East Woodinville High School never failed to hold a sense of familiarity to Sydney. Walking through the front doors into the vast hallway, the dented rows of lockers coming into view, she felt good. There really wasn’t any better word to describe it.
Yeah, she felt good because it was a new year, and she was actually looking forward to it for once. She felt good because she was wearing a new T-shirt- and jeans that made her legs look longer. But mostly she felt good because she had Jude, and it was hard not to feel good with Jude by your side. He radiated charisma wherever he went, making friends with virtually everyone he met. Now, as they headed side-by-side into the school, the beginning-of-year antics started again. Just like always.
“Don’t tell me you lost your locker combo,” he teased her as they traversed the tiled hallways. He turned his head every second, calling a greeting to a different comrade, some of them being bubbly girls who not-so-subtly fought for his attention over their friends.
Though they were fraternal, the twins had similar features. Both were on the smaller side, short of limb and height. They had matching icy blue stares, lighter skin and dark, inky black hair. It was an attractive set of features on either of them, though since Jude was the more popular of their duo, he held the majority of admirers.
Sydney- not nearly as well-known- kept her eyes straight ahead as she focused on putting one foot in front of the other. Surprisingly, it wasn’t nearly as hard as last year when she’d been a freshman. This year it was different. She was different—in a good way.
Like the fact that she’d seemed to sprout a few inches over the summer, and gain a little color to her skin from long days outside in the sun, watching her brother skateboard. Or maybe it was her new haircut that made her more confident- getting a pixie cut can do that to people, she thought.
But if she was going to be realistic, Syd knew the most confidence-inspiring change over the summer was definitely those two little bumps on her chest that were finally starting to grow. Now, dressed in a snug-fitting gray tee and some curve-hugging Levi’s, she felt cute. Maybe not hot. But cute… she was at least cute.
“I have my locker combination right here,” Sydney said matter-of-factly, in response to her brother’s accusation. She shifted the strap on her backpack up her shoulder and raised her eyebrows at him.
They turned down another corridor after walking through a set of doors, and he rolled his eyes. “Well isn’t that so like you, little good-girl Sydney.”
She gritted her teeth slightly. If there was anything she hated, it was the implication that she was a goody-two-shoe. Jude knew this, which was precisely why he’d chosen that insult. She opened her mouth to rant of a comeback when she saw the expectant and amused look on his face. He wanted a reaction- some frustrated comeback. So she shut her mouth coyly, like he’d never said a thing.
Jude cackled at her attempt to defeat him, giving his sister an affectionate shoulder bump. They arrived at their lockers, placed side-by-side, and began to fumble with the locks. Seconds later, another friend found them.
“Jude, man!”
The moment she heard his voice, Sydney felt a smile appear on her face. She knew exactly who that deep voice belonged to. It was none other than Matthew Sully- notorious class clown, captain of the lacrosse team, and of course the hottest guy at school.
Unfortunately, he also happened to be her brother’s best friend.
Matt and Sydney were friends, too, but probably only because of Jude. Before junior high they were even considered close, but then everything changed after eighth grade. If her twin hadn’t struck up a friendship with Matt, the odds were likely he and Syd wouldn’t have ever come to be friends again.
The twins both turned around to see him coming their direction, grinning and waving. Matt, of course, didn’t bother dressing up for day one, being the careless individual that he was. He was wearing his usual black T-shirt and jeans, his dark brown hair spiked in his trademark James Dean style. Matt nodded hello to Sydney before fully turning his attention to Jude, bumping fists with him.
“Dude, how’s it hanging? I haven’t seen you since July!”
Jude grinned. “To the floor, man. I’m good, what’s up with you?”
Syd busied herself with the oh-so-important task of organizing her locker. Meanwhile, she was keenly aware that Matt stood only a few feet away. There were a lot of girls who crushed on Matt, too. Unfortunately, this included Sydney. It was hard not to crush on him though, he was charming and fun, but had this really strange habit of zoning out in the middle of a conversation.
The two of them talked for a while, slinging insults at each other and generally just doing the things guys do normally. By the time she slammed her locker shut, the bell was due to ring at any moment. She made an unsuccessful attempt to slip away unnoticed.
“Hold on there a minute, Connor.”
Matt gave her a cursory once-over, a big grin appearing on his face. He reached out, tousling her bob-cut.
“You chopped all your hair off, Syd!”
“I did?! Oh emmm gee!” she said, imitating the valley girl voice that most of the girls at their school used.
Jude let out a snicker.
“Don’t give me that, Connor,” Matt folded his arms across his chest. “What did you do with all that fuzz?”
“I donated to ‘Locks of Love’. They needed some more hair to make fake mustaches for male cancer patients.”
He rolled his eyes. “You’re very into sarcasm now, aren’t you? What happened to my timid little Sydney?”
Secretly, Syd was pleased.
Still, she had to wonder if she was really that much different from last year. After all, she’d always favored sarcasm. Maybe she just didn’t used to show it.
But it didn’t matter. Sydney appreciated the new light she was seen in. Last year she was the bashful, stare-at-your-toes girl. But now she was bold. Sassy, even.
Not timid Sydney re-adjusted her backpack straps and turned to head down the hall. “I have to get to Homeroom,” She replied. “I’ll catch you guys at lunch.” Then, grinning from ear to ear Sydney walked away, with maybe a little more pep in her step than usual.
The skate park was busy the first afternoon school got in. Busy and very hot. It was the usual mixed group of long-haired skater dudes and sleepy-looking potheads. Besides those two groups there were a precious few people clean and sober. But among the exception were the twins and Matt of course.
Jude almost immediately gravitated towards the skating area, eager to practice heel-flips. For Jude, skateboarding was a way to release stress; the way bubble-baths were relaxing for Sydney. Syd and Matt headed for the rock wall to attempt its most difficult side.
“Three more climbs up this thing and I’ve officially earned the rank of rock-climbing Jedi,” Sydney declared proudly as she gripped the handles on the side of the wall. She glanced over her shoulder at Matt who was grimacing in pain and concentration.
“How many times have you actually climbed this thing again?” he managed to grunt. He reached upwards and found another handle, his muscles flexing as he pulled himself up further.
“Ninety-seven when I’m finished with this one,”
“Holy crap,” he said in disbelief. “Don’t you get tired of this rock?”
It was true. Over the years, she’d climbed this rock many, many times. Sydney released the wall with her right hand to shrug and saw the flash of terror in Matt’s eyes as he contemplated her falling and splatting against the concrete below. This was only his second time climbing and he was still slightly acrophobic. They all were at first, she thought to herself smugly. In response to his question, she patted the rock loving with her free hand. “I couldn’t get tired of old Barney here.”
Matt’s eyebrow went up. “Barney?” he snickered.
She ignored him.
Several minutes later Sydney crawled up onto the top of the fake rock and stood up, beaming her pride to the world. No matter how many times she finished the climb, she always got a feeling of satisfaction from finishing. A few minutes later Matthew joined her, heaving himself up over the rock with a sigh of relief.
“I told you it was easy,” she said as soon as he had gotten to his feet.
He looked at her and rolled his eyes. “Yeah, and I’m the Cookie Monster. Like hell it’s easy!”
She laughed, and tucked her hands into the pockets of her green racer shorts. It was a near perfect day, with 65 degree weather and the smell of barbecue lingering in the air. She surveyed the park with her eyes, smiling. She was fond of the many aspects of this park- the jumps and the dips and the grind bar. The rock-climbing wall that was so covered in graffiti that it looked like a giant blob of multi-colored gum. The swing set where she’d received her very first kiss. As this last thought entered into her mind, she blushed. There were no secrets between her and Jude, but he’d still been mad at Matt for weeks after that. She glanced at Matt now, eyeing his muscular yet lean frame, the way he casually tucked his hands into his pockets, and the way the sunlight reflected off of his sea green eyes. He was cute. But they were just friends. He had made that clear a long time ago.
The first time Jude had ever picked up a skateboard he was ten years old. Unfortunately, the board was not his, and when he made off with it he was immediately pursued by the angered owner. But Jude continued to run, the board tucked under his arm and awkwardly swaying in his loosened grip. It seemed to Jude that there was no easy way to carry them.
And so, in one swift movement he dropped it to the ground and flung himself on. This probably wouldn’t have worked if it had not been for the giant hill he turned onto.
Moments later the older kid had vanished from sight and Jude was hurtling down a hill at top speed with no idea how to brake. He thought he might make it if he just stood still and used the kinetic energy to steer when he hit flat land. His house wasn’t too far away and once he got there he knew Sydney would help him hide the board. Yes, it was wrong to steal, Jude knew. But people did bad things all the time. And it was only a skateboard. He would return it once he learned to use it.
He was so caught up in his thoughts; he didn’t see the upcoming curb and didn’t expect it when he was flung from the skateboard and into a gravelly sidewalk. Blood soaked up the knees on his pants and his hands were stinging from being scraped raw, but he dragged himself home and flung the skateboard into the garage. Later, he told Sydney, who quickly promised to stay quiet even though she didn’t look happy about it.
Their silence lasted until about dinner time, when their Uncle Lou- the twins’ legal guardian- presented the nicked up skateboard and asked Jude where he’d gotten it. The twins were silent for a moment, and then Sydney had burst into tears, ending the secret before it had even really started.
They returned the board to an unhappy Billy Francis the next day. They had found him at the skate park kicking gravel with his dirty sneaker. Billy wasn’t happy about the nicks in his board, but Uncle Lou gave him ten bucks and the kid agreed to shut his mouth. Lou made Jude promise to never steal again, and offered to buy him his own skateboard.
Though he was embarrassed about his mistake, Jude was determined not to give up on his new-found dream. Day after day he practiced at the skate park. He got good, too. He ended up making friends with the older kids who went there daily- including Billy. Sydney tagged along most days even though she wasn’t all that interested in learning. She went so that she could watch Jude ride, and she was fascinated with the liquid movements of him as he glided back and forth across the cement. Eventually, Sydney learned a few basics, but nothing more serious than a rock the fakie. For the most part, when the twins came to the skate park, Sydney watched, drew in her sketchbook, or climbed the rock wall.
By the time he was thirteen Jude was participating in city tournaments and he’d made it to the championship round at fifteen. But he’d lost last minute, when he fell a little flat on one trick and ended up surrendering the first place trophy and forty dollar Zumies gift card to Zack Fisher. This was his year to shine. His year to win. And Jude was not going to let anyone pass him up this time.
Up on the rock, Sydney had sat down to rest. Matt lay beside her, his eyes closed and his mind far away from either one of them. Syd, chin on hand, watched her brother intently as he worked on one trick over and over again- a double heelflip. It was the one he’d messed up on in the competition, the one he’d been working on for weeks. By now he had it almost perfected. It made sense; Syd realized, that he spent so much time perfecting it. Skateboarding meant a lot to him, and he was determined to win this year’s tournament. It wasn’t about some shiny trophy, either. It was a pride thing.
She smiled. That was one of the reasons she loved her brother so much- if he wanted to get something done, he wouldn’t rest properly until he’d done it. It was the kind of tenacity that took balls and patience.
She glanced over at the sun now, which was just starting to sink under the cityscape. It would be dark soon- too dark to skateboard. There was still homework to be done tonight- scribbled off untidily. But she knew if she didn’t tell Jude that it was time to head home they’d be there until midnight.
Sydney rose to her feet and gave Matt a none-too-gentle kick in the leg. His eyes jerked open, with annoyance at first. When he remembered where he was the scowl turned to amusement. He stood.
“We leaving?” he asked in a half-yawn. Sydney nodded.
“Yeah. Just let me get Jude.”
“No problem.” Matthew shuffled to the edge of the rock and looked down. He frowned.
“How do we get down?”
Sydney shook her head in mock disbelief. “Don’t you know anything? We jump.” She joked, intentionally failing to mention the rope attached to one side— easy access to the ground.
“Jump?!” Matt cried in an injured tone. “No, thanks. I’d like to keep my bones in one piece, thank you very much. Lacrosse starts in a month.”
Syd smothered a giggle. “Do cookie monsters such as yourself play lacrosse?”
Matt grinned. “Only the sexy ones.”
She rolled her eyes.
“I’m serious, though,” he went on, looking worriedly at the eight-foot drop below. “We aren’t really jumping that, right?”
“Aw, come on.” Syd grinned, giving him a shove. “Don’t be such a wuss.”
