Chapter Forty Eight
Primadonna

SYDNEY DIDN'T SAY a word to Miguel the entire drive back to Receda. She played music loudly on the radio to drown out the awkward silence. She never took her eyes off the road even when she could feel his eyes burning holes in the side of her face. She knew he was sorry. She knew he was struggling but it was still no excuse to talk to her the way he did. She wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing her upset when she did nothing wrong.

Call her dramatic, call her a bitch, she didn't care. Apologies meant a great deal to her and she deserved one.

When they arrived at the apartment complex, Sydney parked her car but Miguel didn't get out. He only continued to stare at her. "Sydney,"

She didn't say anything and only stared at the steering wheel.

His mouth twitched sadly. "Baby, please,"

silence.

"I'm not getting out till you talk to me."

Giving up, she glanced at him with anger in her eyes. She was still mad, but she was going to get her point across. "Do you not understand how much you mean to me?"

"I know babe—"

"No!" She interrupted fiercely, making his mouth clamp shut. "I'm sick and tired of feeling guilty for caring about people. All my life, I've had to take care of myself. My parents were never around and I had to learn to do everything on my own.  I didn't have anyone to look out for me or help me.  I had Mr.  and Mrs.  Larusso but they're not my parents.  Do you know how hard it is to open yourself up to people?  It's like ripping open stitches,

You went through something traumatic, Miguel. You're still struggling and I understand, okay? But that gives you no right to talk to me like that. All I'm doing is trying to help you and make it to where you don't have to be reminded about what happened. I didn't have anyone to help but so now I'm trying my best to help you. You know why? Because I love you, you asshole,"

Miguel got out of the car and walked around the front.  Sydney felt a hint of fear that he was mad at her but it quickly went away when he opened her door and held his hand out.

She hesitantly took it and got out,  standing in front of him.  He cupped her face in his hands.  "I'm sorry.  I didn't mean to snap at you like that.  I have no excuse.  I guess i'm just. . . still insecure.  I can't do things like you guys can do.  I'm not blaming you,  okay?  That's my own personal stuff I have to deal with.  I'm so grateful for you for all that you do for me.  I love how much you help me.  You do make things easier.  I'm really proud of you Sydney,  for how much you've changed. I love you so much. I'm sorry that I made you feel that way. I promise if I ever do it again, I give you permission to slap the shit out of me,"

She stiffened a chuckle.

"I'm really sorry, Sydie," he finished.

Sydney sighed slightly and looked up at him. "Just don't do it again."

He nodded. "Okay," he brought her face forward and kissed her. "I love you."

"I love you."

The next day, Sydney drove Miguel and herself to the school where they were having the counsel meeting about the All Valley. "You really think you'll be able to convince a whole board of directors to change their minds?"

"I hope so," he responded. "If not, i'm sure I can whoo them with my charm,"

Sydney snorted. "What charm?"

His jaw dropped. "Hey, it's how I got you!"

She raised her brows at him. "Please, I got with you because you brought my Spanish grade up,"

He nodded sarcastically.  "Oh yeah,  that's totally the reason,"

She shrugged.  "And you're not that bad of a kisser,"

"Really?"

"Well,  you are now.  Those braces didn't really help your case before,"

Miguel gasped and flickered her ear,  making her gasp and slap his hand away.  He poked her in the side and she laughed,  pinching his arm with the hand that wasn't on the steering wheel.

"You ready?" Sydney asked.

Miguel nodded. "Yeah,"

"It is clear this karate tournament is causing division and rivalry in our community," they heard Councilperson Roberts announce. "You gentlemen. . . have made an excellent case today as to why this tournament should not continue,"

"Wait!" Miguel voiced loudly.

Everyone's heads turned to see Sydney and Miguel standing on top of the stairs. She followed him down the steps. He glanced at her quickly before leaning into the microphone on the stand. "My name is Miguel Diaz.  This is Sydney Benoist.  We were in the school fight. I was the one who got kicked off the second floor,"

Sydney heard the gasps from the audience and she wrapped her arms around her waist.

"You know, uh. . . I thought I was going to be paralyzed.  I relearned how to stand.  I relearned how to walk.  And I want the tournament to continue,"

"So do I,"  Sydney chimed awkwardly.  "Sort of,"

"We are very happy for your recovery,  young man.  But I'm afraid you don't understand—"

"Yes,  he does,"  Sydney and Sam said at the same time,  Sydney a little more roughly.  She looked over her shoulder to see Sam standing up in the crowd.  She walked down the stairs and joined them. 

"We're the ones getting hurt.  We're the ones fighting.  Our voices should matter the most and we want a place where we can compete,  fairly and safely,"  Sam continued.

"And legally."  Sydney added.

"When I first moved here,  I was bullied," Miguel said into the microphone. "And I realized there's no escaping it. There's always gonna be a kid who wants to steal your lunch money, or give you a wedgie, or give you a swirlie,"

"A swirlie?" The Councilperson asked.

"It's when you dunk someone's head in the toilet and flush it. It's pretty funny actually," Johnny said when he stood up from the bottom row.

"Sensei!" Miguel muttered and Johnny sat back down. "Instead of burying your heads in the sand and pretending that bullying doesn't exist, or that you could just get rid of you, what you need to do it teach kids how to defend themselves,"

"Physically and mentally," Sam added.

Sydney pointed at her in agreement.

"Because sometimes the scars you can't see are the ones that hurt the most."

The three of them smiled at each other.

"Karate is about discipline. It's about inner strength. It's about confidence. Lessons you can use for the rest of your life. Look, I don't know where I would be today, or who I would be today, if it wasn't for my sensei," Miguel continued passionately and glanced back at Johnny.

The man smiled proudly.

"I gained confidence, I gained new friends, I got a girlfriend," Miguel went on and glanced at Sydney, smiling. "out of all people,"

she smiled softly.

"We don't need this tournament to do cool tricks or to sell tickets.  We need it to show the bullies of the world that we're not afraid.  It's called The All Valley because it's for everyone,  to give everyone the chance to show what they can do,  to fight,  to become a champion.  and we deserve that chance."

Miguel looked over at Sydney and raised his brows,  asking if she wanted to say anything.  She switched places with him and stared at the board awkwardly.  "I hate to admit it but not too long ago,  I was the bully that Miguel and Sam are talking about.  I'm not proud of it and I don't have an excuse for it.  It's taken some really great people to come into my life and realize that that's not who I want to be anymore,"  Sydney explained and looked between Miguel and Sam.  "I didn't get the hype about karate until my friends encouraged me to get back into it.  It's not just some random activity,  it's a sport.  It's hard work and passion.  It's about believing in yourself and trusting your instincts.  It's to learn how to protect yourself and others.  The All Valley is an opportunity to show the world how much that hard work pays off,"

Johnny and Daniel smiled proudly from behind her.

"So,  what I'm trying to say is don't take this away from us just because you're afraid of the outcome.  Like Sam said,  we're the ones fighting.  It should be out decision on how we wish to go about it,"  Sydney finished.

Miguel's eyes glimmered.  That's my girl.

The counsel took in all their statements.  They glanced at each other and nodded.  "To be honest,  I don't get the valley's fascination with karate,"  Councilperson Roberts stated.

"Neither do I,"  Sydney mumbled.

Miguel quickly nudged her.

"But. . . if it means that much to all of you,  and you're willing to sign waivers stating that the city is not liable,  then. . . The All Valley Under 18 tournament is officially back on."

Sydney squealed and jumped into Miguel's open arms.  She squeezed her arms around his neck.  "We did it!"

"We did it!"  He cheered.  "And to think we didn't even practice that!"

"To The All Valley tournament," Sam declared and held up her can of soda.

Sydney smirked and held hers up, clinking them together. "To The All Valley tournament,"

"You were great today. I've never seen you talk about karate like that," Sam said.

Sydney shrugged. "After a while I guess I can see the appeal. It's important to all of you so I guess it's important to me,"

Sam smiled at her. "You've really come a long way. I'm proud of you,"

The British girl grinned and bumped her shoulder with hers.

"Hey, can I ask you something?"

"Sure," Sydney replied and took another sip from her can.

Sam frowned slightly. "Have you talked to Charlie?"

Sydney hesitated.  After what happened at the school,  Charlie kept his distance.  He was barely seen at school and he hadn't spoken to anyone.  He still felt guilty for what happened with Sam and Tory and he felt even more guilty about what happened with Miguel. 

Even after making their peace,  Sydney still didn't know how to feel about him.  "No,  I haven't.  I don't think he's talked to anyone,"

She saw the look on Sam's face.  "Do you miss him?"

She looked taken back.  "No.  Well,  not like that.  I just feel bad for him.  He feels like everything's his fault and it's not.  I'm to blame for it too,"

Sydney shook her head.  "You need to stop blaming yourself,  Sammy.  You were drunk at the party.  He took advantage of you and kissed you.  It's his fault in that department but what happened at the school isn't anyone's fault but Tory's."

She got angry when she mentioned the girl's name.

Sam frowned again.  "You still haven't forgiven her?"

"I don't think I ever will,"  she admitted and looked down at her can.

"What about me?"

Hearing the familiar voice,  Sydney looked up to see Robby standing in the door way. 

And Sydney saw red again.  "No.  Leave."

"Sydney,"  Sam started nervously.

Sydney quickly stood up and glared at him.  "You have no right to be here,"

"I came here to say I'm sorry,"  Robby tried to say.  His face was full of regret.

"You're sorry?"  Sydney repeated in disbelief.  "Miguel almost died because of you.  He's been through hell and back because of what you and Tory did.  Y'know,  I've tried really hard to forget about it and make my peace but I can't,"  she stepped forward again in his bubble.  "Stay away from me and stay away from Miguel."

She stormed off out of the backyard with a heavy heart and blood pounding in her ears. 

Their communication is so healthy 🥺

Oof,  bad timing Robert Swayze