olive... do... do you... do you remember when we first met?

Olive: Yeah. I had just moved to town, and you were the only girl in school that would hang out with me.

Sydney: Well that's because you were the first girl that made me feel good inside after my mom died. Everyone else just wanted to give me sympathy and check up on me. You were the first girl that treated me like... well... a real girl again.

Olive: Well why wouldn't I? I came from a home full of chaos and brothers always causing trouble. You Sydney... became like my ray of sunshine that showed me the world doesn't have to be insanity all of the time. Sydney... I always want us to be be best friends. I never want that to change.

Sydney: I don't want that to change either Olive.

Olive: So... about that thing that happened a week ago. That thing where we...

Sydney: Kissed?

Olive: Yeah.

Sydney: So... what were thinking when you...

Olive: I'm not sure. I was happy you won the swim meet. I was so proud of you. I've always been proud of you Sydney. Your happiness is my happiness. Wether it's helping you or just cheering you on, I love seeing you smile. And to see you obtain the highest sports honor of you life, it made me so happy that I couldn't just cheer or hug you. So I... kissed you.

Sydney: Yeah. I guess I was feeling so happy to have you there with me it just... kind of happened to. But... why did we kiss?

Olive: Sydney... why did you give me a friendship ring a couple years ago?

Sydney: Because we're gonna be together forever.

Olive: Why are we gonna be together forever?

Sydney: Because... we love each other. There's no one else I want by my side more than you. You're the only person I want to sit next to in class, you're the only friend I want to hug, hold hands with, or be comforted by. But... what do we do next?

-The two both looked away from each other slightly and out into space for a minute. Finally Olive spoke.

Olive: We keep hanging out like we always do. But on top of that, maybe we can... try some new things... alone... like dinner at a fancy place and then go dancing and maybe we'll...

Sydney: Maybe we'll what?

Olive: Maybe we'll feel something. And maybe we'll do something else we never thought we'd do to the other. If we don't do anything different, then things will continue as always.

Sydney: And if we do something new? If we express our love to each other in a new way, what do we...

-Olive put her hand on Sydney's chin and smiled as she spoke.

Olive: Then we'll keep talking and figure things out from there.

TO BE CONTINUED...

*Author's Note - Hey all. Hope you all are enjoying my first Sydney to the Max fanfiction. I hope everyone enjoys the subtle message this story has in that it shows that whether your are straight or gay/lesbian, falling in love isn't so different despite whatever side you're on. Also, full disclosure: I originally used the name "Sabrina" for Sydney's mom when writing this story, back when the show didn't tell us her name. Once the show did reveal it though, I went back and edited this.