Chapter Ninety
Primadonna

UCLA WAS EXACTLY what Sydney had hoped for it to be: huge, crowded, and loud. By the time the girls arrived there was already a whole lineup of cars on the street in front of the first house. "Holy shit, this is a frat house?" Tory said in shock when they all stepped out of the car.

"Yep." Sydney said with a wide smile.

"How the hell did you even hear about this?" Asked Sam.

"I follow a few girls that go to school here on Instagram. One of them posted that there'd be a party and that kids on the college tour could attend." She explained. She faced them. "Alright ladies, before we go inside, what are the golden rules of the night?"

"Get our own drinks, no drugs, and don't leave each other alone," the three of them recited in unison.

Sydney smiled proudly. "Perfect. Let's go have some fun!"

Being high schools in the midst of a ton of college kids was a little overwhelming, especially when you don't know any of them. But Sydney felt the best way to get the college experience was to surround herself with college people. . .she also really wanted to party.

We Found Love by Rihanna was blaring when the group of girls walked into the frat house. Multi colored LED lights were attached to the ceiling, making the room appear either red, blue, or purple. Every person in front of the house was dancing like mad, along with the people that stood on the second floor by the staircase.

"Are we sure this is a good idea?" Sam asked nervously.

"Quit worrying, Sammy. Everything will be fine." Sydney assured her, rubbing her arm.

A girl with long brown hair, clearly older than them, stood in front of them with a drunken smile on her face and multi colored solo cups in her hands. "Hiii, are you girls on the tour or do you go to school here?" She asked over the blaring music.

"Tour!" Sailor answered, her voice also loud.

"Okay, perfect!" The unnamed girl said bubbly and handed the four of them yellow solo cups, which Sydney assumed was meant for the touring kids. "Have fun!"

She wondered off and the group looked at each other. "Well, let's fill them shall we?" Sydney insisted. She grabbed Sam's hand so she wouldn't get lost in true crowd.

Sydney was worried that Tory wouldn't have a good time seeing as how she didn't have fun on the college tour. And especially since the last party they attended led to the school fight. Sydney made a mental note to keep her friends away from the stairs. But to her surprise, Tory was having a great time. She never had true girl friends until now and she was learning how to let loose.

"I got this feeling on the summer day when you were gone!" Sydney sang at the top of her lungs while jumping up and down on her feet. "I crash my car into the bridge, I watched, I let it burn!"

"I threw your shit into a bag and pushed it down the stairs!" Sailor sang in her face, making her laugh, and she drank whatever she put into her yellow cup.

"I crashed my car into the bridge. . ."

All at once, the four girls belted out, "I DON'T CARE. I lOVE IT!" Tory and Sydney danced by each other. "I DON'T CARE!"

It felt nice to have a change of scenery, Sydney thought. To have a night of fun with her girl friends while Miguel had a night with the boys. To have a break from dancing, to not think about the Sekai Taikai, it was refreshing.

"I need a refil!" Sailor said loudly, holding up her empty yellow cup.

She grabbed Tory's hand and Tory grabbed Sydney's. Sydney grabbed Sam's hand and they dragged each other through the crowd of dancing people, laughing in the process. They went and stood at the drink table. "This is so great." Tory expressed with a large smile on her red, sweaty face.

"I knew you'd think that eventually," Sydney said loudly, giggling like crazy and she leaned against her, her feet hurting from all the dancing.

"Hello ladies," a boy said to them, his blonde hair full of sweat and he was wearing a frat shirt with khaki shorts. He held a purple solo cup, meaning that he was a college boy. His eyes first landed on Sydney. "You girls wanna—"

She raised her hand, silencing him. "I have a boyfriend." She spoke dully.

At the rejection, he looked at Sam. "Boyfriend." She told him.

Tory. "Boyfriend."

Lastly, he looked at Sailor. "I'm gay!" She said over the music and laughed in his face.

The others girl started laughing as well and the blonde college boy walked away, looking embarrassed at the multiple rejections. They high fived each other.

By the end of the night, one of re four girls were plastered, and by no shock it was Sailor. Sydney obviously being the driver only had one cup, while Sam had three and Tory had four. "That was the greatest party ever!" A drunken Sailor bellowed.

"Holy shit, that guy that jumped off the balcony into everyone made me almost scream," Sam chuckled.

"I kinda had a little PTSD." Said Tory, scratching behind her neck. She had pulled her hair up into a ponytail from how much she was sweating.

Sydney laughed. "I just can't believe they had a confetti machine," she brought up, remembering one of the frat guys shooting confetti from the second floor so it rained over everyone.

"What are you talking about? That was the best part." Sailor slurred.

"No, you almost throwing up on that sweaty college guy was the best part," Tory brought up, causing all of them to laugh again.

Sydney dropped Sailor home first and to all of their good grace, her mother wasn't home. "She went on a business trip this weekend." She had told them, almost completely knocked out. Sydney walked her inside and helped her to her bedroom, almost falling on her bedroom floor when she put her into the bed. "Are you going to be okay?"

"Oh, don't worry about me, Brit. I'll be just fine," she waved her hand and snuggled into her covers. Sydney grabbed the trash can under her desk and put it beside her. Before she left, Sailor quickly grabbed her arm. "Hey, thanks for bringing tonight, Syd. It was really fun."

Sydney smiled. "Anytime, Monroe. You were a blast."

"Oh, and your friend Tory's really hot. Can you let me know if her and Ricky don't work out?"

She didn't have the heart to tell her that his name was Robby. Sydney just laughed. "Yeah, sure thing." She turned off the bedroom lights and closed her door, knowing she would pass out as soon as she left.

Next, she dropped Sam off at her house. "Okay, there's no way Miguel and Charlie had as much fun as we did." She said with a laugh, turning in the passenger seat to look at both her and Tory.

"Oh, of course not. Girls always have more fun," Sydney state. "Right, Tory?"

Tory chuckled. "Sure."

"I'll see you guys at training," Sam gave them both a smile and got out of the car.

Sydney looked over her shoulder. "Come sit up front with me." She insisted.

Tory took off the seatbelt and climbed out the car. When she got into the passenger side, Sydney backed her car out and drove off. She played music quietly, My Kind of Woman playing on the radio. "So how was tonight for you?" Sydney asked her, knowing she'd get a better conversation out of her now that it was just them.

"It was. . ." Tory started to say but she wasn't sure how to easy it. "Really, really fun." She landed on and slowly smiled. "Like, a lot of fun, actually."

"See, I told you," Sydney responded and smiled, keeping her eyes on the road ahead of her. "You think I don't know you but I do."

She couldn't see it but Tory had bowed her head. She stared at her lap, tongue swirling against her cheek. "I don't like to let anyone know me." She admitted.

"I know," Sydney replied with a soft nod, "that's why I try."

It was quiet all the way to Tory's home. When she parked her car, Sydney turned in her seat and faced her, Tory meeting her eyes. "I know you think you don't deserve good things. Maybe it's because life's dealt you a bad hand or because people have let you down when you didn't deserve it. But Tory, you deserve to live your life not fearing that something's going to be taken from you, to want to go through college. You deserve someone like Robby, you deserve friends like me and Sam, so please, don't give up on yourself. Because I'm not giving up on you—"

She yelped when Tory suddenly hugged her. Her arms circled her neck and she hid her face in her shoulder. Sydney blinked rapidly. "Sorry, sorry," Tory laughed, still hugging her.

"No, no, don't be sorry." Sydney said softly and rubbed her back.

After a minute, she pulled away and wiped her tear streaked face. "Um. . .my mom used to say that me when I was younger," Tory explained. "'Life's dealt us a bad hand'. When I found out she was sick and couldn't take care of me and Brandon, it changed me. I think I had to act the way I did so I wouldn't get hurt."

Sydney nodded, completely understanding.

"And you're right. Giving up is not a way to live. So, thanks for being you, Syd. I mean it."

She smiled again, her lips wavering. When she felt a tear slip from her eye. Sydney quickly wiped it away and sniffled. "Alright, Jesus, get out before I become a blubbering mess."

Tory laughed out loud. "Okay." She opened the passenger door. Before she completely walked away, she peered back into the car. "Sydney?"

She hummed.

"If I start trying. . .like, with school and stuff, will you help me?" She asked, almost embarrassed.

Sydney titled her head forward. "Are you kidding me? I already told Robby I'm both of your designated tutors for the whole year."

Tory laughed again and shut the car door. She walked toward the apartments and Sydney took off driving, having to shake her hands from all of the emotions she was feeling.

Sydney walked into her house and saw Miguel and Robby watching tv in the living room. "Hey roomies," she greeted with a sly smile.

They looked her way and grinned. "Hey baby," Miguel greeted her from the lounge chair. "How was your tour?"

"Oh my god, it was unbelievable!" She expressed brightly and took a seat on his lap. "They have four dance studios and a theater. I mean it was all so beautiful. I swear if I was there any longer, I would've passed out."

"Sounds like you're excited to go there," Robby observed from the couch.

"Oh, you have no idea. Speaking of which, you should probably talk to Tory. She had a really great night too."

His eyebrows shot up. "Really?" When she nodded, Robby formed a grin. "Okay." He got up from the couch. "I'll see y'all in the morning."

"Night bro," Miguel said while rubbing her leg.

"Good night," Sydney sang and watched him walk away to go to his room. She looked at her boyfriend. "Where's the adults?"

"Uh, mom said they all went out to dinner," he explained, resting his head on the back of the chair, "Johnny said he spent all day looking for houses and that failed majorly, so, your dad treated them to a dinner."

"I'm sorry," she said with a frown and rubbed his chest.

"Nah, it's okay. I quite like living in the Sydney Dream House." Miguel replied with a goofy grin.

Sydney chuckled. "It would be my Dream House if it was all pink. Which I did try convincing my father to do one time."

"What did he say?"

"He said no, but, he did let me paint my bedroom pink." She answered with a cute smile. "He likes to act like a hard ass but he's got a heart of gold."

Miguel smiled again. "Like father like daughter."

She poked him on that nose. "I gotta get out of these clothes. I'm exhausted." Sydney got off his lap and headed toward the stairs. "You coming?"

At the question, his eyes went large. "Sydney."

She looked back at him like nothing was wrong. "What?"

"This is your parent's house."

"I thought you said it was my Dream House," she joked and giggled. He didn't laugh. "Oh, come on, nobody's home but us and Robby and he's locked away in his room talking to Tory." She turned back around and walked up the stairs. "Besides, it's nothing you haven't seen before."

Without a red face, Miguel scrambled off the chair and quickly followed her.

Sydney smirked when she heard his footsteps. They entered her bedroom and Miguel laid belly down on her bed while she searched her dresser for pajamas. "How was your day, my love?" She asked in a soft voice.

"Uhh, it was pretty good." He answered while watching her every move. "Yeah, Hawk, Demetri, and I toured the College of the Valley, y'know, since it was close."

She glanced over her shoulder. "Oh yeah? Did you like it?" She asked and peeked off her shirt.

Miguel's eyes widened again. "Uhhh," he tried to say, "Umm. . ."

Peering over her shoulder again, Sydney saw him lose for words and she grinned. "Everything okay?" She asked innocently.

"Oh yeah, everything's perfect." He responded distantly, his dark eyes eyeing her bare skin. When she slipped on a pink silk pajama top, Miguel blinked multiple times. "Uhh, I-I-It was good. Oh shit, and you'll never guess who we ran into." She raised her brows in his direction. "Kyler and Brucks!"

"Not fucking way." She said in disbelief.

"Way!"

"Those tossers actually go to college?"

"You'd be surprised, actually," his words trailed when she slid her white shirts down her legs. "Jesus Christ." He slipped out.

That time, Sydney laughed and faced him, his burning red face making it impossible for her not to smile. "You're too cute." She said and put on the matching pink silk shorts. "Keep going. I wanna hear the rest."

"Oh, right." Said Miguel, completely forgetting he was telling a story. "Yeah, Kyler goes there. Brucks goes to MIT." He got back on track.

On her way to the bathroom, Sydney stopped in her tracks. "Brucks goes to MIT?" She questioned, looking appalled, and knowing that Demetri and Hawk probably had a field day with that information.

"Oh, not that MIT, we figured out. He goes to the school of engineering."

"Ohhh. That makes more sense."

He nodded. "Yeah." Miguel watched her walk into her bathroom and she stood in front of the mirror. She pulled her long hair into a bun. "Then we went to a party at Kyler's frat."

"You're actually getting along with him after all the shit he's pulled?" She questioned and started taking off her makeup.
"I mean, I wouldn't say we're best buds, but, he's actually pretty cool. He's cleaned up his act a lot. Got his life together."

Sydney wasn't convinced. "Anyways, how was the party?" She moved on and splashed her face with water.

Now he was nervous. Miguel's stomach turned. "Well. . ." He began, not knowing how to explain to her the fight that happened at the party. "It was really fun for the most part. But then. . ."

Sydney paused drying her face and she looked his way. "But what?" She questioned.

"A bunch of the frat guys were picking on Kyler so I. . ." He winced. "Got involved."

"You mean you got into a fight."

"In a way, yes."

Sydney groaned and tossed her head back. "Mig."

"I know, I know, I'm sorry." Miguel quickly apologized and got up from her bed. He walked into her very large bathroom and hopped on the counter next to her. "But you should've seen them, Syd. They were complete dicks to Kyler. I couldn't just sit back and watch."

As annoyed as she was, Sydney had a weakness for his kind heart. "You're too good for this world, Miguel Diaz." She responded with and continued cleaning her face. "At least tell me that you won."

Miguel half smiled. "Course I did."

"Good. As long as you had a good time, then that's really good." She instead and wiped her face on the towel again.

His smile grew. "Alright, what about you? How was your party?"

"It was probably the best party I've ever been to," Sydney answered truthfully. She laughed. "Sailor got so drunk. I almost died laughing when she nearly threw up on this frat boy's shoes."

"Ew." Miguel said while laughing.

"It was so much fun. . . Well, minus all four of us getting hit on, but, what can you do about that?" She looked at him again, seeing his face. "Oh, don't worry. Three of us are taken and one's a lesbian. None of them stood a chance."

He grinned a little. "Alright, yeah."

Sydney cleaned the counter and stared at herself in the mirror. "I can't wait for college." She admitted. "Is that crazy to say?"

Miguel would be lying if he said he wasn't sad to hear her say it. She wanted to keep moving forward, get older and graduate already. She wanted to start her life. While it was what Miguel loved the most about her, it was also terrifying. "No, not at all." He responded, slightly glum.

She started walking back into her bedroom. "I mean, CALArts is so beautiful, Miggy. It's everything I've been dreaming of. That stage?" She emphasized and started giggling. Sydney sat on her bed and Miguel leaned against the frame of the bathroom door, his hands in his pockets. "Why do you look so down?"

He shook his head. "I'm not, baby."

He was an awful liar. Sydney reached out her arm. "Come here."

Miguel walked forward and climbed on her bed again. He laid between her legs and rested his back again thr front of her body. Sydney wrapped her arms around him. "You've never been able to lie to me. Tell me what's on your mind." She said softly and rocked them side to side.

Miguel sighed in defeat. "I know I keep saying Stanford is what I want, but," he hesitated, "it's a far fetched dream that I don't think I'll ever be able to accomplish. What if a school close to home is the best option for me?" He spilled his feelings, nervous to hear her response.

Sydney stopped rocking them but she say her hands on his chest. She rubbed one of them up and down his chest. "Why do you make it sound like such a bad thing?" She wondered.

"Because we have a plan," Miguel responded and shifted in her arms. He leaned himself on his elbow so that he could look at her, his expression reading that he was feeling self conscious. "You want to be close to me and I wanna to be close to you forever. I don't wanna ruin everything we've talked about just because I can't afford to go to Stanford. I still haven't heard if I'm in or not."

There was plenty of things Sydney loved about Miguel. She could talk about them forever and over and over again. One of the things she loved was his selflessness. He always thought about other people, worried for other people, and never about himself. But it was also one of his downfalls. Sydney brushed his curls out of his face. "Miguel, darling, I want you to do what's best for you. If going to school closer to home is what you want then I'll support you every step of the way. What I don't want you to do is give up. I know how badly you want to go to Stanford and you are perfectly capable of getting in. Don't ever give up on what you want just because you're afraid."

There was a silence and her words settled in Miguel, sinking in him like a rock. They weighed on his heart. She was right, he knew she was. It didn't mean he still wasn't scared, but, Sydney always had a way of calming him in situations like this. "Yeah, you're right," he spoke and nodded his head. "Besides, I wanted you and I got you, right?" He asked and smirked.

Sydney rolled her eyes and scoffed. "Oh yeah, definitely." She said sarcastically and pressed her hand to his cheek.

He laughed and leaned up, capturing her lips with his. Even if he wasn't sure on a college, he was sure about her. Miguel was sure that he wanted her forever, to be in her arms like he was now for as long as he could possibly be in them. He knew no matter what, he had Sydney's support in whatever he chose to do, and that was enough for him. "There's something else I gotta get off my mind." He muttered close to her lips.

"What's that?"

"You look incredibly hot in these pajamas."

Sydney giggled and Miguel pressed quick kisses onto her neck, causing her to fall back on the bed. He kept going and the volume of her giggles increased.

I need her to be my guidance counselor