Chapter Fifty Five
Primadonna

SYDNEY DIDN'T WANT to sound paranoid but after the dinner at the Larusso's, Miguel had seemed to be distant. Not distant in the sense that he didn't want to be around her but distance in the way he talked.  His texts became shorter and when they talked on the phone,  he didn't seem to want to talk at all.  Sydney was confused.  She didn't want to ask if something was wrong in case there wasn't anything wrong and it would make things awkward. She began to wonder if it was about the conversation about college.

Sydney always had big dreams.  Her parents were successful in what they did and Sydney always believed one day she would be successful.  She worked hard on everything she did and never let anything break her focus.  She had goals for herself.  Her eyes had been set on New York since she was first put into dance.

But even though she knew she had the privilege to be able to go to school in New York, she knew others around her didn't so she always made sure not to brag about it. She knew about Miguel's struggles with finance and how hard it would be for him to go to college. At the same time, Sydney's dreams and goals were important to her and she wasn't going to feel bad for being proud.

It was a complicated situation.

Miguel didn't mean to be distant. He was happy for sydney, he really was. She deserved to be able to go to her dream school. But, as happy as he was, he felt jealous, and he hated himself for feeling that way.

"Come on, man. You know Sydney would never rub anything in your face," Mitch told him as they all stretched in the backyard.

"I know but you should've heard how proud they all are of her. She's been dreaming about New York since she was little," Miguel explained dreadfully. "I can't even afford a car, let alone college. What if she starts to think I'm not good enough?"

Eli scoffed. "Dude, really? Sydney loves you. Like, really loves you. You know that. It doesn't matter if you two were born with different lifestyles, she's always going to choose you,"

Miguel's lips curled into a sad smile.

"And besides, you're El serpiente. You're an All Valley champion. Just show her parents what you're made of. I know you're gonna crush whatever Mr.  Larusso throws at us today,"

Miguel looked over his shoulder and saw Sydney enter the backyard in her workout clothes. He gave Eli a look to stop talking and she joined them. "Hey guys,"

"Hey Syd,"  They all greeted.

She kissed Miguel on the cheek and he smiled at her.  "Anyone know what Mr. Larusso's planning for us?"  She asked.

"No idea,  but compared to Sensei Lawrence's training,  today's gonna be a vacation,"  Mitch responded confidently.

"Who's going on vacation?"  Daniel asked.

"Uh,  no one.  What have you got for us today,  Mr.  Larusso?"  miguel quickly asked.

"Come here,"  Daniel motioned him arm for them to follow him.  "Now,  I know you've all been taught to strike first.  What do you do when your opponent is faster than you?"

"Are those real koi?"  Mitch asked while looking in the koi pond.

"They sure are,"  Daniel said proudly.

"I don't like where this is going,"  Sydney mumbled.

"Today's lesson is simple.  Catch a fish,"  Daniel motioned to the koi pond.

"And I was right."

"But since I know you Eagle Fangs like a little bit of competition,  we're gonna make it interesting.  So the first to succeed will have the honor of leading class all week,"

The students stared at him unimpressed.

"And you also get to pick out what flavor gatorade I buy next,"  Daniel added.

"Aw,  hell yeah!  Hope you all like glacial freeze."  Mitch cheered.

"Okay,  where are the rods?"  Miguel asked.

"Back in my garage,"  Daniel answered.  He held up his hands.  "Your bare hands are all you'll use and all you'll need,"

Sydney's eyes widened.  "Mr.  L,  I can barley catch a fish with a pole.  What makes you think I can catch one with my hands?"

"Syd,  you've been with me long enough to know there's a method to my madness,"  he reminded her. 

She pulled a face,  knowing he was right.

"On your mark,  get set,  go!"

The students of Eagle Fang circled around the koi pond.  Sydney dropped to her knees uncomfortably and tuck her arm in the water.  She cringed.  "I feel like a cavewoman but with better hair,"

A koi swam by them and Miguel quickly reached his arm out, but ended up falling in the water.  Sydney gasped loudly.

Miguel popped back up, soaking wet, and they all bursted out laughing.

"Looks like you're a little wet behind the ears," Daniel commented in amusement.

Miguel's face fell and he looked at Sydney, who was trying to hold back her laughter.

"All right, let's get you dried off."

Miguel shuffled through the water and Sydney held her hand out to help him out. "Here,"

"I've got it."  He brushed her off and jumped out of the pond.

Her face fell slightly and she slowly dropped her hand back to her side. She watched him walk off with Daniel.

Eli nudged her in the side. "Hey, don't worry. He's just embarrassed."

Sydney gave a curt nod and a small smile, but his words didn't stop her from feeling hurt.

After the lesson was over, Sydney refused to look miguel in the eye. She didn't know if it was because she was mad or because her feelings were hurt. It was probably both, but her stomach hurt from embarrassment because everyone could see that something was going on between them.

"I was so close to catching one. I definitely touched scale," Mitch proclaimed.

"I know this Chinese restaurant with a big ass fish tank. We can go there and practice. Are you guys coming?" Eli asked Sydney and Miguel.

"I would but I promised my dance teacher I would find some time to practice,"  Sydney mentioned.

"My mom's picking me up,"  Miguel said sadly.

Sydney furrowed her brows.  "I can give you a ride home,"

He shook his head.  "No,  that's okay.  I already texted her,"

She didn't respond and looked away,  chewing on her tongue.

"All right.  Well stay dry,  my friend,"  Eli joked.  "See ya,  Sydney,"

"Bye guys,"  she smiled at them.  When they all left,  she turned around and stood in front of Miguel.  "Are you sure you don't want me to drive you?  Taylor Swift's new album just came out and I downloaded it specifically for us,"

Miguel cracked a grin but shook his head.  "No,  it's okay.  We'll listen to it another time,"

That's when her smile dropped.  "Okay,  what's going on?"

He furrowed his brows.  "What?"

"You've been acting weird since yesterday,  you've barely looked me in the face all day,  and you embarrassed me in front of everyone.  What's going on,  Miguel?  Did I do something?"  She said in one quick breath.

Miguel shook his head.  "No,  you didn't do anything.  Nothing's wrong,  okay?"

Sydney shook her head and took a step closer to him.  "I don't believe you.  If something wrong,  please tell me.  I can help you,"

"Not everything is about you,  Sydney,"  he suddenly snapped.  "Am I not allowed to have a bad day?  I can't act all perfect every single day,  okay?"

She stared at him blank in the face.  Her eyes glossed over and she walked away without saying a word,  and ignored him when he called out her name.

Sydney let out a loud scream in the mirror and her music ended.

"Very nice,  Brit,"  Sailor hummed in approval.  She was sitting by the wall and watching her do her dance.  "I can really feel your anger,"

"Yeah?  Try feeling it,"  she grumbled and took a large sip from her water bottle.

"I'm getting the sense that something wrong,"  Sailor stated and stood up from her spot on the floor.

"I feel like I want to punch the mirror,"  Sydney complained.

"Okay,  what's wrong?  Pet die,  parents piss you off,  boyfriend do something wrong?"  She started naming things off,  her tone playful.

Sydney looked up at her and when she didn't say anything,  Silor's smile dropped slightly.  "Oh shit,  what did he do?"

"He just won't talk to me,"  Sydney started.  "It's like anytime something wrong,  he just shuts down.  Then when I try to help,  he gets mad at me,"

Sailor frowned.  "Sydney,  that's not okay,"

"I know,  but I know he doesn't mean to,"  Sydney replied and went to sit on the floor.  She leaned her back against the mirror.  "We had dinner at the Larusso's house and our parents started talking about college.  Mum mentioned that I've been dreaming about Julliard,"

"Ahh,"  Sailor said in understanding and sat beside her.  "And let me guess,  he's jealous?"

Sydney scoffed.  "He's not jealous.  He just. . . he doesn't exactly have the same opportunity I do,  and I know that.  That's why I don't say anything.  He's so smart and can get in anywhere he wants but it's harder for him,"

Sailor nodded.  "Yeah,  I get that.  So if he's not jealous,  then what is he?"

Sydney opened her mouth to answer,  but no words came out.  She sighed heavily and leaned her head back against the glass.  "I don't want him to feel that way,"

"It's not your job to fix his insecurities,  Sydney,"  Sailor said in a soft tone.

"I know,  but it is my job to assure him that he doesn't have anything to be insecure about.  I love him for who he is,  not for what he has."

Sailor smiled.  "And if he still can't see that,  then that's on him.  You're a great girlfriend.  What he's feeling right now if all about him,  not you."

Sydney frowned and nodded slightly.  "Yeah."

They stood up and Sydney got her music ready to run her dance again.  She stared at herself in the mirror,  frowning,  and tried pushing all the negative thoughts out to focus on her dance.

Miguel's feelings are valid but he has no right to project his insecurities onto her

This chapter is important to me because nobody should feel guilty for being proud of themselves.  If you have certain goals and dreams,  you have the right to talk about them and be proud of yourself.  If someone's jealous,  that's on them not you.  Remember that <3