The Shylife Special: Puppy Love, Sienna & Malik

And here it is! Number Four...

***WARNING***

This special may contain a subject that could be upsetting to some. You have been warned!

MALIK: Sienna wait!

SIENNA: Yes Malik?

MALIK: I...have a gift for you!

SIENNA: What is it?

MALIK: Turn around so I can give it to you!

 Sienna Von Strunkle was the youngest child of Cody and Tia. She was a happy and cute toddler who was adored by all of her siblings. Since there were four adults and three teenagers around, she was never left for too long without a bottle, a nappy change or a rest. But all little girls and boys have heroes...

 ...and HE was Sienna's! Jared was the third youngest and barely a teen, but he always had time for his little sis! Mason was envious of Jared's relationship with Sienna as he prided himself on being good with babies and toddlers. But Jared had the extra edge in Sienna's eyes!

 Another very special person in her life was Wendy, her imaginary friend! Sienna could play endlessly with her until she was almost falling asleep!

 She was a little sad that her mum and dad and grandparents weren't there for her birthday, but she had Jared and that more than made up for it!

 Sienna became a beautfiul child, her mother's looks and her dad's eyes with grandmother Lacey's hair! And like her older brother before her, she'd gained the shy trait!

 From the moment she aged, Sienna had a passion for writing. It was in her blood, her great great great great great grandmother, Kitty Von Strunkle, had been a highly admired and successful author! Sienna wanted that too!

 Finally the adults returned from their free vacation, and Cody spent his last night with young adult Tia, for tomorrow was her birthday!

 Sienna decided to get out of the house as the noise from upstairs was making her queasy! Adults and their dirty ways, kissing and touching and being all gooey! That was not her style, and even though Jared had gotten a little mushy himself very recently, at least he didn't have a girlfriend! Or at least she didn't think he had...he would have told her, right?

 As she cycled down the road towards the old cabin, a young boy caught her attention. She knew him from school, his name was Malik Suresh and he was a bit odd. He liked to keep to himself and was often alone in the playground keeping himself occupied! As Sienna looked at him, she noticed that he had the wildest hair she'd ever seen, the colours...they were awesome!  He seemed stranger than usual, staring off into space looking shell shocked. But Sienna kept on cycling, she had to get far away from her house to clear her head!

 After her mother's party, Sienna noticed that her neatness was getting worse...

 ...as was her constant kissing sessions with her dad!

 That night all Sienna could think about was Malik! Why hadn't she stopped? She hardly knew him and avoided him at school, it would have been weird! Just then her granny cut into her thoughts...

LACEY: What's up my little Sienna pod?

SIENNA: Nothing granny, I'm just thinking up my next story.

LACEY: Well, remember your old gran when you're the next JK Rowling!

Her gran chuckled and slurped down her ice cream fritter...

 A few days had passed, it was now Friday, it went by in a blur! Malik wasn't at school and it wasn't the first time he'd been off! Lacey was on a fitness kick and refused to sleep, drinking coffee and developing a twitch in her right eye! Sienna was outside playing as it got dark that evening when her brother Jared, troubled by something, came out to join her...

 After demanding that he push her, Jared gently took hold of the swing and pushed her as high as he could and as she giggled with glee, she heard her brother chuckle softly for the first time in days!

SIENNA: It's so good to hear you laugh again!

JARED: I always have fun with you baby sis! No matter what!

No matter what? She knew she was only a kid, but she wished her brother would tell her what was wrong! Dad was worried and yelling at him, mum and Mason didn't know what to do and Darcy? Well she was just Darcy! Her granny Lacey had said that Jared was now a teenager, therefore he had hormones exploding everywhere, unable to control his emotions and testotormore or something like that...whatever that was!

 After their bonding session the night before, Jared reverted back to his sullen and snappy self. Mason could see how much Sienna was hurting over his behaviour and made her some ice cream. But Darcy was miffed he didn't offer her any...

MASON: C'mon Sienna! Ice cream's ready kiddo!

DARCY: Ice cream? Can I have some?

 Adding to her worries, Darcy glared at Sienna as she collected her rainbow coloured sweet ice treat!

 But rather than fight with Sienna, Darcy sulked in the background...

 ...and helped herself when everyone had gone!

 Cody returned to his Magician career and was a huge hit in all the arenas across Hidden Springs!

And Jared continued to behave differently. That night he had come in to read Sienna a bedtime story, but had asked for a hug instead. They sat on the bed as he held her, a couple of hours passed and she eventually fell asleep on his lap. She had never seen her brother so...sad! It was as if he was holding her for possibly the last time, what was going on?

The truth eventually came out, Jared had met a girl called Aleisha who was in trouble. He'd saved her from the bad man and she had to go home to Twinbrook. Jared was happy she was safe, but sad she had to leave! Apparently she was coming back after graduation to see him!

They played on the see-saw that night and laughed about things like they used to. Sienna had her brother back!

SIENNA: So I threw the ball like Miss Garrett said...it wasn't my fault it landed on the road over the fence is it?

 JARED: You just don't know your own strength baby sis! Just try and not get detention again, dad will have a coronary!

SIENNA: What's a...Cordinary?

JARED: *chuckle* Nevermind titchy! Let's go inside, mum will have dinner ready by now!

Yes Jared was back to his old self and Sienna loved it!

 After dinner, her brothers sat out in the hot tub getting wrinkled and talking about prom! She listened behind the hedge as Jared gushed over Aleisha and how no other girl could replace her so he was going solo. Mason was talking about going "all the way" with Annalisa in the gym store cupboard. Sienna was confused by this as Jared scoffed and told him to behave and wait until they were married. Mason muttered that Jared was far too old fashioned and that nobody waits anymore! Sienna had no idea what they were talking about, put it down to being boy language and headed inside!

 When the boys had showered and changed, Jared came down to tell Sienna that he saw a little boy her age running around outside, way past curfew!

 JARED: I think he's in your year! He looked kinda upset baby sis!

SIENNA: Jared? Was that the boy you saw?

 Jared walked up to the window and sighed, there was Malik sitting on the slide in their garden...

JARED: That's him! Wait there, I'm going to take him home!

SIENNA: No! I'll go talk to him, he's...not good around strangers!

 Jared nodded and let his sister handle it. Why was Malik out so late?

 As Sienna approached him, he didn't even move! She could her him sniffling...

 SIENNA: HEY YOU! What are you doing out so late? And on my slide???

 Malik still didn't look up, or move...he just said five words in almost a whisper...

MALIK: My dad won't wake up!

 Sienna may have only been a child, but she was smart for her age! She knew Malik wasn't going anywhere so she spun around and raced back inside towards Jared!

 Trying to catch her breath she told him she needed his help...

SIENNA: Ja...red! Malik...his dad...I...think...*gasp* there's something...wrong!!!

JARED: Calm down baby sis!

 Sienna finally got her breath back and tugged on Jared's arm...

SIENNA: Jared he won't wake up!!! He won't WAKE UP???

JARED: Okay okay, don't panic! We have to tell dad!

 Jared repeated Sienna's fears to their father, Cody took in what his son was saying and suddenly turned pale. A stern look appeared on his face and he left Jared in the living room before saying...

CODY: Look after your sister and her friend. Me and your granddad will go and see if Mr Suresh is okay!

But both Sienna and Jared knew that this was bad. As Cody and Gino headed over to Malik and Surinder Suresh's house, they feared what they would find!

 Malik and Sienna were strangers, but somehow she felt she'd known him all of her life despite never having talked to him since they started school!

MALIK: I wanna go home, when can I go home? I need to wake my dad!

SIENNA: Don't worry my grandpa and my dad are going to wake him now. Everything will be okay, you wanna play on my XBox?

Sienna's heart leapt as sirens could be heard in the distance, she managed to distract Malik for a moment to play on the console with her...

 ...a couple of hours had passed and the children had fallen asleep on the couch. Sienna heard her father and grandfather come in, grandpa Gino went straight to bed as she squinted one eye open, he looked terrible. Her dad also didn't look that great as he sighed and waved Darcy away as she began to ask him a barrage of questions!

 Her mother rushed over and gave him a big hug...

TIA: Oh Cody! Are you okay?

CODY: Yeah honey I'm fine...it was...awful!

 TIA: What happened?

CODY: The paramedics said he was probably dead for days. That poor kid was alone in that house, they said it looked like a heart attack but they wouldn't know for sure until there was a post mortem! Oh T that little boy! We've got no room, where's he gonna go???

 Malik awoke to strange surroundings and unfamiliar voices and shouted for his dad...

 MALIK: I want my dad!

SIENNA: Daddy? What's happening?

 Cody instinctively gave the boy a hug, his fatherly tendencies kicking in!

 He explained that Malik's father had been very poorly and that he'd gone for a very long sleep. Malik looked at Cody with a puzzled look on his face...

 CODY: I'm sorry Malik, but your dad's gone. His heart was very weak and...

 MALIK: So when can I go home?

 Sienna also hugged him, she couldn't imagine losing her dad! It was just a horrible thing to ever think about!

 SIENNA: I'm so sorry about your dad!

MALIK: It's okay, I'll just go home and wait for him. He'll be back!

 Sienna tried to explain that he couldn't go back home but Malik was no doubt in shock and wasn't taking in the severity of the situation!

SIENNA: You can stay here tonight. Dad says there's no more room for anyone to stay for good but...

 MALIK: Well that's okay because I'll be going home soon!

 Sienna could no longer argue with him, his big brown eyes were watery and looked as if they'd explode if she tried to drum the truth into him! So she left it and they slept top and tail on her bed upstairs!

 Cody was struggling with what he'd just witnessed. Sure he'd seen death before but not in someone so young. Surinder was the same age as him and it really made him sad. Even after his own near death experience, he'd neve felt such overwhelming sadness! Tia snuggled into him, trying to comfort her husband in the only way she knew how...warmth!

 TIA: I'm so sorry you had to see that! Is your dad going to be okay?

CODY: I think so, he's a tough old boot! It was just such a tragic...waste! He was so young...and that boy...what's to happen to the boy???

TIA: Don't you worry, I phoned your brother Heath, there's room next door for him and he'll have Gwen and Dwight to play with!

CODY: I'm so glad I married a sexy, smart babe like you!

TIA: Yeah you know it!

 Sienna got up early that morning when it was still dark out, but her homework wasn't enough of a distraction! Malik was on her mind. He sat across from her poking the pancakes granny Lacey had made with his fork.

 He looked so lost, Sienna thought a little cuddle would cheer him up, but he was less receptive to her than he was the night before! It hurt her feelings, and she didn't know why!

 That day Heath and Christi waited for their new house guest, his bags and cases already there. Heath would have done anything for his brother, and hearing from Tia how shaken he was at seeing Surinder's body, he wanted to make things a little better!

 Willow and Tommie were on board too, they had the room so why not? And Willow was expecting again in the near future!

 As Dwight, Willow and Tommie's son, got acqauinted with his new room mate, Sienna felt a pang of jealousy. He was going to see Malik every day and night...

 But then all the children had a fit of the giggles as Dwight made a funny face, and Sienna got hold of her emotions and remembered this was for the best!

 It was time for her to say goodbye, she would see him at school and at family get togethers, so why was she so sad to leave him here???

SIENNA: Well...goodbye Malik!

MALIK: Yeah, bye Sienna...thanks for everything!

Cody took hold of Sienna's hand and led her towards the door...then Malik shouted after her...

 MALIK: Sienna wait!

SIENNA: Yes Malik?

MALIK: I...have a gift for you!

SIENNA: What is it?

MALIK: Turn around so I can give it to you!

 MALIK: You're the bestest friend I've ever had...and ever will have! We'll be friends forever I promise!

 As Sienna headed home with her father she thought about the kiss Malik gave her and her body tingled, but in a nice way!

SIENNA: Daddy?

CODY: Yes?

SIENNA: Do you think that one day I could marry Malik?

CODY: Come on honey, you shoudn't be thinking about stuff like that at your age. Let's go get some ice cream!

But Sienna was thinking about Malik that way, she had done since the night on the slide! She may have only been a child, but once she aged up...she was going to make Malik her one and only!!!

The End!

I hope you all liked it, and that I didn't offend anyone with the subject detail! Anyway that's the last special for now. But not the last forever! ;o)