Chapter Fifty Seven
Primadonna

WHEN MIGUEL WALKED into the dealership with Mr. Larusso, he didn't expect to see Sydney's dad there. His eyes widened like saucers. Daniel smiled at the man. "Alex, what are doing here?"

"The engine in Caroline's car has been messing up for a few days so she asked me to drop it off," Alexander explained. He patted Miguel on the back. "Miguel, how're you doing?"

"I-I'm great, Mr. Benoist," Miguel stuttered and gave a nervous smile. "Good to see you again,"

"Miguel's been helping me work on his mom's car," Daniel butted in.

Alexander hummed in impression. "You know a thing or two about cars?"

Again, Miguel felt anxious. "Well, um, n-not really but Mr. Larusso's been teaching me,"

Alexander nodded. "Well, how about I help? I happen to know a thing or two as well."

It was embarrassing to admit, but in the year Sydney and Miguel had been together, Miguel hadn't spent a lot of one-on-one time with her dad. Caroline loved the boy and was always excited whenever he came around, but Alexander always made Miguel nervous. He was kind to him, of course, and always made him feel welcome, but it was his girlfriend's dad. Sydney was also Miguel's first girlfriend so getting along with the parents was something completely new to him.

"So, Daniel, how's Sydney doing in training?" Alexander asked.

"Oh, Alex, she's doing fantastic," Daniel praised. "She's improving so much. What do you think, Miguel?"

Alexander turned to him and Miguel's eyes widened instantly. "She's great. She's amazing. Fefinitely makes me feel like am amateur,"

Alexander smiled at their words. "Caroline and I always made sure to keep her active. I don't think I've seen that girl take a break since she was 11 years old,"

Miguel smiled to himself,  listening to the man talk about his daughter. "She's great at what she does so it paid off,"

Alexander patted him on the shoulder. "Thank you, Miguel. You know, I don't think you and I have spent time together, just the two of us,"

"Seems like a good time to start," Miguel hummed.

"I'd say so as well," the man nodded. He turned to Daniel. "What do you say, Daniel? Should we start it up?"

"We shall," Daniel declared. "Give it a try, Miguel."

Miguel nodded and quickly got into the car. He turned the key and the car turned on, the sound smooth like it was brand new. "Oh, success!"

"Look at that! You're a natural," Daniel expressed.

"Why don't we take it for a spin?" Alexander suggested.

Miguel's eyes widened again. "W-What?"

He opened the passenger door and slid into the car. "Yeah, why not? I'll let you chauffeur me for a little while till I have to come get Caroline's car. You know how to drive, right?"

Miguel nodded hesitantly. "Yeah,"

"Good," the man smiled. "Daniel, I'm gonna let Miguel drive around for a while,"

"Sounds like a great idea. Miguel, don't crash." Daniel pointed at him.

He felt anxious again. "R-Right."

"Don't be nervous. If anything happens, we'll just switch seats," Alexander shrugged.

Miguel blinked in shock.

"I'm just kidding," he laughed. He pointed his finger at him and stopped laughing.  "I'm just kidding. Don't ever do that."

Miguel have a small, nervous laugh and slowly looked at the steering wheel, practically sweating with nerves.

"Exactly why did you drag me to a children's party?" Sydney questioned.

"Cause if I have to go, then you're going," Sam declared.

"Uh, Sheila's worked with us for ten years. She's practically family," said Amanda. "Anyways, Sam, you used to live to babysit Cindee,"

"That does change the fact that this is about the last place I'd like to be spending my Saturday," Sam complained.

Sydney shrugged. "I didn't have anything to do."

"A lot of people have it worse than you," Amanda reminded.

The music grew louder and Sydney looked over to see a group of girls dressed in different colored mermaids outfits come out. All the kids rushed to the stage and started cheering loudly for them.  Sydney's stomach churned when she saw Tory on the stage,  dressed in a purple mermaid outfit and a long purple wig.

Tory glared at Sydney and Sam when she saw them in the audience.

Sam laughed.  "Did I say the last place I want to spend my Saturday?  I meant the first,"

"Now it's definitely my last,"  Sydney muttered.  She crossed her arms over her stomach. 

The more Miguel drove the car,  the more comfortable he became with Alexander there with him.  He did everything to make Miguel not worry,  such as playing music on the radio and asking him simple questions.  "You're a natural,  Miguel.  Do you drive often?"

Miguel shrugged.  "Mom lets me drive sometimes.  Usually it's to the store,"

"You ever drive Sydney's car?"

Miguel almost choked on his own breath.  His eyes widened slightly.  "Um,  I-I,  uh. . . I drove it to take her own our first date,"

"Nice,"  the man nodded. He reached forward and turned the volume dial up on the radio. "You like Queen, Miguel?"

"Never heard of them,"

Alexander let out a painful noise and clutched his chest. "Oh goodness, you wound me. Has my daughter not taught you anything?"

Miguel chuckled. "No, we mostly listen to Taylor Swift."

"Who?"

The two of them chuckled. "Well, I'll have you know that Queen was the best band to ever grace our ears. Caroline and I danced at our wedding to one of their songs,"

"Aw," Miguel smiled. "You said you two met when you were really young?"

Alexander nodded.  "19 and 20.  Feels like it was yesterday,"

Miguel smiled warmly.

"How long have you and Sydney been together?"

"It'll be a year in a couple days,"  Miguel answered with a giddy smile.

"Wow,"  Alexander said with wide eyes.  "You know you're the first boy she's ever been interested in that's been around this long?"

"Really?"

"Yeah,"  he nodded.  "She's never really been into dating.  She's always been too busy.  Then one day,  she came home and told Caroline and I that she met a boy and that she wanted us to meet him.  Can you take a guess who?"

Miguel went red.  "Me?"

"Ding ding ding,"  Alexander nodded and patted him on the shoulder.  "I'll admit at first I was skeptical,  only because I want the best for her.  I gotta admit,  I like the two of you together,"

Miguel looked at him quickly in shock.  "You do?"

"Course I do.  Tou're kind,  you work hard,  you're respectful.  Caroline loves you.  I have nothing bad to say or think about you."

Miguel slowly grew a smile.  "Wow,  thanks Mr.  Benoist,"

"I think you've earned the right to call me Alexander."

Miguel grew excited.  "Thank you. . . Alexander."

Sydney never felt more uncomfortable in her life than she did standing around at the birthday party.  She checked her phone every few minutes to shake off her nerves, but that didn't seem to work. She was standing next to Sam and they listened to Tory tell a story to the kids.

"The prince did everything to climb the mountain, but the dragon carried me there so he could eat me alive. But then the valiant prince came to my rescue—"

"Oh, is that the prince that you stole from another princess?" Sam butted in and said bitterly.

Sydney's eyes widened. "Sam,"

Tory glared at sam. "The other princess wasn't even dating that prince," she looked back at the kids. "Anyway, uh, the dragon breathed hot fire at the prince, melting his sword. So now I had to save the prince,"

"Using what? A weapon like, I don't know, a spiked bracelet or nunchucks?"

"Sam, stop it," Sydney warned, growing anxious.

"No, by singing a magic song—"

"Oh, and how did the song go?" Sam challenged.

"Yeah, sing us the song!" One of the little girls begged and the other kids joined.

Tory glared at Sam briefly, not bothering to spare Sydney a glance. "Beautiful dragon, please go to sleep. Sunset is falling, now time to count sheep. . ."

Sam chuckled. "Wow, and I thought you were bad at fighting,"

Sydney scoffed at both of them and stood up from the table, going to stand with Amanda.

"Sydney honey, are you okay?" Amanda asked after seeing the angry look on her face.

Sydney shook her head. "No,  I'm not okay.  I want to leave."

Amanda frowned. "What's going on?"

Before Sydney could say anything, a group of kids surrounded Sam and threw cups of glitter all over her. Sydney's jaw dropped to the floor. "That's what's going on,"

Sam walked over to them angrily.  Glitter covered her head to toe. "That bitch."

"What did you expect?" Sydney scoffed.

Sam looked at her surprised. "What?"

"You literally egged her own. She's just doing her job, sam," the Brit said sternly.

"Are we back to this now? You taking her side over mine?" Sam snapped.

Amanda tried to intervene. "Girls—"

"Oh grow up, Sam!" Sydney said in rage. "You act like half of what's happened wasn't started by you,"

Sam looked hurt at her words. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"It means you don't know when to back off. You don't know when to just leave things alone,"

"Sydney—"

"I'm leaving." Sydney interrupted and stormed off, leaving the mother and daughter there. She flung the back door open and stormed out of the building, squinting when the light hit her eyes. She quickly took out her phone and asked her dad to come pick her up.

"Some friend you got there."

Sydney rolled her eyes. "I'm not doing this, Tory,"

"Why'd you guys even come, huh? To humiliate me?" Tory snapped.

"Oh yeah, because you're always the only thing on my mind," Sydney said sarcastically. "Sam wanted me to come so I did,"

"Yeah, because you do everything little miss princess says? Look where that gets you."  Tory sneered.

Sydney turned around and glared daggers at her.  "I don't have to listen to anyone.  It's called being a good friend when a friend needs you."

"I needed you!"  Tory hissed and pointed at herself.  "I needed you and you abandoned me!"

"Because you almost got my boyfriend killed!"  Sydney boomed.  "What was I supposed to do,  Tory?  Forgive you?  No,  I can't forgive you and just when I think I can,  you break into Sam's house!  All of this started because of the two of you and I'm tired of living in fear that something bad's going to happen again."

Tory was silent and her eyes held hurt and betrayal.  "Well it looks like you got what you wanted,  Sydney."

Tory bumped her shoulder with hers and stormed away,  throwing the wig and costume in the trash can.  Sydney stood frozen in her spot and squeezed her eyes shut to control the tears that she felt coming.

Night time came and Sydney drove to Receda to pick Miguel up for the drive in movie.  He came running out his apartment in excitement and climbed into the car.  "Hey babe,"  he greeted.

"Hey love,"  she said and he leaned over,  kissing her passionately.  She jumped slightly.  "What's got you in a good mood?"

"Today was great!  Your dad helped Mr.  Larusso and I fix my mom's car and then he let me drive him around,"

Sydney raised one of her brows.  "My dad let you drive him around?"

"Yeah,"  Miguel smiled.  "It was awesome.  I even learned who Queen is."

"Who?"

Miguel shook his head.  "Not important right now.  I think he really likes now,"

"He's always liked you,"  she chuckled.

"I know but I think we bonded today.  H-He was telling me about him and your mom and the life they had together before you,  and I was thinking to myself,  wow,  I can't wait to have that with you someday,"

She stopped at a red light and looked at him, eyes widened with shock. "What?"

Realizing what he said, his brown eyes widened slightly. "Oh, well, y-you know, I would love to have that with somebody some day and you—You're the only person I can think of that I'd want to have that with. . . You know, you're the only one."

Sydney stared at him with loving eyes. "Yeah?"

He smiled. "Yeah."

The light turned green and she drove again, smiling as she stared at the road in front of her.

My sweet babies

Ugh, the more fight scenes that Sydney and Tory have, the more I miss their friendship 😭