Chapter Ninety One
Primadonna

THE DAY THAT Sydney had been waiting for was finally here: Carmen's gender reveal. She'd been raving with excitement ever since Carmen and Johnny set the date. But almost nobody was more excited than Caroline, who'd been taking extra measures to make sure Carmen was safe during her pregnancy.

Both Sydney and her mom were dead set on what they thought the baby was going to be. "The Brits are here!" Caroline yelled when they walked into the Larusso home, both clad in pink outfits.

Her father, unfortunately, had his own opinion. He wore a light blue button up shirt. "And me, the Frenchman." He added.

"Ahh, you guys are early!" Carmen said with a bright smile and met them in the middle. She squeezed Caroline into a hug.

"It's always better to be early than late."

"Care, Sydney, you both look so cute," she gushed at their pink outfits. She turned to Alexander. "Hello, Alex."

"Hi, Carmen," he smiled at her and they gave each other a quick kiss on the cheek. "Are you excited for the reveal?"

"Oh, I've been bouncing all morning." She expressed brightly and rubbed her belly. "But Johnny, he's been so nervous."

"Is he outside?" Asked Alex.

Carmen nodded. "Yes, yes. He's with Daniel."

He left their sides to go find the men. Caroline stepped forward. "Can we help with anything, Carmen?" She asked the woman and they walked into the kitchen.

Sam came around the corner of the hallway wearing a pink floral dress. Sydney gasped. "You're team girl, too?" She squealed.

Sam grew a smile. "Well duh. Oh my gosh, you look adorable." She observed her pink tweed dress.

Sydney bowed slightly. "Why thank you. Go big or go home, right?"

She started organizing the pink and blue chocolates on a tray. When Sam went to lift the vase full of many flowers, Tory grabbed the other side. "Here, let me help you." She offered.

Sam smiled. "Oh, thanks."

Hearing footsteps, Sydney looked over and saw Miguel and Robby. She gasped. "Hiii," she sang and quickly went to hug him.

"Hey, you," Miguel smiled and they hugged each other. "Wow, you look great." He said when he eyed what she was wearing.

Sydney smiled. "Thank you." When she saw his pink shirt, she smiled even more. "I'm so glad we're on the same page."

Robby chuckled. "What are you going to do if it's a boy?" He asked her.

She held up a finger. "It's not going to be a boy, Robert. I have woman's intuition." She insisted. "The baby's definitely a girl."

He glanced at Miguel. Miguel only shrugged. "I mean, she's almost always right about things."

Sydney smiled again.

"Sydie, will you please hang these balloons outside?" Her mother asked and handed out a pack of pink and blue balloons.

"Sure thing," she answered.

"We'll help." Miguel insisted and they followed her outside into the backyard.

She put the packs of balloons on the table and started blowing them up. Robby came and stood beside her. "Hey, Tory told me what you said to her last night," he began, taking out a blue balloon, "thanks for that. I think it really meant a lot to her."

Sydney tied the end of the balloon in place and smiled at him. "She needs to realize how important she is. Don't ever let her forget it, yeah?" She said and patted his back.

Robby grinned. "Yeah."

"So," she moved on and went to hang the balloons, "are you boys excited to be—"

Suddenly there was the sound of an explosion. The three teenagers raced inside the house. "What was that?" Miguel was the first to ask.

Before anyone could answer, Johnny walked into the kitchen with pink paint covering his clothes. Sydney's eyes went large. "I guess the package came early," said Carmen.

"I guess it's a girl."

"It's a girl!" Caroline squealed. She turned to Amanda. "Mandy, it's a girl!"

Sydney released the same excited squeal and turned to Miguel, wrapping her arms around his neck. "It's a girl!"

"Oh my god, you were right," he said in complete shock.

"I'm a girl dad. You're a girl brother," Johnny said to Robby, who looked extremely happy.

Sydney went up to Carmen and hugged her. "I'm so happy for you!" She said giggly.

"I can't wait until she comes." The woman said with a heartfelt smile.

"Where's Daniel and Alex?" Amanda asked Johnny when she didn't see the other adult men.

"Oh yeah, about that—"

Daniel walked into the kitchen completely covered in pink paint because he was holding the box. Everyone immediately started laughing. "I told him not to move." Johnny laughed.

Daniel shook his head. "I'm too old for this shit." He said while slipping out a laugh.

Alex came into the room, half of his face and hair covered in pink paint. Sydney gasped and covered her mouth.

"Alex, honey, why are you pink?" His wife questioned, trying to hide her laughter.

"Oh well, I kinda—" he titled his head to the side. "Leaned over to head inside. I think I have paint in my ear."

The laughter got louder. Caroline giggled behind her hand and walked up to him, pressing a kiss to the side of his face that didn't have paint on it.

Sydney turned to Miguel again, the smile never leaving her face. "You're going to be a girl brother."

"I'm going to be a girl brother." He repeated with a dazed grin on his face.

Squealing quietly, she cupped his face and kissed him on the cheek.

"You should've been at the party with us, Syd. It was epic," Hawk had been rambling to her about the college party as soon as they got to training. "They called me Spike. I got a fucking nickname!"

Sydney, who'd been practicing kata during his rambling, kept her eyes shut. "That's great, Eli." She said and rolled her arms in front of her.

"You know you don't have to close your eyes while doing kata, right?" Chris pointed out.

"Yes, but it keeps me concentrated when people are talking."

Hawk frowned. "Do you want me to stop?"

"Of course not, darling. You can keep going." She insisted, still keeping her eyes closed, and started doing high blocks.

She hadn't realized that Nate and Kenny came and stood with them. "All right, tomorrow's the big day, guys. Finally gonna find of which country's hosting the Sekai Taikai." Said Hawk.

"Man, Germany would be cool. My dad's getting stationed there next month." Said Kenny.

Sydney reopened her eyes and dropped her arms. "I'm hoping for France. How fucking awesome would that be?" She asked with a laugh.

"Are you only saying that because you know French?" Nate asked her.

"No Nate, because I'm craving eating macarons on the Eiffel Tower." She responded sarcastically.

"Please say macarons again." Kenny begged her, loving the way she said it.

Sydney smiled. "Macarons," she repeated in the same French accent.

"Well, my money's on Taiwan. Gonna get my Din Tai Fung on," said Chris and he did a dance.

She chuckled. "There's a Din Tai Fung in Glendale." Nate mentioned.

"Word?"

"I don't care where we go as long as we all get to go," Sydney emphasized, looking at each other boys. ". . .I also really want to kick the snot as whoever I go up against."

"Yeah, hopefully we can get a redo of the All Valley," Hawk told her, both of them thinking about what happened at the last All Valley.

Kenny cringed. "Yeah, that would be nice."

Devon walked over to their group. "Sydney, your friends are officially broken." She said to the British girl.

Sydney furrowed her brows. She looked over Devon's shoulder and saw Tory and Sam doing reverse punches. She scoffed a laugh. "What do you mean they're broken?"

"I mean that they can't even throw a punch at each other without hesitating. We're not going to win the tournament with hesitation."

She hinted a frown. Sydney watched Tory and Sam again. They were finally in a good place with each other. They spent so much time hating one another and it caused them to be violent, but now they were almost hesitant to hurt each other. It shouldn't have been a bad thing.

Sydney left her group of friends and went to stand with Miguel, Robby, and Charlie, all three of them watching the girls as well. "Why is Devon telling me that they're broken?" She questioned.

"She said the same thing to us." Said Robby.

"They're not broken," Charlie emphasized, his arms crossed over his chest, "they're just trying to get used to being friends. It's hard after spending all that time hating each other."

Miguel agreed with him. "Yeah, Charlie's right. Things'll get better."

"Let's hope so. We can't afford to lose this tournament." Sydney said in a serious voice.

"Frenchy!" Johnny called out. She turned around and looked his way. "You're going to Lee's house tonight!"

"But I thought we were all staying home and watching Barbie?"

Charlie slipped out a snort.

"First of all, I never agreed to that," Johnny said loudly and pointed at her, "second, we can do that another time. No more questions."

Sydney gave him a weird look and frowned. She looked back at the boys. "Aww, I've been waiting to watch that movie."

When Sydney arrived at Devon's house, her dad let her in. "Thank you, Mr. Lee." She told the man and went down the hallway that led to the basement. She had a duffle bag full of training gear. Walking down into the basement, she saw Sam and Tory standing on the stairs. "Hey guys," she greeted them. When she saw the decorated basement, she felt confused. "Uhh, what's all this?"

"Hell, apparently." Tory mumbled.

"Good, Frenchy, you're here," Johnny observed.

"You said you were going to the store."

"Yeah, well, I lied." He said casually.

"Yay, Sydney, you're here!" Devon chirped happily. She held a box full of different colored nail polishes. "I didn't know what color nail polish you guys like, so I just got them all."

"Wait, is this a slumber party?" Sydney questioned.

"I figured since all three of you are friends now, we can have a girl's night," Johnny explained.

"With you?" Asked Tory.

"Hell yeah. I'm a girl dad now. I brought cookies and tampons and everything."

While Sam and Tory didn't look thrilled, Sydney looked excited. "Omg, yay! I love a good sleepover." She beamed and squeezed past the girls. "Also, I love pink nail polish.

Devon smiled big. "Yay!"

"Go on, grab a sleeping bag," Johnny insisted, "the Mr. T one's mine."

Sydney put her bag down and grabbed the pink sleeping bag from the shelf. She saw the bland looks on both of their faces. "Oh, come on. Lighten up you two. This is going to be fun." She chimed with an excited smile.

"I've never been to a slumber party before." Tory said and grabbed one of the sleeping bags.

"Yeah, and don't you think it's kind of weird?" Sam added in.

"No, I don't," Sydney denied. She looked at Tory. "And don't worry. You're going to love it. Besides, what's another girl's night gonna hurt?"

"Alright, who's ready to have some fun?" Johnny announced and turned on the radio, Girls Just Wanna Have Fun started to play.

Tory and Sam looked at Sydney again and she gave them a wide set smile.

The first activity on Johnny's list was pillow fighting. Devon and Sydney sat on the couch with each other, letting their painted toes dry while they watched Sam and Tory circle each other with their pillows raised.

"Ready? Fight!" Johnny refereed.

Tory threw the first hit. Sam stood there for a second before she smiled. They started hitting each other back and forth while giggling.

"Hit 'er Sammy, come on!" Sydney encouraged while laughing.

Tory looked at her and gasped. She went over and started hitting her with the pillow.

"Hey!" The British girl objected and covered her face, Devon laughing and moved out of the way.

Sam joined in and they tag teamed hitting her with their pillows. Sydney was able to reach over and grab one from the couch. She stood up and hit both of them, all them of them now giggling while fighting. Feathers started flying everywhere.

Devon sneaked in with her own pillow and joined in, causing more feathers to fly around them. Sydney laughed joyously and hit her in the face with hers, almost knocking her over, but the younger girl recovered and hit her back.

When Johnny brought out an Ouija board, Sydney was confused. "Uhhh, since when is talking with the dead apart of a sleepover?" She questioned strangely.

"Did anyone ever tell you that you ask too many questions?" Johnny said and sat in front of the board.

Sydney scoffed. "Did anyone ever tell you that having a sleepover with three underrate girls is weird?" She shot back.

He opened his mouth to retaliate. Sam, Tory, and Devon raised their eyebrows. "Okay, moving on!" He gave up and waved his hand. "Hands on the board." They all collectively placed their hands on the board. "Okay, who wants to go first?"

"I'll go," Devon volunteered. "Uhhh. . . Will Mitch ever win the All Valley?" She asked first.

Sydney scoffed. "Not likely."

"Who the hell's Mitch?" Johnny asked them.

"Penis Breath," Tory answered strangely.

Immediately, he moved the piece to the NO spot. "Nope."

Sydney gave him a weird look.

"Okay, let's see," he said to himself, "does Tory want Sam to fall down a flight of stairs, breaking every single bone in her little body?"

Now they all looked at him weirdly. "What?" Said Tory.

He only shrugged. "Well, let's see what it says." He tried to force all their hands onto the YES side of the board. They fought against him but ultimately, the piece landed on the yes. "There it is. That's ugly."

Sydney looked at Devon. "Maybe we should get your dad. I'm a little scared now." She whispered.

"Alright, moving on." Johnny announced. "Uhhh, does Sydney want to punch Tory in the face?"

She was appalled. Sydney looked at Tory and they both looked confused. Again, Johnny tried moving the piece to the yes spot and Sydney had enough. "Okay, what the hell are you doing? This isn't what any of us want to do?"

"Yeah." The girls agreed.

"Alright Miss Attitude, what do you want to do?" Johnny threw at her.

They all looked her way. Sydney narrowed her eyes at him, knowing he was up to something. "I want. . .to do masks."

His face fell. "Masks?"

Devon gasped. "I have face masks!"

"Come on, let's go!"

All of the girls stood from the table. "Wait, hold on—" Johnnt started to say but the two of them had already went to get the masks and cucumbers. He groaned.

"Okay girls, it's not a myth, cucumbers are absolute heaven for under eye bags." Sydney educated while standing in front of them, holding a bowl of cold cucumbers. "And sheet masks are really good for hydrating your skin. Johnny, you wanna join?"

Johnny, standing by the wall, shook his head. "Nope. I'm good right here."

She shrugged. "Your loss. Okay ladies, grab a mask and some cucumbers."

"You're making this so much fun, Sydney," Devon said admirably. "I can't wait to tell people that Sydney Benoist came to my sleepover."

Sydney smiled and sat at the end of the couch with Tory. "Well, I'll be sure to tell people how awesome Devon Lee is." She said, making the younger girl smile more.

As the girls sat quietly in the couch wearing their masks, Sydney felt someone tug on her hair. She flinch and removed the cucumbers from her eyes, seeing Tory looking at her. She gave her a look that read was that you? Tory shook her head, feeling confused, and then she raised her eyebrows, the look on her face also reading was that you? Sydney shook her head, looking equally as confused, and they both slowly put the cucumbers back on their eyes and laid their heads back down.

Johnny almost banged his head on the wall and bit into the cucumber he was holding.

Sydney sat with Tory and Sam on the couch paining Tory's nails black, the color she chose, obviously. "I have to say you were right," Tory spoke, "again. This has been really fun so far."

Sydney smirked. "Sydney the Wise is never wrong, Nichols." She boasted and started painting her ring finger.

Sam was laughing at something on her phone. "Have you guys seen this one? It looks like the dog's actually talking." She showed them a video of a barking dog.

"Omg no, but have you seen the one of the smiling donkey? I hate donkeys but I was seriously considering getting one after seeing it." Sydney said and blew on Tory's nails to try them.

Tory laughed. "Why do you hate donkeys?"

"Because they smell bad and are always covered in flies. It's like being around that kid in ninth grade that called me a hot tamale." She said while cringing.

Sam laughed. "Oh god, I remember that. Randy Delgado."

Sydney made a gagging noise.

Johnny and Devon stood in the back by the counter, watching the three girls on the couch. "Well this might really took a turn for the worse. Literally, there's no drama."

"Have faith, Lee." Johnny assured her. "I know how girls think. I've been stuck with Frenchy over there forever now. It just takes one little spark."

Devon gave him a weird look. "Okay. What's your plan?"

"First, I gotta get rid of Sydney," he explained and took out his phone, pretending to talk on it for a few minutes, Devon watching him suspiciously.

"Done." Sydney declared and put the bottle of black nail polish down. "What do you think?"

Tory held up her hands, observing her black nails. "Quite beautiful, I'd say." She said in an attempted British accent.

Her and Sam giggled. "Sydney!" Johnny called her name.

Sydney quickly looked his way. "What?"

"Your mom just called me. She said, uh," he paused and glanced at Devon, the younger girl only shrugging, "that, uh, your dad fell down the stairs and. . .broke his arm and leg."

"WHAT?" She nearly yelled and stood from the couch, her eyes going wide, while Tory slipped out an, "Oh my god."

"Yeah, she says you need to get over now. He might have a concussion.

"O-Okay, uh," Sydney started to panic. She turned to Devon. "Devon, I'm sorry. I gotta go."

Devon widened her eyes. "No, no, of course. Go!"

"Wait, are you going to be okay to drive?" Sam asked with concern.

"Yeah, yeah, I'll be okay. I-I-I'll call everyone later." Sydney stuttered again and quickly grabbed her bag. She ran toward the stairs.

"Be careful!" Tory called out to her.

"Do you think we should go, too?" Sam asked her, now feeling scared.

"No!" Johnny instantly said, rather loudly. The book looked at him. "I mean, uh, Sydney will let you guys know what happens. Don't worry."

He went back to stand with Devon. She looked at him like he was crazy. "You do realize when Syd realizes you lied, she'll quite literally kill you, right?"

"Maybe, but if this worlds, I'll die happy."

When Sydney got home, after racing about 90 the entire way, she ran into her house, her parents and Carmen watching a movie in the living room. "Dad!" She blurted out.

The adults looked her way. "Hey honey," Alex greeted her from the couch, his legs across Caroline's lap.

"Sydney, honey, I thought you were at a slumber party?" Carmen asked her.

"Is your skin glowier than normal?" Her mom inquired.

"Daddy, are you okay?" Sydney asked her father, looking at his appearance.

Alex pulled a face. "Why wouldn't I be?" He sat up straight.

"What's wrong, sweetheart?" Caroline questioned.

When she saw that her father was okay, her jaw dropped. "I-I thought—"

Miguel and Robby came out of their rooms and looked over from the balcony, hearing the commotion. "What's going on?" Robby asked first.

"Syd, why are you back so early?" Miguel asked her.

"Johnny said that my mother called him and said my dad fell down the stairs!" Sydney explained, gathering her thoughts enough to speak.

"What?" Her dad bellowed.

"Why would he do that?" Carmen thought out loud.

She threw her arms up. "I don't know! You tell me."

"Your father's alright, Sydney." Caroline assured her. "Nobody's hurt."

"Well, I. . .I—" Sydney was lost for words. When she started to realize what was going on, her eyes darkened. "Oh, I'm so going to kill him."

"Aye, aye, aye, hay toda la conmoción aquí abajo?" Rosa said when she came out of her room and walked into the living room, obviously having been asleep. What's all the commotion here?

"Estoy a punto de asesinar a ese hombre rubio." Sydney expressed angrily for her to understand, her face turning red. I'm about to commit murder on that blonde man

Yaya looked impressed. "Encantadora pronunciación, Sydney." She recited with a smile. Lovely pronunciation, Sydney.