Chapter Seven
Primadonna

MIGUEL WASN'T VERY good at hiding when he was exited about something. He wore his heart on his sleeve and his expressions on all his face. As excited as he was on the outside, Miguel was freaking out on the inside. He had never been on a date before. He barely knew the first thing about girls and now he was going on a date with the most popular girl in school. "I need somewhere romantic. But not too romantic. I have a feeling she doesn't like too romantic."

"You could take her to get tattoos," Hawk suggested.

Aisha laughed. "What?"

He stood up and started untying his gi. "I know a guy. Just looked me up with this bad boy." He turned around and dropped the gi off his shoulders, revealing a hawk tattoo that stretched from shoulder to shoulder and to the middle of his back. It had a blue mohawk to match his hair.

"Oh shit," Miguel uttered with wide eyes.

"That is badass!" Aisha exclaimed.

"Right? Fourteen hours in the chair," Hawk boasted and started checking himself out in the mirror.

"Wait, are your parents okay with that?"

"Oh, they have no idea," he replied and tied his gi back on. "Definitely going to have to wear a T-shirt until college. Probably longer. Please don't tell him."

Aisha chuckled. Miguel looked back at her. "Any other suggestions? Please?"

"Well, you're wrong. Sydney is a hopeless romantic. We've been watching rom coms together since we could talk. Her expectations are higher than Hawk's hair."

Eli quickly looked at them again.

"That's also why she's probably never had a boyfriend." Aisha added.

"That's shocking. She's hot as fuck," Hawk said and laughed. At Miguel's face, he backtracked. "I mean hot for you. . . Definitely hot for you."

"Okay, can you explain high expectations?" Miguel moved on.

"Flowers, open the door for her, leave her notes, tell her she's pretty," Aisha named off, "oh, and she loves sunsets."

He listened closely and an idea popped in his head. "I got it! Thanks Aisha!"

"Can you stop pacing? You're giving me a headache."

"Pacing's the only thing that keeps me from freaking out."

"But you are freaking out."

"Then it's not working!" Sydney exaggerated and stopped pacing. She was in Sam's room and she collapsed on her bed. I don't know what to do. I've never been on a date before."

Sam laid on her back. "Do you know where you guys are going?" She asked.

"All he said was bring my bathing suit and dress casual but comfy."

"But you don't own anything casual."

"Exactly!"

"Okay, calm down," Sam said and lifted herself from her bed. "I'm sure you can fit in my clothes,"

Sydney pulled a face. "No offense Sammy, but I wouldn't be caught dead in your mismatch outfits."

Sam stood at her closer and frowned. "I'm not taking offense to that because I know you get mean when you're nervous."

"I'm sorry," she groaned and sat up, slumping over, "I just keep thinking what if something goes wrong? What if he's pranking me?"

"He's not pranking you, Sydney," Sam assured her, "stop stressing, you're going to give yourself wrinkles. Miguel seems really sweet. If he's brave enough to ask you out then he's brave enough to put up with you."

Sydney pursed her lips. "I am a handful, aren't I?" She said and twirled the end of her hair. "Means I'm not boring." She stood from the bed. "Alright Sammy, make me look as good as I already do."

"Wow, Sydney, you look so beautiful tonight. N-Not that you don't look beautiful all the time. But tonight, you —" Miguel cut himself off. "No, I can't say that. She'll think I'm a loser." He fixed his hair in the mirror that was attached to his bedroom door. "Hey Sydney, you look amazing tonight." He said again, deepening his voice. "He cringed. "Ew, okay, no."

He heard the doorbell go off and Miguel's eyes nearly widened out of his head. He adjusted the sleeves of his black button up shirt. "Okay. Be cool, be cool. Be respectful. Don't be a loser." He told himself, trying not to throw up.

When he came out his room, Miguel saw Sydney standing in his home, not dressed in her usual bright colored clothes and precious jewels. She wasn't standing tall in her high heels. Instead, she wore a knee length floral dress with thin straps and brown sandals. Her hair, which was always straight and sleek, was now wavy and half of it was pulled out of her face. The only jewelry she had was a simple necklace. Miguel was suddenly lost for words.

"Sydney, you look so beautiful!" Carmen exclaimed and hugged her.

"Thank you, Mrs. Diaz." Sydney said with a smile. She saw Miguel and the smile grew. "Hi."

"Hi," he said back, star struck. He took slow steps toward her, his words still lost. "Uhh, you. . . wow, you look really pretty." He managed to voice.

Her natural flushed cheeks tinted into a darker red. "Thank you."

"Uh, t-these are for you." He stuttered again and pulled a bouquet of flowers out from behind his back.

Sydney was shocked when she saw that they were pink carnations, which just so happened to be her favorite flower. "How did you know carnations are my favorite flower?" She asked him and gently took them from his outstretched hand.

"Um, these are for you." Miguel said and handed her the bouquet of flowers.

"Carnations? How did you know?" Sydney gasped and took them from his hand gently, shocked because carnations were her favorite flower.

"I, uh, might have gotten a tip from Aisha." He said with a growing smile.

Sydney smiled again. "Thank you."

Miguel nodded. "Shall we?" He asked and held out his arm.

Carmen was silently squealing from the living room.

"Of course." She said back and took his arm.

They walked outside and as they approached her car, Miguel stopped her. "Okay, before we go, I have one condition." He started.

Sydney furrowed her brows. "Okay," she said slowly, "what is it?"

"You have to let me drive your car to where we're going."

Immediately, she shook her head. "Absolutely not."

"If you don't let me drive then we don't go on a date." Miguel declared and crossed his arms.

"This car is my pride and joy!" She argued with him.

"And I'll take care of her! Please?" He continued and titled his head, giving her a puppy dog look.

Sydney narrowed her eyes into slits. She hated that look. Every boy gave that exact same look when they wanted something and often they looked ridiculous. But she couldn't deny that Miguel looked nice in his attire, a black button up shirt and khaki pants. His hair was fixed. He wore nice shoes. He's so cute, the voice in her head said. Shut the hell up, Sydney. After another minute or two of contemplation, Sydney gave in and rolled her eyes. "If you so much as hit any curb, I'll rip those braces out of your mouth." She threatened.

Miguel smiled even though the threat was actually terrifying. "Perfect. Keys, please?" He held out his palm. She dropped the keys in his hand. "You're the best."

"Yeah, I better be." She muttered bitterly and he opened the door for her. Sydney climbed inside and watched him walk around the back of the car. She reached over the middle console and pulled up the lock.

Miguel quickly got into the drivers seat and he smiled with excitement. "Wow, this is so awesome." He said and rubbed the steering wheel.

"Drive slowly, please." Sydney told him and sucked in a nervous breath.

The sun was about to go down. Sydney always loved the California sunsets. The sky was always orange and pink, sometimes purple, and she always had a perfect view from her backyard. Sydney rolled down her window and stuck her arm out, feeling the wind hit her skin.

Miguel glanced in her direction, watching the wind blow through her hair and her hand move out the window as if she was trying to catch the wind in her hand. She's so beautiful.

It wasn't long that Sydney saw the coast and Miguel pulled into the beach parking lot. "You're taking me to the beach?" She questioned.

"You'll see." He said with a grin and unbuckled the seat belt.

"You're not planning to drown me, are you? Cause I'll have you know father put me in swim lessons when I was six."

"How come you're not on the swim team then?"

"Because I wouldn't be caught dead wearing those hideous bathing suits they make them wear. Let alone a cap."

Miguel laughed. He quickly got out of the car and ran around to open her door. He held out his hand. "M'lady?"

"Merci," she replied and took his hand.

Their hands didn't disconnect as Miguel lead her down the sandy beach. The sun had turned a bright orange, the color reflecting off the water. "Okay, tell me. Shay are you doing?" She asked him again and laughed.

Instead of answering, Miguel looked at her and smirked. He motioned ahead of them.

Sydney looked forward and squinted her eyes. Not far along the beach, Miguel had laid out a blanket and there was a pizza box waiting for them, along with a basket of breads, cheeses, chocolates, and meats. There were beautifully lit candles in mason jars surrounding the blanket. Sydney's jaw dropped. "W-What?" She slipped out, speechless.

Miguel smiled at her reaction. "What do you think?"

"Are you sure this isn't a prank?"

He laughed. "It's not a prank." He motioned for her to sit down.

Sydney felt like she was going to fall as she made her way to sit down. Her jaw was still dropped and she was lost for words. "I can't believe this." She uttered, her fingers grazing the blanket below her.

Miguel smiled. "I knew you'd like it."

"Did you do this all by yourself?"

"No, my mom helped me," he told her with a cheeky grin.

Sydney looked his way again, her expression soft, and she was still in complete shock. "You didn't have to do all of this." She told him truthfully.

"Why wouldn't I?"

There wasn't more she could say. Every word got caught in her throat. They were sitting really close to each other, her knees almost touching his leg. Sydney blinked multiple times, feeling like she was in a dream. She never dreamed anymore. She always believed dreams were for people who were at peace in their lives, for those who went to sleep happy and woke up happy. Sydney dreaded waking up every day because she knew she was going to be alone.

What she was feeling was something she never felt before and it was sickening. It was confusing. Nerve wracking. She barely even knew Miguel. He barely knew her and yet he went to the greatest length to give her a great first date. Sydney's mind went blank, her brain feeling fuzzy, and she could barely focus on the beautiful sunset that was happening in front of her right now, the sky a brilliant pink and purple.

The only thing that popped into her head was uh oh.