Sydney's still pretty shocked by this sudden, surprising, and unexpected visit from Shane. If there was to be any member of her family knocking on her doorstep one day to find her. It should have been her mom or even worse, her dad.
However, there's not much difference between those two, they are both worse in the same way. Shane, being the first one to find her after being away from home for such a long time is something Sydney kind of adores.
He betrayed her back then and now it seems like this unexpected visit of his is to patch things up with her. She's expecting otherwise, like him going to try to convince her to go back home with him.
"How long did it take you to find me?" Sydney wants to know the magic trick that Shane used in tracking her down and successfully finding out where she lives. He lied about her not hiding perfectly like a ghost. She's pretty sure she did hide away from everyone like a ghost.
Carefully and completely covering up any track she left that could be used to find her.
If she didn't, why then did it take him this long to find her? If she didn't hide perfectly like a ghost, why then did he not show up here as soon as possible to prove her wrong? Shane's just trying to mess with her.
The only logical explanation Sydney thinks that Shane used to find her is magic. If only that even exists, who knows? Maybe Shane does know a little secret about magic.
"Two years," Shane made known to Sydney, making her dumbfounded for a moment before she garnered the strength to speak again.
"Two years?" Sydney wanted to believe Shane lied to her face right now, but the seriousness on his face made her know this wasn't the time for jokes.
"Yeah, just two years and a month" Shane repeating what he said and adding it a month sent shivers running down Sydney's spine.
"I kept on following you secretly and at a time. I kind of wanted to reveal myself to you, but I just chose to keep my distance. I figured out you might still be mad at me. If I had approached you, you might have freaked out and run off again and I also didn't want Mom and Dad to know I found you first" Shane paused, his eyes moving down to Roman.
"I didn't want to be another reason you ever get scolded by them or even worse. Roman be taken away from you and probably get sold off to some potential baby buyers. We both know what mom and dad are capable of doing" Shane smiled at Roman and he returned the smile, however, it wasn't as bright enough as the first one before.
He's still getting to know this strange smiler sitting next to his mom. The man seems nice but it's only because he helped him get on the swing. Roman has never seen his mom so close to the opposite sex before. It's something very rare for her to do.
"Thank you" Sydney being thankful to Shane is something he didn't understand. Why did she thank him? When he did nothing. To be frank, he was pretty scared that Syd would still be mad at him for betraying her in the past.
He has made up his mind to come visit her one day but failed to, being too scared she wouldn't even hear him out and just leave. That's why it took him this long to gather the courage to approach her like he did today.
"For what, Syd?"
"For not letting Mom and Dad know where I am. I was mad at you, I still am, but that was till you showed up here today, Shane. The moment I saw you, I started to think they could probably be nearby. But, you just told me you didn't let them know you found me first, so thank you" Sydney still kept on being thankful towards Shane.
"You shouldn't be thanking me, Syd. I'm the one who should. I'm the reason why you ended up here in the first place. If I wasn't a snitch b*tch, you would still be home" Shane swallowed hard, they are about to go down the train of bitter nostalgia.
"No, you aren't, Shane. I'm the reason why I ended up in this place which I love. And if you spied on me for real, then you would know I'm doing just fine here without Mom and Dad's support. You actually helped me gain the freedom I always wanted"
Sydney doesn't want Shane blaming himself for her running away from home. He must be thinking she's not doing well here but she is.
"I might have helped you to be free from Mom and Dad, Syd, but we both know you need to come back home. This place isn't for you, you…." Shane knows this topic is going to ruin Sydney's mood and even if possible, she could stop talking to him immediately. However, he still had to talk about it, she needed to come back home.
Not back home to their parents exactly, but at least somewhere not so far away like this place from them.
"You know there's no way I'm ever going back there, Shane," Sydney disagreed with him, her stubbornness starting to take over.
"I don't mean for you to come back home to Mom and Dad directly. I can provide a place for you and Roman to stay, Syd. You are just too far away from us which isn't right. You need to…" Shane got interrupted by Sydney again.
"You know I appreciate it when you were just talking about us, Shane," Sydney doesn't want to hear about the people, who are the real reason she left home.
"And look, I don't hate Mom and Dad for what they did. I just hated the fact that they never liked Barry and probably still don't. And I don't want to be anywhere close to them, ever. I also don't want them to know about Roman. We are fine just the way we are here" Sydney stood strong on her decision, she's never going back to a place that reminds her of so many bad memories.
"I don't stay with them anymore, Henry doesn't too. We moved out after you left home. Henry blames Mom and Dad for the reason you left us. You know he doesn't show it much as I do but he cares for you. All of us do, Syd" Shane thought letting Sydney know this was going to do a little magic and make her change her mind.
Sydney was glad to hear from Shane that Henry cared about her. He's the type of big brother who loves his siblings but hardly shows it off.
"I'm sorry but my mind is made up, Shane. I'm not going back there" However, Sydney still had her mind made up with no changing it now.
"Syd…" Shane tried convincing her one more time.
"I think it's time for me to take my leave now. I need to take Roman home with me" Sydney got on her feet, Shane's only going to keep on trying to convince her if she stays here. Shane reluctantly got on his feet, it's obvious he doesn't want to leave yet, but Syd wants him to.
"I hope you get to change your mind one day, Syd. It's never too late" Shane made known to Sydney walking away from him. She stopped abruptly and turned, saying to him.
"Don't worry I won't. I'd rather be stuck here for life than be anywhere close to Mom and Dad" Sydney made it very clear to Shane that nothing on earth can change her mind.
She moved her attention back to Roman. Almost about to cover up the short distance between them when she heard Shane say to her from behind.
"Barry, you know he's a big jerk for dumping you!" Shane never intended to remind Syd of Barry, it's not like bringing him up would make things go back to the way it used to be so lovely between them.
"You must feel like Mom and Dad were right about him, but they weren't. All you ever did was love him so don't regret or ever feel bad about that. He has no idea what he left behind, Syd. I hope you find peace in the end and whenever you need me. I'm always right here for you"
After Shane ended his statement, Sydney turned around and couldn't find him. He completely disappeared into thin air after dropping that statement. Leaving her mind restless and starting to ponder deeply on what he said to her.
Sydney shook thoughts concerning Barry off her mind, she had a lot more to worry about than him again. Thinking of him will only bring back bad memories which she doesn't want right now.
"Come on, tough guy. It's time to go"